Children make up more than 50% of all dog bite victims. Twelve year old Madison Buckley is one of them. In November 2015 Madison and her mom, State Farm agent Carmen Contreras, were on the hunt for a new home. While visiting a potential new house, Madison and her mom were greeted at the door by a dog. “I went to pet him and he came up on me and went for my face. I was in shock,” said Madison. The dog lunged at her face but Madison blocked the attack with her arm. She escaped with a cut and a few scratches but the emotional scar has left her with a fear of dogs.
 
National Dog Bite Prevention Week® is April 9-15, 2017. In 2016 State Farm paid over $121 million as a result of 3,660 dog bite claims, an increase of 15 percent.  Over the past decade State Farm has paid over $1 billion for dog-related injury claims.
 
State Farm: Top 10 States for Dog-Related Injury Claims
 
State    Number of Dog-Related Injury Claims    Amount Paid for Dog-Related Injury Claims
 
California                       433 claims                     $16.8 million
Illinois                         323 claims                      $13.9 million
Ohio                             211 claims                     $ 7.5 million
Pennsylvania                 200 claims                     $ 4.8 million
Texas                           168 claims                     $ 3.1 million
Michigan                      167 claims                     $ 4.4 million
New York                    156 claims                      $10.4 million
Indiana                      137 claims                      $ 3.0 million
Georgia                     125 claims                      $ 3.4 million
Minnesota                 122 claims                      $ 3.3 million
                                        
Source: State Farm - Homeowner, Renter, Farm & Ranch, and Commercial property claims
 
State Farm does not exclude homeowners or renters insurance coverage because of the breed of dog owned. Under the right circumstances, any dog might bite, regardless of breed. Homeowners should talk to their insurance agent about coverage under a standard homeowner policy. “Many people don’t think to add a personal liability umbrella policy to provide extra coverage in case their dog does bite someone,” says Contreras. “Homeowners think about fire or theft to their home but don’t think their dog would bite anyone so they may be financially vulnerable if it ever happens.”  Renters should consider getting renters insurance. Most landlords do not provide coverage should there be a dog bite incident.
 
State Farm works with renowned dog trainer Victoria Stilwell and focuses on educating people about responsible dog ownership and understanding dog body language.
 
“Educating the general public about dog bite prevention is more vital than ever,” says Stilwell. “As a dog behavior expert, I support the need to raise awareness and stop these incidents from occurring.”
 
Stilwell recommends the following tips to keep people safe from dog bites.
 
Learn canine body language. Too often people misunderstand or miss signals that a dog is uncomfortable. For example, a dog that yawns might not necessarily be tired. Yawning can also be a sign of stress.

Give dogs space. Dogs can feel threatened when strange people touch them, so take pressure off by giving them the choice to come into your space first to say hello.

Be humane. Dogs that are raised and trained humanely are more confident and less likely to bite than dogs that are trained using punitive methods or equipment designed to intimidate and cause pain.  
 
State Farm will participate in various educational opportunities during the week to reinforce the importance of being safe and responsible around dogs.
 
National Animal Care and Control Appreciation Week is April 9-15, 2017. State Farm Good Neighbor Crews will visit Animal Control departments in 16 cities and surprise them with trays of sweet treats. Teams will also provide supplies for new pet adopters.

State Farm Good Neighbor Crews will surprise dog owners at 24 dog parks during National Dog Bite Prevention Week. Teams will distribute information about responsible pet ownership and have treats for dogs.

State Farm agents will be in classrooms demonstrating dog safety. Elementary school children will learn how to greet a dog during educational demonstrations featuring Richard Nash and Hudson the Railroad Puppy, Roo Yori the K9 Ninja, and Michele Shaffer-Stevens with Aladdin.
 
Members of the National Dog Bite Prevention Coalition include State Farm, Victoria Stilwell, Insurance Information Institute, United States Postal Service, American Humane, and the American Veterinary Medical Association. Join the discussion and share tips on being safe and responsible around dogs by using the hashtag #preventdogbites.