Dog Bite Prevention in Children

Humane Education
Kids Interacting with Dogs Safely

In many cases, children and dogs are the best of friends. But according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 3.5 million children are bitten by dogs each year, and most victims are under the age of 9. Sadly, kids 7 years old and younger are 66 percent more likely to experience severe injuries to the face, head and neck, which makes sense considering smaller children's height and proximity to dogs' heads. Adding to this problem is the fact that the vast majority of dog-bite prevention programs are geared toward children ages 8 and up. Thus, the age group most in need is least served. A Curriculum That Teaches Empathy, Not Fear American Humane's KIDS Project includes classroom curricula as well as an instructional and entertaining children's DVD created by the award-winning humane education filmmaker Erik Friedl. Our breakthrough KIDS Project is designed to: ... (more)

Dog Bites Happen More Than You Think
By KENNETH DEAN

Each year across the United States more than 4 million people are bitten by dogs. Most of the bites are superficial and cause little damage, but a government agency reports 885,000 people suffer bites severe enough to seek medical treatment and in 2007 there were 33 fatal dog maulings. In the past week in East Texas, three dog attacks left two people injured and 10-year-old Justin Clinton of Leverett's Chapel dead after he was attacked by two pit bulls. Statistics Show Dog Attacks Occur Frequently No one ever sees the weekly bites we have. We work about 140 animal bites each year just in the city of Tyler. Shawn Markmann, Tyler Animal Control director Since the attacks, the Tyler Courier-Times--Telegraph has answered numerous phone calls and letters from citizens either expressing their concerns over a certain breed, or those who believe the pit bull is being villianized. According to the Centers for Disease Control, ... (more)

Insurance Companies Balk at Covering Dangerous Dogs
Article provided by David P. Beeson & Associates. Please visit our Web site at http://www.beeson4law.com.

Dogs that bite people can cause disfigurement, broken bones, amputations, emotional trauma and even death. While the psychological aspects of dog bites are significant, the economic costs are also high. Injuries from dog bites and attacks may require surgery, hospitalization, physical therapy and counseling. If the dog owner owns a home there may be homeowners insurance that may provide dog-bite victims a source of recovery for the injuries and damages they have endured. Additionally, if the dog owner ... (more)

UT, Knox schools work to prevent dog bites
New DVDs teach first-graders how to avoid attacks

Two weeks after her son's seventh birthday, Angie Wright had the scare of her life. Last November, her son, Mel, was playing in the yard with other children, along with a stray dog Wright had found and whose owner she was trying to locate. In the excitement, Mel hugged the dog, who turned and ... (more)

8-year-old on crutches after dog bite
By MARIANN MARTIN

8-year-old boy attacked by a dog Tuesday afternoon is at home and doing well, according to his grandmother, Mary Simpson. Around 3:30 p.m., Christean Simpson was playing in his grandmother's front yard when his ball rolled out in the street, Mary Simpson said. He ran to get the ball, and that is when the dog came running from two houses down the street and attacked him, she said. "He (the dog) came tearing out of the yard and went straight for my grandson," Mary Simpson said Wednesday afternoon. "He was dragging him down the street." Mary Simpson said her stepson, the boy's father, grabbed a garbage can and used it to beat off the dog. But Dewarnia Fuller, a sister to the dog's owner, said Christean Simpson had been taunting the dog before he was attacked. Fuller said the dog had been ... (more)

National Dog Bite Prevention Week - Prevention is the Best Cure for Dog Bites
SCHAUMBURG, Ill., May 13 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/

It's estimated that 4.7 million people are bitten by dogs every year. Fortunately, most dog bites are preventable through appropriate pet selection, proper training, responsible approaches to animal control, and education of dog owners and potential victims. The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) has joined with the U.S. Postal Service (USPS), the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), American Society for Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), The American Society for Reconstructive Microsurgery (ASRM), and The American Society of Maxillofacial Surgeons (ASMS) to celebrate National Dog Bite Prevention Week, May 17-23, 2009. Children are the most common victims of dog bites, followed by ... (more)

Dont forget that any dog has potential to bite a child
Bill Wilson

May is National Dog Bite Prevention Month. This started me thinking that in my 20 years of emergency calls, few things were more sad than a child who had become permanently disfigured by a dog bite. My thoughts turned to my three-year-old son and our family dog, a beautiful boxer named Browny, both of whom love each other. Could this tragedy occur in my home? After reading several dog bite prevention articles by such organizations as The American Pediatric Association and The American Kennel Club, I learned the answer ... (more)

Watching an animal's body language can help lower your bite risk
Sunday, May 3, 2009

We are entering the time of the year when the frequency of bite incidents increases markedly. Children, particularly boys between 3 and 13, are the most frequent victim of bites, probably due to their tendency to be very active and loud and push the envelope where animals are concerned. Couple this with the fact that children tend to be outdoors more in the summer, and that they often have little or no adult supervision, and the scene is set for an unfortunate incident. It's unfortunate because the child may be seriously hurt, or at least frightened, and the animal may suffer a more drastic fate. Society as a whole tends not to be tolerant of animals that bite or injure humans in any way even when the injury results directly from the actions of the human. There are some basic rules of interaction between humans and people that, if followed, would pretty much eliminate the misunderstandings that lead to bites. First never ... (more)

A little human sense can prevent dog bites
Posted by Chris Bynum, Staff writer, The Times-Picayune

There are ways to prevent dog bites according to the American College of Emergency Physicians.Yes, they're our best friends. But that's no excuse for not using a little human sense. The American College of Emergency Physicians says 4.5 million people are bitten by dogs each year. About one in five of those require medical attention. But there are ways to prevent dog bites. The ACEP offers these guidelines: ... (more)

Doggone Safe Offers Free Resources for Dog Bite Prevention Week
All Press Releases for April 18, 2009

CAMPBELLVILLE, ON, April 18, 2009 /24-7PressRelease/ -- During the third week in May, the U.S. Postal Service, the American Veterinary Medical Assoc. (AMVA), Doggone Safe Inc. and other organizations will be calling attention to one of North America's most commonly reported public health problems: dog bites. Doggone Safe, a non-profit organization dedicated to dog bite prevention through education offers free information at its website www.doggonesafe.com to help promote safety messages during dog bite prevention week. Doggone Safe also promotes the "Be a Tree" children's program. This program, for school age children, is a short presentation with large photos and lots of activities to teach children to understand the signs dogs send with their body language. The central message of this program is "Be a Tree". That is, stand still if a strange dog approaches or any dog is threatening or overly frisky. Doggone Safe offers the following tips for parents and dog owners to help keep kids safe: ... (more)

« Newer Stories     Older Stories »