Dogs bite about 4.7 million people in the United States every year, but education and proper training and control of dogs can prevent many attacks, experts say.
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) are among four U.S. medical organizations joining other groups to raise awareness during National Dog Bite Prevention Week, May 15 to 21.
Because they often treat victims of dog attacks, plastic surgeons see firsthand how devastating dog bite injuries can be. There were nearly 33,000 reconstructive procedures on dog bite victims in the United States in 2010, an 8 percent increase from 2009, according to the ASPS.