Even the friendliest dogs are prone to biting if they are put in the wrong situation. During the holidays, it’s a good time to use extra caution in preventing New York dog bite accidents, whether walking on the streets or hosting holiday parties.
Holidays to our pet feels like complete chaos (and sometimes to us, too)! Pets are used to a routine but the holidays can typically expose them to a completely different routine in which eating, exercising, sleeping and protecting the house all gets thrown out of whack.
Changes in normal routines cause immense stress to a dogs psyche.
The Centers for Disease Control Prevention reports that 4.5 million people get bit each year by a dog and about 20% of those victims have to seek medical attention. Potential victims most at risk are children, males, and households that contain a family pet. Children are mostly in danger because they only see pets as playmates, not as life threatening creatures.
The dangers of hosting a holiday party with your canine friend present can be quite serious. A dog’s first priority is to protect its family so if there is constantly visitors coming to the house it could be dangerous.
There are some things as a pet owner that you can do in and around the holidays to relieve the stress on your pet. Ehow.com offers the following suggestions to maintain a peaceful environment which can reduce the risk of a dog bite occurring:
-Teach your dog how to react when the doorbell rings or when there is a knock at the door. Practice sitting and staying while a friend helps by ringing the doorbell.
-Keep their eating and exercise routine as normal as possible. Lack of exercise can lead to penned up anxiety and aggression so make sure exercise is a priority everyday.
-If you expect high activity or unfamiliar children in your home put your pet in an isolated place with a bone to chew on somewhere remote in the house.
-Exercise your dog vigorously right before expected company arrives so that they are calmer and more relaxed when the visitors arrive.
-Instruct your guests of dog-related rules like no people food, jumping, excessive barking, etc. Feeding an anxious or aggressive dog can be dangerous and lead to a medical emergency.
Being a responsible pet owner can make a world of difference with an anxious or aggressive pet. Remember that you are responsible for their actions at all times so if you suspect danger remove them from the situation.
If you or your family member have been bitten by a dog in the New York City area, rely on the Law Offices of Nicholas Rose for help. Call 718-261-0549 for a free consultation. Serving Nasau, Suffolk, Westchester and Rockland counties.
