@article{ref1,
title="Preventing dog bites: it is not only about the dog",
journal="Animals (Basel)",
year="2020",
author="Reese, Laura A. and Vertalka, Joshua J.",
volume="10",
number="4",
pages="e0666-e0666",
abstract="BACKGROUND: Dog bites can have an array of negative health impacts on victims. Research focusing on the correlates of bites focused on limited sets of variables and produced conflicting findings. <br><br>OBJECTIVE: To expand knowledge about the correlates of dog bites by exploring a comprehensive set of variables related to the nature of the dog and the circumstances surrounding the bite not commonly explored in extant research. <br><br>METHODS: Data were drawn from police department reports of dog bites in the city of Detroit between 2007-2015; 478 dog bites were reported. Multiple regression was used to determine the significant correlates of dog bites, focusing on the nature of the dog and the circumstances surrounding the bite. <br><br>RESULTS: Bites were caused by a neighborhood dog. Thirty-two percent of the reports involved dogs running loose; 25% dogs that had escaped from a fenced or unfenced yard; 9% escaped from their home; and 8% had broken off a chain, were being walked, or were in their own home. Based on multiple regression, the victim was most likely bitten in their own yard by a single neighborhood dog that escaped from its home or yard. Breed of dog was not correlated with bites in multiple regression. <br><br>CONCLUSIONS: The greatest risk of bites does not come from wandering feral dogs. Based on multiple regression, the victim was most likely bitten in their own yard by a single neighborhood dog that escaped from its home or yard. Human error often contributes to bites.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="2076-2615",
doi="10.3390/ani10040666",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/ani10040666"
}