Youngsters also more often get severe head and face injuries. Bite victims also can suffer disfiguring injuries or long-term effects from damage to the eyes or brain. Nearly three-fourths of those who died were younger than 11 years old. Children's natural curiosity, mobility, lack of inhibition and inexperience with animals make them vulnerable to animal attacks, especially by dogs. And those attacks can happen at or near home, often from a dog the child knows and trusts.
Home is their turf, and they defend that home vigorously.
Children do not always realize that their playful actions may cause an angry or defensive reaction from an otherwise friendly pet. A dog may slowly wag its tail to show wariness or hostility, for instance, but a child may think the animal is just being friendly. A new baby in the family also can create problems, even jealously with the family pet. The victims most often are injured while sleeping alone in a room. Espinosa said that if there is one thing she tells other parents, it is to talk to their children about dogs, especially how to behave around them.