Across the United States, an estimated 4.7 million people are bit by dogs each year.

Closer to home, figures compiled by Hillsborough County Animal Services reveal the local problem is growing.

Last year, 2,279 incidents were reported. That was up by 320 incidents over the previous year and up by more than 1,000 since 2000.

Pinellas County logged 1,262 dog bites last year. But officials note that many incidents go unreported.

There are ways to combat this problem, say the American Veterinary Medical Association, the U.S. Postal Service and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. To help draw attention to solutions, they have declared this coming week National Dog Bite Prevention Week.

The causes of dog bites vary. Some speculate that more bites are occurring because more families own dogs.

Others blame improper training or poor socialization of the pets. Some point out that people, children in particular, don’t know how to safely interact with pets.

Whatever the reason, children are especially vulnerable to dog bites, according to figures from the American Society of Plastic Surgeons.

About half of all children in the United States will be bit by a dog by the time they reach their senior year of high school, that group reports.

Nationally, the rate of dog bite-related injuries is highest for ages 5 to 9, and the rate decreases as children grow older.

And when children are bit, it tends to happen near their head or neck.

Why are kids so vulnerable?

“Children can do things that are completely misinterpreted by Rover,” says Mary Birrell, master canine behavior therapist and trainer with Bark Busters Home Dog Training.

For instance, children may be playfully staring at the dog - but that’s not how the dog sees it, Birrell says.

“From Rover’s viewpoint, staring is an aggressive challenge. It’s often a precursor to an attack, so Rover might think he’s going to be attacked.”

Dogs can also misinterpret hugs.

“A child hugging a dog is a common reason for bites,” Birrell explains. “Kids think they’re showing affection by hugging, but the dog might think he’s being dominated through this behavior.”

When children are hugging a dog, their face is a likely place to be bit.

Most Bites Occur At Home
You may feel most vulnerable to a dog attack while you’re at dog parks or in unfamiliar neighborhoods. But statistics show most dog bites occur in homes.

Family members, friends and invited guests are most often the victims of a dog bite.

“Regardless of behavior issues, dog owners need to be the ‘pack leader,’” Birrell says. “Dogs won’t feel safe and secure if there isn’t a clear pack leader, which opens the door for aggression.”

Any dog, no matter how cute or apparently docile, is capable of biting.

The key to preventing dog bites is making sure the owner is in charge of his pet. When that’s the case, the dog will respect the human pack leader, Birrell says.

Another way to reduce your dog’s chance of biting someone is to have your dog neutered, experts say.

“Seventy-one percent of the traceable dogs that bit last year were intact,” says Bill Armstrong, director of Hillsborough County Animal Services.

“You can’t say that a sterilized dog won’t ever bite, but statistically, they are significantly less likely to bite.”

Questions also often arise about whether a dog’s breed makes it more likely to bite.

Along those lines, insurance companies, homeowners associations, even entire cities and townships have jumped on the breed banning bandwagon. Many communities have singled out pit bulls, Rottweilers and chows as dangerous.

In Hillsborough and Pinellas counties, reports show that pit bulls, Labradors, chows and German shepherds accounted for the greatest number of bites in 2006.

But Hillsborough’s list also included less likely breeds in the top 10, including Jack Russell terriers, boxers and hound dogs.

Hillsborough’s bite report also notes it’s unfair to draw conclusions from these numbers because it doesn’t have accurate statistics for the number of dogs, by breed, in the overall canine population.

“I do not believe there is a ‘dangerous’ breed,” Birrell says. “It’s not the breed that is important, but the temperament and the people or the environment that cause dogs to be dangerous.”

“If an animal is under control, we don’t need to worry about a specific breed,” agrees Kenny Mitchell, director of Pinellas County Animal Services.

But Birrell doesn’t entirely discount the role heritage can play in a dog’s propensity to be harmful. “What is dangerous is when people use powerful dogs as a status symbol.”

