An average of 12 people die each year from dog bites and as many as one million require medical attention. The American Veterinary Medical Association and State Farm Insurance Companies have initiated a campaign to raise awareness about dog bites and promote responsible pet ownership. The brochure published explains that any dog, if provoked, has the potential to bite and gives tips on how to prevent dog bites. The AVMA supports dangerous animal legislation by state, county, or municipal governments, provided the legislation does not refer to specific breeds. One of the reasons it is better to buy from a breeder is that it provides the opportunity to see littermates, parents, and other adult animals.
Dog bites are the number one health problem of children.
It is important to teach children how to correctly interact with dogs and not to approach strange dogs. The Morris Animal Foundation has released results of a survey of pet owners. Dog owners identified cancer, skin disease, and dental problems as conditions most affecting their animal's health. Other concerns were nutrition, hereditary disease, and external parasites. Among cat owners, urinary problems were the main concern, followed by dental problems, cancer, and feline leukemia.