Teaching Children about Dog Safety
Dogs can inflict serious injuries such as bites or scratches that can lead to hospitalization. Children are more likely to get injured if a dog attacks them because they are more fragile than an adult. Not only are children more likely to be injured, but they are also more likely to suffer a severe injury. This is where a Bradenton personal injury attorney can help. Neri Law Group in Bradenton, FL, shares these tips to avoid an injury from a dog:
Dog Safety Tip 1: Don’t Approach a Strange Dog
Teach your children to avoid strange dogs wondering in your neighborhood. It is impossible to know if a dog is going to attack a child due to fear or an illness. Some dogs carry transmittable conditions such as the rabies virus that typically leads to death.
Dog Safety Tip 2: Never Tease a Dog
A child should never tease a dog, including her own pet because it can become aggressive. Teach your children how to treat the family pets correctly so that an injury won’t occur from a scratch or bite.
Dog Safety Tip 3: Stay Away from Service Animals
While a specialized service dog is highly trained and friendly, the animal’s main goal is to protect its owner. Teach your child to avoid petting a service animal because it may protect its owner by pushing the child away. This could lead to an injury from a fall.
Dog Safety Tip 4: Keep Your Dogs Away from Infants and Toddlers
Don’t leave your dog alone with an infant or toddler. There are situations where a dog has injured a baby or young child who was in a crib or playpen. In addition, young children should learn to avoid trying to ride on a dog’s back or pulling its tail.
Dog Safety Tip 5: Don’t Try to Help an Injured Dog
If a child notices an injured dog, then he or she should notify an adult rather than trying to help the animal. A dog that has an injury is frequently anxious, and may feel threatened. The animal could attack a child who is trying to help.
Call a Bradenton Dog Bite Attorney for Legal Assistance
At Neri Law Group, we recommend talking to a Bradenton personal injury attorney right away if your child suffers an injury from a dog. Call us today at (941) 677-8977.
