Orange County Animal Services is encouraging all pet owners to make an extra effort to keep the community safe during National Dog Bite Prevention Week, which runs May 20-26.
Last year, Orange County Animal Services investigated 1,313 bite cases in 2011, a 9 percent increase over the previous year.
“Fifty percent of all children in the United States will be bitten by a dog before their 12th birthday. Since children are at most risk of being bitten, it is extremely important to teach them how to stay safe around dogs,” said Dil Luther, Division Manager of Orange County Animal Services. “However, children can only be educated on bite prevention if adults take the initiative to educate themselves first.”
Animal Services’ goal is to keep the citizens and animals of Orange County safe. The Division developed a Bite Prevention Program for children in 2005 and continues to use it as an educational tool in schools across Orange County. The program is designed to give children hands-on experience about recognizing dangerous situations, knowing the difference between a friendly dog and an unfriendly dog, and most importantly, what to do if a dog approaches them.
Pet safety education programs for adults and children are offered free of charge in Orange County. To schedule a session or find out more information about the program, email [email protected].
Each year, about 4.5 million Americans are bitten by dogs, and 80,000 dog-related injuries are severe enough to require medical attention.
