Dog Bite Prevention Practices Promoted by CDC

By Eric Saiontz
Posted May 26, 2009

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The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) promoted dog bite prevention practices last week in hopes of reducing the number of adults and children who suffer an animal attack injury. Dog Bite Prevention Week was May 17 through May 23, with the CDC indicating that most of the 4.5 million cases every year of Americans bitten by a dog could be prevented.

>>INFORMATION: Dog Bite Lawsuits

Children between 5 years old and 9 years old, people with multiple dogs in their home and adult males are identified by the CDC as the most likely to suffer a dog bite.

Approximately one in five dog bite attacks result in personal injury requiring medical attention and more than 31,000 people had to undergo reconstructive surgery in 2006 after a bite. Scarring and fractured bones are uncommon injuries, with many victims of dog bites left with a permanent injury and deformities, even after plastic surgery.

The CDC outlined a number of preventative measures that may decrease the risk of a childhood dog bite, recommending that parents regularly review the following safety tips with their children:

• Do not approach an unfamiliar dog.
• Do not run from a dog or scream.
• Remain motionless when approached by an unfamiliar dog.
• If knocked over by a dog, roll into a ball and lie still.
• Do not play with a dog unless supervised by an adult.
• Immediately report stray dogs or dogs displaying unusual behavior to an adult.
• Avoid direct eye contact with a dog.
• Do not disturb a dog that is sleeping, eating, or caring for puppies.
• Do not pet a dog without allowing it to see and sniff you first.
• If bitten, immediately report the bite to an adult.

To reduce the risk of a dog bite injury in your own house, the CDC recommends that the following steps be taken before a dog is brought into a household:

• Consult with a professional to determine what breed of dog would best suit the home.
• Avoid dogs known to be aggressive, particularly in homes with children.
• Spend time with the dog before buying or adopting it.
• Never leave infants or young children alone with a dog.
• Do not play aggressive games with the dog.
• Properly train and socialize a dog being brought into the home and teach it submissive tendencies.
• Seek immediate professional advice if the dog’s behavior turns aggressive or undesirable.

Interestingly, the CDC Dog Bite Prevention website page fails to discuss the steps that responsible dog owners should take to protect others from their animal, especially if they know that a dog has a tendency to bite, chase, attack or act aggressively. In addition to the recommendations made by the CDC, which focus on steps a potential victim can take to reduce the risk of a bite, dog owners should:

• Make sure that their animal is adequately restrained in public and when visitors enter the home.
• Take steps to ensure that a dog is unable to wander free by securing the animal to a lead or having adequate fencing.
• Always keep their dog on a leash in public and make sure you are able to adequately control the animal.
• Warn any visitors in your home about the presence of an animal and provide information about any propensity to bite or act aggressively.

DOG BITE ATTORNEYS

The personal injury attorneys at Saiontz & Kirk, P.A. represent victims of dog bites and animal attacks who have suffered severe and permanent injuries as a result of the negligence of a dog owner to take steps that could have prevented the attack.

In many cases our dog bite attorneys have investigated, the owner of the animal that attacked had prior knowledge that their dog had a propensity to bite, yet failed to take steps to control the animal, contain the animal or warn others of the danger that their dog could pose.

If you, a friend or family member have suffered a serious and disfiguring injury as a result of a dog bite or animal attack, request a free consultation and claim evaluation.