Personal Injury Law

Dog Attack Puts Child in Georgia Intensive Care

Continuing hospital intensive care and an ongoing police investigation are the result of a Augusta, Georgia dog attack of a two-year-old. On July 10, after scaling the chain link fence between his and the neighbor?s house, 4 vicious dogs left the toddler with over 200 stitches and in critical condition after biting him more than 100 times.

County records show that the absentee homeowner had kept up to 15 grown dogs in her backyard in violation of county code restricting this number to 5. (Georgia dog law allows owners eight pets at their residence.) At the time of the dog attacked, six dogs were present at the residence, though only four participated in the dog attack as two dogs were in another fenced area of the house.

Reportedly, the owner of the vicious dogs is in court in a neighboring Georgia county for dogs kept at another her homes. Four leash-law violations are pending against the dogs? owner. Authorities had previously sized 24 dogs from her Augusta, GA home, some of which were considered too dangerous for adoption.

The adventurous boy may not have scaled the four-foot high fence but been pulled over by the attacking dogs, as the boy never saw anyone climb the fence or had previously attempted the feat. Relatives of the dog-bitten child claim the neighbor?s dogs had escaped on seven different instances and found in their yard.

The boy remains at Medical College of Georgia Hospital, but the boy?s relatives are encouraged that he is moving his arms, legs, and eyes. A local veterinarian is helping officers determine whether the dogs were vaccinated.

No charges are pending related to the attack because the animals were confined to the yard.

While no criminal charges, the Augusta, GA owner of the dogs involved in the dog attack may face civil action.

If a dog bite injury in Georgia or Tennessee has put your child in the hospital or seriously affected his or her life, you may be entitled for compensation of medical bills, including cosmetic surgeries. To learn more, contact the Higgins Firm's Dog Bite Division of our Nashville, TN personal injury law offices.

Full post as published by Tennessee Law Blog on July 15, 2009 (boomark / email).