The third week of May has long been designated Dog Bite Prevention week. We found this timely and fact-filled article about dog bite prevention on the American Veterinary Medical Association site.
Here are some startling facts as noted in the article:
- Each year, more than 4.5 million people in the U.S. are bitten by dogs.
- Almost 1 in 5 people bitten by dogs require medical attention.
- Every year, more than 800,000 Americans receive medical attention for dog bites; at least half of them are children.
- Children are, by far, the most common victims of dog bites and are far more likely to be severely injured.
- Most dog bites affecting young children occur during everyday activities and while interacting with familiar dogs.
- Senior citizens are the second most common dog bite victims.
What steps can you take to assure your children are safe around both family pets and strange dogs they may encounter? Here are some of our thoughts:
- The adults in the home need to be aware of the interactions between children and pets
- Make certain your children know they should not run up and pet dogs they don’t know
- Teach your children to be respectful and responsible around pets
- Don’t leave young children unsupervised around your dogs — even the most laid-back family dog could be having a bad day and nip at a child
- Understand your dog’s body language and pay attention to changes in his or her mood or behavior and remove him from a situation that may be upsetting him.
What are your best practice tips for helping dogs and children get along in a healthy way with one another?
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