Generally speaking, the victims in these attacks are not burglars or passers-by, but children. The attacking dog is rarely a snarling stray, rather the adoring family pet. Dog bites are a major child-health problem in the U.S., exceeding the total number of cases of measles, whooping cough, and mumps each year.
Dogs are one of the most common causes of facial lacerations in children.
Each year 44,000 facial bites are reported nationwide. Despite the immense physical and psychological scars resulting from dog bites, the public seems largely unaware of the potentially serious problem that exists in their own backyard. Many people have been frightened by the media attention given to dog attacks, but most don't perceive their own dog to be a threat. Currently, the Civil Courts can be unforgiving when it comes to dog owners. A dog owner assumes full liability for the actions of the pet.