People love to go outside with their dogs and other pets when the weather gets warmer and sunnier. However, that also means that the summertime is also the time when dog and animal bites are most common. Fortunately, taking appropriate steps with your pets can help limit the risk of an attack. Here are seven ways to prevent dog bites and other animal attacks:
- Make sure your pet is well-trained
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- One of the most effective ways to protect against dog bites is to make sure your animal is well-trained. If you cannot train your dog yourself, it is a good idea to hire a professional trainer to ensure they are disciplined and will not attack someone unprovoked.
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- Socialize your animal early
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- Another critical step towards preventing dog bites is to ensure your dog is socialized from an early age. This means exposing them to a variety of people and animals in a friendly environment, ensuring that they are less likely to be hostile towards strangers.
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- Expose your pets to children
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- Children are at a higher risk of dog bites and other animal attacks, in part because they do not know how to behave around animals. Getting your dog adjusted to children can minimize the risk of a bite, even if they do things that might otherwise provoke them.
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- Build and maintain fencing around your property
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- If you intend to leave your dog out in the yard, it is important to ensure it is properly fenced in to ensure your dog cannot jump over, or dig under, to escape. You also need to ensure it is maintained, and repair any missing or damaged sections of your fence as soon as possible.
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- Never leave a dog outside unsupervised
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- It is never a good idea to leave a dog outside unsupervised, even if you have a fenced in yard. It does not take long for a dog to run off when left alone, where it may potentially attack someone else and cause serious injuries.
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- Always take your dog out on a leash
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- Even if your dog is well-trained, you should still have a leash to control them and prevent them from hurting themselves or others. Without a leash, you have no way to restrain them if they decide to chase after someone, or try to attack someone that provoked them.
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- Intervene quickly if your animal becomes aggressive
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- If your pet seems like they are about to attack someone else, stepping in quickly is essential. If you delay, it may become too late to stop a bite, and result in potentially severe injuries.
For more than 50 years, the New York lawyers at Elovich and Adell have represented clients like you in personal injury cases. Our attorneys, conveniently located in Long Beach, handle personal injury, real estate, commercial transactions, criminal defense, and labor and employment claims all across New York State. For a consultation, please call us at 516-432-6263 or visit our contact page for more information.
