Any dog can bite, even the president's. What to know to protect yourself and children
The statistics about dog bites are awful but the stories are horrible.
➤ Four dogs fatally maul 7-year-old Idaho boy; mother injured while trying to protect son
➤ Man recalls harrowing tale of survival in vicious dog-pack attack in Jackson County
➤ Multiple dogs euthanized in Alabama after fatally attacking 27-year-old man as he left an acquaintance’s home.
➤ Dog attack leaves a woman dead, a man critically injured in Arizona
➤ Amazon delivery driver found dead after suspected dog attack at Missouri home
No pet owner is immune from the possibility their dog could bite someone, even the president of the United States.
President Joe Biden's dog Commander bit a Secret Service agent, the agency confirmed this week. It's the 11th known biting incident of an officer by the 2-year-old purebred German Shepherd.
Commander was a gift to the Bidens in December 2021 after the Biden family sent another dog, Major, to live with family friends following a series of biting incidents.
White House dog bites: Joe Biden's dog bites another Secret Service agent. It's the 11th time.
Here's what you should know about dog bites, including how to treat a wound, who is most likely to get bitten and whether some breeds are more prone to aggression than others.
Florida children at highest risk for dog bites
The injury rate from dog bites is the highest for children between the ages of 5 and 9, according to the Centers for Disease Control.
Children ages 1 to 9 are at the highest risk for dog bites, with boys in this age group at a higher risk than girls.
Children under 10 more likely to be bitten on the head or neck than other age groups.
Each year, an average of two Floridians die from injuries due to dog bites.
Each year, over 600 Floridians are hospitalized due to injuries from dog bites.
Most dog bites (86 percent) which involved children less than 6 years old were from dogs known to the family, and more than half occurred in the home.
More than half of dog bites involving persons 15 years and older occurred when the victim attempted to break up a dog fight.
Across all age groups, the most common cause of dog bites (26 percent) was inappropriate behavior management (interacting with the dog while it was eating food, chewing on a toy, roughhousing, or touching or moving the dog against its will).
Another common cause of dog bites was protective behavior (24 percent of cases), which occurred regularly both on and off the dog owner’s property.
Dogs that were off their owner’s property and off-leash were the source of approximately one third (32 percent) of all dog bites reported, and most (89 percent) involved dogs unknown to the victim.
468 people died of dog bites in US from 2011-2021
During 2011 to 2021, 468 deaths were attributed to being bitten or struck by a dog, for an average of 43 deaths per year, according to the Centers for Disease Control.
The annual number of deaths ranged from 31 in 2016 to 81 in 2021.
In 1994, the most recent year for which published data are available, an estimated 4.7 million dog bites occurred in the United States, and approximately 799,700 persons required medical care.
More attacks occurred in the summer and on weekends and 80.2% occurred at home, according to the National Institutes of Health.
Any dog can bite
Any dog can bite: big or small, male or female, young or old. It is not a dog's breed that determines whether it will bite, but rather the dog's individual history and behavior, according to the American Veterinary Medical Association
The important thing to remember is that any dog can be dangerous.
Almost 1 in 5 people bitten by dogs require medical attention.
Children are 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.
Dogs bite for a variety of reasons, but most commonly as a reaction to something.
Are some dog breeds more aggressive than others?
This is a controversial topic, with strong opinions and statistics on both sides.
A study published in the journal Science found breed alone is not an accurate way to predict a dog's personality, according to the Smithsonian Magazine.
The study found breed explains about 9 percent of the variation in an individual dog's behavior.
"Breed-specific approaches to the control of dog bites do not address the issue that many breeds are involved in the problem and that most of the factors contributing to dog bites are related to the level of responsibility exercised by dog owners," according to the National Library of Medicine.
"To prevent dog bite-related deaths and injuries, we recommend public education about responsible dog ownership and dog bite prevention, stronger animal control laws, better resources for enforcement of these laws, and better reporting of bites."
Bottom line: Though some behaviors are more likely to pop up in some breeds, breed alone cannot predict the disposition of a particular dog. Instead, personality is shaped by a combination of factors, including a dog’s environment and upbringing.
Can you prevent dogs from biting?
You can take steps to help prevent dog bites. Educate yourself and children, never leave a young child alone with a dog, socialize your dog at an early age and remove your dog from escalating situations, advised the American Veterinary Medical Association
“If the dog is aggressive, you should observe where and when it happens and intervene,” said Hannes Lohi, Professor in Molecular Genetics in the University of Helsinki and Folkhälsan Research Center after conducting a study determining common factors behind aggression in dogs.
“It is important to try to learn the root cause of the aggression, not only the consequences. Since disease, pain, and sensory deterioration increase the likelihood of dog aggression, if your dog starts to act out, it’s worth consulting not only a dog trainer or behaviorist but also your vet."
