Dog Bites and Children
The parents of young children should take the time to educate them on the proper way to behave around dogs to avoid aggressive behavior. Approximately half of the kids in the United States suffer a traumatic dog bite before they turn 12 because they do not realize their actions are perceived as provoking. Regardless of how comfortable you feel around your own pet, or one of a close friend, any interaction is potentially dangerous without taking precautions. The majority of dog bites actually come from animals that the child is familiar with, and almost 1 million bites per year require medical attention due to the severity. Although it can be difficult to make your little one understand that there is a real danger in such a cute animal, it is necessary to begin education as soon as possible. Click here to download a brochure from American Veterinary Medical Association.
Do not disregard the danger of a dog simply because it is a smaller breed. Discuss the following dog bite prevention tips with your child so that they understand the correct way to approach animals and certain actions to avoid.
Try to keep your child calm and make sure that they receive proper medical treatment for any injuries. If the dog is a family pet, you should confine it in a separate area so that there is no immediate threat to other people. Talk to your veterinarian to make sure that they are current with vaccinations and discuss the best way to move forward. The authorities need to be contacted if the dog is owned by another person so that you can file a report. It is necessary to provide as much information as possible to locate the dog and the owner. Give us a call at 1-800-Lundy Law so that our dog bite lawyers can work with you to ensure the right actions are taken. Below are a few more surprising dog bite facts from the American Veterinary Medical Association: