Each year 4.7 million Americans – most of them children – are bitten by dogs.
Did you know half of all children will be bitten by a dog by the time they’re high school seniors? They are 900 times more likely to be bitten than postal workers. And most of the biters are family dogs or dogs the children are familiar with.
To raise awareness of one of the nation’s most commonly reported public health problems, the U.S. Postal Service joins forces each year with the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) and other organizations to promote National Dog Bite Prevention Week during the third week of May.
“Warm and wonderful relationships are shared between more than 72 million pet dogs and their owners in the United States,” Dr. Gail C. Golab, director of the AVMA’s Animal Welfare Division, said in a press release. “To protect those relationships, everyone must take responsibility for preventing dog bite injuries.”
It is important to realize that any dog is capable of biting. “Even the gentlest dog, if it is physically or mentally unhealthy, is in pain, feels threatened, or is protecting its food or a favorite toy, can bite,” Golab said. “Not only is it important to understand how dogs behave, it is important to understand how our behavior may be interpreted by a dog. To prevent dog bites, we need to find a common language. Finding that common language is the focus of effective dog bite prevention educational efforts.”
As an entertaining way of showing children how to avoid dog bites, Barbara Morrongiello, a psychology professor from Ontario, Canada, is developing a video game as a teaching tool. The game is designed to teach children to understand a dog’s behavior and body language, and to respond appropriately.
“Dog bites are considered a major issue because when they do happen to children, they tend to be severe,” Morrongiello said. “Young children are similar in size to dogs, so when a dog bites, it often bites on the face or neck. Despite this, there is little out there in terms of effective educational tools to prevent dog bites.”
Dr. Alison Tothy, chairwoman of the committee on injury and poison prevention of the American Academy of Pediatrics’ Illinois chapter, agrees. “It’s so important for parents to supervise young children around dogs at all times, and it’s just as important for children to be taught from an early age how to keep from being bitten,” she said.
According to Delores Killette, Postal Service vice president and consumer advocate, “We often hear two tall tales at the Postal Service — ‘The check’s in the mail,’ and ‘Don’t worry, my dog won’t bite.’ Given the right circumstances, any dog can bite. Working with animal behavior experts, we’ve developed tips to avoid dog attacks, and for dog owners, tips for practicing responsible pet ownership.”
These are the Postal Service’s tips for avoiding dog bites:
Don’t run past a dog. The dog’s natural instinct is to chase and catch prey.
If a dog threatens you, don’t scream. Avoid eye contact. Try to remain motionless until the dog leaves, then back away slowly until the dog is out of sight.
Don’t approach a strange dog, especially one that’s tethered or confined.
While letter carriers are discouraged from petting animals, people who choose to pet dogs should always let a dog see and sniff them before petting the animal.
If you believe a dog is about to attack you, try to place something between yourself and the dog, such as a backpack or a bicycle.
Tips for being a responsible dog owner:
Obedience training can teach dogs proper behavior and help owners control their dogs.
When a carrier comes to your home, keep your dog inside, away from the door in another room.
Don’t let your child take mail from the carrier in the presence of your dog. Your dog’s instinct is to protect the family.
Spay or neuter your dog. Neutered dogs are less likely to bite.
Dogs that receive little attention or handling, or are left tied up for long periods of time, frequently turn into biters.
More information can be found in the AVMA’s “Dog Bite Prevention” brochure.
PHOTO: arkanimals.com
Category : News
