While Residential Security Systems may keep us safe from outside intruders when we are home or away, man’s best friend, our dogs, may turn out to be our biggest domestic threat. This is National Dog Bite Prevention Week and we thought it would be appropriate to share some vital dog bite statistics and ways you can keep your family safe around dogs. Annually 4.7 million people are bitten by dogs, with children being the most frequent victims. Approximately 800,000 Americans suffer dog bites each year with about half of them being bites to children with senior citizens being the second most bitten.
When selecing a dog you should consider the aggressivness of the breed and make sure that the dog is exposed to people as a young puppy so that it feels comfortable around people. Do not threaten or tease your dog. Never try to remove food from a dog’s mouth, they are very protective of their food. Train your dog to obey the basic commands of “sit”, “stay”, “no” and “come” so that your dog knows what is expected of them. Make sure your dog gets plenty of exercise and walk frequently on a leash to maintain control. Make sure your dog is vaccinated against rabies and often a neutered pet is more relaxed and social.
The American Veterinary Medical Association and the Center for Disease Control have some great resources for educating the public about how to prevent dog bites.
Dial One Security is committed to keeping you safe and although this article has nothing to do with home security or fire alarms, we hope these tips and resources educate you in how to avoid being one of the 800,000 dog bite victims in the US this year.