Two-year-old Jacob Bisbee was killed in a dog bite incident in Concord after he was attacked by three of his step-grandfather's pit bulls the morning of July 22, 2010. According to a news report in the Contra Costa Times, the fatal dog attack occurred in the 1700 block of Trailcreek Court, when little Jacob walked into the garage where the three dogs were kept. The pit bills brutally attacked the child causing fatal injuries. Jacob was taken to a local hospital where he died.

His step grandfather, Steven Hayashi, 52, has been arrested on suspicion of felony child endangerment and possession of mischievous animals resulting in death. Hayashi's five dogs were euthanized by animal service shortly after the attack. Although Jacob's grandmother and uncle were home, it is not clear whether Jacob was supervised and how or why he got into the garage.

Tragic Death of a Child

My heart goes out to everyone who knew and loved little Jacob Bisbee. This tragic dog attack could have and should have been prevented. Hayashi had not one, but five ferocious dogs in a house where there were at least two young children. Why was this victim left unsupervised? Why was the garage door not secured at the time? This boy died tragically and unnecessarily. I trust the dog owner in this case will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

Statistics Relating to Dog Bites

Dog bite statistics consistently show that pit bulls cause the majority of fatal dog attacks and the most serious personal injuries in the United States. According to a report released by Dogsbite.org, during the five-year period between January 1, 2005 and March 8, 2010, 158 fatal dog attacks took place in the United States. Pit bulls were responsible for 56 percent of these attacks. This amounts to a pit bull killing an American every 21.5 days. The numbers also show that there were 32 dog bite-related deaths in 2009 – 14 caused by pit bulls and four by Rottweilers.

Should Pit Bulls Be Banned?

Concord city officials attempted to change the city's laws relating to pit bulls, after pit bulls mauled an 11-year-old in 2005. However, they could not act to ban this breed because California laws prohibit breed bans. In this particular case, several neighbors have told the newspaper that they had felt threatened on previous occasions by Hayashi's dogs. Some complained to the city, but got a response from officials saying that Hayashi did nothing wrong or illegal. It is tragic that it took the death of this little boy for the city to be able to confiscate the pit bulls and destroy them.
Dog bite victims and their families would be well-advised to contact an experienced California personal injury lawyer to find out more information about how to pursue their legal rights.

Do you believe pit bulls should be banned in California or nationwide? We would like to hear your opinions on this important issue.

None of the parties mentioned in this article are represented by us at the time this article was posted. The source of our information is cited in the article. If you were involved in this incident and have questions as to your rights and options, call a reputable law firm for a consultation. Do not act solely upon the information provided herein. The BISNAR | CHASE personal injury law firm will provide free, confidential consultation to "not at fault" persons and their family members if you mention your source was the “Personal Injury Law Journal." They can be reached at 866-456-5235 during California business hours.

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