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Irish Mirror
Irish Mirror
National
Rebecca Daly

Hundreds of people hospitalised every year with dog bites as danger signs that animal could attack revealed

320 people were hospitalised as a result of dog bites in 2020, according to data obtained by Dogs Trust Ireland.

It comes as the charity is launching its annual ‘Be Dog Safe Week’ campaign.

A spokesperson from Dogs Trust said that “shockingly” 320 people were hospitalised in 2020 for dog bites, data from the HSE shows.

READ MORE: Dublin woman injured in vicious dog attack warns 'someone could be killed'

They also fear that this figure could go up, due to the “recent increase in dog ownership”.

Of those hospitalised, 64% were over the age of 20, which Dogs Trust say highlights the need for all age groups to “be aware of dog body language, especially the signs dogs display when they are uncomfortable”.

“As these figures do not include Emergency Room or GP visits, Dogs Trust suspects the number of people treated for dog bite injuries could be much higher,” a spokesperson said.

In a bid to prevent an increase in hospital admissions as a result of dog bites, Dogs Trust wants to educate people on how to interact appropriately with pets.

A survey carried out by the charity found that just 41% of respondents were able to spot apprehensive body language in a dog.

“Luckily, dogs often display certain behaviours when they are feeling stressed,” Dawn Kavanagh, Education and Community Manager for the charity, said.

“Some of the signs to look out for are, flattened ears, avoiding eye contact, lip licking when no food is present, tucking their tail between their legs, showing the whites of their eyes or growling.

(Getty)

“It’s really important to note that we should never punish a dog growling, as this will just remove it as a means of communication.”

Just like in humans, stress triggers can stack up, which may result in your dog acting out of normal habits, just like a person might if they have had a stressful day.

“If you notice your dog is doing any behaviours that may indicate stress, give them space, or provide them with an activity they enjoy like a sniffing activity such as sprinkling some treats in grass to engage their nose and lower their stress levels,” a spokesperson for Dogs Trust recommended.

Working with the charity on Be Dog Safe Week, comedian Des Bishop said: “Being safe around dogs is no joke.

“As a huge dog lover, I understand why people feel the urge to pet and fuss them. However, we know there are certain things that stress dogs out, like petting them while they are eating or sleeping for example.

“People may think, ‘My dog doesn’t mind me doing this’. But, in reality, this is likely to be upsetting your dog.

“Even dogs can have bad days and as a nation of dog lovers, we owe it to them to give them space when they ask for it.”

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