Episode #130 - Mike Agruss: A Nuanced Approach to Dog Bite Advocacy

When justice meets compassion—for people and dogs.

September 1, 20205

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TLDL (Too Long, Didn’t Listen):

1️⃣ Insurance is non-negotiable – Whether you own or rent, make sure your policy covers dog bites. It’s an inexpensive safeguard that can prevent devastating financial fallout.
 
2️⃣ Prevention is powerful – Simple management strategies—like giving dogs a quiet space away from parties or teaching kids respectful interactions—can stop most bites before they happen.
 
3️⃣ Dog bite cases are about insurance, not revenge – Pursuing a claim doesn’t mean targeting the dog or its owner; it’s about accessing the coverage that exists to help everyone move forward.
 

Episode Overview:

Content Warning: This episode contains discussion of dog bites.
 
When a dog bite happens, emotions run high—fear, guilt, anger, confusion. For over two decades, attorney Mike Agruss has stood beside clients navigating those stressful moments, advocating not just for their rights, but for a fair and nuanced approach that considers both people and dogs. In this conversation, Mike shares how his own dog bite experience shaped his empathetic yet effective legal work, why insurance is a critical but often overlooked safety net, and the simple steps that can prevent life-changing incidents.
 
We dig into dog bite statistics, what they do—and don’t—tell us, common misunderstandings about “dangerous breeds,” and the intersection of legal advocacy, prevention, and responsible pet guardianship. If you live with dogs, work with dogs, or love dogs, this episode will shift the way you think about safety, liability, and advocacy.

Meet Our Guest

Mike Agruss

A white man with short brown hair seated with his hands folded.

I wanted to be a lawyer since I could walk.  I grew up in a very toxic household.  My parents had a brutal divorce that lasted 20+ years.  I was always put in the middle and never had control of the situation. I know firsthand what it’s like to not be in control in a highly stressful situation.  This is the exact situation our clients are in when they come to 844 See Mike.  Whether it’s an injury case or a consumer rights case, our clients are in a stressful situation with little control.  For example, the insurance companies that are supposed to protect our clients in an injury case often turn their back and do not do the right things. 

I take my first-hand experience growing up, give my clients a voice, and immediately turn the tables to give control back to my clients.  There was never a question in my mind that I would go to law school and practice law.  I also always knew I would represent individual clients and not companies, businesses, or insurance companies.  I am wired to be a plaintiff’s lawyer.  I always say you are either a plaintiff’s lawyer or you are not.  I am 100% a plaintiff’s lawyer.  I love what we do for our clients.  My experiences as a child drives me to wake up every day wanting to help our clients.  It’s in my DNA.

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Meet the Hosts

Allie Bender, CDBC, CPDT-KA, SBA

Allie Bender is a Certified Dog Behavior Consultant, Certified Professional Dog Trainer- Knowledge Assessed, and a Shelter Behavior Affiliate. She has been in the animal welfare industry since 2006 and professionally training since 2012. She is the founder and co-owner of Pet Harmony, co-author of Canine Enrichment for the Real World, and a national speaker.

While in the animal sheltering industry, Allie realized that her passion lied in helping pets with maladaptive behaviors. Specifically, she wanted to help prevent animals with rehabilitatable problems from being euthanized. She loves working with dogs and cats displaying stranger danger, resource guarding, and leash reactivity. Her favorite thing about working with pets and their people is seeing relationships grow and seeing harmonious households develop.

EMIly strong

Emily Strong is a Certified Dog Behavior Consultant and Shelter Behavior Affiliate. She has been in the animal welfare industry since 1990 and has been a behavior consultant since 2008. She is the co-owner of Pet Harmony, co-author of Canine Enrichment for the Real World, and a national speaker. 

Emily started working with animals at a young age and struggled with the notion that you have to hurt, scare, or intimidate animals to help them. When she discovered the behavior sciences and learned that it wasn’t necessary to do so– that we can care for emotional, mental, and physical health simultaneously– she plunged headfirst into animal behavior. Emily loves helping current and prospective behavior professionals and working with pet parents through our in-depth services. She enjoys working with all species.

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