What to Do If You Are Bitten or Attacked By Someone Else's Dog in Ontario

1) Remember to Keep the Dog Owner's Full name and home address:  This is extremely important if you want to make a damage claim for a serious injury, and also for knowing the dog's medical and vaccination records. Be assertive and get this crucial information. The best practice is to keep a photo of the dog owner's driver's license.

If the dog owner is not co-operating or evading the scene in a serious dog bite incident, call 911 without delay and tell them that dog owner is evading, and then follow their guidelines.

2) Visit the Doctor As Soon as Possible: For a serious dog attack injury or if unsure, go straight to the hospital emergency. Call 911 if necessary. Save all medical records, and follow doctor's advice closely. Your proper treatment also ensures your just compensation after a serious dog bite accident.

3) Report the Dog Bite Incident to the Local Animal Control: Search internet or just call us at 289-678-1637 and we will help you find your local animal control to report a dog bite injury. This starts an investigation and record preservation that may be handy later on for your damage claim. It also starts preventive measures and by-law enforcement that is conducive to the community's safety.

4) Start Preserving Evidence:

• Take ample pictures and videos of the injury, location and surroundings. Take note of any available video surveillance. Write down or take picture of anything you think relevant to the dog attack injury. Save all written and hard evidence like torn clothes, emergency and medical records etc.
• If there is any witnesses to the incident, keep their full names, phone numbers and if possible, email addresses.

IF YOUR INJURY IS SERIOUS, THEN AVOID THESE COMMON TRAPS :

1. Do NOT Let the Dog Owner Escape: The dog owner, if unknown or a stranger, may conveniently try to escape the scene.  Sometimes they play the trick of just giving their first name only and their phone number, which may not be enough to trace them out at a later date. DO NOT LET THEM GO AWAY without providing you their full name, phone number and home address so that you can follow up at a later stage for a possible damage claim.  And we literally mean that the dog owner must give their full legal name and address to you. Calling the authority or the police at a later time, though may be a good step to take, may not help much in finding the dog owner's identity if you do not get it at the scene in the first place. Police usually takes a bit lackadaisical view in a dog bite case unless the injury is truly egregious and the local Animal Control is often constrained by limited resources. So often times, an escaped dog owner simply remains unidentified, and no civil claim can be made. And even if the authority finds the dog owner, because of various out-of-reality privacy legislations, it can take a lot of pain, money, clearing of red-tapes and many months or even years to get the dog owner's name and address from the authority, unless you obtain this necessary information from the dog owner upfront.
   

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2. Do NOT Settle Cheap: The dog owner may offer you medical expense and a few trivia, and playing the caring person's role, coax you to drop the case. DO NOT FALL INTO THIS, for almost certainly you will end up in a measly bargain, and will get a fraction of what you are entitled to, especially if the dog attack injury is serious. If your injury is serious, getting a just and full compensation after a proper assessment by an expert dog bite lawyer is your civil right- do not let anyone feel you bad about seeking your civil right.
   

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3. Do NOT Talk with Dog Owner's Insurance: Dog owner's insurer may start communicating with you, obtaining evidences, asking for statements etc. DO NOT TALK WITH THEM. They may appear awesome friendly, but their sole goal is to deny liability or minimize your damage recovery. Do not fall prey to dog owner's insurer's direct wheedling, especially if your dog bite injury is serious. What you say to them may destroy your rightful case before you know it. They are trained professionals thoroughly advised by lawyers to protect their interest.

Dog Bites can be infectious, so do not take it lightly.

If a dog bites or attacks you and breaks the skin:

1. Seek medical attention from a doctor asap. Do not hesitate to go to hospital emergency as this may prevent more critical and permanent injuries. Call 911 if the injury is serious.
2. While waiting for the doctor or paramedics, if possible, wash the bite and wound with soap and water for at least 15 minutes.  And then apply an antiseptic to the wound if available.

Dog bites can also crack bones, cause backbone injury, head injury or other serious medical conditions. For all such matters, call 911 and go to the hospital emergency without delay.

We do dog bite injury cases from across Ontario. The following is a region specific list of Animal Control Authorities that you should report to as soon as possible after the dog attack injury incident.

Ajax Dog Bite Injury - Ajax Dog Bite Reporting to Animal Services  - Call 905-683-8275 and report the dog bite incident. Remember to keep the Reference Number.

Alliston Dog Bite Injury - New Tecumseth Canine Control - Call 905-729-4972 and report the dog bite incident. Remember to keep the Reference Number.

Aurora Dog Bite Injury - Aurora Animal Services- Call 1-877-979-PAWS (7297) and report the dog bite incident. Remember to keep the Reference Number.

Barrie Dog Bite Injury -Barrie Enforcement Services -  Call (705) 739-4241 and report the dog bite incident. Remember to keep the Reference Number.

Beeton Dog Bite Injury - New Tecumseth Canine Control - Call 905-729-4972 and report the dog bite. Remember to keep the Reference Number.

Belleville Dog Bite Injury - Belleville Animal Control- Call (613)-966-4483 and report the dog bite. Remember to keep the Reference Number.

Bowmanville Dog Attack Injury: Bowmanville Animal Control- Fill and Submit the Online Report Form. Remember to keep the Reference Number. Also Call 905-623-7651.

Bracebridge Dog Bite Injury: Bracebridge Animal Services- Fill and Submit the Online Report Form. T: 705-645-5264 x 3250. Remember to keep the Reference Number.

Brampton Dog Bite Injury: Brampton Animal Services -  Call 905.458.5800 or 311 or contact local police for guidance. Remember to keep the Reference Number.

