Californian residents who are attacked by dogs can end up with severe wounds. Some victims have been described as being “in shreds” by the time they reach the emergency care unit, with the damage they have suffered through making them virtually unrecognizable. Naturally, some individuals who go through these attacks may also suffer from mental or emotional trauma because of the intensity of the damage faced.
The Seattle Times goes into detail following the stories of several residents who have suffered from brutal dog attacks. These individuals talk of developing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or PTSD-like symptoms, anxiety disorders, depression, and even agoraphobia. Some may develop a fear of dogs which can be so strong that they have difficulty going out in public out of concern that they might see one.
Dogs have been known to rip off entire body parts in particularly gruesome attacks. They have bitten off fingers, noses, lips, ears, or entire parts of the fleshiest bits of the body and face. These injuries can run to the bone and disfigure an individual, leaving them with traumatizing scars. FindLaw states that the compensation deserved for a dog bite attack should include these often forgotten aspects of recovery. Many people focus on the physical injuries and forget that the mental trauma and scarring also requires effort to recover from.
Those who are suffering from trauma after a dog bite attack do not have to feel shame for this trauma or pain. Being attacked viciously by any animal is a terrifying ordeal that can leave anyone scarred and distraught for a long time to come.