Dog Bite Prevention in Children

Prevent Personal Injury From Dog Bites - Be Smart Around Dogs
May 8, 2008 - InjuryBoard.com - Tampa, FL, USA

Our Toledo, Ohio personal injury attorneys see how dog bites can cause serious personal injury, including permanent scarring and emotional distress. While it is nearly impossible to gain control over a dog that is uncontrollably attacking you, there are some actions you can take that may save your life. The Humane Society reports that the worst thing to do if you encounter a dog is run. Running away from a dog triggers a predator versus prey drive in the animal, making it more likely that the dog will chase you. According to a special assignment report done by KTEN news, the three main reasons dog bites occur are because ... (more)

Dog Attack on Clarksville Child One Of Many Cases
May 7, 2008 - Clarksville Leaf Chronicle - Clarksville, TN, USA

Alex Miller, 7, was playing in the front yard of his neighbor's home on Marla Drive on Monday after school. His childish sounds of having fun were soon replaced by frantic screams as the neighbor's mixed-breed pit bull dog broke loose from a chain and attacked the Northeast Elementary first-grader. Chris Miller, Alex's father, ran outside when he heard his son's screams, and said the scene was devastating as he saw the dog biting his son, who was covered in blood. Alex's case is one of more than 300 in Montgomery County since July last year. The county's Animal Control has ordered the dog under quarantine, but the Millers say that's not enough. Now, the dog's owner plans to have the dog put down. Clyde McCullough, the dog's owner, said Alex was playing in his front yard when the dog got loose. The dog jumped on the boy, trying to lick him, but Alex pushed him off, ... (more)

How to Survive a Dog Attack
May 6, 2008 - KTEN - Denison, TX, USA

A thousand people every day seek medical attention as a result of an attack in the United States. And from pit bulls to poodles, dog bites and dog attacks can be pretty scary. Not only can they be scary but victims can suffer life-long, even life threatening injuries. KTEN's Scott Sager has our report about dog attacks, and what to do if you find yourself being attacked. Dr. Al Cardenas of Wilson N. Jones Medical Center says, "I think in the last six months - and I've been here 15 years - that we're seeing an increased amount of unprovoked dog attacks." It can happen in an instant. It's happened a number of times in our area: a walk to the mail box or an afternoon in the backyard can turn dangerous and even deadly. Animal behavior specialist Michele Crouse says, "One of the worst things you can do is ... (more)

Dog Bite Cases Increase In Summer
May 4, 2008 - Newschannel5.com - Nashville, TN, USA

NASHVILLE, Tenn.- The number of dog bite cases is skyrocketing in Davidson County. Metro Animal Control says over the past two months they have gone through the roof. Animal Control has investigated 134 animal bite cases since March. That's an astonishing number, and most of those cases involve aggressive dogs. "Warm weather we see an incredible number of dog bites... last night we had six in one night in a period of about five hours," said Billy Biggs with Metro Animal Control. Metro police responded to another case Sunday after a jogger was bitten by a dog on Sharpe Avenue. While investigators didn't find the dog that attacked the woman they did find animals on the loose and dogs that didn't have their rabies tags. Animal Control says the reason dog bite cases increase during warmer months is ... (more)

Children, Seniors Most Frequent Dog Bite Victims
May 3, 2008 - Consumer Affairs - USA

Q. I heard that older people are the leading victims of dog bites. Is this true? A. No. More than 60 percent of the people who are bitten by dogs are children. The elderly are second and people like mail carriers and meter readers are third. Children often dont know how to act around dogs and frighten them into aggressive behavior. Older people are more prone to being bitten by an aggressive dog because they tend to be slower and weaker than younger adults. Mail carriers walk onto property the dogs consider their domain to defend. Dogs bite more than 4.7 million Americans a year. About 800,000 of these victims seek medical attention. Of those injured, 386,000 require treatment in an emergency department and about a dozen die. Here are some tips from the experts on how to avoid being attacked by a dog ... (more)

Not Every Wagging Tail Signals A Happy Dog
May 1, 2008 - SouthCoastToday.com - New Bedford, MA, USA

