Dog Bite Prevention Week set for May 20 – 26, 2012
If you experience a dog bite,
- Take down the name and phone number of the dog owner. You will need them to provide proof that their pet has been vaccinated against rabies. Otherwise, you will be required to go through a series of vaccinations as a precaution.
- Seek medical attention if necessary. Keep in mind that at first a bite may seem minimal only to become increasingly painful and inflamed later.
- Wash your wound gently in soap and water to help protect against infection.
- Apply pressure with a clean towel to help stop any bleeding. You can also wrap a bandage around the wound to keep it protected.
- Apply an antibiotic ointment such as Neosporin to the area twice a day.
- If you feel it is necessary, report the incident to the proper authorities (Animal Control or the Police).
If your dog bites someone,
- Stay calm, do not defend, and be nice to the victim as the outcome is in their hands and in their favor.
- Give out your name and number. Provide documentation of your pets rabies vaccine or give them the number of your veterinarian.
- Help the victim get medical attention if they want or need it.
- Offer to pay for any medical bills.
- Examine the situation to keep the situation from happening again.
- You may want to alert your insurance company and take down the names and numbers of any witnesses.
- Tell the truth about what happened.
Dog owners need to understand the importance of training their animal to obey, keeping them contained and restrained, and understanding the natural instincts of the breed they choose to own. Some dogs, regardless of breed, need more direction and interaction than others. Trainers are a wonderful resource, but if you cannot afford a trainer there are many free resources available online and in stores.
Sometimes a victim has no way of avoiding an attack. But everyone needs to use caution when approaching a strange animal. A wagging tail does not always mean happiness to greet you, so you should always ask permission to touch or pet another dog.
America loves dogs and will continue to welcome pets into their homes and family. Dog bite prevention week is a timely reminder of how to keep your family safe from dog bites, as well as helping to prevent dog bites.
Posted on 05/17/2012, in Uncategorized and tagged AVMA, Dog Bite Prevention Week, dogs, walkfordogs.com. Bookmark the permalink. Leave a Comment.
Leave a Comment
Comments (0)