Tips on Preventing Dog Bites

We are the first to admit that dogs are wonderful. When treated right, they can offer companionship, security, loyalty, and unconditional love. Unfortunately, we cannot forget that dogs are still animals by their nature. If they are to bite or attack a person, they can cause a great deal of physical and psychological damage.

Sometimes, a dog bite injury can lead to permanent disfigurement, such as scarring, and nerve damage among other lifelong injuries. So, in order to reduce the number of dog bite injuries and attacks, it’s important for adults and children to learn about dog bite prevention.

Dog owners should see being a dog owner as a big responsibility and they should avoid certain situations that put others in harm’s way, especially if they’ve adopted a rescue dog who was neglected or abused in the past.

Learning Dog Body Language

One way to avoid being bitten is to understand dog body language, according to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA). It’s wise to learn the signs a dog makes when he or she is anxious, afraid, aggressive, or threatened. This way, you can do your best to prevent an attack before it happens.

• Aggressive dogs can try to look bigger. If a dog is in an aggressive mood, his ears may be up and the fur on his back may stand up. He may have a stiff stance and stare at or move toward what he thinks is a threat. If a dog displays this kind of body language and you approach him, you could get bitten.
• A scared dog may try to cower. If a dog is scared or anxious, she may try to look smaller. She may cower, shrink to the ground, put her tail under her legs, or lower her ears and head. She is likely to avoid direct eye contact. If she has nowhere to run, she may growl or bite defensively.

Safety Tips for Adults & Children

To keep you and your children safe, follow these safety tips provided by the ASPCA:

• Do not touch or approach a dog who is sleeping, eating, taking care of puppies, or chewing a toy or bone. If a dog is startled, he or she is more likely to bite.
• NEVER approach a dog who is scared, barking or growling.
• Teach children not to pet dogs who are in the back of a truck, behind a fence, or inside of a car.
• Do not pet an unfamiliar dog without asking the dog’s owner first. If the owner says it’s okay, first have the dog sniff a closed hand. Then, avoid petting the dog’s head. Instead, pet the dog’s chest or shoulders.
• Teach children not to pet unleashed dogs who are roaming freely. Teach them to report the loose dog to an adult immediately.
• Teach children not to run from a loose dog or scream. Teach them to stand still like a tree and avoid making eye contact with the dog. Once the dog is no longer interested, the child should back away slowly.
• Children should never try to run from a dog. Teach children to “feed the dog” items, such as his backpack, jacket or bicycle – anything that the child can use to put between themselves and the aggressive dog.

Do you need to file a dog bite claim on Long Island? Contact Laurence A. Silverman, Esq. at once to set up a free case evaluation.