Educate yourself and children about how to have a good interaction with a dog. Some ideas suggested by the American Veterinary Medical Association include:
Break your house into zones if you have young children, keeping the dog in one area and the child in another when you are out of sight or busy.
Keep young children and the dog separated unless there is adult supervision.
What can you do as a dog owner to reduce the chances of dog bites?
Introduce your puppy to people and other animals.
Be with your dog when he or she interacts with unfamiliar people.
Remove your dog from the situation whenever they seem to be anxious or agitated.
Provide your dog with a secure resting space and supervision in risky situations.
Dogs, just like people, have their own personalities and wagging its tail may mean happiness in some but for others it could mean anxiety, according to the American Veterinary Medical Association. But when the dog reacts by growling, snapping or biting, it’s definitely telling you that it wants to be left alone.
What is the law in Florida when it comes to dog bites? Is the owner responsible?
Under Florida law, a dog owner is liable for any injury caused by their dog if it bites another person on public property or on the dog owner’s property if the victim is there legally.
If a dog bites someone, the owner of that dog is legally responsible for damages and medical costs.
Florida dog owners also are liable for damage caused by their dog to another dog or animal.
If there is a sign conspicuously posted on the property warning of a "bad dog" or for people to "beware of dog," the owner of the dog is not liable unless the victim is under age 6.
The dog bite must have happened on the dog owner’s property where the sign is posted.
Dangerous jobs when it comes to dog bites
More than 5,300 postal employees were attacked by dogs last year.
Not surprisingly, workers in other fields who come to homes and private property also are at risks, including food delivery workers, utility employees, service repairmen, yard care workers and dog walkers. Here are some tips to protect your letter carrier, or anyone else who may come to your home:
Place your dog in a separate room and close that door before opening the front door. Some dogs burst through screen doors or plate-glass windows to attack visitors.
Be aware your pet may see a stranger giving you something as a threatening gesture.
Most dangerous jobs: What are America’s most dangerous jobs? Search our database of deadliest occupations
A dog is coming after you, what can you do?
Here are some suggestions from dogsbite.org:
Stop. Stay still and be calm. Do not run.
Do not panic or make loud noises.
Avoid direct eye contact with the dog.
Stand with the side of your body facing the dog. Directly staring or facing a dog can appear aggressive (as a challenge) to the dog.
Wait for the dog to pass by or slowly back away.
If the dog does attack, try to put something between you and the dog, such as your jacket, purse, bicycle or backpack.
If you are knocked down, curl into a ball with your head tucked in and your hands over your ears and neck.
How to treat a dog bite
Germs from dogs can cause a variety of illnesses, from minor skin infections to serious illnesses, according to the CDC.
One of the best ways you can protect yourself from getting sick is to thoroughly wash your hands after handling, caring for, feeding, or cleaning up after dogs.
According to the Florida Department of Health, take the following steps if you are bitten:
Seek medical attention immediately.
Control bleeding and wash the area of the bite with soap and water.
Report the bite to your local county health department, animal control agency, or police.
Only 15 to 20 percent of dog bite wounds become infected. Crush injuries, puncture wounds and hand wounds are more likely to become infected than scratches or tears. antibiotics for three to seven days is appropriate for dog bite wounds, unless the risk of infection is low or the wound is superficial, according to American Family Physician.
Tips to avoid dog bites
Adults should never leave an infant or young child alone with any dog, not even the family pet.
Children should never approach or play with dogs unless supervised by an adult.
Children should tell an adult if they see a stray dog or a dog acting strangely.
Don't disturb a dog that is sleeping, eating, or caring for puppies.
Don't look a dog right in the eyes.
If a dog knocks you over, roll into a ball, cover your face and stay still.
If you believe a dog is about to attack you, try to place something between yourself and the dog, such as a backpack or a bicycle.
Never approach an unfamiliar dog.
Never run from a dog and never scream around a dog.
Before getting a dog, seek the advice of a veterinarian or animal shelter personnel about which dog is right for your family and your lifestyle.
Confine your dog in a fenced yard or "dog run" when it is outside.
Do not leave your dog on a chain for long periods of time. Chained dogs are more likely to bite.
Do not play aggressive games with your dog.
Do not put your dog in situations where it may feel threatened or teased.
Follow leash laws. Don't let your dog roam freely.
Keep your dog healthy with regular check-ups and a vaccination program tailored to your dog's needs.
Make sure your veterinarian vaccinates your dog against rabies with a licensed rabies vaccine.
See a veterinarian promptly if your dog is sick or injured. Illness and pain can make a dog more likely to bite.
Spay or neuter your dog. Animals that are not neutered, particularly male dogs, may be at increased risk of biting people. Thousands of healthy and loving dogs and cats are put to death every year in the U.S. because pet owners do not spay or neuter their pets.
Socialize your dog so it feels at ease around people and other animals.
Train your dog to consistently obey basic commands such as "stay," "sit," and "come."
This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: Dog bites in Florida, US: How to protect, treat wounds. Most at risk
