Here is some more information about dog bites which I share because it is nearly Dog Bite Prevention Week. This post comes courtesy of Southern Maryland Online:

Dog bites are a serious public health problem that inflicts considerable physical and emotional damage on victims. In the United States, there are more than 53 million dogs sharing the human-canine bond, more dogs per capita than in any other country in the world. An estimated 4.5 million people are bitten each year, although the actual number injured is unknown. Fifty percent of all children will be bitten by a dog before their 12th birthday.

These dreadful statistics are behind a national effort to increase awareness about how to prevent dog bites. This year, National Dog Bite Prevention Week is May 16-22. Every year the Humane Society of the United States sponsors this event to help educate people about avoiding the problem. This year’s theme is “Everybody Plays a Part” in preventing dog bites. Dog owners must socialize, train, and safely confine their dogs. People who come in contact with dogs must learn how to act properly to prevent bites. And parents need to explain to their kids how to deal with dogs.