Dog bites account for one of the most commonly reported public health problems in our nation with more than 4,700,000 people bitten each year. The insurance industry pays more than $1 billion in dog-bite claims annually.
Locally, animal control officers investigate nearly 500 dog bites each year. Many of these attacks involve children under the age of 12. Dog bites and attacks can cause serious injury and even kill a person, and it’s imperative that we do all we can to prevent them. Most pet owners feel confident their dogs won’t be a part of these statistics, but the truth is that any dog can bite given the right circumstances. As pet owners, we must manage our pets to ensure they don’t hurt someone.
There is no way to guarantee your dog will never bite, but you can take several precautions that will help prevent incidents.
- First, spay or neuter your pet. Altered pets typically show less aggression and are less likely to roam. They still retain their protectiveness, however, and must be supervised.
- Supervise your dog with children at all times. Even the most stoic dog can bite when the wrong circumstances occur; protect your pet and children by monitoring their activities.
- Train and socialize your pet. Teaching your dog good manners and appropriate behavior not only protects others; it makes him a better companion and family member.
- Don’t play aggressive games with your dog, and never encourage aggression toward other people. Dogs can’t be expected to understand who is a good stranger and who may be a bad stranger, and an innocent person could be bitten.
- Keep your dog at home! Roaming dogs can get into all sorts of trouble.
- Keep your dog restrained on your property. Joggers and bikers often elicit the chase response in dogs which can easily translate into a bite or other injury.
- Make sure your pet has a rabies vaccination and tag. Should your pet bite, a rabies vaccination can mean the difference between being confined at home or at a vet’s office for 10 days.
- Don’t chain or tether your dog all the time. Studies show that dogs on chains tend to learn aggressive behaviors because of their restraint and often become involved in an attack should they break loose. Keep your pet inside as a house pet or provide a fenced yard for more natural confinement.
Now for the kids. As parents, we must teach our children safety around dogs. We teach our kids to be wary of strangers or to watch out for cars, but we often neglect to teach them safety around dogs. Help your child avoid dog bites or attacks by teaching them some basic tips.
Tell them the following:
- Never approach a strange dog, particularly one who’s confined or restrained. Use extreme caution with strange dogs — assume they pose a threat.
- Don’t pet a dog, even your own, without letting him see and sniff you first.
- Never disturb a dog while it’s sleeping, eating, drinking, or chewing on toys.
- Never attempt to pick up or pet a puppy with its mother.
- Avoid running past a dog or turning your back on a dog and running away. A dog’s natural instinct is to chase and catch fleeing prey.
- If your child sees a dog roaming free, he or she should let you or another adult know so someone can call animal control.
So many children love animals; it’s natural for them to rush up and try to pet every one they see. Be sure they learn to respect the animals as well as love them, and to be cautious with dogs they don’t know. When you let your child visit other homes, be sure someone monitors the children with any family dogs. In almost two-thirds of the cases of serious dog bites, the victim knew the dog involved.
Help us prevent dog bites and attacks. You can make your community a safer place by managing your dog and his behavior and by teaching your children safe behavior around dogs. Only through responsible pet ownership, effective animal control ordinances, and animal control services can we ensure safety in our neighborhoods.
If you see a dog bite, or have concerns about an aggressive dog in your neighborhood, call PCAPS, Peoria County Animal Protection Services, at 309-672-2440.