MAY 20, 2015
Dog Bite Facts: Dog bite prevention
There are many things you can do to avoid dog bites, ranging from properly training and socializing your pet to educating your children on how - or if - they should approach a dog.
Information and education are the best solutions for this public health crisis.
Facts
• Each year, more than 4.5 million people in the U.S. are bitten by dogs.
• Almost 1 in 5 people bitten by dogs require medical attention.
• Every year, more than 800,000 Americans receive medical attention for dog bites; at least half of them are children.
• Children are, by far, the most common victims of dog bites and are far more likely to be severely injured.
• Most dog bites affecting young children occur during everyday activities and while interacting with familiar dogs.
• Senior citizens are the second most common dog bite victims.
May 17-23, 2015, Is National Dog Bite Prevention Week®!
Visit the National Dog Bite Prevention Week® page for more information and resources to educate people about dog bite prevention.
• RSVP for National Dog Bite Prevention Week® on Facebook
• Use our social media tips to develop content on your own social media channels
• Listen to the podcast
• Listen to Victoria Stilwell's dog bite prevention tips
• Listen to the Radio News Release (RNR)
• Watch the videos: Jimmy the Dog and the Yellow Ribbon; Jimmy the Dog: Behind the Fence
The following AVMA resources can help you learn more about dog bite prevention:
For parents and pet owners:
• What you should know about dog bite prevention (brochure)
• This informative brochure offers tips on how to avoid being bitten, as well as what to do if you are bitten by a dog. It also addresses what you need to do if your dog bites someone.
The Blue Dog Parent Guide and CD
This innovative dog bite prevention program is designed to help parents and children safely interact with dogs both inside and outside their home. The program is geared toward children from 3 to 6 years old. It's the only dog bite educational tool scientifically proven to help young children learn behaviors that can keep them safe.
What you should know about rabies (brochure)
Rabies is a deadly disease that is transmitted to people through a bite. It is transmitted through the rabid animal's saliva. Rabies vaccinations for dogs are an excellent defense against this disease, as many times families are exposed to rabies after an unvaccinated pet dog is bitten by a rabid wild animal. This brochure educates on how to prevent rabies.
For more information visit www.avma.org/public/Pages/Dog-Bite-Prevention.aspx.
