Preventing Dog Bites
A great and playful pet dog is fun to have around. More than just a companion, a pet dog creates a social dynamic with their owner that positively influences the wellbeing of both. A pet dog’s health is closely linked to its mental, physical and social competencies; so it is important that the pet is provided with adequate amount of nourishment, shelter, grooming, exercise, and medical care.
In addition to medical and nutritional attention, proper obedience and interaction training are an important part of pet dog ownership. A responsible dog owner knows that he has the obligation to keep his pet from harm’s way. Lack of social training with dogs often becomes a recipe for unfortunate encounters with people, such as dog bites, that could equally endanger and traumatize the person and the pet.
Through the years, experts have been encouraging dog owners to visit their veterinarian for regular rabies vaccination. In barangays, free rabies vaccination services are offered during public celebrations with pets, in order to promote rabies prevention among pet owners. The Department of Health (DOH) has recently reported that 47 percent of human rabies victims are children below 15 years old.
While rabies is 100 percent fatal, it is largely preventable if precautionary measures are observed. The DOH aims to make the Philippines rabies-free by the year 2020.
The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) believes that proper social exercises between dogs and people are the sustainable solutions to prevent dog bites and rabies in humans. It shares practical tips for preventing dog bites:
Socialization
Socialization, or when a puppy is introduced to new people, places and locations, should begin between three and 14 weeks of age. AVMA recommends that a plan be developed for the different environments that will be a part of the new dog’s life. Once the puppy is brought home, if the new owner lives in a city, it must be slowly introduced to situations with people and traffic. It must also be carefully exposes to people wearing hats, carrying umbrellas, or holding other everyday objects that it could perceive as a threat. The owner shall make sure that the dog is fully vaccinated before exposing it to areas with a high likelihood of unvaccinated dogs.
If an older dog is adopted and the new owner isn’t sure of its socialization history, the owner shall take time to bond with the pet and get to learn its temperament before introducing