Dog Bites
by jmmillerChildren are the most common victims of dog bites, because they can unintentionally make a dog feel threatened. It is very important to teach your children how to be safe around dogs.
Most dogs never bite, but some may lash out if they feel threatened. If your family includes a dog, consider taking the dog to obedience lessons. If you are considering getting a dog and you have children, talk to your veterinarian. Some aggressive breeds are not appropriate for a family with younger children.
This is not to say that only certain breeds bite. While dogs such as Dobermans, Rottweilers and Pit Bulls have received their share of bad press, this is because they tend to do extensive damage when they do bite. They are no more likely to bite than any other dog; even a small dog could bite and seriously harm a child.
While it would be ideal if we could keep our children away from all dangerous aminals, it’s simply not possible. Walking to school, visiting a friend’s house, playing in the park… there are endless ways that your child could meet up with a dog. Therefore, teaching your child to be safe around any dog is very important. There are certain rules you should stress when talking to your kids about dogs:
- Stay away from dogs you don’t know
- Never bother a dog that is eating, sleeping or taking care of puppies
- Always have an adult around when you play with dogs
- Never tease a dog
- Tell an adult if you see a stray dog
- Always let a dog smell you first before petting it, even if an adult has given you permission to pet the dog
- Never, ever try to pet a dog you don’t know
In addition, children should know what to do if approached by a dog. Tell the child to stand very still and avoid eye contact with the dog. Let them know that screaming or running away from a strange dog is dangerous. And most importantly, your child must know to tell an adult if he or she is ever bitten by a dog.
If your child is bitten by a dog, go to the hospital right away (even if it doesn’t seem serious). Your child could require a rabies shot or antibiotics. Dogs can be a great addition to any family, but care must be exercised at all times in order to prevent your child from being bitten.
Dog bites should always be reported to an animal control agency and/or police. Some dogs are repeat or serial offenders and may have bitten in the past. Notifying the authorities could prevent another bite in the future. While the owner of a dog who has bitten before may appear very upset and sorry about the incident, they are not controlling their animal properly. You should NEVER feel guilty or remorseful for reporting a dog bite.
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