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SALT LAKE CITY (AP) -- Data collected by the Utah Department of Health shows nearly 2,000 Utahns annually suffered dog-bite-related injuries between 2000 and 2004.
The four years of data chart 9,467 injuries, or about 1,893 per year, said Cyndi Bemis, DOH media and education coordinator. The per-capita injury rate dropped from nine per 10,000 Utahns in 2000, to eight in 10,000 in 2004, she said.
"The people who are most at risk are children 1 through 9," Bemis said. "It's up to the caretaker to teach children how to behave around dogs."
Uintah County recorded the highest rate of per capita injuries at 18 per 10,000 residents, or nearly twice the state average, the report shows. Kane County was second at 16 per 10,000 and Tooele County was third at 14 per 10,000 residents.
Wayne and Daggett counties had the lowest annual rates. Each recorded fewer than five dog-bite-related injuries per 10,000 residents.
Uintah County has a "high-density" dog population, which may contribute to a bloated injury rate, said Rick Bell, an animal control officer for the county. Bell estimates county residents average about four dogs per household.
The county's rural nature may also contribute to the problem, as many residents leave their animals unrestrained, Bell said.
Or maybe, "the flavor we got out here is better than others," Bell joked.
Salt Lake County Animal Services spokeswoman Temma Martin said parents can reduce the injury rate among children by teaching them not to run from dogs. Understanding the nature of a particular breed can also reduce the risks, Martin said.
Spayed and neutered dogs are also less prone to biting, as are those animals who are accustomed to interaction with other animals and people, she said.
If attacked by a dog, a person should curl up in to a ball to protect the face, neck and torso, all of which are common targets, Martin said.
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On the Net: http://health.utah.gov/
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Information from: The Deseret News, http://www.deseretnews.com
(Copyright 2006 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
