#Animal Bite Attorney Phoenix AZ

[ajlawplc]

Professional Dog Bite Lawyer/Attorney in Phoenix AZ

AJ Law PLC is a leading dog bite law firm in Phoenix AZ. We have years of experience dealing with these types of cases, and we will fight to get you the compensation you deserve. Contact us now!

[cimalawgroup]

Navigating a Dog Bite Incident in Phoenix: Your Essential Guide

If you or a loved one has experienced a dog bite in Phoenix, navigating the aftermath can feel overwhelming. Understanding the necessary steps to take after such an incident is crucial for both your health and legal protection.

Here's a comprehensive guide to help you through this challenging time.

Seek Immediate Medical Attention

Your health is the top priority. Regardless of the severity of the dog bite, it's essential to seek medical attention promptly. Even seemingly minor bites can lead to infections or complications if left untreated. Visit a healthcare professional or an emergency room to assess the injury and receive proper treatment.

Document the Incident

Gather as much information as possible about the dog bite incident. This includes taking photographs of the injury, identifying the dog and its owner if possible, and obtaining witness contact information. Documentation of the incident will be valuable for any potential legal proceedings.

Report the Incident

Report the dog bite to the appropriate authorities in Phoenix. This may involve contacting local animal control services or law enforcement. Reporting the incident ensures that necessary steps are taken to prevent future occurrences and protects others from similar harm.

Consult with a Dog Bite Attorney in Phoenix

Navigating the legal aspects of a dog bite case can be complex. Seeking guidance from an experienced dog bite attorney in Phoenix is crucial to understand your rights and options. A skilled attorney will provide personalized advice and representation to help you pursue compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering.

Why Choose Dog Bite Attorney Phoenix?

When it comes to advocating for your rights after a dog bite incident, having the best legal representation is essential. Dog Bite Attorney Phoenix AZ specializes in handling dog bite cases and has a proven track record of securing favorable outcomes for their clients. With their expertise and dedication, you can trust that your case will be in capable hands.

The Benefits of Working with Phoenix Dog Bite Attorneys

Expertise: Phoenix Dog Bite Attorneys possess in-depth knowledge of Arizona's dog bite laws and regulations, ensuring that you receive sound legal counsel tailored to your situation.

Personalized Approach: They understand that every dog bite case is unique, and they provide personalized attention to each client, crafting strategic legal solutions to achieve the best possible outcome.

Compassionate Advocacy: Dealing with the aftermath of a dog bite can be emotionally challenging. Phoenix Dog Bite Attorneys offer compassionate support and guidance throughout the legal process, prioritizing your well-being every step of the way.

Final Words

Experiencing a dog bite can be a traumatic and distressing event. However, by taking the appropriate steps following the incident, you can protect your health and legal rights. Remember to seek medical attention, document the incident, report it to the authorities, and consult with a reputable dog bite attorney in Phoenix. With the right support and guidance, you can navigate this challenging time with confidence and peace of mind.

[bigchadlaw]

What Happens if a Dog Bites You in Arizona?

If you or someone you know has been bitten by a dog in Arizona, it's important to know what steps to take to protect yourself and your legal rights. In this article, we'll discuss the legal implications of a dog bite in Arizona, including what to do after a dog bite, how to file a claim, and when to contact a dog bite lawyer in Phoenix, AZ.

Understanding Dog Bite Laws in Arizona

Arizona has a strict liability law for dog bites, meaning that the owner of the dog is responsible for any damages caused by the dog. This law applies even if the dog had never bitten anyone before and the owner had no prior knowledge of the dog's propensity to bite. In addition to the strict liability law, there are other laws that govern dog bites in Arizona, such as leash laws and animal cruelty laws.

What to Do After a Dog Bite

If you are bitten by a dog in Arizona, there are several steps you should take to protect your health and your legal rights. First and foremost, seek medical attention immediately. Even if the wound doesn't seem severe, it's important to have it cleaned and properly treated to prevent infection. After seeking medical attention, it's important to report the incident to the appropriate authorities, such as animal control or the police department. You should also gather as much information as possible about the dog and its owner, such as their names, addresses, and contact information.

