Dog Bites May Pose a Serious Health Risk to Communities

(Newswire.net — May 29, 2019) West Palm Beach, Florida — Central Bark, one of the pioneers of the doggy day care industry, celebrates 15 years of franchising with 32 locations in seven states, recognizes that dog bites pose a serious health risk to society. Because of this, they created the “Dog Safety and Bite Prevention” curriculum for elementary school age children featuring classroom training sessions, which highlight the key ways to reduce the preventable public health problem of dog bites. Curriculum highlights include educating children on dog behavior, how dogs communicate, how to approach dogs, and what a child should do if approached by a stray or loose dog.

According to the American Veterinarian Medical Association (AVMA), dogs are animals and by nature unpredictable, which means not always knowing what they are going to do or how they will react – even the family dog. Any animal with a mouth and teeth can, and under the right circumstances, bite. It’s important to understand that it is not a dog’s breed that determines whether it will bite, but rather the dog’s individual history and behavior.

The AVMA states the following statistics regarding dog bites in the United States:

• Each year, more than 4.5 million people in the U.S. are bitten by dogs.
• Almost 1 in 5 people bitten by dogs require medical attention. 
• Every year, more than 800,000 Americans receive medical attention for dog bites; at least half of them are children.
• Children are, by far, the most common victims of dog bites and are far more likely to be severely injured.
• Most dog bites affecting young children occur during everyday activities and while interacting with familiar dogs.
• Among children, dog bite related injuries are highest for those ages 5-9 yrs. And children are more likely to receive medical attention for dog bites than adults.
• Every 40 seconds, someone in the US is seeking medical attention from a dog bite.
• 50% of dog bites occur on the dog owner’s property.
• Almost one in five people bitten by dogs require medical attention.
• Senior citizens are the second most common dog bite victims.

The Central Bark Bite Prevention Curriculum highlights what children need to know in relation to dogs and their behavior. Children need to understand that dogs are animals and by nature unpredictable, which means you don’t always know what they are going to do.

Recognize dog behavior.

• Tail is up and stiff or tucked tightly between the dog’s legs
• Mouth and lips are pulled back showing teeth (dog may be barking or growling)
• Eyes are hard and may appear black as the pupil is dilated
• Ears are folded tightly back in a defensive position
• Hair on the back and shoulders might stand up and stick out
• Body very rigid and upright leaning forward and high

Additional curriculum information:

1. Signs of a happy or friendly dog
2. Signs of an unhappy or unfriendly dog
3. How do you safely approach a dog? When is it all right to approach a dog? When do you think you should NOT pet a dog?”
4. What do I do if a stray dog approaches me? This is the real meat and potatoes of the Central Bark “Bite Prevention” presentation, because these are the most likely “unsupervised” situations that could happen with a child.

• If a strange dog approaches you, and…you happen to be on the ground, you need to “curl up like a rock.” Cover your neck and head with your hands/arms. After the dog leaves you should report this to the nearest adult.
• If a strange dog approaches you, and… you are standing you should “pretend to be a tree”. Stand up straight and tall like a tree and no talking. Fold your arms across your body, do not move and do not look at the dog. After the dog leaves, you should report this to the nearest adult.
• If a strange dog approaches you, and…you want to pet it, you should ask the adult with the dog for permission.

 Central Bark recommends what children should not do:

• NEVER run or scream
• NEVER look directly into the dog’s eyes

Central Bark recommends what a child should do:

• If you are standing, you should pretend to be a tree, stand straight and tall
• If you are sitting, you should pretend to be a rock, curled up and low
• No talking, because trees and rocks don’t talk
• Fold your arms across your body
• Do not move
• Do not look at the dog
• After the dog leaves, tell an adult what happened