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Dog Attack

© Ann Downing

Anyone who has watched the news has probably seen the reports of the woman who was fatally attacked by two dogs. Dog attacks do happen and some are fatal. That is why parents need to educate their children on dog safety, and pet owners need to take precautions to keep their pets safe.

According to a study in Texas, 1996 Severe Attack Surveillance Summary, 86.6% of reported severe attacks were committed by domestic dogs. The study defines severe attack as being "one in which the animal repeatedly bites or vigoursly shakes its victim, and the victum, or a person intervening, has extreme difficulty terminating the attack." The study also describes a severe bite as breaking the person's skin, in which a reasonable person would seek medical treatment for the wound without considering rabies prevention alone.

According to the study, 47.4% of the victims were under the age of eleven years. The report continues by stating that based on the overall population of Texas, children less than eleven years of age were four times more likely to be victims of severe animal attack than the rest of the population. There are preventative measures that both parents and dog owneres can take to help reduce the possiblility of dog attacks.

According to Dog Attacks, a project by Kidsafe WA, Health Department of WA, and Education Department of WA, parents are advised to keep babies and young children separated from the dog, or to provide constant supervision of the children and dogs at all time. Other recommendations are waiting until a child is school age before buying a dog, matching the family needs to the dog, consulting a veterinarian about the type of dog you want, and getting the dog trained. For a more detailed information and statistics,access Dog Attacks.

Fatal Dog Attacks addresses additional preventative measures that parents can take to help protect their children from dog bites. Parents can teach their children to never approach an unfamiliar dog, never play with a dog unsupervised by an adult, report stray dogs or unusual dog behavior to an adult, and never run from a dog and scream. Other recommendations are avoid eye contact with a dog, don't bother a dog that is asleep, eating, or caring for puppies, don't pet a dog until it sees and sniffs your hand first, remain motionless if approached by an unfamiliar dog, if a dog knocks you over curl up in a ball and stay still, and report all bites to an adult immediately. For additional information access

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