As a professional dog trainer, I was pleased to see your Living section article "Meet the Baby" in the April 18 paper. This is an extremely important topic that deserves coverage. In New Bedford, we are indeed lucky to have an Animal Control Office that sees its mission as including public education. Although the "tips" sidebar contains many good pointers, one critically important addition is necessary. Please publish a clarification of the dangerous statement that "a dog wagging its tail is happy." This commonly held belief all too often leads to dog bites. A wagging tail signals a dog's interest in engaging, but that interest in interaction could be "I'm getting set to eat you alive" or "Let's play!" or anything between those extremes. Only by reading the wagging tail in context with the dog's other body language signals can we know whether he or she is happy and friendly and safe to approach. Not a week goes by that I don't get a frantic call from someone whose dog ... (more)

Dog Bite Prevention Aimed At Children
Stephanie Brown's Babies and Toddlers Blog

Not only are children 900 times as likely as letter carriers to be attacked by dogs, half of them will be bitten by the time they turn twelve. To raise awareness that the cure for this national epidemic is responsible pet ownership, the U.S. Postal Service is joining the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) to promote May 16-22 as National Dog Bite Prevention Week. This year's arsenal includes a courageous 12-year-old dog bite victim who actively promotes dog safety to school children. "More than 3,400 letter carriers were attacked by dogs last year," explained U.S. Postal Service Vice President and Consumer Advocate Francia Smith, "yet that pales in comparison to the 2.8 million children who represent the majority of the 4.7 million Americans victimized by dog attacks last year." Twelve-year-old Kelly Voigt was attacked within a month of her seventh birthday. Severe lacerations and puncture wounds inflicted by a "friendly" neighborhood dog required a plastic surgeon, nearly 100 stitches to her face and neck and two years of follow up. Her mental scars were also severe. Within a few months she was treated by a psychologist for post-traumatic stress syndrome and depression. "Unfortunately, this is not an uncommon story," said Director of Governmental Relations for the AVMA, Dr. Michael Chaddock, DVM. "As veterinarians we realize that ... (more)

Do You Know The Legal Pitfalls When It Comes To Your Pets?
April 28, 2008 - Orlando Sentinel - Orlando, FL, USA

You consider Fluffy a beloved family member, but the law says your pup is 'property.' Do you know the legal pitfalls when it comes to your pets? It took only a few moments for a neighbor's dog to charge onto 13-year-old Hillary McDonough's front porch and fatally maul her new puppy as they prepared for their morning walk. It happened so fast, all Hillary could do was scream. In less than a minute, the unleashed Jack Russell terrier released Hillary's 4-pound, 8-month-old Maltese. But it was enough ... (more)

Boy Recovering from Dog Bites
April 28, 2008 - WHSV - Harrisburg, VA, USA

A Waynesboro boy is recovering after being attacked by a dog. The dog was on its owner's property, and as far as the boy's mother can tell, the attack was random. She still wants something to be done about the dog, but Virginia has what's called a "one-bite rule." This rule protects dogs and their owners from prosecution the first time a dog attacks. Adam Tinsley, 11, was in a neighbor's backyard where the family's pit bull-Labrador mix was tethered by a chain. The dog bit Tinsley on his face and on his arms. Tinsleys mom, Lori Cox-Tinsley, says ... (more)

Family Dog Mauls Seven Year Old Girl
April 16, 2008 - Syndey Morning Herald - Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

A seven-year-old Sydney girl was mauled by the family dog in a backyard attack that ended when a neighbour dragged the pitbull cross-breed off the child. Police said the dog, a restricted breed Staffordshire-cross pitbull, attacked the girl at around 8.45am (AEST) today in the backyard of her Pank Parade home at Blacktown, biting her several times and dislocating her shoulder. An ambulance spokesman said paramedics found her with bite wounds "across the chest and down the flank, under the arm". "They are puncture wounds, so they are bites." The girl, whom neighbours named as Lydia, was taken to Westmead Children's Hospital where she was reported to be in a serious but stable condition. The girl's father said nobody was to blame for the attack, but his pet of two months, named Sargeant, would be "put down". Lydia was attacked while visiting her father's house during the school holidays. "The dog was in the backyard eating, and ... (more)

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