Animal Bite Prevention

While that's true for the vast majority of dogs, even the cuddliest, fuzziest, sweetest pup can bite if provoked. Unwisely, some owners actually promote aggression in their dogs as symbols of power. From nips to bites to actual attacks, dog bites are a serious problem. Dog bite victims requiring medical attention in the United States number 500,000 to 1 million annually. Countless more bites go unreported and untreated. On average, about a dozen people die each year from dog bites.  Fortunately, there are steps we can take to address this problem. Who's being bitten? Children make up more than 60 percent of all dog bite victims. The elderly and home service people like mail carriers and meter readers also are high on the list of frequent dog bite victims.

      What's a dog owner to do?; Carefully consider your pet selection. Before and after selection, your veterinarian is the best source for information about behavior and suitability. Make sure your pet is socialized as a young puppy, so it feels at ease around people and other animals. Expose your puppy to a variety of situations a little at a time and under controlled circumstances; continue that exposure on a regular basis as your dog gets older. If you're not sure how your dog will react to a large crowd or a busy street, be cautious. Don't put your dog in a position where it feels threatened or teased. Train your dog. The basic commands "sit," "stay," "no" and "come" can be incorporated into fun activities which build a bond of obedience and trust between pets and people. Don't play aggressive games like wrestling or tug-of-war with your dog. Keep your dog healthy. Have your dog vaccinated against rabies and preventable infectious diseases. Parasite control is important to how your dog feels and behaves. Neuter your pet. It's a fact: Neutered dogs are less likely to bite. Be a responsible pet owner. License your dog with the community as required. Obey leash laws. Dogs are social animals; spending time with your pet is important. Dogs that are frequently left alone have a greater chance of developing behavior problems. Be alert. Know your dog. You naturally would be alert to signs of illness, but you must also watch for signs your dog is uncomfortable or feeling aggressive. 

      What should I do if my dog bites someone?; Even if the bite can be explained (perhaps someone stepped on the dog's tail), it's important to take responsibility for your dog's actions by taking these steps: Restrain the dog immediately. Separate it from the scene of the attack. Confine it. Call 911 if paramedic response is required. Contact Bowie Police Communications at 872-2251 to report the bite (this is required by law), provide important information:  your name and address, and information about your dog's most recent rabies vaccination. The person bitten may need to undergo rabies treatment. Consult your veterinarian for advice about dog behavior that will help prevent similar problems in the future. If your own dog bit you, confine it immediately. Contact the Bowie Police Animal Control Section, have your rabies vaccination records available.

      If someone else's dog bit you, contact Bowie Police Communications at 872-2251 to report the bite (this is required by law) and tell them everything you can about the dog: the owner's name, if you know it; color of the dog; size; where you saw it; if you've seen it before. These details may help animal-control officers locate the dog. Dogs are wonderful companions. By acting responsibly, owners not only reduce the number of dog bites, but also enhance the relationships they have with their dogs.

Teach your children the following basic rules of safety around dogs: 

  • Never approach an unfamiliar dog. Remember that not every dog that wags its tail is friendly. 

  • Always ask the owner's permission before petting a dog. 

  • Always approach dogs slowly and carefully. 

  • When meeting a new dog, let it come to you and smell you first. 

  • Know where the dogs in your neighborhood live. 

  • Keep away from stray dogs. 

  • Never run from a dog and scream. 

  • Remain calm and motionless when approached by an unfamiliar dog (e.g., "be still like a tree"). 

  • Always protect your face, neck and arms. If knocked over by a dog, roll into a ball and lie still (e.g., "be still like a log"). 

  • If you're attacked, give the dog a book or backpack to chew on. Cover your head and neck, and protect your face. 

  • Never play with a dog unless supervised by an adult. 

  • Immediately report stray dogs or dogs displaying unusual behavior to an adult. 

  • Avoid direct eye contact with a dog. 

  • Do not disturb a dog who is sleeping, eating, or caring for puppies. 

  • Do not pet a dog without allowing it to see and sniff you first. 

  • Do not make loud noises around dogs. 

  • Do not ever tease a dog. 

  • Never reach through a fence to pet a dog. 

  • Never put your hand between two dogs. 

  • Never put your face close to a dog. 

  • Never try to help a hurt dog; get an adult to help. 

  • If you do not have permission, never enter a yard with a dog in it. Better yet, wait for the owner to enter the yard with you. 

  • Never leave a baby alone with a dog. 

  • If bitten, immediately report the bite to an adult.

 

Rabies Prevention

The best way to prevent rabies is to make sure your pets get and stay vaccinated against rabies!! Other ways to prevent rabies in your pets: Walk your dog on a leash. Never let them roam freely where wildlife may be present. Consider keeping your pets indoors. Call animal control to take wild or stray animals away, especially if you see an animal acting strangely. If an animal bites your pet, handle your pet carefully so you do not get bitten. Get a rabies booster vaccination for them. Even if they have had the rabies vaccination, a booster shot will help them fight off the disease better. Get your pets spayed or neutered. Pets that are fixed are less likely to leave home, become strays, and make more stray animals. Make sure your pet gets and wears their rabies vaccination tags. They should also wear a tag with their name and your address and phone number. Keep them in a fenced yard or on a leash. How do I keep from getting rabies? Never touch unfamiliar or wild animals. Enjoy wild animals from afar. Avoid direct contact with stray animals. Stray cats and dogs may not have been vaccinated against rabies. Never adopt wild animals or bring them into your home. Do not try to nurse sick animals to health. It is common to want to rescue and nurse a hurt wild animal, but that animal may have rabies. Call an animal control person or animal rescue group if you find a sick animal. Make sure that your trash cans and pet foods are secured so that they do not attract wild animals.

      What do I do if I am bitten by an animal? If you are bitten by an animal, tell an adult immediately! Have the adult wash the wound well with soap and water for at least five minutes. You should then see a doctor as soon as possible for additional evaluation of the wound. Have an adult contact your local animal control officer. If the animal that bit you is a pet (dog, cat, or ferret), the animal may be watched for signs of rabies for about 10 days. If it is a wild animal, the animal control people may need to euthanize the animal to test its brain for rabies. Bites from bats are the main source of rabies in humans in the United States today. It is possible, but rare, that someone might be bitten by the bat and not know it. If you discover a bat in the house, especially in the room of a sleeping person or child, treat this situation as though an actual bite has occurred. This is especially true if the bat is acting strangely (unusually tame). Contact your local or state health department for more information.