Dog Bite Prevention Week

Please Set Aside a Couple of Minutes This Week: May 20-26

Would it surprise you to know that this week is observed annually as Dog Bite Prevention Week? Every single day, five thousand Americans are bitten by dogs, and most of them are children. Statistics indicate that half of kids will sustain a dog bite by the time they reach the age of 12. Bites frequently damage the face and lips, making proper repair especially difficult (and expensive), often affecting the victim permanently in visible and invisible ways. Deaths also occur this way, albeit not very commonly. But you have dog at home, a great dog. Dog Bite Prevention Week actually has nothing to do with you. Right?

Did you know that most dog bites come from dogs you already know, dogs owned by family or close friends? Did you know that kids who like dogs and live with a dog are the ones most likely to be bitten? No family is immune, and everyone is hurt by a dog vs. person incident, even the dog.

You can make a big difference by explaining to your child that not all dogs are comfortable with children, that any dog of any size, breed, or appearance can bite without thinking if a situation becomes too frightening or confusing for him. That can be a hard pill to swallow, even for some adults. (Here’s another: dogs and children should not be left unsupervised.) Children need to be warned that other people’s dogs can’t be treated like our own. Perhaps we can hug or kiss our own family pet, but those are very risky behaviors around a less familiar dog. Always ask the owner before approaching their pet. We must never pursue a dog that appears frightened or attempts to hide. It’s not a good idea to touch a dog that is eating, sleeping, or caring for puppies. Dogs often try to warn us when they are becoming nervous enough to bite. Do you know the signs of an anxious dog? Take fifteen minutes this week and sit down at a computer with your child. Type in “fearful dog” and discuss some of the images you find.

Dog owners, take heed! Pay careful attention to the signals your dog is giving. You may be the only one who can read them, and he is depending on you to do so. Don’t assume that your dog enjoys the company of children; many dogs do not. Even first-time biters and their owners are routinely ostracized by neighbors, friends, even family. Pressure to get rid of the pet is sometimes applied, and it could be litigious in nature. Your computer assignment might be to spend ten minutes searching “dog bite attorney”. Pause this week and give careful, objective consideration to the anxiety level of your pet, then politely but firmly avoid situations that make him nervous. If each of us genuinely attempts something this week, perhaps we can change the statistics for the coming year. Dr M.S. Regan