Aggressive Dog Causes Serious Injuries in Church Parking Lot

This case involves a young child who was injured by a large dog in a church parking lot. The child was walking through the parking lot of the church with his mother at the time of the incident. As they walked past a field next to the parking lot where a dog was walking with his owner, the dog, which was off its leash at the time, charged them. The child began to run away from the dog when he fell and hit his head on the pavement. It was alleged that the owner of the dog, which was a large and powerful breed, should have had the dog on a leash while out in the field.

Question(s) For Expert Witness

1. Can you speak to standards for the safe transport of dogs?

2. Can you address canine behavior issues?

Expert Witness Response E-045421

Dogs should not be left off of their leashes, but in such situations, they should be restrained with a harness. It is dangerous for them to become overstimulated and stressed. Anxiety due to the number of people in the parking lot can also play a part into why the dog reacted the way he did. If the dog has a history of biting or of reacting aggressively due to stress or fear, it is all the more important to monitor the dog.

Expert Bio

This expert rehabilitates canines who have developed undesired behavior patterns, while teaching dog owners to better communicate with their pets. Her rehabilitation program focuses on behavior modification based on body language, verbal and nonverbal cues, and positive reinforcement. Leveraging her communication skills developed through her career in broadcast media, she regularly lectures on canine husbandry, helping owners to avert aggressive behavior.