BE A SAFETY-SMART OWNER
• Never leave infants or children alone with any dog.
• Spay/neuter your dog.
• Train your dog in obedience.
• Don’t play aggressive games with your dog.
• Follow leash laws.
• Keep your dog healthy; an unnoticed injury can make a dog aggressive.
• Your dog should be part of the family. Unsocialized “outdoor” dogs are more likely to bite than “indoor” dogs.
HOW YOU CAN AVOID DOG BITES
• Never approach an unfamiliar dog.
• Never run from or scream at a dog.
• Be still when an unfamiliar dog comes up to you.
• If a dog knocks you over, roll into a ball and stay still.
• Children should tell an adult if they see a stray dog or a dog acting strangely.
• Don’t look a dog right in the eye.
• Don’t disturb a dog that is sleeping, eating or caring for puppies.
• Don’t approach a dog with out allowing it to see and sniff you first.
DID YOU KNOW…
• 4.7 Million Americans are bitten by dogs every year.
• Children make up 60% of dog bite victims.
• About half of all children in the U.S. will be bitten by a dog by the 12th grade.
• Nearly 20 people a year die from dog bites in the U.S.
• Every 40 seconds someone in the U.S. seeks medical care because of a dog bite.
• 70% of dog bites occur when the dog is on the owner’s property.
• While any dog can bite, the top biting breeds include: Pit Bulls, Rottweilers, German Shepherds, Huskies, Doberman Pinschers, Chow Chows, Great Danes, St. Bernards and Akitas.
