The weather has a surprisingly outsized impact on the mindset of dogs. Our K9 friends can experience mood changes that swing wildly as the weather changes. In the winter months they can be docile and as the temperatures rise in the summer they can be active, but often ornery. This, of course, has a direct impact on the likelihood that they will lash out at unfamiliar humans and commit a Connecticut dog bite injury.
We know that dogs are not the only animals that are subject to changes in mood as the weather changes. In fact, humans are among those animals that have mood changes based on the weather conditions that they are faced with. Therefore we should be familiar with the fact that there are times when animals can be affected by the weather in a negative way.
As the mercury starts to rise, dogs are less likely to be open to interacting with strangers and as their owner you should be aware of that and keep them leashed, especially in public. Dogs should also stay away from other, unfamiliar dogs as the temperatures rise because they can have an adverse reaction to the strange dogs as well.
If you are out and you encounter a dog who may be facing some mood changes due to the temperature you should avoid her/him, but how will you know? The first way to tell is to use some common sense and realize that if you are hot it is very likely that the dog is hot as well. If for some reason you are someone who relishes the heat and you do not have a good sense of when a dog may be hot, a good rule of thumb is when the temperature reaches 75 degrees Fahrenheit you will want to approach a dog that is unfamiliar to you with caution.
The second way to see that a dog is being affected by the hot temperatures is to take note of her/his breathing. If the dog is panting more than you might consider usual for a normal dog, you may want to avoid interacting with the dog that is unfamiliar to you.
Finally, if you do decide that it is ok to interact with a dog that is unfamiliar to you and you have the owner’s permission to do so, you should approach with caution and make sure that the dog is not showing you any signs of displeasure that you are approaching. For instance, if a dog turns away from you when you go to pet her/him you may want to step back and give the dog some space. A dog may also show you that she/he is disapproving of your approach by making a growling noise. If this occurs, you should avoid contact altogether.
In most cases the best way to avoid a Connecticut dog bite injury is to use your common sense and only approach an unfamiliar dog under ideal conditions. If it is warmer than usual out or the dog appears to be struggling breathing or is turning away from you when you pet her/him you may want to skip the interaction for the time being.
No matter the circumstances that relate to a potential dog bite injury, Connecticut law is strict liability and therefore you may want to seek an attorney to review your case and protect your long-term interests as you heal from your injury. Contact our office as one of our attorneys may be able to work with you.
