SacPaws.com

MONROVIA, Calif. (May 5, 2008) – Each year, over five million Americans suffer from injuries caused by dog bites, resulting in losses over $1 billion annually.  World Wide Pet Industry Association, Inc.^® (WWPIA), the oldest non-profit organization promoting responsible pet care, announces tips to keep people safe from dog bites in recognition of Dog Bite Prevention Week May 18-24.

“With summer approaching, more people will be spending time outdoors with their dogs. It is important for the community to know how to properly interact with dogs and for pet owners to understand their responsibilities in public,” said Doug Poindexter, president, WWPIA. “World Wide Pet Industry Association, Inc. is dedicated to teaching responsible pet ownership, and we hope these tips will prove educational for both dog owners and general consumers,” Poindexter said.

Following are WWPIA-recommended precautionary measures to help prevent dog bites:

How to Prevent Dog Bites

·         Ask Before you Pet: Always ask pet owners before petting their dogs. Some dogs may not be properly socialized and may bite if a stranger pets them.

·         Be Cautious: Avoid petting a dog if his hair is standing up. This usually is a sign the dog is angry or irritable and will not want to be touched.

·         Manner Matters: Do not approach a dog from behind or make loud or abrupt movements when approaching it. Dogs do not like to be taken by surprise, especially by strangers.

·         Use Common Sense: Stay away from dogs while they are eating or sleeping as they may be caught by surprise or become territorial.

·         Educate Your Children: Most victims who require medical attention from dog bites are children and half of them have received bites to the face. To avoid a potentially deadly bite, teach your children the tips mentioned above and supervise their behavior around unfamiliar dogs.

How to Prevent Your Dog From Biting Others:

·         Socialization: To have a dog that behaves himself public, it is important to socialize your dog at an early age by exposing it to other people and animals.

·         Training: Training for your dog is an important investment to make. Dogs that are trained are less likely to bite and learn how to behave properly. It is important that dog owners go through the training process with their dogs so they can continue to train them after the initial sessions.

·         Practice Responsible Pet Care: For the safety of others, ensure your animal is properly vaccinated. Never teach your dog to attack or to chase others because he may get confused as to when this kind of behavior is appropriate. If your dog ever exhibits violent behavior, take him to training courses immediately.

·         Use Discretion: If you are not sure how your dog will respond to a particular situation, leave him at home or keep him separated from guests who are visiting your home.

For more information on pet safety and articles relating to your pet, please visit www.petsource.org, your pet information resource.

ABOUT WORLD WIDE PET INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION, INC. ^®

World Wide Pet Industry Association, Inc.^® (WWPIA) is the oldest industry organization promoting responsible growth and development of the companion pet and related products and services.  As society’s “humanization” of pets grows stronger, WWPIA knows it is important to inform and educate the general public to ensure safe and healthy lifestyles for our animal friends.  WWPIA plays host to America’s Family Pet Expo, the largest consumer show in the world, hosted annually in Costa Mesa, Calif. The organization also holds SuperZoo (www.superzoo.org), an annual pet industry trade show that showcases a comprehensive collection of exhibits and offers a variety of informative educational seminars known as SuperZoo University.  In addition, WWPIA has developed a Web site for both the industry and the consumer called PetSource.org (www.petsource.org).  This new Web site is a one-stop resource for information on pets of all kinds.  For more information on WWPIA, please visit www.wwpia.org.

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