State farm and victoria stilwell team up to take bite out of dog attacks

&ldquo-I am delighted to team up with State Farm as we have a mutual goal to raise awareness about the dog bite epidemic, while stressing the importance of pet owner responsibility,&rdquo- says Stilwell, who is the author and star of Animal Planet&rsquo-s It&rsquo-s Me or the Dog. &ldquo-Through my work as a dog trainer, educator and bite investigation advisor, I see all sides of the dog bite issue, but it is my role as a mother that drives me to continue educating and empowering all children with the right knowledge to keep them K-9 safe and smart.”

Education about responsible pet ownership and how to interact properly with any dog is very important, especially when you want to reduce the number of dog bite incidents. According to Stilwell &ldquo-the most effective way to prevent dog bites is not to ban certain breeds of dog, but to raise awareness of canine behavior through education, as well as encouraging responsible dog ownership.&rdquo- As protocol, when writing or renewing homeowner insurance State Farm does not ask the breed of dog owned nor they do not track the breed of dog involved in dog bite incidents.

Last year, State Farm paid $104 million as a result of 3,700 dog bite claims – sadly many of these accidents could have been prevented. The top 15 states for State Farm dog bite claims in 2013 areCalifornia, Illinois, Ohio, Texas, Pennsylvania, Michigan, New York, Indiana, Minnesota, Georgia, Arizona, Florida, Oregon, Missouri, and New Jersey

State Farm urges caution around all dogs, including family pets. As a responsible dog owner, here are 3 highly important things to remember:

• Never leave a baby or small child alone with a dog, even if it is a family pet. Children are often bitten by a dog in their own household.
• Ask permission before touching or playing with a dog.
• Remember that any dog can be dangerous and any dog can bite.