Dog bite prevention tips parents can give their kids

Among the things kids may encounter when playing outside are neighborhood dogs. Many kids love dogs, and may have a strong desire to pet dogs they come across. While petting dogs can be an enjoyable activity, it can also have its safety risks, even in relation to dogs a child knows well.

For example, sometimes dog bites come out of an attempt to pet a dog. It is estimated that the U.S. sees around 4.7 million dog bites a year, with over half of the victims of such bites being children under 13. Children can suffer particularly severe injuries from dog bites.

When their child is seriously hurt by another person’s dog, a parent may wonder what compensation they might be able to pursue to help with costs such as those coming out of the care needs that their child has as a result of the injury. This can be a very impactful issue, as the costs related to such care needs can be high and such care needs being met can be very important for a child’s recovery from a dog bite injury. Personal injury lawyers can provide compensation-related guidance to parents of child dog bite victims.

There are things parents can do to try to reduce their child’s likelihood of suffering dog bites in connection to petting dogs. This includes letting their kids know the dos and don’ts of petting dogs, such as:

• DO be careful when petting any dog, even one you know well.
• DO remember that dogs can get frightened easily.
• DO ask for permission before petting someone else’s dog.
• DON’T pet dogs that are in cars, behind a fence or playing with a toy.
• DON’T sneak up on sleeping dogs.
• DON’T sneak up on dogs that are eating,

What do you think are some of the best ways for parents to talk to their kids about dog petting safety?

Source: WOWT, “Sure the dog is adorable – but adorable has teeth,” Pam Wiese, May 6, 2017