Filing a Dog Bite Claim in Arizona

If you've been bitten by a dog in Arizona, you may be entitled to compensation for your injuries and damages. In order to file a claim, you will need to prove that the dog owner was negligent in some way, such as failing to properly restrain the dog or failing to warn others about the dog's aggressive behavior. To file a claim, you should contact a dog bite attorney in Phoenix, AZ who can help you navigate the legal process and protect your rights.

Contacting a Dog Bite Lawyer in Phoenix, AZ

If you've been bitten by a dog in Arizona, it's important to contact a dog bite lawyer in Phoenix, AZ as soon as possible. A dog bite lawyer can help you understand your legal rights and options, and can represent you in court if necessary. When choosing a dog bite lawyer, look for someone who has experience handling dog bite cases and who is familiar with Arizona's strict liability law. One example of such a law firm is Big Chad Law, a well-known and reputable law firm in Phoenix, AZ that specializes in dog bite cases.

How a Dog Bite Lawyer Can Help

A dog bite lawyer can help you in a number of ways after a dog bite in Arizona. First and foremost, they can help you navigate the legal system and ensure that your rights are protected. They can also help you gather evidence to support your claim, such as medical records and witness statements. Additionally, a dog bite lawyer can negotiate with the dog owner's insurance company to reach a settlement or represent you in court if necessary.

Preventing Dog Bites in Arizona

Preventing dog bites is important for the safety of both humans and dogs. In Arizona, there are several things you can do to prevent dog bites, such as:

Keep your dog on a leash in public places

Supervise children when they're around dogs

Avoid approaching unfamiliar dogs

Don't disturb dogs that are sleeping, eating, or caring for puppies

Never leave a child alone with a dog

Conclusion

If you've been bitten by a dog in Arizona, it's important to seek medical attention, report the incident, and contact a dog bite lawyer in Phoenix, AZ. Remember that Arizona has a strict liability law

[apriljlynch29]

Heroic 6 Year Old Boy Saves Sister From Deadly Dog Bite

Picture courtesy of Niki Walker @nicolenoelwalker       Dog Bite Attorney Phoenix Arizona Tucker Miller Law

The incredible story of Bridger, the heroic six-year-old boy from Wyoming who saved his sister from a dog attack earlier this month.

Amazingly  this mini “Titan”  is a Juijiteiro!! Bridger – is a student of jiu-jitsu – and his pediatrician told him he was the “bravest patient” they ever had. He intervened to save his sister from the dog attack because he stated: “If someone had to die, I thought it should be me.”  Original Story here

Bridger, you are a real super hero and we at Tucker Miller Law are incredibly proud of and inspired by your bravery!!

Dog Attack Attorney Phoenix Arizona

What should I do after dog bite?

If a dog bites you, take these steps right away: Wash the wound. … Slow the bleeding with a clean cloth.Apply over-the counter antibiotic cream if you have it. Wrap the wound in a sterile bandage. Keep the wound bandaged and see your doctor. Change the bandage several times a day once your doctor has examined the wound.

What should I do if I get bit by a dog legally?

Steps to take after a dog bite Identify the dog and its owner. Immediately identify the owner of the dog or the person who had custody of the dog when it attacked you. … Seek medical care. … File a dog bite report. … Gather more information. … Photograph your injuries. … Contact an attorney. … Begin a journal.

Do I need to see a doctor after a dog bite?

Should you see a doctor for a dog bite? Yes. Although you can provide first aid for a dog bite at home, it’s important to see a doctor, especially if an unfamiliar dog bit you, the bite is deep, you can’t stop the bleeding, or there are any signs of infection (redness, swelling, warmth, pus).

What to do after being attacked by a dog?

The steps you should take after a dog attack are:

seek medical attention immediately

follow your doctor’s wound-cleaning orders,

report the incident to your local animal control

identify witnesses,

document the bite wound,

speak to a personal injury attorney at Tucker Miller Law 602-870-5511

Dog Attack Arizona Law Firm

What to do if your dog bites you and breaks the skin?

To care for the wound:

Stop the wound from bleeding by applying direct pressure with a clean, dry cloth. Wash the wound. … Apply an antibacterial ointment to the wound. … Put on a sterile bandage. If the bite is on the neck, head, face, hand, fingers, or feet, call your provider right away.

What food should not be taken after dog bite?

Some of the studies done in India have brought out a list of restriction followed by the victims which includes: not eating potatoes, milk, coriander, dhal, spicy foods, tomatoes, meat, etc.

