Animal bites are scary, especially for children. Being bitten by an animal at a young age, no matter how minor or severe the bite is, can scar a child for life. When you talk with adults who are scared of dog attacks, or who do not have an affinity for dogs, they were likely attacked by one at a young age. So, you might be asking yourself, how can I educate my child about animal bites? We will tackle that subject in today’s post.
One of the first things parents should teach their children is to stay away from unknown animals, especially dogs. If your child is at a park or talking a walk with you and a dog is near, do not let the child simply run up to the dog. Tell the child to calmly walk and then ask the dog’s owner if he or she can pet the dog. If the owner obliges, do so. If not, tell the child to leave the dog alone.
If your child is ever approached by an angry dog, he or she should calmly walk away from the dog. Do not run and do not yell, scream, or hit the dog. All of this can make the situation worse. Children should never make sudden movements towards a dog that has angrily approached them.
Make sure your child knows to never tease a dog, even if it is their own dog. This includes taking away their bone, treat, food, or other toys while the dog is actively chewing, eating, or playing with these items.
Children should never pull or tug on a dog’s ears or tails. They also should not try to climb on or ride dogs. These are things that can either hurt the dog or anger them to the point of biting.
If you or a loved one has been bitten by a dog or another animal, consult with a personal injury attorney to discuss your legal options today.
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