Philadelphia Dog Bite Lawyers: Dog Attacks are a Public Issue

After a 55-year-old woman was fatally mauled in her own backyard by a neighbor’s pit bull recently, there has been a lot of discussion in the city of Montreal and all of Canada in regard to the public policies that reference dog bites. Many Canadians and Americans are starting to view dog bites as a public health issue.

Montreal Mayor, Denis Coderre, announced a new municipal bylaw that aims to ban acquisition of new pit bulls. This bylaw also calls for all current pit bulls to be sterilized and muzzled in public. In Quebec City, Mayor Regis Labeaume promised to instate similar bylaws. It has been suggested that Quebec may follow in Ontario’s footsteps by banning pit bulls and other dangerous breeds throughout the entire province.

The new bylaws pose many questions, but one in particular has citizens talking: why did someone have to lose their life in order for change to be implemented into bylaws? When it comes to other animals, such as wildlife, there are already many restrictions put into place.

The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) argues that dog behaviors and not specific breeds should be targeted. A columnist argued that this means dogs get one bite free, but that is not the message the organization aims to push. Instead, preventative measures for all dogs, and especially those that do have a history of attacks, can lead to more safety without putting undue restrictions on one breed.

The SPCA has called the Canadian mayor’s “knee jerk” decision to ban all pit bulls into question, arguing that the new measures will not work to reduce dangerous dog bite attacks. Will similar legislation be proposed in cities such as Philadelphia? It is too early to tell, however, it is also argued that more stringent rules and press have shed light on dog safety as a whole, with education being the leading cause of the decreased dog attacks.

Philadelphia Dog Bite Lawyers at DiTomaso Law Understand Dog Bites Can Happen with Any Breed at Any Time

Despite the breed-specific bans and other misleading information, any dog can bite. If you have been injured by a dog in a dog bite accident, you may be eligible to pursue a claim in court. Our team of Philadelphia dog bite lawyers at DiTomaso Law understand the personal injury and liability laws that factor into each case. Contact us online or call 215-426-4493 today for a free consultation.