How long do I have to sue for a dog bite?

One Year Is The Time Limits for Filing a Dog Bite Claim. If you are the victim of a dog bite, Arizona law requires you to take legal action against the dog’s owner within one year of the attack. This is referred to as the statute of limitations.

How long after a dog bite does infection set in?

After being bitten, most people who become ill will show symptoms within 3 to 5 days, but this can range anywhere from 1 to 14 days. Most Capnocytophaga infections usually occur with dog or cat bites. But some people who develop a Capnocytophaga infection have not been bitten.

Do all dog bites need antibiotics?

Most animal bites are from a dog, usually one known to the victim. … Antibiotic prophylaxis should be considered, especially if there is a high risk of infection, such as with cat bites, with puncture wounds, with wounds to the hand, and in persons who are immunosuppressed.

What does a dog bite infection look like? 

The most common symptoms of infection from animal bites are redness, pain, swelling, and inflammation at the site of the bite. You should seek immediate medical treatment if any of these symptoms continue for more than 24 hours. Other symptoms of infection include pus or fluid oozing from the wound.

Why did my dog attack me for no reason?

Some medical conditions can cause dogs to become aggressive. If a dog that has never shown any sign of aggression suddenly begins growling, snapping, or biting, it may be caused by a disease or illness. … Your suddenly aggressive dog may have an injury or an illness that’s causing major discomfort and stress.

What happens if my dog bites me and draws blood?

Puncture Wounds The flow of blood out of the wound will help to cleanse it. After five minutes, see if you can stop the bleeding through direct pressure. Again, if it does not stop, call for emergency help. If it does stop, cleanse the wound by rinsing under running water with mild soap for five minutes.

Do you need a tetanus shot for a dog bite?

Vaccine considerations following a dog bite should include evaluation of need for tetanus prophylaxis. Dog bites generally are not considered to be tetanus prone unless they are contaminated with soil. … Tetanus toxoid should be administered to patients following a high-risk bite and without vaccination within 10 years.

Who Is Liable In A Dog Bite Injury Claim?

There could be multiple people or entities that may be liable for a dog bite. It is possible if the owner of the dog is not present, a caretaker for the dog may be jointly liable for injuries. There may be other instances where other entities or individuals may be held liable. It is important to consult with an experienced dog bite attorney to determine who the correct parties are in order to file a proper claim.

Under Arizona Law Would A Dog Owner Will Most Likely Be Held Liable?

In Arizona there are very limited situations where a dog owner may avoid liability. There are a few defenses to dog bite claims including baiting and trespassing. Baiting is when the injured person does something that a reasonable person would believe would provoke a dog. This can be something as simple as poking a dog or pulling its ears. The dog bite statute requires an injured person to be on public property or lawfully on private property when the injury occurs. Therefore, if an injured party was trespassing, the owner may not be held liable for the injuries.

How soon after dog bite do I need tetanus?

Even if you are able to clean up the wound yourself, you should still visit a doctor immediately after being bitten. Tetanus shots may need to be administered within 48 hours to be most effective.

How many injections are required for dog bite?

Start a course of 5 anti-rabies injections. Injections at 0 days, 3, 7, 14 and 28 days. Make sure you tell the hospital as much about the dog as you can,

Arizona Dog Attack Law Firm

How much is a dog bite claim worth?

  State           Average Cost per Claim    Number of Claims     Claim Payout

1             New York                   $59,789                    821                                  $49.09

2             New Jersey               $55,522                     586                                  $32.54

3             Utah                          $45,760                      116                                   $    5.31

4             California                 $45,542                    2166                                     $98.65

5             Arizona                     $44,522                      393                                    $17.50

Ranking (highest) Information curated from Quote Wizard

The average settlement amount for a dog bite claim was around $32,000 in 2014, an amount that has only increased since. Oct 18, 2017

Does insurance pay for dog bite?

Insurance covers accidents and statutory liability If the incident is not an accident, but was intentional, only the victim’s insurance will provide coverage. Dog bites are 99.9% accidents, so both kinds of insurance are available if the dog owner and the victim have them. If you are a dog owner, consider bumping up your liability coverage to over $500,000 to ensure you’re financially covered in the event of a dog bite. Some would suggest purchasing an umbrella policy of one million dollars in coverage.

