AVOIDING ANIMAL BITES FOR MORE INFORMATION ON ANIMAL CITY OF WICHITA BITE PREVENTION, CONTACT POLICE DEPARTMENT (continued) ANIMAL CONTROL AT ANIMAL CONTROL SECTION 2. Training. Socializing your so that it 350-3360 is comfortable around friends, neighbors and children goes a long way toward Portions of this brochure were reprinted with the preventing bites. permission of the Humane Society of the United State

3. Never play “attack” games with your . won’t know the difference between play and real-life situations.

4. Be cautious in new situations. Keep a watchful eye on your dog and have it securely restrained when meeting new people or when strangers such as service technicians and other visitors are at your home.

5. Do not disturb a dog that is eating, sleeping, or caring for .

6. Never approach a strange dog. Do not PREVENTING pet a dog; even your own, without knowing it is aware you are there. It’s a good idea to AND let it sniff you first too.

7. When approached by a dog you don’t AVOIDING know, don’t run or scream. Instead stand still with your hands at your side and avoid ANIMAL BITES direct eye contact with the dog. Teach children to “Be a statue” until the dog goes How to “bite proof” your dog and away. avoid being bitten 8. If you are knocked down or attacked by a dog, curl up into a ball and lie as Animal Control Section still as possible. Try to protect your head, neck and ears with your arms and hands. 3303 North Hillside Street Wichita, Kansas 67219 316-350-3360 316-350-3372(fax)

www.wichita.gov Serving the Public, Protecting the Animals T103-206 (REV. 02/11) Q: How many dog bites occur every factors such as whether the dog is spayed you can put between yourself and the year in the United States? or neutered, properly socialized, dog. supervised, humanely trained, and safely • If you fall or are knocked to the ground, A: The Centers for Disease Control and confined play significantly greater roles. curl into a ball with your hands over your Prevention in Atlanta, Georgia, estimates Responsible dog ownership of all breeds is ears and remain motionless. Try not to that dogs bite nearly 2% of the U.S. the key to prevention. scream or roll around. population each year. This is more than 4.7 million people per year, most of who are Q: What should I do if my dog bites children under 13 years of age. Q: What should I do if a dog bites someone? me?

Q: How many people die every year A: If your dog bites someone, act A: If you are bitten or attacked by a dog, try as a result of dog bites? responsibly by taking these steps: not to panic. • Confine your dog immediately and check • A: Approximately twelve people die every Immediately wash the wound thoroughly on the victim’s condition. If necessary, year as a result of dog bites in the U.S. The with soap and warm water. seek medical help. majority of the victims are children 1 – 9 • Contact your physician for additional • years old. Elderly people over the age of 55 Contact Animal Control, 350-3360. care and advice. are the next highest. • Provide the victim with important • Report the bite to Animal Control, 350- information, such as the date of your 3360. Tell Animal Control personnel Q: Why do some dogs bite? dog’s last vaccination. everything you know about the dog, • Cooperate with Animal Control including its owner’s name and the A: There are many reasons why a dog may personnel. Strictly follow quarantine address where it lives. If the dog is a bite. Dogs may bite due to fear, to protect requirements for your dog. stray, tell Animal Control personnel what their territory, or to establish their • Seek professional help to prevent your the dog looked like, where you saw it, dominance over the person being bitten. dog from again. Consult with your whether you’ve seen it before, and in Some dog owners mistakenly teach their veterinarian, who may refer you to an which direction it went. dogs that biting is an acceptable form of animal behaviorist or a dog trainer. If play behavior. Because dog bites occur for your dog’s dangerous behavior cannot many reasons, many components of be controlled, do not give it to someone responsible dog owner- ship-Including else. AVOIDING ANIMAL BITES proper socialization, supervision, humane training, steriliza- tion, and safe confinement Q: What should I do if I think a dog It is estimated that dogs bite 4.7 million are nec- essary to prevent dogs from biting. may attack? people each year in the United States. Children are the most common victims. Q: Which dogs most commonly bite? A: If you are approached by a dog that may Dog bites are a serious problem in our Are some breeds more likely to attack you, follow these steps: community. These simple tips can help you bite than others? • Never scream and run. Remain avoid being part of these statistics. motionless, hands at your sides, and A: The list of top breeds involved in both avoid eye contact with the dog. Once 1. Spay or neuter your dog. Dogs that bite and fatalities changes from year the dog loses interest in you, slowly have not been spayed or neutered are three to year and from one area of the country to back away until it is out of sight. times more likely to bite than ones who another, depending on the popularity of the • If the dog does attack, “feed” it your have been surgically altered. breed. Although genetics do play some part jacket, purse, bicycle, or anything that in determining whether a dog will bite,