Dogs / Cats / Other Bites

Dog bite injuries are the No. 1 childhood public health problem reported each year. Learn about dog bite prevention.

• Dog bite injuries are the number one childhood public health problem reported each year.
• Approximately 70 percent of all dog bites involve children.
• Almost 50 percent of all children are bitten by age 18.
• Dog bites represent 5 percent of all emergency room admissions.
• 585,000 dog bite wounds require medical care each year.
• Approximately 1 out of every 20 dogs bite someone each year.
• 70 percent of the dog bites occur on the owner’s property.
• Approximately 4.5 million reported dog bites annually in the U.S., the majority of dog bites go unreported.
• Dogs that are not spayed or neutered are three times more likely to bite than sterilized ones.
• “Any dog” potentially could be a biter.
• Pinellas County Animal Services provides training to municipalities, organizations, etc. on animal bite prevention.

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