Can The State Of Arizona Take My Dog From Me?

Yes, depending if your dog is proven to be vicious without provocation. However, Arizona is the 20th state to completely do away with breed-specific legislation — laws that ban or otherwise regulate dogs by breed.

Dog Bite Lawyer Arizona

The American Veterinary Medical Association states that the rate of dog bites for children is highest between the ages of 5-9.

Most Dog Bites Occur with a Known Dog, in a Familiar Place

Most dog bites affecting young children occur during everyday activities and while interacting with familiar dogs (CDC).

The vast majority of biting dogs (77%) belong to the victim’s family or a friend (CDC).

80% of dog bites happen at home. (Kahn et al (2004) Miller and Howell (2007).

Can I lose my house if my dog bites someone?

Dog bites can be a serious problem. If a canine bit someone on your property, you may need to fight a lawsuit. Conversely, if you were bitten by a dog on someone else’s property, you may be able to recover damages from the property owner. Contact a local personal injury attorney to discuss your legal options.

If You Or A Loved One Have been bitten or Attacked By A Dog Give Us A Call Today 602-870-5511

DISCLAIMER: All statement contained are not meant to be medical or legal advice. Consult Your Physician if Bitten By A Dog

from Personal Injury Maricopa County AZ https://tuckermillerlaw.com/heroic-6-year-old-boy-saves-sister-from-deadly-dog-bite/ from Tucker Miller Law Phoenix Litigation Lawyers https://tuckermillerlaw.tumblr.com/post/624458434948038656

[tuckermillerlaw]

Heroic 6 Year Old Boy Saves Sister From Deadly Dog Bite

Picture courtesy of Niki Walker @nicolenoelwalker       Dog Bite Attorney Phoenix Arizona Tucker Miller Law

The incredible story of Bridger, the heroic six-year-old boy from Wyoming who saved his sister from a dog attack earlier this month.

Amazingly  this mini “Titan”  is a Juijiteiro!! Bridger – is a student of jiu-jitsu – and his pediatrician told him he was the “bravest patient” they ever had. He intervened to save his sister from the dog attack because he stated: “If someone had to die, I thought it should be me.”  Original Story here

Bridger, you are a real super hero and we at Tucker Miller Law are incredibly proud of and inspired by your bravery!!

Dog Attack Attorney Phoenix Arizona

What should I do after dog bite?

If a dog bites you, take these steps right away: Wash the wound. … Slow the bleeding with a clean cloth.Apply over-the counter antibiotic cream if you have it. Wrap the wound in a sterile bandage. Keep the wound bandaged and see your doctor. Change the bandage several times a day once your doctor has examined the wound.

What should I do if I get bit by a dog legally?

Steps to take after a dog bite Identify the dog and its owner. Immediately identify the owner of the dog or the person who had custody of the dog when it attacked you. … Seek medical care. … File a dog bite report. … Gather more information. … Photograph your injuries. … Contact an attorney. … Begin a journal.

Do I need to see a doctor after a dog bite?

Should you see a doctor for a dog bite? Yes. Although you can provide first aid for a dog bite at home, it’s important to see a doctor, especially if an unfamiliar dog bit you, the bite is deep, you can’t stop the bleeding, or there are any signs of infection (redness, swelling, warmth, pus).

What to do after being attacked by a dog?

The steps you should take after a dog attack are:

seek medical attention immediately

follow your doctor’s wound-cleaning orders,

report the incident to your local animal control

identify witnesses,

document the bite wound,

speak to a personal injury attorney at Tucker Miller Law 602-870-5511

  Dog Attack Arizona Law Firm

What to do if your dog bites you and breaks the skin?

To care for the wound:

Stop the wound from bleeding by applying direct pressure with a clean, dry cloth. Wash the wound. … Apply an antibacterial ointment to the wound. … Put on a sterile bandage. If the bite is on the neck, head, face, hand, fingers, or feet, call your provider right away.

What food should not be taken after dog bite?

Some of the studies done in India have brought out a list of restriction followed by the victims which includes: not eating potatoes, milk, coriander, dhal, spicy foods, tomatoes, meat, etc.

How long do I have to sue for a dog bite?

