Responsible Pet Owners Save Lives

Are you a responsible pet owner?  According to a survey conducted by the American Pet Products Association, 72.9 million US households own a pet and in 2011 they spent over $50 billion on their pets.  We certainly love our pets—don’t we?  But how many of us honestly invest the time and energy to properly prepare for pet ownership and the responsibilities that come with it?  Providing your dog with food, necessities, space and regular veterinary checkups can cost you as much as $900 per year.  Cats are somewhat less expensive at about $700 per year—still a sizable investment.

Dogs are the most popular pets in the US.  As a responsible owner, exposing your dog to a variety of people and other animals is a very good way to spend time with your dog and start socializing him early.  Be aware that your dog is a territorial animal and may interpret some human actions as a threat or challenge.  Early training and socialization can help you and your pet manage his behavior and reactions.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports 800,000 dog bites that require medical attention each year and 75% of those victims are children.  Take precautions and supervise your children while they play with dogs—never leave children alone with a dog especially if the children are under twelve years of age.  Dog bite statistics show that children are at the highest risk followed by seniors and then postal employees.  With this in mind, protect your pet and potential victims by keeping control of your dog when in unfamiliar situations or if he becomes agitated or excited.  Under the right conditions, the most docile dog may bite if he feels threatened or challenged.

According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, 29,000 reconstructive procedures were performed as a result of dog bite injuries in 2011.  The Insurance Information Institute states that dog bites accounted for one-third of the homeowner liability claims paid out last year—amounting to $479 million in claims.  As a result, insurance companies are evaluating homeowner policies and in some cases excluding dog liability from the standard coverage.  Note that if your insurance policies do not cover these accidents, then you may be held personally responsible for any damages (including legal expenses) that your dog inflicts.  So be proactive and contact your insurance agent to discuss your coverage details and insure that you have adequate coverage in case you should have a dog-related incident.

Most of us assume that our pets would never hurt anyone.  That assumption can get us into trouble so we need to take precautions to insure that our pets and our families are adequately protected from these unforeseen risks.  A dog owner that chooses to act responsibly makes all the difference.