As we continue to cope with the global pandemic, it seems that summer has been a long time coming—but it's finally here! But one thing isn’t so welcome—the seasonal increase in dog bite cases. Statistics show that more than half of the dog bites reported during the year occur during the summer months, and the reasons are obvious: school is out, and children are more likely to encounter dogs as they play outdoors in the summer sunshine.
Children are always eager to play with dogs, and they often approach without picking up on signs that a dog is feeling threatened or nervous. Not only does the summer heat tend to make a dog feel more irritable, but it may be overwhelmed or confused by a child’s attention and act out in a way that is normal for them but atypical for us.
In order to avoid a serious dog bite injury, it is important to supervise children when they are around animals. And when you or your child are around an unfamiliar dog, you should give it plenty of time to adjust to your presence. Finally, you should also watch for signs of fear or aggression and keep children away from animals that display those behaviors.
Interested in learning more about dog bites and what to do if you have been injured? Read more in our feature article below. We sincerely hope that you and your family have a safe and enjoyable summer, but if you are injured by a dog, don’t try to navigate the legal system on your own—call us at Mahaney & Pappas.
—Joe Mahaney