Knowing the answer to this question makes it a lot easier when you realize the possibilities. An untreated dog bite can lead to a disability or even a fatal infection. Animal control may take the dog, possibly even leading to its being euthanized. There are also the monetary hardships of civil lawsuits, medical bills, and/or lost pay.
You can circumvent many of these consequences by abiding by the following plans.
Calm the Scene
Most pet dogs do not mean to harm or kill a person, but the possibility is always there, especially if the dog thinks someone is trespassing. If your dog starts to go after someone with teeth bared, try to control, leash, and sequester it as soon as you can. The sooner an attack stops, the less risk the bite victim will suffer.
Treat the Victim’s Injuries
Anything that breaks the skin, be it a bite or scratch, merits a medical professional’s investigation, cleansing, and dressing. This scenario may unlikely call for dialing 9-1-1, but anyone left with a bleeding dog bite should be taken to the emergency room or critical care.
Swift, proper care of the injury can minimize the risk of an infection and accelerate healing, both of which matter should the victim file a police report. A dog bite victim can only file a legitimate insurance claim or personal injury suit if they have a bite and can show that it directly led to notable harm that incurred unreasonable medical costs.
Understand Why Your Dog Struck
Legally speaking, dogs are considered possessions, meaning that you are on the hook for any injuries caused by a dog when they could have been prevented. In this way, a dog is like stairs; you are expected to keep both in a condition that means people are safe around them.
Note that you are only responsible for preventable attacks; anything that could be deemed as an irresponsible or reckless cause for the attack is another matter entirely. If a guest decided to repeatedly taunt your dog, especially after being warned not to do so, you are blameless should the dog respond with violence. This also means that any burglar bitten by your dog, likely because the dog sensed an intruder, will be laughed out of court if they try to file a lawsuit against you.
After the attack has been stopped and suitable medical treatment has been seen to re-enact the incident. Ask any witnesses what they saw and write down their testimonies. Proof that the victim taunted, abused, or otherwise provoked the dog will likely free you of responsibility for the attack. Furthermore, proving that a person was trespassing without your awareness or consent can also free you of responsibility for any dog bites.
Gather Your Doggie Data
No matter the reason for your dog to bite a person, you may need to deal with some government officials to keep your dog. Dog bite laws could lead to a dog being quarantined, declared a “dangerous dog”, leading to the dog needing to be secured or the owner to post warning signs. In extreme cases or repeat bites, animal control could move to euthanize a dog. Your dog could be impounded if it is known to bite people, lacks vaccination records, and/or whose owners lack sufficient paperwork. Any of these types of red tape could come up even when the victim has no case against you in a court of law. Make sure you understand all laws related to your dog in your state and city.