With an estimated five million people attacked by dogs each year and 800,000 needing medical attention, it's important to know preventative measures dealing with dog bites and other injuries resulting from pets.

If you plan on owning a pet, you should always choose a pet dog breed that most fits into your lifestyle and if possible can be trained relatively easily. The Humane Society can show you different breeds of dogs they have available for adoption and can help in making the right decision in selecting the particular dog you want. After receiving your pet, teaching it simple commands like "sit", "stay", and "no" will help develop better trust and understanding between your dog and people in general. At first, it's a good idea to avoid play activities such as tug-of-war and other games, which show aggression. Dog are very social animals that require much needed attention. People who abuse their dogs or leave them alone for long periods of time often have the most trouble in training their pets and dealing with behavior problems. People who continuously shower their pets with affection have a much greater chance in having a happy and healthy dog. Keep your dog healthy, by having him vaccinated against rabies and preventable infectious diseases. Control of parasites is important to your dog and how he behaves and feels. A neutered dog is less likely to bite. Be alert and know your dog, watch for signs when he is uncomfortable or feeling aggressive.

No matter how cute and cuddly a dog may seem even the friendliest canine can attack a person, especially if scared or provoked. Understanding how and why dogs bite will educate you in learning to protect yourself should a situation arise. Whether a dog is scared, upset, lonely, hurt, or sick these factors can all be attributed to a pet more likely to attack a person. Obviously, if a dog is growling and barking keep away. More subtle signs of a dogs temperament, like if it's legs are stiffened, it's ears laid back, and it's tail straight up or pointed towards you are all indications of a potentially dangerous animal. Be cautious and know how to spot these warning signs. If you are a pet owner, know how to judge your pet dog's actions for the safety of both yourself and others. Working together we can all make this world a safer and better place for both man and man's best friend.

Children are frequently victims of dog bites and should learn to be cautious around strange dogs and treat their own pet with respect. Never leave a young child alone with a dog and be on the lookout for potentially dangerous situations. Start early to teach children to be careful around pets and not to approach strange dogs. They should be taught to ask permission from a dog’s owner before attempting to pet the dog.

Among the many educational programs the local Humane Society might offer is a "Bite Free" seminar which teaches both kids and adults safety towards animals. Following classroom demonstrations and discussions there is usually an informative film and the canine education volunteer, helps with a follow up demonstration. I can't emphasize enough how important a “Bite Free” program is. It tries to teach understanding and caution rather than fear when it comes to interacting with animals. My wish would be that every child under the age of 12 and every parent of a child younger than 12 would participate in this kind of program at least once.

Dogs are wonderful companions and by acting responsibly, owners can reduce the number of dog bites and enhance the relationship they have with their pets.

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