27/05/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 27/05/2024 10:31
Every year, hundreds of people need medical care for dog attacks in Auckland, with most bites happening in the family home. Children under nine are most likely to be seriously hurt, and their injuries can cause scars that last a lifetime.
The good news is that dog attacks are preventable, and we can all play our part in stopping them from happening. Follow these tips to help keep our tamariki, ourselves and our communities safe from dog attack harm.
Even the friendliest dog can bite for all sorts of reasons, but it often happens when they're overexcited or scared. There may be warning signs a dog is about to bite, or it might happen suddenly. This is why you should always be alert around dogs, especially if children are around.
Here are some common reasons a dog might attack:
Tamariki aged 0-9 are more likely to need hospitalisation following a dog attack, as they are most often bitten on the head, face or neck. Most dog attacks on children are by the family pet or a friend's dog so children must never be left by themselves around dogs, even if the dog is usually friendly.
Do:
✓ always keep young children and infants within arm's reach whenever a dog is around
✓ remind tamariki to stay calm and be gentle around dogs
✓ ask the owner's permission before letting a child pat their dog
✓ let dogs approach first and sniff the child. If the dog is friendly, encourage gentle pats on the body, not head
✓ watch out for signs the dog is scared or angry, like raised fur, growling, or ears pinned back, and separate your child from the dog if you see these
✓ when introducing a baby to your whānau, allow the dog time to adjust, then introduce slowly on a leash and give lots of praise.
Don't let a child:
✖ approach a dog first, let the dog sniff them
✖ touch or put their face close to the dog's face
✖ touch a dog while they are eating or playing with a bone
✖ startle or touch a sleeping dog
✖ run around or shout near a dog
✖ pull a dog's hair, tail or ears, or sit on it.
If you're a dog owner, it's up to you to stop your dog from attacking or acting aggressively. Below are some things you can do that will help to keep our communities safe.
What should you do when a dog attacks?
If you're faced with an aggressive dog, try to stay calm and follow the tips below:
If you have experienced or seen a dog attack/bite, you should report this to the council as soon as possible by calling 09 301 0101 or 0800 462 685. If you can, get the name and address of the owner and provide as much detail as you can about the attack, including a description of the dog and owner, and any supporting details, such as the address where the dog was last seen.
Auckland Council will protect the privacy of anyone who reports a dog attack.
Why report?
If a dog has bitten once it is likely to bite again. That's why reporting dog attacks to the council is the right thing to do for our communities, especially our pēpi and tamariki.
Reporting a dog attack does not mean that the owner will lose the dog or that it will be put down. In some cases this can happen, but more often the council will work to educate owners and put safety measures in place to stop the dog from attacking again.