Pet Safety
by Lori Marques, one of the Paranoid Sisters
“Oh, he’s friendly, he wouldn’t bite anybody,” says the dog owner at the park whose “easy-going Fido” is
running loose around the children’s’ playground. We cringe whenever we hear that, especially when we
think back to a recent situation when a close friend’s seven year-old daughter got bit on the head and
face. The dog had to be pried off her and the physical injuries required 54 stitches, the emotional ones
were not so easy to fix.
According to the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), dog bite victims requiring medical
attention in the United States number 500,000 to 1 million annually. Countless more bites go unreported
and untreated. On average, about a dozen people die each year from dog bites. AVMA also reports that
children make up more than 60 percent of all dog bite victims.
Here is an excerpt from the AVMA’s brochure on preventing dog bites:
Carefully consider your pet selection.
Make sure your pet is socialized as a young puppy, so it feels at ease around people and other animals.
Train your dog.
Keep your dog healthy.
Neuter your pet.
Be alert. Know your dog. You naturally would be alert to signs of illness, but you must also watch for signs your dog is uncomfortable or feeling aggressive.
How can my family and I avoid being bitten?
Be cautious around strange dogs and treat your own pet with respect. Because children are the most frequent victims of dog bites, parents and caregivers should:
NEVER leave a baby or small child alone with a dog.
Be on the lookout for potentially dangerous situations.
Start teaching young children - including toddlers - to be careful around pets. Children must be taught NOT to approach strange dogs. Children should be taught to ask permission from a dog's owner before petting the dog.
Don't run past a dog. Dogs naturally love to chase and catch things. Don't give them a reason to
become excited or aggressive.
Never disturb a dog that's caring for puppies, sleeping or eating.
If a dog approaches to sniff you - stay still. In most cases, the dog will go away when it determines
you're not a threat.
If a dog threatens you, remain calm. Don't scream. If you say anything, speak calmly and firmly.
Avoid eye contact. Try to stay still until the dog leaves, or back away slowly until the dog is out of sight.
Don't turn and run.
If you fall or are knocked to the ground, curl into a ball with your hands over your head and neck.
Protect your face.
What should I do if my dog bites someone?
Even if the bite can be explained (perhaps someone stepped on the dog's tail), it's important to take
responsibility for your dog's actions by taking these steps:
Restrain the dog immediately. Separate it from the scene of the attack. Confine it.
Check on the victim's condition. Wash wounds with soap and water. Professional medical advice
should be sought to evaluate the risk of rabies or other infections. Call 911 if paramedic response is
required.
Provide important information: your name and address, and information about your dog's most
recent rabies vaccination. If your dog does not have a current rabies vaccination, it may be necessary to
quarantine it or even euthanize it for rabies testing. The person bitten may need to undergo rabies
treatment.
Report the bite to your insurance company.
Comply with local ordinances regarding the reporting of dog bites.
Consult your veterinarian for advice about dog behavior that will help prevent similar problems in the
future.
If YOU are the bite victim - treat wounds.
If your own dog bit you, confine it immediately and call your veterinarian to check your dog's
vaccination records.
If someone else's dog bit you, contact authorities and tell them everything you can about the dog: the
owner's name, if you know it; color of the dog; size; where you saw it; if you've seen it before. These
details may help animal-control officers locate the dog
Dogs become part of the family and we don’t want to think that they will bite someone (we don’t want to
think our kids will bite anyone but they do!). Regardless, as you know, we prefer to err on the side of
caution and would rather not discount the fact that dogs are animals and will bite for a variety of reasons.
For a complete copy of the AVMA’s guidelines to prevent dog bites, visit
www.avma.org/press/dogbite/dogbitebroc.asp