One Year Is The Time Limits for Filing a Dog Bite Claim. If you are the victim of a dog bite, Arizona law requires you to take legal action against the dog’s owner within one year of the attack. This is referred to as the statute of limitations.

How long after a dog bite does infection set in?

After being bitten, most people who become ill will show symptoms within 3 to 5 days, but this can range anywhere from 1 to 14 days. Most Capnocytophaga infections usually occur with dog or cat bites. But some people who develop a Capnocytophaga infection have not been bitten.

Do all dog bites need antibiotics?

Most animal bites are from a dog, usually one known to the victim. … Antibiotic prophylaxis should be considered, especially if there is a high risk of infection, such as with cat bites, with puncture wounds, with wounds to the hand, and in persons who are immunosuppressed.

What does a dog bite infection look like? 

The most common symptoms of infection from animal bites are redness, pain, swelling, and inflammation at the site of the bite. You should seek immediate medical treatment if any of these symptoms continue for more than 24 hours. Other symptoms of infection include pus or fluid oozing from the wound.

Why did my dog attack me for no reason?

Some medical conditions can cause dogs to become aggressive. If a dog that has never shown any sign of aggression suddenly begins growling, snapping, or biting, it may be caused by a disease or illness. … Your suddenly aggressive dog may have an injury or an illness that’s causing major discomfort and stress.

What happens if my dog bites me and draws blood?

Puncture Wounds The flow of blood out of the wound will help to cleanse it. After five minutes, see if you can stop the bleeding through direct pressure. Again, if it does not stop, call for emergency help. If it does stop, cleanse the wound by rinsing under running water with mild soap for five minutes.

Do you need a tetanus shot for a dog bite?

Vaccine considerations following a dog bite should include evaluation of need for tetanus prophylaxis. Dog bites generally are not considered to be tetanus prone unless they are contaminated with soil. … Tetanus toxoid should be administered to patients following a high-risk bite and without vaccination within 10 years.

Who Is Liable In A Dog Bite Injury Claim?

There could be multiple people or entities that may be liable for a dog bite. It is possible if the owner of the dog is not present, a caretaker for the dog may be jointly liable for injuries. There may be other instances where other entities or individuals may be held liable. It is important to consult with an experienced dog bite attorney to determine who the correct parties are in order to file a proper claim.

Under Arizona Law Would A Dog Owner Will Most Likely Be Held Liable?

In Arizona there are very limited situations where a dog owner may avoid liability. There are a few defenses to dog bite claims including baiting and trespassing. Baiting is when the injured person does something that a reasonable person would believe would provoke a dog. This can be something as simple as poking a dog or pulling its ears. The dog bite statute requires an injured person to be on public property or lawfully on private property when the injury occurs. Therefore, if an injured party was trespassing, the owner may not be held liable for the injuries.

How soon after dog bite do I need tetanus?

Even if you are able to clean up the wound yourself, you should still visit a doctor immediately after being bitten. Tetanus shots may need to be administered within 48 hours to be most effective.

How many injections are required for dog bite?

Start a course of 5 anti-rabies injections. Injections at 0 days, 3, 7, 14 and 28 days. Make sure you tell the hospital as much about the dog as you can,

Arizona Dog Attack Law Firm

How much is a dog bite claim worth?

  State           Average Cost per Claim    Number of Claims     Claim Payout

1             New York                   $59,789                    821                                  $49.09

2             New Jersey               $55,522                     586                                  $32.54

3             Utah                          $45,760                      116                                   $    5.31

4             California                 $45,542                    2166                                     $98.65

5             Arizona                     $44,522                      393                                    $17.50

Ranking (highest) Information curated from Quote Wizard

The average settlement amount for a dog bite claim was around $32,000 in 2014, an amount that has only increased since. Oct 18, 2017

Does insurance pay for dog bite?

Insurance covers accidents and statutory liability If the incident is not an accident, but was intentional, only the victim’s insurance will provide coverage. Dog bites are 99.9% accidents, so both kinds of insurance are available if the dog owner and the victim have them. If you are a dog owner, consider bumping up your liability coverage to over $500,000 to ensure you’re financially covered in the event of a dog bite. Some would suggest purchasing an umbrella policy of one million dollars in coverage.

Can The State Of Arizona Take My Dog From Me?

