Each year nearly 2.8 children are bitten by a dog. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates half of all children 12-years-old and younger have been bitten by a dog resulting in injuries of varying severity. Contrary to popular belief, most of these bites are not coming from a "scary" dog that got loose. Statistics show that half of all dog bites come from the family's own dog, and another 40% come from a friend or neighbor's dog. Most incidents are the result of a child trying to take food, a toy or a puppy from a dog. Many times, dog bites are much more than an innocent little nip - they often require hospitalization or even surgery. Even dog bites that are considered minor can cause serious, even permanent, psychological scars.
Any breed of dog may bite including popular “family” breeds. Even the nicest, most well-trained dog may snap if it’s startled, scared, feels threatened, hurt or is hungry.
“The good news is that dog bites can be prevented,” said Crawford. “Research shows that just 1 hour of dog safety training can reduce attacks by 80%.” But dog bite prevention is conspicuously absent in the curriculum of preventable childhood injury education.
The For Kids Sake Safety Around Dogs program was founded to help protect children from injuries that, in most cases, can be prevented. Based on the latest child safety strategies and research, the For Kids Sake Safety Around Dogs materials make learning fun by using the animated Safety Squadron characters, Deputy Dakota, Trooper Tahoe and Sgt. Cheyenne, all of whom are based on real-life search and rescue dogs.
“Even if your family does not own a dog, your children still need to be taught dog bite prevention,”
Dog bites are preventable. Dog bite prevention education not only saves children's lives, it is a proactive way of fighting adverse canine legislation and protects the human-canine bond.
For more information about the Safety Around Dogs program, go to www.SafetyAroundDogs.org
About For Pits Sake, Inc. (www.ForPitsSake.org):
For Pits’ Sake, Inc., a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, has been a leader in the community for over a decade in both human and animal rescue, humane education, safety programs and therapy programs for children. Founded by Kris Crawford in 1997, For Pits' Sake, Kris Crawford and her hero pit bull dogs – Cheyenne, Dakota & Tahoe - have received numerous awards for their work including a Jefferson Award - The Nobel Prize for Community Service, the American Red Cross Real Hero Award, the United Animal Nations Animals Choice Award, the NSAL Heroism Award, a Certificate and Letter of Achievement from the FBI, Certificates of Appreciation from County Supervisors, Senators and Assembly members, and a letter from the Governor of CA stating they "demonstrate the true strength of California and represent the best of the Golden State."
