According to the American Pet Products Association, there are currently 83.3 million dogs all over the United States which are kept by 56.7 million households. The most recent survey of dog bites in the US that was conducted by researchers at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention showed that there were 4.5 million dog bite victims per year in 2001, 2002, and 2003, which translates to 1.5% of the entire population of the country.
Tips for Children to Prevent Dog Bites
Parents in New York, and other places, can teach their kids important tips to prevent them from becoming dog bite victims, including the following:
- Tell your children that they should avoid unknown dogs at all times. Regardless of the breed, it is always better to consider leaving if you see a dog wandering around unsupervised and loose.
- Teach your children not to run, yell, hit or make any sudden movements towards any dog.
- When a dog is with their owner, teach your kids to ask permission to pet it or make any contact. It does not mean that the dog might not be aggressive, just because the animal is with its owner. It is paramount for children to know that they should always ask permission before touching any animal.
- If they are confronted by an aggressive dog, children should be taught to walk away quietly and confidently. Although the first instinct may be to run, it is important to keep in mind that this can often escalate the situation.
- Teach your children to never confront or try to play with a dog while it is eating. The dog may become nervous and it will instinctively cause it to become aggressive.
- Teach your children to always be gentle when they come into contact with any animal. This can help in avoiding any aggressive reactions.
If your child has been the victim of a dog attack or dog bite, it is important to take immediate action. The first thing you should is get medical attention regardless of the severity of the injuries. You should also report the incident to your local police department and/or animal control. If possible, you should also take down the dog owner’s name and address. Additionally, you should remember to take photographs of your child’s injuries immediately following the incident. You should also take additional photographs of the injuries several hours and days after the dog bite so that you make sure that the injury and healing process are properly documented.
Get Legal Help for Dog Bites in New York
If you or a loved one in New York has suffered injury as a result of a dog attack, you should immediately seek the help of the reliable personal injury attorneys at Rosenberg, Minc, Falkoff, & Wolff of RMFW Law at 212-344-1000. Give us a call today! RMFW Law knows how to get the job done! We have been doing this for years. If we have to come to you, we will do that. We have won top dollar for many passed clients, you too can be on this righteous list.