Yes, depending if your dog is proven to be vicious without provocation. However, Arizona is the 20th state to completely do away with breed-specific legislation — laws that ban or otherwise regulate dogs by breed.

  Dog Bite Lawyer Arizona

The American Veterinary Medical Association states that the rate of dog bites for children is highest between the ages of 5-9.

Most Dog Bites Occur with a Known Dog, in a Familiar Place

Most dog bites affecting young children occur during everyday activities and while interacting with familiar dogs (CDC).

The vast majority of biting dogs (77%) belong to the victim’s family or a friend (CDC).

80% of dog bites happen at home. (Kahn et al (2004) Miller and Howell (2007).

Can I lose my house if my dog bites someone?

Dog bites can be a serious problem. If a canine bit someone on your property, you may need to fight a lawsuit. Conversely, if you were bitten by a dog on someone else’s property, you may be able to recover damages from the property owner. Contact a local personal injury attorney to discuss your legal options.

If You Or A Loved One Have been bitten or Attacked By A Dog Give Us A Call Today 602-870-5511

DISCLAIMER: All statement contained are not meant to be medical or legal advice. Consult Your Physician if Bitten By A Dog

from Personal Injury Maricopa County AZ https://tuckermillerlaw.com/heroic-6-year-old-boy-saves-sister-from-deadly-dog-bite/

[rispoli-law-blog]

Common Personal Injury Cases Attorneys Handle

Because you live in an imperfect world, accidents and mishaps are a part of life. You expect to suffer some bumps and bruises along the way, but no one should have to go through a severe accident alone. If you're on the wrong end of a significant injury, you could get financial help to cover medical bills, treatments and recovery. a skilled attorney can help you get the compensation you deserve. These legal professionals are accustomed to handling a wide range of cases.

Car Accidents

Injuries sustained from vehicle collisions are among the most common cases lawyers see. While car accidents are hardly rare, the most severe can cause significant injuries, which, in turn, carry hefty medical expenses. Lawyers are skilled at holding offenders accountable and at working with insurance companies to pay to the fullest extent of their policies. Injury attorneys will take every relevant factor into consideration, including whether the person at fault was driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, or what traffic laws were broken to cause the crash.

Dog Bites

Man's best friend doesn't always play nice. When a dog gets aggressive and bites, significant injuries and medical treatment can result. Important elements of a dog bite case include whether the dog was on a leash, if the dog has any known history of biting people, if the bite drew blood and whether the owner was present when the bite or attack occurred. The victim could sue for damages, and the penalties could include euthanization of the animal.

Slips and Falls

These are common mishaps, but they can also cause major injuries such as broken bones and concussions. Proving that someone caused your slip or fall requires that you and your attorney can show that the property owner created a dangerous condition that you could not have expected. You have a good chance to win your case if you can demonstrate that the property owner knew about the condition and refused to correct it or that the owner willfully caused the situation.

Medical Malpractice

You can sue a doctor, medical facility or medical manufacturer if you can prove that you suffered injuries due to a mistake in surgery, wrongly prescribed medication, defective equipment or negligence on the part of the provider.

If you have experienced any of these scenarios, you should speak to a medical malpractice attorney in Phoenix, AZ today. It's likely that you have incurred significant medical bills. If you win your case, you shouldn't have to worry about handling this financial obligation on your own.

Thanks to Rispoli Law, PLLC for their insight into personal injury claims and common kinds of injury claims.

[ntrending]

Shelters often mislabel dog breeds. But should we be labeling them at all?

New Post has been published on https://nexcraft.co/shelters-often-mislabel-dog-breeds-but-should-we-be-labeling-them-at-all/

Shelters often mislabel dog breeds. But should we be labeling them at all?

Pit bulls get a bad rap, which is especially vexing given that no one actually knows exactly what a pit bull is. There’s no unified definition, because “pit bull” is not a recognized breed. But the label can have devastating consequences for dogs in shelters, who are perceived as less adoptable because of their purported heritage. In recent years, especially with the advent of genetic testing, some researchers have a new idea: just stop labelling mixed-breed dogs altogether.

Researchers at Arizona State University decided to do a large-scale analysis of shelter dogs by looking at every pup that came through the doors of two animal shelters, one in Phoenix, AZ and one in San Diego, CA. Shelter workers were asked to identify the primary and secondary breeds of each dog (or simply “mixed breed” if it was too heterogeneous), as is standard at most American organizations, and scientists took cheek swabs from each to test their genetic heritage. They published their results in the journal PLOS ONE.

