Woof! California Top Dog In Bites

California is the top dog in State Farm’s annual list of dog bite claims, and the state’s reported 527 dog bite claims and more than $20 million paid out in 2011 by the Bloomington, Ill.-based carrier represents an increase of more than 30 percent from last year. This year’s figure represents an increase in bite claims. In 2010 State Farm reported 401 dog bite claims in California, according to company spokesman Eddie Martinez, who didn’t have a good explanation for the increase.