NEWS
CONTACT:
Brandon Noel, Founder – BarMembership™
(312) 622-8511 (Local to Wilmington)
Brandon@barmembership.com
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Beware of dog – owners
(Merango, IL – March 2018) Each year 4.5 million dog bites occur and in 2017 nearly forty related deaths were reported throughout the United States. While this is a decrease over 2016, there is still room to be wary. According to the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, the average cost of a dog bite-related hospital stay was $18,200, which is almost double the cost of the average injury-related emergency room visit. The US Department of Health and Human Services noted that a potential cause of the higher costs is due to skin damage and tissue infections.
According to emergency room statistics, patient visits due to dog bite-related injuries is about 4 times higher in rural areas as opposed to urban settings and the Midwest is leading the country for dog attacks.
“What a lot of people do not realize is that, typically, dog bite-related injuries are covered under most homeowner’s insurance policies. So victims have an outlet to help cover the cost of injuries by irresponsible pet owners, stated Steve Greeley, an attorney with Franks Gerkin Ponitz Greeley (FGPG Law) a local firm that specializes in personal injury throughout McHenry County.
According to dogbite.org, 15% of all fatal dog attacks result in meaningful criminal charges and Illinois was amongst the states with statistically higher attacks. “Especially on farms and in rural areas there is a tendency to have a ‘be free and roam’ mentality, especially when it comes to animals,” Steve Greeley commented. “Pet owners have to keep in mind that they are responsible for the actions of their dogs, financially and legally.”
With February recognized nationally as Responsible Pet Owners Month, McHenry County residents should use this opportunity to ensure that they are protecting their neighbors and themselves from unnecessary and preventable dog bite situations.
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