Dog Owners' New Policy: Bite Back

Dog Bites Rise During Holiday Season

Similar legislation also is pending in Massachusetts, New Hampshire and New York. "None of these has passed so far this year, but this is just the start of a campaign," says Lisa Weisberg, vice president of the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. Safety concerns about certain breeds often arise after high-profile dog attacks such as the fatal mauling in 2001 of a San Francisco woman by two Presa Canarios, says Stephanie Pier of the American Kennel Club, a non-profit group that promotes purebred dogs. Some cities have banned ownership of particular breeds or required owners to carry minimum liability coverage. "The first instinct is always to ban the breed," she says. "But people soon realize that it's an individual dog not the breed that's responsible." Dogs bite about 4.7 million Americans a year, and about 800,000 require medical treatment. About 25 breeds of dogs were involved in 238 fatal dog bites during the 20 years ending in 1999, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported in a 2000 study. Pit-bull type dogs and Rottweilers were involved in more than half of these deaths, the report said.
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Treating dog bites

According to the U.S. Postal Service, December is a peak time for dog bites and dog-related injuries, with children out of school for winter break and mail carriers delivering a higher volume of mail and holiday packages. Nearly 2,700 dog bites occurred between July 1, 2012 and June 30 of this year. The 92113 zip code -- which encompasses areas like downtown, Barrio Logan and Logan Heights -- had the most dog bites in San Diego with 113 reported incidents. In the 2012 calendar year, San Diego County letter carriers experienced 75 dog bites/attacks. So far this year, dog bites/attacks on letter carriers are at 89. Letter carriers in San Diego will be wearing Dog Bite Awareness t-shirts on weekends while delivering mail as a reminder to dog owners of the importance of responsible pet ownership.
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Even if she knew the dog, why was she doing it? Where were the parents? What did they know about the dog? I was thinking of all the ways this incident could have been avoided." In the case of the Cocker Spaniel it truly could have been avoided, especially since the dog did already have a history of biting or nipping. Unfortunately owners tend to think that nips are a fluke since they don't occur every time in the given situation.
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Dog bites drive up insurance payouts; premiums could be next

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.
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Dog Bite Prevention Week: A Time to Take Responsibility for Dog Bites

http://freedoghandbook.com/treating-dog-bites-12/ width='200px' style='float:left;padding:5px' /> There are 78.2 million dogs in the U.S., according to the American Pet Products Association, one dog for every four people. "Statistically, the numbers have gone up at the same time that we've become more of an urban society," Skow said. Laws in 18 states let dog owners off on liability for the dog's first bite, but in others, including Iowa, an owner is liable for all damages caused by his dog, unless the person injured was committing a crime or trespassing, or unless the dog had rabies and the owner didn't know it. "Most insurance policies are going to put in their underwriting provisions that they're not going to cover vicious dogs," said Tom Alger, Iowa Insurance Division spokesman. Contributing: Belz also reports for The Des Moines Register.
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