Protecting Our Pets
As spring approaches, we want to point out that April appears to be a popular month for Pet Safety in America. Both National Dog Bite Prevention Week and Prevent Cruelty to Animals Month occur in April! While our primary focus is on protecting children from preventable injuries, like dog bites, it is worth noting these statistics:
- Every 60 seconds, an animal is abused somewhere in the world.
- 10 million animals die annually in the United States from animal abuse.
- Dogs make up 65% of all abused animals and there are 10,000 puppy mills in the United States.
These alarming numbers caused ASPCA to found Prevent Cruelty to Animals Month in 2006.
Furthermore, the AMVA is part of a coalition project to raise awareness and teach safety around pets, which is why National Dog Bite Prevention Week takes place during the second full week of April each year and focuses on educating people about preventing dog bites.
Protecting children from dog bites also protects dogs and their owners. A dog that bites, and its owner, can face serious consequences. The dog may be designated as a “dangerous dog” and could be required by law to be euthanized. The owner can be expected to pay damages and may be held legally responsible.
The United States is home to about 83 to 88 million dogs and about 45% of our homes have at least one dog. Approximately 4.5 million people at bitten by dogs each year and children are the most common victims of dog bites. In 2021, insurers paid out $881 million in liability claims related to dog bites!
I’m Safe! has numerous resources targeted towards Dog Bite Prevention and Pet Safety, including:
- What Are These Animals Saying? Poster – A colorful, informative poster that is a fun way to reinforce important pet safety information.
- Who Let the Dogs Bite Postcard – Informative post cards that are a great way to help raise awareness about preventing dog bites.
- I’m Safe! with Pets Bookmark – A strong way to promote pet safety with bookmarks tailored to your specific program or campaign.
Together we can work towards protecting children from dog bites and provide innovative, community-centered injury-prevention programs using a variety of media. If you’re planning ahead for events this Spring, don’t hesitate to contact us today for your Pet Safety, Prevent Cruelty to Animals Month, and National Dog Bite Prevention Week needs.
