Tuesday, December 17, 2013

Dog Bites Drive Up Insurance Payouts; Premiums Could Be Next

Dog Bites Rise During Holiday Season

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According to the U.S. Postal Service, December is a peak time for dog bites and dog-related injuries, with children out of school for winter break and mail carriers delivering a higher volume of mail and holiday packages. Nearly 2,700 dog bites occurred between July 1, 2012 and June 30 of this year. The 92113 zip code -- which encompasses areas like downtown, Barrio Logan and Logan Heights -- had the most dog bites in San Diego with 113 reported incidents. In the 2012 calendar year, San Diego County letter carriers experienced 75 dog bites/attacks. So far this year, dog bites/attacks on letter carriers are at 89.
For the original version including any supplementary images or video, visit http://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/local/Dog-bites-mail-carriers-post-office-holidays-235158651.html

Treating dog bites

Germ-free makeup From 2003 to 2012, the value of dog bite claims increased 51%, a rate that far outpaces inflation. The average dog bite claim payout rose from $19,162 in 2003 to $29,752 last year, an increase of 55%. (MORE: Millions on Pet Halloween Costumes? Why We Spend More and More on Pets ) Insurers take notice of such data, and yes, owning a dogespecially one that has bitten someonecan affect your policy. In general, the fact that you have a dog doesnt factor into what rate you pay for homeowners insurance. But as the New York Times noted , once a dog bite takes place at your home, the insurer could raise the premium or even exclude dog-related injuries from coverage. Some animal cruelty prevention societies report that homeowners have been denied insurance because they own certain high-risk breeds of dogs, including Pit Bulls and Rottweilers. A couple of states outlaw breed profiling, but most states allow insurance companies to deny or cancel coverage if a certain breed of dog is living at the home.
For the original version including any supplementary images or video, visit http://business.time.com/2013/05/28/dog-bites-insurance-companies-mans-best-friend-behind-one-third-of-all-homeowner-claims/

How to treat a dog bite

Treating a dog bite If the skin is not disturbed, or if there is a minimal abrasion present, it may be reasonable to watch for signs of infection (pain, redness, warmth, swelling, and drainage of pus or fluid) before seeking medical care. Many people refuse medical treatment for dog bites. If no treatment is requested, the rabies immunization status of the dog needs to be determined immediately. Rabies therapy , if necessary, must begin as soon as possible. As well, the victim's tetanus status needs to be current.
For the original version including any supplementary images or video, visit http://www.examiner.com/article/treating-dog-bites

Autopsy shows baby died from dog-bite wounds

The scenario is a common one. A 6-year-old girl loves to hug and play with the family dog, so while visiting at a friends house she runs up and hugs and squeezes their dog like she does with her own pet Fido and gets bitten. "Dogs dont actually like to be hugged by someone they dont know," shares Berryman, who says that dogs actually see it as threat. Dogs dont hug each other to show love or affection. The only action where a dog grabs another is when it is showing dominance, she says.
For the original version including any supplementary images or video, visit http://www.sheknows.com/parenting/articles/1008435/how-to-treat-a-dog-bite

Dog Bites Insurance Companies: Man's Best Friend Behind One-Third of All Homeowner Claims

Oh, my sweet baby. Mia died about 7:45 a.m. at Nationwide Childrens Hospital. Sgt. Steven Little of the first-shift homicide squad said the dogs, two Shiba Inus, didnt seem to have attacked the baby but were playing roughly with her. The dogs were being held by Franklin County animal control at the request of police.
For the original version including any supplementary images or video, visit http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/local/2013/12/11/dog-bite-death.html

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