September 2018

According to the Centers For Disease Control and Prevention, approximately 4.5 million dog bites occur in the U.S. each year. With an estimated 70 million dogs living in U.S. households, this statistic may not come as much of a shock to you. Still, regardless of whether or not you have a dog of your own, understanding basic safety precautions is essential. By knowing how to avoid a potential animal attack, you can protect yourself and, in turn, pass on that knowledge to your kids and other family members, as well.

Even well-trained or friendly dogs can cause a number of issues if they aren’t leashed. The real problems often arise as a result of the environment, not your dog; as such, it’s important you take the correct precautions when you bring your dog outside, namely, keeping them tethered to your side via a leash. Even in situations where dogs are allowed to be off-leash, it’s essential you have a plan in place should your dog attack, be attacked, or cause an emergency situation.