The National Dog Bite Prevention Week Coalition announced a permanent date change for the American Veterinary Medical Association’s National Dog Bite Prevention Week. Traditionally held during the third full week of May, the program is now scheduled April 9-15. “It is never too early to prevent dog bites,” said Dr. Tom Meyer, president of the AVMA. “Moving up the time frame to the early warm days of spring expands our opportunity to work with schools and communities to educate children on how to stay safe with and around dogs.” The AVMA, the United States Postal Service and State Farm Insurance created the National Dog Bite Prevention Week Coalition to protect the bond between people and their dogs. Over the past decade, State Farm has paid nearly $1 billion for claims resulting from accidents involving a dog. In 2015, the USPS recorded 6,549 bites to its carriers. Members of the 2017 National Dog Bite Prevention Week Coalition include the American Veterinary Medical Association, United States Postal Service, State Farm Insurance, American Humane Association, Insurance Information Institute and Positively®, Victoria Stilwell. The National Dog Bite Prevention Week press conference, slated for Thursday, April 6, will feature: Demonstrations by veterinary specialists on dog bite prevention Release of the number of postal carriers bitten in 2016 Announcement of the average cost of dog bite claims nationally in 2016 as well as the top 10 states with the largest number of dog bite claims in the U.S.