Not only were shelter workers relatively inaccurate with their breed labels, according to the data, but even correctly-identified dogs generally got less than half of their genome from the so-called primary breed. Dogs correctly ID-ed as pit bull mixes were on average only 38-48 percent “pit bull,” here defined as having some heritage from an American Staffordshire Terrier, an American Bulldog, a Bull Terrier, or a Staffordshire Bull Terrier. The same was true for other breeds. Chihuahua mixes were generally about 38 to 39 percent Chihuahua. Poodle mixes were only around one-third Poodle.

But despite being less than half pit bull (not that there’s anything wrong with pit bulls in the first place—more on that later), dogs with that label stayed in the shelter for nearly twice as long. The average for non-pit bull types was 19.7 days, whereas pit bull mixes stayed for 37.5 days. In this study, just four dogs got a pit label without having significant pit-type DNA (at least one quarter), and in prior research there have been similarly low false positive rates. The overall accuracy wasn’t great, though. Two-thirds of the dogs had at least one of the staff-identified breeds in them, but that leaves a full third of dogs who were completely misidentified. When asked to list both a primary and secondary breed, staff accuracy dropped to just over 10 percent, and more than half of those correct IDs were for purebred dogs who happened to end up in shelters. That’s largely in line with other research, which according to the National Canine Research Council “has consistently shown that visual breed identification is very often inaccurate.”

Given how often shelter staff are incorrect, then, the researchers argue we shouldn’t be labeling these dogs at all—especially given how irrelevant breed identification is when it comes to behavior.

Purebred dogs have certainly been pushed toward certain temperaments, but as the researchers point out, the variability in behavior within a breed is generally greater than the variability between breeds. So yes, an American Staffordshire Terrier may be more prone to aggressiveness, but aggression isn’t an inherent characteristic for every dog within that breed, and there’s little research to suggest that a specific aggression trait would be passed along to a mixed-breed dog. Even purebred pit bull types are mostly non-fighters. In an interview with The Cut, Bronwen Dickey, author of the book Pit Bull: The Battle Over an American Icon notes that “The cruelty-investigators and the experts that I talked to stressed that if a breeder is rigorously selecting for those traits for generations and generations, it still is considered a very high success rate if they get one in the litter who has the fighting makeup.” He says historians noted that even in the 1920s heyday of dog fighting, only between 1 and 10 percent of pit bulls were actually used for violent entertainment. The rest were all-purpose dogs.

And it makes sense, because temperament is a complex trait that’s not easily passed down. Carol Beuchat, scientific director of the Institute of Canine Biology and a professor at UC Berkeley, writes that even though most breeders try to select for specific behavioral traits, “anybody who has tried it can tell you that producing dogs that will display the behaviors you want isn’t easy.” Behavior is the result of environmental factors and genes, and we don’t yet understand how those interplay. Beuchat notes that “A dog with high levels of aggression might have the genes for low aggression, but poor socialization or some bad experiences early in life have had a large, negative effect on the expression of that trait.”

It’s because of this lack of evidence for inherent characteristics that numerous animal associations have spoken out against banning specifics breeds. The American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior notes that “any dog may bite, regardless of the dog’s size or sex, or reported breed or mix of breeds.” The American Kennel Club says that it “strongly opposes any legislation that determines a dog to be ‘dangerous’ based on specific breeds or phenotypic classes of dogs.” What’s more, the City Attorney’s Office of Topeka, KS notes that banning specific breeds from towns, cities, or even just apartment buildings “has generally been discredited in actual experience of cities, professionals and academic research as being both ineffective and expensive.”

For all of these reasons, researchers on this recent paper and others have suggested it might be better for all parties if shelters simply stopped identifying dogs based on their purported breeds. Even when they’re correct, they don’t tell us a lot about behavior. When they’re wrong, they can have unfortunate consequences for the dog. Instead, researchers suggest describing the dog’s physical characteristics and—most importantly—their temperament. A perky pup may not be what you’re looking for, even if it has the physical look you have in mind. Maybe you want a chilled out dog instead—even if it looks like a pit bull.

Written By Sara Chodosh