Summer is a time when kids are home from school, we enjoy spending more time outdoors, and … it’s peak dog bite season!
The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) reports:
* More than 4.5 million people in the US are bitten by dogs each year, and almost 1 in 5 of those people require medical attention
* Children are, by far, the most common victims of dog bites and are far more likely to be severely injured
* Most dog bites affecting young children occur during everyday activities and while interacting with familiar dogs
* Senior citizens are the second most common dog bite victims
All dogs are capable of biting so paying attention to a dog’s body language is one important way to prevent a bite. The Humane Society of the United States lists the following as signals that a dog is uncomfortable and might bite:
* Tensed body
* Stiff tail
* Pulled back head and/or ears
* Furrowed brow
* Eyes rolled so the whites are visible
* Yawning
* Flicking tongue
* Intense stare
* Backing away
If you are approached by a dog that you think might attack, be still like a tree and avoid eye contact until it loses interest in you.
If you are the victim of a dog bite in unincorporated Snohomish County, contact our Animal Control Services hotline at 425-388-3440.
For more dog bite tips, see the AVM's Dog Bite Prevention brochure.