Dog Bites
Contrary to popular belief, dog’s don’t have a preference for mail carriers when it comes to chasing and biting. While it is true that each year dogs in the U.S. bite more than 2,851 mail carriers, dogs bite more than 4.7 million people each year, overall. That’s a whopping 2% of the U.S. population. Because dog bites are a common occurrence, it is best to understand the basics of dog bites in order to take the necessary steps to avoid them. In the U.S., the most likely victims of dog bites are children and, unfortunately, these little victims are bitten most often in the face. To help protect your children against dog bites, it is important to identify certain breeds. It is also important to monitor your child when he or she is playing with the dog at all times. Again, never leave a small child alone with a dog, no matter how mild mannered you think the dog may be. That said, the types of dogs that are more likely to bite or even kill are dogs that have been trained by their owners to be aggressive. Dog’s that are most likely to be trained as fighters or to be aggressive include Pit Bulls, Rottweilers, and German Shepherds. Huskies, Alaskan Malamutes, Chows, Great Danes, Doberman Pinchers, Akitas, and St. Bernard’s are also easy to train to be fighters or to be aggressive. At the same time, with the proper training and care, these same breeds can be loyal and lovable pets. If you or someone you know has sustained an injury from a dog bite, there are certain steps that should be followed immediately after the incident. First, do your best to identify the dog that bit you. If you know the dog and the owner, great! If the dog is a stray, do your best to get a detailed description. Next, seek medical attention. In the case of stray dogs, the animal could have any number of diseases, including rabies. In these cases, you may have to take a series of shots to protect yourself from the developing a disease.