Saturday, May 24, 2014

National Dog Bite Prevention Week

As Dr. Mark Paradise discussed this Saturday morning on WPRO - Pet Care, May 18th-24th was National Dog Bite Prevention Week. 


According to research done by the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA):
  • 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.

Information and education are the best solutions for this public health crisis. To help prevent bites from accidentally occurring, use these tips as a guide, and don't pet a dog if any of the following are true:
  • The dog is not with its owner.
  • The dog is with its owner, but the owner does not give permission to pet the dog. 
  • The dog is on the other side of a fence, don’t reach through or over a fence to pet the dog.
  • The dog is sleeping or eating.
  • The dog is sick or injured.
  • The dog is resting with her puppies or seems very protective of her puppies and anxious about your presence.
  • The dog is playing with a toy.
  • The dog is a service dog. Service dogs likely won't bite, but they are working animals and shouldn’t be distracted while they are doing their jobs.
  • The dog is growling or barking.
  • The dog appears to be hiding or seeking time alone in its special place.

Also, just a reminder, it is always important to keep your pet's rabies vaccination up to date. Any pet who bites someone and is not up to date on his or her rabies vaccination may be forcibly quarantined by Animal Control! Call us today if your pet needs a booster: 401-949-5030.