National Dog Bite Prevention Week

The following was taken from an article posted by the Center For Disease Control and Prevention


4.5 million Americans are bitten by dogs each year, and one in five dog bites results in injuries that require medical attention. There are ways to make dog bites less likely and to help prevent children from being bitten by dogs.  Listen to this CDC podcast to learn some steps you can take to prevent dog bites. (4:05 seconds)

How big is the problem?
About 4.5 million people are bitten by dogs each year.   Almost one in five of those who are bitten :a total of 885,000: require medical attention for dog bite-related injuries.   In 2006, more than 31,000 people underwent reconstructive surgery as a result of being bitten by dogs.

Who is most at risk?
Children: Among children, the rate of dog bite–related injuries is highest for those ages 5 to 9 years, and children are more likely than adults to receive medical attention for dog bites than adults. Recent research shows that the rate of dog–bite related injuries among children seems to be decreasing.
Adult Males: Among adults, males are more likely than females to be bitten.
People with dogs in their homes: Among children and adults, having a dog in the household is associated with a higher incidence of dog bites. As the number of dogs in the home increases, so does the incidence of dog bites. Adults with two or more dogs in the household are five times more likely to be bitten than those living without dogs at home.

How can dog bites be prevented?
Dog bites are a largely preventable public health problem, and adults and children can learn to reduce their chances of being bitten.

Before you bring a dog into your household:
Consult with a professional (e.g., veterinarian, animal behaviorist, or responsible breeder) to learn what breeds of dogs are the best fit for your household.
Dogs with histories of aggression are not suitable for households with children.
Be sensitive to cues that a child is fearful or apprehensive about a dog. If a child seems frightened by dogs, wait before bringing a dog into your household.
Spend time with a dog before buying or adopting it. Use caution when bringing a dog into a household with an infant or toddler.

If you decide to bring a dog into your home:
Spay/neuter your dog (this often reduces aggressive tendencies).
Never leave infants or young children alone with a dog.
Don’t play aggressive games with your dog (e.g., wrestling).
Properly socialize and train any dog entering your household. Teach the dog submissive behaviors (e.g., rolling over to expose the abdomen and giving up food without growling).
Immediately seek professional advice (e.g., from veterinarians, animal behaviorists, or responsible breeders) if the dog develops aggressive or undesirable behaviors.

Are there safety tips for children?
To help prevent children from being bitten by dogs, teach the following basic safety tips and review them regularly:
Do not approach an unfamiliar dog.
Do not run from a dog or scream.
Remain motionless (e.g., "be still like a tree") when approached by an unfamiliar dog.
If knocked over by a dog, roll into a ball and lie still (e.g., "be still like a log").
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.

Help Protect Your Mail Carriers

Toby and I read this article in the Daily Herald.  We thought we would share.  Thankfully all Toby cares about are chasing the squirrels not necessarily the mail carrier! 

As far as Gilberto Cuellar Jr. is concerned, the hardest part of delivering mail each day isn't bad weather.  It's the dogs.  In his decade of letter carrying, Cuellar has been bitten three times, all within an 18-month span a few years ago. Each bite drew blood, and one left a permanent scar.  "The weather I can handle," says the Arlington Heights letter carrier. "The dogs I sometimes can't."  It's National Dog Bite Prevention Week, and the post office is taking the chance to remind pet owners that loose dogs can sometimes make mail carrying a dangerous job.  Last year, 2,900 letter carriers were attacked by dogs nationwide, according to the U.S. Postal Service. From October to mid-May, there were 45 incidents of carrier bites in northern Illinois, up from 32 in the same period the previous year, officials said. Each year, an estimated 4.7 million people, mostly children, are attacked by dogs.  With the weather warming, letter carriers are warning pet owners to be mindful of their dogs. Carriers won't deliver if they feel unsafe for any reason - from a barking dog to an icy doorstop.  "Even if your dog is sweet and loving to you, he may not feel safe to other people," said U.S. Postal Service spokesman Sean Hargadon. "Pet owners don't realize it's a different situation for carriers, and a dog is simply protecting his turf."  Crystal Lake carrier Jo Morehead has lost count of the times owners have said their pet doesn't bite.   "Famous last words," she said. "Other people assume that since they love dogs, we will too. But it's not about liking dogs."  "Every dog can potentially bite," Hargadon said. "It just depends on who it is and the situation."  In all three attacks, Cuellar never saw the pet coming. The first involved a black Lab, who bit his left thigh from behind. "It hurt," he said. "There was a burning sensation."
He went to the hospital; the bite left a scar. To make matters worse, the owner initially didn't believe Cuellar and asked for proof. He later found out the dog also had bitten a girl in the face and eventually was put to sleep.  Two Yorkies were Cuellar's other attackers. The first rounded a corner and bit his knee; the second came through a fence and bit his ankle. Both owners were apologetic, "and one thanked me for not kicking the dog," he said.  Cuellar said he feels completely safe around only one dog on his route and particularly nervous around two - a pit bull and a Rottweiler. "The little dogs I can handle," he said.  Morehead, who has delivered mail for 27 years, mostly in the Crystal Lake area, considers herself lucky she's been only bitten once. A man opened his door, and a mutt bit her arm, breaking the skin. The owner eventually put the mailbox on the street.  She has frequently been chased by dogs - one right up to her car, which she literally dove into. "I'm sure the neighbors were laughing," she said.


Help stamp out dog bites

Tips to help postal carriers deliver without a bite
• Put the dog in a separate room when accepting mail, and shut the door.
• Don't let children accept mail when a pet's around. The dog's natural instinct is protection.
• If the dog is outside when mail arrives, leash the dog to a fixed stake so it cannot reach the mail carrier.
• Obedience training and spaying and neutering your pet are recommended to tame aggression.