National Dog Bite Prevention Week May 18th - 24th

Here are a few tips on how to avoid being bitten by a dog.

• Always treat dogs with kindness and respect.
• Never approach a strange dog.
• Avoid direct eye contact with any dog.
• Always ask the owner for permission before petting a dog. If there is no owner present, do not approach or pet the dog.
• Do not pet dogs around the face, head or tail.
• Let a dog smell your hand before petting him.
• Do not hug dogs. Hugs are for people not for pets.
• Hold your hand flat when feeding a treat. This will keep your fingers from getting in the dogs mouth when he takes the treat.
• Never kick, hit or tease a dog.
• Do not take the dog’s toys or treats away from him.
• Do not go near tied up dogs even if you know the dog.
• Under no circumstance should you ever break up an animal fight.
• Don’t touch a mother dog or her babies. She will take this as aggression towards the puppies and protect them.
• Never stick your hand through fences or in car windows to pet a dog.
• Do not run and scream around dogs.
• If a dog chases you while you are on a bike, stop and put the bike between you and the dog while you slowly walk away. Do not scream and run from the dog.
• When a strange dog comes near you, stand completely still without looking directly at him.
• If a dog knocks you down, curl up in a ball and lie completely still protecting your face and ears with your hands.
• Do not disturb a sleeping dog. There is a for reason the saying, "Leave sleeping dogs lie".

Dogs are not the only animals to bite!

• Leave all wild or stray animals alone. Especially if they are acting strange, sick or wounded.
• Never keep a wild animal as a pet even if they are only babies.
• Never touch sick or injured animals.
• Do not feed wild or stray cats. Never attempt to pet a feral cat.

Additional Resources:

• Human Society: Preventing Dog Bites
• PreventTheBite.com
• CDC: Nation Dog Bite Prevention Week
• PetSaverCoupons.com: Dog Bite Prevention Week