Dog Bite Prevention
MEDIA ADVISORY
For immediate release
What: National Dog Bite Prevention Week
When: May 19 - 25, 2002
Contact: Ann Freeman, Director of Public Relations, College
of Veterinary Medicine, 612.624.4752, pager 612.580.0494
COLLEGE OF VETERINARY MEDICINE PROVIDES PUBLIC EDUCATION FOR NATIONAL
DOG BITE PREVENTION WEEK
MINNEAPOLIS / ST. PAUL (May 20, 2002) - May
19-25 is National Dog Bite Prevention Week. Last month, the University of
Minnesota College of Veterinary
Medicine (CVM) launched an informational dog bite prevention campaign. Comprehensive
information about dog bite prevention can be found on the College's web
site at www.cvm.umn.edu. Click on the "Facts U Can Use" button
to obtain information relevant to dog owners, individuals, families, children
about
the prevention of dog bites, and what to do if approached by an aggressive
dog.
"Dog bites occur year-round, but in Minnesota they are especially common in the
spring and summer," said Petra Mertens, D.V.M., a dog behavior expert
and professor at the CVM.
Each year, approximately 1 million people report being bitten by dogs, and
it is estimated that an equal number go unreported. Approximately 60 percent
of
the victims are children, with almost 80 percent of those bites occurring to
the child's face. However, it is a common misperception that most of these
injuries are caused by stray or "fighting dogs". Most injuries occur
in the owner's or the victim's home, and 77 percent of dog-bite victims
are members of or close friends with the dog's family and are familiar
with the dog.
Additional pet behavior information is available at the CVM PetCARE Information
Center www.petcare.umn.edu. (NOTE: this website is not longer in existence)
People who have questions about their pet's
behavior can submit e-mail inquiries at the PetCARE Web site, or may call the
Veterinary Teaching Hospital Animal Behavior Service at 612-624-0797.
www.cvm.umn.edu
www.ahc.umn.edu
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