For the second time in less than a month, a Chatham dog owner has paid a hefty penalty in connection to a citizen suffering serious injury from a dog bite.

On Wednesday, a 29-year-old Chatham man was fined $2,505 after being convicted of not exercising reasonable precautions to prevent a dog from biting a person contrary to the Dog Owners’ Liability Act (DOLA), according to a media release issued by Pet and Wildlife Rescue (PAW).

The charge stems from an incident on Jan. 3, when an American bulldog ran across McNaughton Avenue near Sandys Street in Chatham and charged a 64-year-old man and his small dog.

The victim suffered a serious bite to his left hand while attempting to protect his dog from the attack.

He was taken to the Chatham-Kent Health Alliance by ambulance and later underwent surgery in London. A metal plate and pins were placed his wrist area and he is still recovering from his injuries, stated the release.

The dog was held in the care of PAW for bite quarantine and later euthanized.

Last month, a 59-year-old Chatham woman was fined $1,500 under DOLA in connection to her aggressive dog attacking and injuring a 54-year-old man.

“We want to make people aware that charges are being laid and we are taking bites seriously,” said Jason Hamm, manager of animal control services, of the media releases detailing the charges.

If a serious injury results from a dog bite, he said the appropriate steps will be taken in order to make sure the dog owner is fined and there will either be orders against the dog or the animal will be euthanized if necessary.

Hamm said unfortunately there have been a few serious dog bites within the past year.

But he added there are some minor dog bites that occur that aren’t generally released to the media.

“If a dog gets out and it’s scared (and bites someone), it will definitely be dealt with . . . but not to this degree,” Hamm said.

He said in the case of this latest victim, he suffered “a significant and potentially life-altering injury which may result in him losing some movement in his fingers.

“So, the dog owner does have to be held accountable for that,” Hamm said.

eshreve@postmedia.com