Have you ever come face-to-face with a slightly more aggressive dog, or found yourself feeling threatened by an animal?It is important to know how to act in those situations, which is why this upcoming week (May 17-23) is National Dog Bite Prevention Week! Put on annually by the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), its goal is to spread awareness and educate the population on dog bite avoidance and prevention. While 70 million dogs live in US households, 4.7 million Americans report being bitten by dogs annually, with 800,000 Americans receiving medical treatment. However, many of these situations could have been avoided with more knowledge on how to act towards and around domestic dogs.
Know the facts:
- Children are largely the most targeted age group for dog bites, followed by senior citizens
- When young children are bitten, it is usually by familiar dogs during everyday activities
- Dogs bite are often reactions to something, such as stressful situations in which they feel threatened, startled, or unwell
- Biting is often one defense mechanism for dogs (growling and body language are others) – they may be defending themselves, their territory, their young, or their food
- Socializing your dog from a young age can reduce the likelihood that they will bite
The AVMA recommends some tips for teaching children about dog bite prevention – review them below and be sure to share them with family and friends:
- Start young: teaching children to be cautious and gentle towards animals from a young age is important while they develop their interaction skills with dogs
- Supervise: be sure to watch your children (especially younger ones) while they interact with dogs to make sure they are being respectful and kind
- Avoid unknown/unfamiliar dogs, and teach your children to do the same
- Report any stray dogs you find to your local animal control center
- Communicate: Always ask the owner’s permission to pet their dog, no matter how friendly it may seem
- Respect: Do not bother animals when they’re sleeping or eating, as they can act more defensive in these personal spaces
- Do not tease dogs by taking their toys, or pretending to kick or hit
- Teach children not to pull dog’s ears or tail or to try to ride or climb on them
If attacked by a dog, make sure you (or your child):
- Confidently and quietly walks away, if possible
- If the dog pursues, stand still “like a tree” – hands down in front, still, looking at your feet
- If knocked over by the dog – cover your head and neck with you arms and curl into a ball
- It is especially important to avoid escalating the situation by yelling, running, hitting, or making sudden movements
Make sure you review these tips and share them with friends and family for a safe and sound, dog-bite-free year!
For more information on education and prevention for National Dog Bite Prevention week, please visit www.preventthebite.org
For the Best that Pet Lifestyle and Animal Welfare has to offer follow Wendy and Lucky Diamond on Facebook, Twitter, and right here at AnimalFair.com!
