In April, an Audrain County girl less than two-years-old was attacked and seriously injured by a family member’s dog. Are you assuming you’re children are safe around ‘known’ animals? The St. Louis dog bite attorneys at Hoffman & Gelfman want you to be aware of this often overlooked danger.

Family Rottweiler Attacked Girl Unexpectedly
The girl’s mother, who asked that her name be withheld, was not present for the incident. However, she reported the girl had followed her aunt out to see a new calf and was unexpectedly attacked upon returning to the house. Taken to University Hospital by helicopter and later transferred to Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis, she was in stable condition. She has undergone multiple surgeries, and will require more.

Prior Behavior Does Not Indicate Aggressive Tendencies
The dog, a 5-year-old Rottweiler owned by the girl’s older cousin and boarded at her aunt’s when her son travels for work, had been well-behaved before the attack. The dog was turned-over for euthanization ahead of the legal deadline in early May. Pit bulls and rottweilers, the two most-lethal breeds, accounted for 77% of bite-related deaths last year, with 42% of victims either visiting or living temporarily with the dog’s owner prior to attack.

Has the unthinkable occurred to your loved one? The St. Louis dog bite attorneys at Hoffman & Gelfman are here to help you through this trying time. Contact us today.