A Community Approach to Dog Bite Prevention
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JAVMA 218(11):1732-1749 June 1, 2001
Prepared by the American Veterinary Medical Association’s Task Force on Canine Aggression and Human-Canine Interactions*
Dog bites are a serious public health problem that can inflict
considerable physical and emotional damage on victims and be extremely
costly to communities.
Decreasing dog bites requires active and
ongoing community involvement; passive or periodic attention will not
solve this problem. This task force report is intended to help state
and local leaders find effective ways to reduce the dog bite problem
in their communities. A large number of agencies and organizations who
are involved in dog bite issues helped develop this report.
A Community Approach to Dog Bite Prevention covers:
- representative national statistics on the existing dog bite problem
- how to mobilize a community and the infrastructure needed to establish a program
- specific prevention recommendations
- recommendations for dog bite reporting
- educational and communication approaches and targets
In summary, the report contains everything community leaders should consider when starting a dog bite prevention program. Also included are a model dog control ordinance and model legislation for the control of dangerous dogs.
Download the Report
The report is
available as a PDF on the American Veterinary Medical Association
website.*
For More Information
Gail C. Golab, Ph.D., D.V.M
American Veterinary Medical Association
847.925.8070
*Taskforce included representatives from: American Veterinary Medical Association; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; American Medical Association; National Animal Control Association; schools of veterinary medicine; American Academy of Pediatrics; American College of Emergency Physicians; Professional Liability Insurance Trust; American College of Veterinary Behaviorists; insurance industry; Humane Society of the U.S.; legal profession
* Links to non-Federal organizations found at this site are provided solely as a service to our users. These links do not constitute an endorsement of these organizations or their programs by CDC or the Federal Government, and none should be inferred. CDC is not responsible for the content of the individual organization Web pages found at these links.
Please note: Some of these publications are available for download only as *.pdf files. These files require Adobe Acrobat Reader in order to be viewed. Please review the information on downloading and using Acrobat Reader software.
Page last modified:September 27, 2007