Cat to the rescue in vicious California dog attack
This week, a video showing a cat saving a 4-year-old California boy from a vicious dog attack went viral. The video shows the 4-year-old riding his bike outside of his Bakersfield home when the neighbor’s dog snuck up from behind and attacked the boy’s left leg.
Within seconds, the boy’s family cat came to the rescue by pouncing on the dog and chasing it away. The cat then stayed with the injured boy while his mom ran to get help.
The boy’s parents said they didn’t know what the heroic cat had done until they watched video captured by the surveillance cameras around their home. They said Tara, the family cat, will be receiving some extra treats for her heroic efforts.
The boy suffered two lacerations on his leg and needed 10 stitches. It is expected that animal control could decide to euthanize the dog.
Despite taking the Internet by storm and giving “cat people” a chance to boast to “dog people,” the incident also sheds light on the legal claims that can arise after a dog bite or dog attack.
After a child or an adult is injured in a dog attack in California it may be possible to be compensated for medical bills, ambulance expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering through the dog owner’s homeowners insurance policy.
In dog attack cases, California law holds dog owners strictly liable, which means that the accident victim does not need to prove that the dog owner was negligent or that the dog had a history of aggressive behavior.
However, insurance companies often attempt to deny dog bite claims or offer unfair settlements, which is why many dog attack victims rely on personal injury lawyers to get them the compensation that they deserve.
Source: ABC News, “Camera Catches Family Cat Taking on Dog That Bit Boy,” May 14, 2014; Today News, “Hero cat’s family tells story behind boy’s rescue: ‘Dog did not even know what hit him’,” Eun Kyung Kim, May 15, 2014