Anaheim Dog Attack Caught on Camera

A 2-year-old boy has been hospitalized with injuries after a dog attack in which he and his mother were attacked by two large dogs. According to a KTLA news report, surveillance video shows two dogs attacking a mother and child in Anaheim on November 8, 2016. Video shows the two dogs surrounding the boy on the front lawn before knocking him to the ground. The boy’s mother is seen coming over to help, but they go after her as well.

Five to Seven of Minutes of Terror

The mother eventually grabs her son and makes a run for the front door but can’t find her keys and is trapped on the porch as the dogs circle and snap at them. The mom was screaming for help. The mother then covered her son and attempted to shield him as the dogs continued to bite. The boy’s father, who was at work when the dogs attacked, said it was five to seven minutes “just terror.”

Finally, a neighbor came over with a stick and pulled the dogs away. The boy was taken to the hospital and needed multiple stitches and plastic surgery on his face. The mother also suffered injuries. The dogs are believed to have gotten loose from another home in the neighborhood. Neighbors held the dogs after the attack until animal control officers came and took them away. The incident is under investigation.

Our heart goes out to this toddler who has suffered severe injuries and his mother who fought so courageously to protect her child. Please keep this family in your thoughts and prayers.

Laws and Liability Issues

Based on this news report, it appears that the dogs belonged to a neighbor and got loose from their home. In such cases, the dog owner can be held liable for the injuries, damages and losses caused, under California strict liability statute on dog bites. California’s Civil Code Section 3342 states: “The owner of any dog is liable for the damages suffered by any person who is bitten by the dog while in a public place or lawfully in a private place, including the property of the owner of the dog, regardless of the former viciousness of the dog or the owner’s knowledge of such viciousness.”

Injured victims of dog attacks can seek compensation for damages including medical expenses, lost wages, hospitalization, cost of cosmetic surgery, pain and suffering and emotional distress. Dog bites cause not only physical trauma, but also severe psychological trauma. Injured victims would also be well advised to contact an experienced Orange County dog bite lawyer who will help them seek and obtain maximum compensation for their losses and hold the negligent dog owner accountable.