As an injury attorney who has handled many dog bite claims in Oregon and Washington State, I have heard a lot of stories that would be funny if they were not so tragic. On several occasions, dog bite victims have told me that the owner has said, ?Don't worry, the dog won't bite? right before they got bitten. On one occasion, the owner went so far as to coax the victim into petting the dog to ?prove that this kind of dog is gentle.? Unfortunately, dogs are just doing what they think they are supposed to do, which is protecting their owners. Also unfortunately, dog owners do not know what is going on in their pets? heads, and even if the dog has never bitten anyone, this does not mean they won't suddenly bite. Owners are often even in denial that their dog is a biter even after it has demonstrated aggressive behavior such as nipping, barking and chasing or even biting. Their dog gives them unconditional love and they want to return the favor. Like parents of young children they can't believe THEIR dog would ever do anything to hurt anyone. If you watch the show Animal Cops on the Discovery Channel you can sometimes see owners in court denying their dog has done anything wrong even after a vicious attack that landed someone in a hospital.

Dog Bites are Becoming More of a Problem

Dog bites have a documented 37% increase in medically treated cases between 1986 and 1994. This is the case even though the dog population has risen by less than 2%. Such data indicates that dog bites are becoming more prevalent. In fact, dog bites are an increasing serious problem in the U.S.

Dog bites are the most frequent type of animal attack. They are a common reason for a trip to the emergency room, and are a common form of injury for both children and adults, although the number of recorded dog bites is greater in children. Statistically, one in two hundred twenty-two people are affected by dog bites, as opposed to one in every eighty-three children between five and nine. Dog bites are the second most common cause of injury in young children, topping the number of injuries incurred on the playground. Dog bites most frequently occur when the animal is provoked, regardless of whether it's purposeful or not. This can happen, for instance, when people are playing with dogs or when dogs are scared for some reason.

Dog Bite Injuries and Children

In addition to causing soft-tissue injuries, often to the face, dog bites are frightening and traumatic experiences that frequently have long-lasting effects for those involved. They are considered contaminated wounds, and therefore require surgical intervention, if it's necessary, as soon as possible after the incident. Although dog bites are indeed an increasing problem, they are largely preventable. It's very important that children and their parents learn how to lower their risk of being dog bite victims. The matter of dog bites should be discussed with the child's physician during routine checkups.

Conclusion

So next time you or your child considers petting a strange dog, think twice, even if the owner encourages you to do so.