When it was reported recently that Denver Nuggets star Aaron Gordon had suffered 21 stitches after being bitten by his family dog there were a lot of rumors swirling around about what had happened and how it was possible that something like that could happen to someone so fit and strong. The truth is that these types of injuries can happen to anyone at any time and it is important that you are vigilant about avoiding them because they can become serious.
The fact that a professional basketball player can become injured and have his livelihood threatened is a prime reason why you should take steps to make sure you are safe from a Connecticut dog bite injury. You may not be suiting up for the Denver Nuggets or even for your local Parks & Rec league, but getting bit by a dog can have devastating impacts on your ability to perform daily tasks and have a significant impact on your life.
So, what exactly went wrong in the Gordon situation and how can you avoid it in your own life? According to Mr. Gordon he had had a little too much eggnog over the holiday and was rough housing with his dog when it turned from rough housing to a situation where he had to wrestle the dog off of him so he could avoid any further injury. While he was doing that the dog then bit down on his hand. This is where things could’ve been a lot worse for the Denver Nuggets star who escaped with just some stitches and a little bit of embarrassment.
Here’s what you can do to avoid being put in this type of situation.
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Don’t drink and play with your animal. If you’re drinking it’s not a good idea to get down on the floor and play with a dog that may be unpredictable. When you drink and get behind the wheel of a vehicle your reaction time is slowed, this is also true when playing with an animal. A slower reaction time may mean that you miss the signs that your dog is getting agitated and that is when the animal becomes aggressive and could end up biting you.
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Watch for the signs that your dog is getting agitated. Roughhousing with your dog can go from a little bit of good natured fun to dangerous very quickly so you need to be on the lookout for the signs that your dog has crossed over that line. Some of the signs that your dog is getting agitated include pinned back ears, wider eyes showing the whites of his/her eyes, panting and tense muscles. If you notice any of these signs, which may be difficult to see when you’re roughhousing with the animal, you should immediately call off the fun and let things settle down for a bit.
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If circumstances change suddenly you should immediately stop playing with the animal and allow her/him to reacclimate to the surroundings. If you’re playing with your dog and all of a sudden a door slams or the temperature changes abruptly you could be playing with a dog who is uncertain of what is happening and could make sudden movements that could put you at risk. When you notice something like this is happening you should immediately stop playing with your dog and let things return to a sense of normalcy before resuming any roughhousing.
Of course your dog is a good dog, every dog is, but dog’s are also animals and they react to uncertainty in an uncertain way. Roughhousing with a dog can be fun, but it can also put your dog in an uncertain situation and lead to a Connecticut dog bite injury. You should be aware of your dog’s signs and respect them even when you think nothing like a dog bite would ever happen to you, it could. \
If you experience a dog bite injury you may need to speak with an attorney who is experienced in situations like the one you may be facing. Contact our office and one of our experienced attorneys will review your situation and work with you to protect your long-term interests.
