Washington Insurance Council

                  Consumer Alert

Contact: Karl Newman, Executive Director      
Release Date: 4/19/2000

Washington Insurance Council    
Phone: (206) 624-3330
Fax: (206) 624-1975
karl.newman@wa-ic.org

Take steps to prevent dog bites

SEATTLE – Letter carriers with dogs attached to their ankles have been the subject of jokes and cartoons for years. But there is nothing funny about dog bite injuries to the more than 4.7 million victims who are bitten each year, a majority of whom are children.

The Humane Society of the United States and the Washington Insurance Council agree that, in most cases, dog bites are not caused by "bad dogs" but by irresponsible dog owners. Dogs that have not been properly socialized to other persons; that are not supervised or safely confined; that are not sterilized, or receive little attention and handling are those that often bite people.

Although particular breeds of dogs are often accused of being most likely to bite, other characteristics are better predictors of canine biting behavior. Dogs that have not been spayed or neutered are three times more likely to bite. For this reason, The Humane Society of the United States and Washington Insurance Council suggest that the first step you take to prevent your dog from biting is to have it spayed or neutered. Proper socialization, supervision, humane training and safe confinement are also important components of responsible dog ownership and bite prevention.

The Humane Society of the United States offers the following tips to help you avoid dog bites:

·        Never approach a dog you don’t know or a dog that is alone without its owner. 

·        Don’t disturb a dog that is eating, sleeping or caring for puppies.

·        Don’t pet a dog without letting it see and sniff you first.

·        Don’t run or scream when approached by dog you don’t know.  Instead, stand still with your hands at your sides and do not make direct eye contact with, or speak to the dog. Teach children to “be a tree” until the dog goes away.

·        If you are knocked to the ground, curl into a ball with your hands over your ears.  Lie still and keep quiet until the dog leaves.  Teach children to “lie still like a log” until the dog goes away.

·        If a dog attacks, you may be able to decrease injury by “feeding” him your jacket, purse, or anything else that can serve as a barrier between you and the dog.

Millions of positive human-dog interactions occur every day without a bite injury occurring. Most dog bite incidents can be prevented through public education and responsible dog ownership.

For information about National Dog Bite Prevention Week, May 21-22, 2000, contact The Humane Society of the United States, 2100 L Street, NW, Washington, DC 20037; 202-452-1100; www.nodogbites.org.

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