By Greg Halbleib
SPRINGFIELD – Illinois ranks second in the nation for the number of dog bite insurance claims, and a national coalition reports most bites could be avoided.
State Farm paid a record $118 million for more than 3,100 dog bite claims last year. The insurer has joined the National Dog Bite Prevention Coaltion.
During this National Dog Bite Prevention Week, State Farm’s Missy Dundov urges adults to teach children about how any dog can bite.
“A lot of the claims we see are family dogs or friends of family dogs that are biting children,” said Dundov. “Educating children that they have to be cautious when approaching any dog is important, and they should understand that any dog can bite under the right circumstance.”
The coalition reports more than half of all dog bite victims are children. Dundov says even normally passive dogs can occasionally bite.
“If the dog is getting ready to eat, let’s say, don’t let your children walk up to him,” said Dundov, “because they might startle the dog and the dog might snap even though it usually wouldn’t bite somebody.”
Dundov also says dog owners can also help reduce bites. “If you know your dog gets startled easily or if you know that in the right circumstances the dog might become aggressive, put the dog away if you’re having people over,” advised Dundov, “or put the dog behind the gate if you’re answering the door.”
State Farm paid more than $118 million in 31-hundred dog bite claims last year. A national study shows Illinois ranks second in the country in dog bite claims.
Greg Halbleib can be reached at [email protected].
