Crushing the curve on dog bites

Crushing the curve on dog bites


More than 4.5 million people sustain dog bites each year and over 800,000 require medical treatment. The good news is that most dog bites are preventable.

Dogs usually bite as a direct reaction to something. They may be defending themselves or their territory. Maybe they were startled or scared. Others are protecting something important to them, like food, a toy, their puppies or even their favorite human. Some dogs bite because they don’t feel well.

So, as a general rule of thumb, don’t pet a dog that’s sleeping, eating or playing with a toy. You also need to take care when approaching a dog that’s not with its owner or that’s sick or injured. And above all, teach your children how and when to approach a dog and when to stay away.

People and dogs both suffer consequences after a bite, so do your part to avoid the situation.

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