Anyone can be at risk of an animal coming up and biting or scratching them. For example, someone might be jogging down the street and pass an agitated dog, or someone could be walking their own dog on the sidewalk and encounter another animal who feels threatened by their canine. However, there are some activities that put people more at risk than others.
Who is most at risk of a domestic animal attack in New York?
Those who walk in densely populated areas
Over one-third of households in the United States own at least one dog, one out of every four households owns at least one cat, and there are many more homes containing exotic animals such as snakes. As a result, areas containing a lot of people carry a higher risk of animal attacks by someone’s pet.
People who own a pet
People often picture dog bites being scary incidents involving unknown dogs. However, people are also at risk of getting attacked by their own pets. For example, a dog might bite their owner due to being scared or even while playing.
Small children
Children are at risk of animal attacks because many do not yet know how to properly handle a dog or other animals. They may play too rough with the family pet, for instance. In addition, children are more likely to be severely injured by an animal attack due to their smaller stature.
The more people know about the risks of animal attacks, the more they can do to protect themselves.