Dog Attack in Philadelphia

Four adults were victims of a dog attack in the Philadelphia area over the past week. The incident took place at Tusky Valley Primary School while kids were entering the premises for their morning classes.

Two of the four people who were bitten, Holly Matthews and Andrea Brantley, had to be assessed at the hospital due to the extent of their injuries. Local police described the injuries sustained in a statement to the media.

According to police statements, Holly Matthews suffered injuries to her arm, legs and thighs due to the dog bites. Andrea Brantley, who works at Tusky Valley Primary as a teacher, was bitten on her leg and torso area. Two other parents were also attacked by the dog, but they only sustained minor cuts and bites. Robert McRuffin and Sondra Mosley were lucky to get away with minor injuries as they dropped their kids off at school that morning.

The dog’s owner, Heather Phelps, is being charged by the police for allowing her dog at large and stopping it from attacking. Ms. Phelps stated that she was walking her dog home when it got excited by the crowd of people near the high school. Despite her best attempts, she was unable to hold on to the dog’s leash and stop it from attacking.

Dealing with an Animal Bite Situation

Even the smallest of animal bites can be very serious if it is not managed properly. Animal bites have the ability to cause serious bruises or wounds in the skin, especially if the bite was more vicious.

Sometimes an animal bite does not hurt right away. This leads to a victim playing down the injury and forgetting to visit a doctor or hospital. Even the smaller animal bites can cause tissue damage or infection to the body. Anyone who suffers this type of personal injury should head to a hospital and receive treatment. If the incident was more serious than a minor bite, the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention should also be informed.

Doctors always recommend keeping the region of an animal bite as clean as possible. If you cannot get to a hospital right away, wash the bitten area thoroughly with soap. This should help prevent any infection from spreading to other parts of your body.

Animal Bites and Diseases

Since a vast number of animal bite incidents are caused by dogs or cats, it is possible for humans to contract bacterial infections or viruses through these bites. Contracting the rabies virus is of primary concern when someone is bitten, which is why a hospital visit is always recommended. Contacting a Philadelphia dog bite lawyer can also help with the legal aspect of any biting incident that involves a domesticated dog.

It is also possible to get the tetanus infection through a dog or cat bite. Domestic animals do not usually carry rabies or tetanus, but it is better to be careful. If you are bitten by a wild cat or dog, there is a much higher chance of contracting infection through that bite.

Avoiding Animal Bites

It may not always be possible to prevent an animal bite, but there are steps that can ensure the incident occurs very rarely. If a stray cat or dog is in the vicinity, do not approach the animal under any circumstances. If you think an animal is going to attack you, move towards the nearest indoor location immediately.