Armstrong says, “"In Florida, we have a statute that says you’re responsible for what your dog does. Don’t put your dog in a situation where it can hurt someone.”

Helpful Tips
Be aware that serious dog attacks tend to happen when:

•Male dogs are not neutered.

•Dogs are continually tied up or restrained.

•The dog perceives a human is threatening its food source.

•Young children are left unattended with dogs.

•Children make erratic moves and/or high-pitched noises.

When you encounter an aggressive dog:

•Don’t run, though that may be your first inclination.

•Stand tall, stop, and face the aggressive dog, but don’t make eye contact. (Dogs consider eye contact to be a challenge.)

•Stand your ground. Don’t move until the dog goes away. If you look dominant, the dog will lose interest. If you run, the dog will likely chase you.

•For information, go to http://www.doggonesafe.comand check out the “Be a Tree” program for children.

3 Things A Dog Owner Can Do
•Spay or neuter your dog. Neutered pets are calmer, healthier and less likely to be aggressive.

•Condition your dog for the world. Give your puppy or new dog lots of new, positive experiences. Seek the advice or instruction of a dog trainer, and use positive training methods.

•Supervise your dog at all times around children. Do not allow kids to hug and kiss the dog. If visiting children are bothering your dog, put the dog away or send the children home.

3 Things To Teach Your Kids
•Don’t hug or kiss the dog. Hugging and kissing are common causes of dog bites to the face. Instead, teach kids to scratch the dog on the chest or the side of the neck.

•Stand straight and tall, like a tree, if a strange dog approaches. Eventually the dog will go away. This works for strange dogs and any time the family dog gets too frisky or becomes aggressive.

•Never tease a dog, and don’t disturb a dog that is sleeping, eating or protecting something.

Important Things Parents Can Do
•Supervise your dog. Don’t assume it is good with kids. If a toddler must interact with your dog, you should have your hands on the dog, too.

•Train the dog. Take it to obedience classes where positive reinforcement is used. Never pin, shake, choke or hold down the dog or roll the dog over to teach it a lesson. Dogs treated this way are likely to turn their aggression on weaker family members.

Involve older children in training the family dog while under supervision. Do not allow children to punish the dog. Condition the dog to enjoy the presence and actions of children through positive experiences.

IF A BITE OCCURS •Seek medical attention if the bite is serious. Dog bites requiring medical attention or resulting in an injury to another animal must be reported to the animal services agency that serves your county. Dog bites to people may also be reported to your county’s health department. Hospitals and doctor’s offices are required to report bites on humans.

•Depending on the severity of the bite, animal services may quarantine the animal for 10 days to determine whether the dog was infected with rabies. If the bite or attack is serious enough, animal services may maintain custody of the dog until the case has been fully investigated and a determination made about whether the dog is safe to maintain as a pet. Dogs can be declared “dangerous” or “vicious” by the county, based on the severity of the incident. In some cases, fines and ownership restrictions may be imposed under Florida law.

•Report a dog bite with Hillsborough County Animal Services by calling (813) 744-5660; after hours (5 p.m. to 8 a.m.), call (813) 654-6006. In Pinellas, call (727) 582-2608. In Pasco, call (813) 929-1212.

Additional Resources

•The Hillsborough County Animal Services Web site offers bite prevention tips and instructions on how to report a dog bite; www

.hillsboroughcounty.org/animalservices.

•Pinellas County Animal Services offers classes in dog bite prevention. For information, call (727) 582-2600 or go to http://www.pinellascounty .org/animalservices.

•Be a Tree Program: http://www.doggonesafe.com

•Bark Busters Home Dog Training offers free dog bite prevention lectures. For information, call Mary Birrell at (813) 340-7868 or go to http://www.barkbusters.com.

Sources: Hillsborough County Animal Services, Pinellas County Animal Services, http://www.doggonesafe.com, Mary Birrell