Last year, dog attacks and bites resulted in 3,423 injuries to letter carriers nationwide. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that nearly two percent of Americans are bitten by a dog each year, and most of the victims are children. Clearly parents must never leave a defenseless infant with a dog and must make sure that older children know the potential danger of dogs. It is also important to know that studies have shown that dogs are three times more likely to be involved in a biting incident if they have not been spayed or neutered. The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) has found that the breed of animal most commonly involved in dog attacks can change from year to year and from one part of the country to another, depending on the popularity of the breed. According to the AVMA, while come breeds are more likely to bite, other factors such as whether the animal has been spayed or neutered, and whether the animal has been properly socialized, safely confined, properly supervised, and humanely trained play great roles in a dog’s tendency to bite. Dog owners can prevent serious injuries to others by realizing their important role in dog-bite prevention. To learn more about the importance of neutering or spaying your pets, visit the American Partnership for Pets (APP) Web site at www.americanpartnershipforpets.org. The APP is an unprecedented coalition of more than 25 leading and influential animal health and welfare organizations, community animal care, control services and veterinarians.
