Living safely with dogs

Every year, in Mexico as in the United States, millions of people are bitten by dogs, and most injuries caused by dog bites are severe enough to require medical attention. More than half of all dog-bite victims are children, the majority of them between five and nine years old.

Teaching children to stay safely around dogs is extremely important. Equally important is our responsibility, if we have dogs, to reduce the possibility of our dogs biting. None of us want to believe that our adorable pets could harm anyone, let alone a child, but most dog bites are caused by the family dog or a neighbor’s or relative’s pet.

The Humane Society of the United States offers the following advice to dog owners for preventing their beloved pets from biting family members and others:

• Never leave a young child alone with a dog.
• Never allow your dog to roam.
• Train and socialize your dog to be comfortable around people.
• Don’t tie or chain your dog outside for long periods of time. Tethered dogs may feel isolated and become aggressive. Dogs are motivated to protect their territory and will often bite when someone comes within reach of their chain.
• Remind family members and others not to disturb dogs that are ill, sleeping, eating, nursing puppies, or guarding territory or property, such as a car, toy, or garden.
• Teach children to play safely with dogs. Avoid aggressive games, such as tug-of-war. Also, because children mimic what they see, never hit a dog as a form of discipline.

• Sterilize your dog. Dogs that have not been sterilized are more likely to bite than neutered dogs. Neutering also helps stop pet overpopulation and can provide important health benefits for pets.
• Report suspected cases of animal cruelty and neglect to the Centro de Control y Asistencia (CECA), 473 733 4839, ccontrolanimalgto@hotmail.com. Your report needs to be made in Spanish.

Adapted from “Convive seguro con perros”, a booklet produced by The Humane Society of the United States