Children and Pets | Preventing Dog Bites

ALL dogs can bite under certain circumstances. Here are some simple ways to reduce you or your child’s chances of being bitten by a dog. Additional bite prevention information available through the Wake County SPCA.

1. Never leave a child unattended with any dog, even the most trusted of pets.

2. Do not bother a dog when it is sleeping, eating, or with puppies.

3. Never hit or pull on a dog’s body parts like their ears and tails or chase or corner a dog.

4. Do not tease or go near dogs behind fences or chained in yards.

5. Do not stare into a dog’s eyes.

6. Children should not approach a loose dog. They need to tell an adult.

7. Children should not scream and run away from a loose dog. They should “stand like a tree.”

8. Children should always ask a dog’s owner for permission before petting a dog.