Animal Attacks - Things You Should Know

We've all seen the horrendous images on the television; the Butch-looking Pit-bull or the militant Rottweiler, instilling fear in the neighborhood's inhabitants by barking and growling at small children who stroll near. Eventually, the animal is provoked, and before anyone realizes what is going on, his teeth are clenched around some poor women's neck, yanking and tugging until bits of flesh separate from the body. While these images do enhance the drama of reality television, actuality reveals that these events are not too uncommon. People are bitten by rogue animals every day.

According to the national Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), a subsidiary of the Department of Health and Human Services, there are over 4.7 million reported bites each year. Of these, 800,000 people seek medical attention, 386,000 need emergency medical care, and a significant number of people die. Animal attacks are a serious problem in American neighborhoods, affecting numerous families, whether it is from permanent physical or psychological injury to the loss of a beloved child. Attacks lead to arduous legal proceedings, stress on family relationships, and, in some cases, can cost the dog its life.

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Many people assume that a well-trained family pet is harmless. If the pet has been with the family for a long time, the threat of harm is virtually non-existent. What few people know is that 39 percent of attacks come from the family pet, 60% percent of these pet have never bitten anyone before. The threat of attack from any household pet is real. Animal have emotions and can be provoked, even if unknowingly.

So the next logical question is: With the proliferation of animal attacks in America, how can such catastrophic attacks be prevented?

Unfortunately, not everyone can have the convenience of The Dog Whisperer's presence, but luckily, the entire third week of May is National Dog Bite Prevention Week. The American Veterinary Medical Association is working hard this year to make sure that Americans are more informed about their household pets, so that such attacks will not occur again.

Some of the things that the CDC suggests include:

· Paying attention to an animal's behavioral temperament

· Seeking professional advice before making the decision to own a new animal

· Immediately reporting stray animals or animals that show abnormal behavior

· Keeping your animal healthy and vaccinated

· Properly socializing the animal if necessary

Animal Attacks - Things You Should Know

These are only a few of the numerous issues dealing with preventing animal attacks. For more information on how to prevent animal attacks please visit http://www.austinveterinarianclinics.com

Joseph Devine

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