Brantford Dog Bite Injury - Brantord Animal Control Regulatory Services - kCall 519-759-4150 and report the dog bite incident. Remember to keep the Reference Number.

Brant Dog Bite Injury - County of Brant Animal Control By Law - Click the link and report a complaint online.

Burlington Dog Attack Injury - Burlington By-Law Enforcement- Call 905-335-3030 and report the dog bite incident. Remember to keep the Reference Number.

Caledon Dog Bite Injury - Town of Caledon Report a Problem - Call 311 and report the dog bite incident. Online submission also available at the link provided. Remember to keep the Reference Number.

Cambridge Dog Bite Injury  - Cambridge Animal Control - Call (519) 623-6323 and report the dog bite incident. Remember to keep the Reference Number.

Cavan Monaghan Dog Bite Injury - Cavan-Monaghan Animal By-Laws- Call 705-760-6968 and report the dog bite incident. Remember to keep the Reference Number.

Chatham-Kent Dog Bite Injury - P.A.W- Pet and Wildlife Rescue- Call 226-996-9969 and report the dog bite incident. Remember to keep the Reference Number.

Clarington Dog Attack Injury: Clarington Animal Control- Fill and Submit the Online Report Form. Remember to keep the Reference Number. Also Call 905-623-7651.

Clearview Dog Bite Injury: Clearview Animal Services- Call 705-428-6230 x 241 and report the dog bite incident. Remember to keep the Reference Number.

Cobourg Dog Bite Injury - Cobourg Animal Services- Call 905-372-4301 and report the dog bite incident. Remember to keep the Reference Number.

Creemore Dog Bite Injury: Clearview Animal Services- Call 705-428-6230 x 241 and report the dog bite incident. Remember to keep the Reference Number.

Collingwood Dog Bite Injury: Collingwood Animal Control- Call 705-445-1030 ext. 3254 and report the dog bite incident. Remember to keep the Reference Number.

Cornwall Dog Bite

Durham Region Dog Attack

East Gwillimbury Dog Bite Injury - Aurora Animal Services- Call1-877-979-PAWS (7297) and report the dog bite incident. Remember to keep the Reference Number.

Etobicoke Dog Bite

Flamborough Dog Bite

Fort Erie Dog Bite

Georgina Dog Attack Injury -Georgina Animal Services - Call 1-877-979-PAWS (7297) and report the dog bite incident. Remember to keep the Reference Number.

Goderich Dog Bite

Grand Valley Dog Bite

Gravenhurst Dog Bite

Grimsby Dog Attack

Guelph Dog Attack

Halton Hills Dog Attack

Hamilton Dog Bite Injury -Hamilton Dog Attack- Call Animal Control at  905-574-3433 and report the dog bite incident. Remember to keep the Reference Number.

Innisfil Dog Attack

Kincardine Dog Attack

King (Township) Dog Attack

Kingston Dog Bite

Kitchener Dog Attack

Lambton Shores Dog Attack

Lincoln Dog Attack

London, Ontario Dog Bite Injury: London Animal Care and Control  Call: 519-685-1330 and report the dog bite incident. Remember to keep the Reference Number.

 Markham Dog Attack

Millbrook Dog Attack

Milton Dog Bite

Mississauga Dog Bite Injury - Mississauga Animal Emergencies and Rescue - Call 905-896-5858, ext 3932  or Call 311 or Report to Peel Regional Police. Remember to keep the Reference Number.

Muskoka Dog Bite

Newmarket Dog Attack

New Tecumseth Dog Attack Injury -New Tecumseth Canine Control - Call 905-729-4972 and report the dog bite incident. Remember to keep the Reference Number.

Niagara-on-the-lake Dog Attack

Nobleton Dog Attack

North York Dog Bite

Oakville Dog Bite

Ontario SPCA

Ontario Ministry of Attorney General on Dogs

Orangeville Dog Bite

Orillia Dog Bite Injury - Orillia Animal Control - Call 705-325-2313 and report the dog bite incident. Remember to keep the Reference Number.

Oshawa Dog Attack

Ottawa Dog Attack Injury - Report a Problem with Dogs - Call 613-580-2400 or call 311 and report the dog bite incident. Remember to keep the Reference Number.

Pelham Dog Bite

Peterborough Dog Attack

Port Colborne Dog Attack

Port Perry Dog Attack

Pickering Dog Attack

Richmond Hill Dog Bite 

Sault Ste. Marie

Sarnia Dog Bite

Scarborough Dog Bite

Shelburne Dog Bite

Scugog (Township) Dog Attack

Simcoe Dog Bite

St. Catharines Dog Bite

Sudbury Dog Bite

Stratford Dog Bite

Timmins Dog Bite

Thornhill Dog Bite

Thorold Dog Bite

Thunder Bay Dog Bite

Tottenham Dog Bite Injury - New Tecumseth Canine Control- Call 905-729-4972 and report the dog bite incident. Remember to keep the Reference Number.

Toronto Dog Bite Injury - Toronto Dog Bite Attacks What To Do - Call 311 and report the dog bite incident. Remember to keep the Reference Number.

 Vaughan Dog Bite Injury - Vaughan Animal Control By-law- Call 905-832-2281 and report the dog bite incident. Remember to keep the Reference Number.

Waterloo Dog Bite

Whitby Dog Bite

Windsor Dog Bite

Woodstock Dog Bite

If your town/city/ municipality is not listed above, try calling 311 and/or do a google search under animal control "your municipality name". You can also call your municipality office for guidance on reporting.

Canadian Kennel Club states: "Most dogs don't bite, almost all dogs do not want to bite; but all dogs can bite." True or not, getting bitten or attacked by a dog can be extremely traumatic and painful, and for serious dog bites legal help may be needed.