With National Dog Bite Prevention Week approaching (May 20-26),
it is appropriate to offer some helpful tips on how adults and
children can reduce the risk of being bitten by strange or even
familiar dogs. Nationwide statistics underscore the need to
educate the public about the problem and means of prevention. On
average, 4.7 million Americans suffer from dog bites each year
and approximately 885,000 of these incidents require medical
attention. According to the Insurance Information Institute,
these bites cost the property/casualty insurance industry $350
million in 2010. State Farm paid out more than $90 million
associated with nearly 3,500 dog bite claims. The most
surprising facts may be that the majority of dog bites occur
within pet owners’ homes, and nearly half involve children being
bitten by the family dog. Conscientious parents can
significantly reduce these high incidence rates by learning some
basic guidelines that will help their children avoid getting
bitten by their own dogs. Getting bitten b