When Shelter Rescue Dogs Attack

There are few things as admirable as adopting a pet from a shelter. Giving a home to a stay cat or dog is indeed one of the kindest ways to give back to your community while adding a new member to the family. Unfortunately, though, these adoption centers aren’t always what they seem. Even with the best intentions, staff members are often overworked and incapable of preventing violent dogs from lashing out. A new report has uncovered shocking data on the number of dog attacks in California animal shelters each year. While the data pertains to specific instances in a Los Angeles animal shelter system, it mirrors a nationwide trend in dangerous dog bites.

A Lack of Safety Protocols

Animal shelters naturally attract animal-loving employees and volunteers. Many are lifelong pet owners with years of experience handling all kinds of breeds and temperaments. Unfortunately, all the experience, patience and empathy in the world can’t make up for insufficient funding and tools. Too often, when an animal shelter employee sustains a bite on the job, their stories go untold. Bad press for the shelter could mean a decline in adoptions, causing many victims to keep quiet about their experience.

Transparency from Shelters, Rescues and Other Animal Orgs

To prevent additional dog attacks on animal shelter employees, volunteers and visitors, the industry must become more transparent. The public deserves to know about the violent behaviors and histories of the dogs being housed in such facilities. This is especially true for families considering adopting dogs from shelters. Without full transparency about the training methods, safety protocols, and behavioral histories of each dog, more and more people will fall victim to violent animals.

Dog Bite Lawyer Richard Serpe

Virginia dog bite lawyer Richard Serpe has 33+ years of experience helping victims of personal injuries. We have helped numerous victims to get the compensation they deserve. These clients include children, adults, mail carriers, delivery drivers, joggers, pedestrians, and others.