U.S. Rep. Thaddeus McCotter (MI-11), chairman of the House Republican Policy Committee, introduced a resolution to recognize the week of May 20-26th, 2007 as Dog Bite Prevention Week and calls on everyone to help prevent dog bites.
"When you consider the fact that there are 61 million dogs in the United States, it becomes clear that dog bite prevention is very important," said AVMA President Roger Mahr, DVM. "The only known cures for dog bites are training, knowledge and caution. ANY dog may bite if it feels threatened, if it's put into an unfamiliar situation, if it's out of control or if it's scared. According to Kris Crawford of For Pits Sake.
Rep. McCotter's resolution calls on all municipalities to implement effective dog bite injury prevention programs to protect children and postal workers, including laws encouraging responsible dog ownership. The resolution also recommends enforcement of animal control ordinances, adoption and enforcement of non-breed-specific dangerous dog laws (because any dog of any breed can bite), prohibition of all dog fighting, and creation of children-and-adult-based education programs, which teach pet selection strategies, pet care and responsibility, and bite prevention techniques.