One in five children have been bitten by pet
One in five children aged seven to 11 have been bitten by a pet, with more than half having to see a doctor, new data reveals.
The survey, which polled more than 1,000 children aged seven to 11, finds that 21% of children had been bitten by a pet and 44% of those were bitten by a dog. And the incidents were severe enough that six out of 10 children who had been bitten by a dog (62%) reported seeing a doctor.
The survey also shows that 27% of children who had been bitten by a dog were playing with the dog, while 11% were kissing, hugging or cuddling them, before they bit them.
In addition, the polling also found that children in the West Midlands were most likely to be bitten by a pet.
The polling also reveals that 70% of children report being left alone with their pet at least once a week.
Children in London were most likely to be left alone with their pet at least once a week (79%), followed by the North West (77%) and the West Midlands (73%).
The data has been released as eight charities – RSPCA, USPCA, Scottish SPCA, Dogs Trust, PDSA, Blue Cross, Cats Protection and Woodgreen Pets Charity – are working together under the umbrella of the Pet Education Partnership to launch educational sessions to help children and young people stay safe around pets.
Dr Sam Gaines, dog welfare expert at the RSPCA, said: “These shocking figures are understandably worrying and highlight why it’s so important that parents and guardians are aware of how to prevent dog bites and able to be present and actively supervise interactions between dogs and children.”
Maria Kyle, Intervention Development Manager at Dogs Trust, said: “These findings will support the Pet Education Partnership and its member organisations to shape and strengthen existing education programmes, particularly those aimed at reducing dog bites.
“Reaching children, parents, caregivers, and other key stakeholders with evidence-led initiatives gives us the best chance of improving safety outcomes for both people and dogs.”
Caroline Francoli, Education Advisor at the RSPCA, added: “This partnership with leading animal welfare charities across the sector has the potential to create a more empathetic generation and positively impact the lives of pets in the long term.
“We know that dogs and children can be great friends and having a dog can help children develop kindness, responsibility, understanding and respect for animals. The bond they have with their childhood dog will often stay with them for a lifetime – but it’s crucially important that young people learn how to behave safely around their pets and for parents and guardians to be informed to prevent dog bites from happening.”
