April 7th – 13th 2024
It’s National Dog Bite Prevention Week!🐾
Dogs are our best friends, but without the proper education and practices, they can also pose a serious health risk to our community. To reduce the number of these injuries, we want to utilize this week to educate both adults and children on bite prevention and responsible dog ownership.
It’s important to remember that any dog can bite! It is not a dog’s breed, size, physical appearance, or age that determines whether it will bite, but rather the dog’s individual history and behavior.
Dogs also bite for a variety of reasons, but it is typically a response to stress. They could be defending themselves, protecting their territory, feeling scared, startled, or threatened, or protecting a valuable (toy, food, their puppies). Dogs can also bite if they are feeling sick or are injured. Lastly, dogs can bite during play with other dogs or humans. It is important to play responsibly with your dog so the “play nibbling” they typically do with other dogs doesn’t escalate to a bite in humans.
Utilize the following resources to learn more about preventing dog bites!
Protect yourself. Protect your dog. Protect your community by preventing dog bites.🐾
The Nashville Humane Association (NHA), incorporated in 1946 to protect the well-being of animals in Davidson County, is one of the oldest service organizations in Nashville. We are committed to finding responsible homes, controlling pet overpopulation, & promoting the humane treatment of animals.
