By DEBBIE STEPHAN, postmaster
Minerva, Ohio
Would your dog bite? The American Veterinary Medical Association estimates that more than 4.7 million dog bites are reported to local authorities each year. Countless more go unreported.
Dog bites can range from a relatively painless nip to a fatal mauling. Dog-bite victims account for up to 5 percent of all hospital emergency-room visits. Children are most often the victims. Dog attacks are the most commonly reported childhood public-health problem in the United States.
You may feel confident that your dog will not add to these statistics, and it is probably true that your trusty companion will never seriously harm anyone. However, if your dog does attack or bite someone, you could be liable for the victim's pain, suffering, and medical expenses. Potential victims include your Postal Service carrier and neighborhood children.
There are several ways you can avoid liability. Reducing the likelihood your dog will ever bite someone helps protect you, your canine companion, and everyone else in the community.
Why some dogs bite:
Although dogs may bite for a variety of reasons, spaying or neutering has been shown to reduce aggressiveness. Bite statistics show that dogs that have not been spayed or neutered are up to three times more likely to be involved in a biting incident.
Lack of socialization, improper training, excitement, and fear can all contribute to a dog attack.
Even a nip on the leg is unacceptable behavior for a family dog.
Three suggestions to help take the bite out of your dog:
* Teach your dog appropriate behavior. Do not play aggressive games with your dog such as wrestling, tug of war, or enticing your dog to attack another person. It is essential that your dog recognize members of your family as dominate figures, not to be challenged.
* Be a responsible pet owner. For everyone's safety, do not allow your dog to roam. Make your pet a member of your family. Dogs that spend too much time tethered to a dog house or in the back yard have a much greater chance of developing aggressive behavioral problems.
* Stay on the safe side. Help your dog become accustomed to a variety of situations. If you don't know how your dog will react to a new situation, be cautious. If you think your dog could panic in a crowd, leave him or her at home. If your dog may overreact to visitors or delivery people, keep him or her in another room.