Dog Bite Injury Prevention

Read the blog from Frank Penney Injury Lawyers in Roseville, CA below. 

Dogs make great companions and in many cases are considered family. They are wonderful pets and can bring a lot of joy into a household. However, even the best pets can attack under certain circumstances. Dog bite injuries are serious and should be addressed as such. According to the Centers for Disease Control, nearly 800,000 dog bites occur each year in America. Half of these bite victims are young children. The first step to lowering these numbers is prevention and education.

Are Dogs Right for Your Family?

The first thing you can do to avoid injuries from canine bites in your home is to decide whether or not owning a dog is a good fit for your family. Roseville dog bite and personal injury lawyer Frank Penney recommends taking the following into consideration before adding a dog to your family.

• Gain insight from professionals as to which type of canine may be a good fit. Certain breeds may adapt to your family better than others.
• If possible, spend time with the dog that you want to adopt or buy before bringing him home for good. If your children seem apprehensive, it may be time to hold off for now.
• Learn what it takes to properly own a dog. If you sense that you will not have the time or resources beforehand, then owning a dog may not be the best fit for your family. Most pets require a good deal of attention and exercise in order to maintain ideal behavior.

If you already have a man’s best friend in the household, there are extra precautions that you can take to prevent a dog bite injury. For instance, never play aggressively with any dog (such as a tug) and do not disturb one that is sleeping or eating. Since half of the injury victims are young children, it is important to not leave infants and young kids alone with any dog.

Animal Safety and Education for Children

In order to prevent injury to children, it is important to teach them how to properly treat all animals and what to do if they come across a stray that is acting aggressively. Teaching children what to do in these situations can help prevent an attack and can potentially save lives.

Dog bite injuries can cause physical, emotional, and monetary damages. Roseville dog bite lawyer Frank Penney understands the devastation that these injuries can cause and fights for the rights of victims.