The number of animal bites is on the rise, and even more worrisome, the majority of bites are from pets.
This is a trend and it's a trend the Saskatoon Health Region calls unacceptable. The SHR says the number of pets biting people has increased to an unacceptable number, 333 so far this year.
The advisory committee on animal control says it's time for pet owners to take full responsibility for their animal. The first step is to acknowledge the fact their dog could bite, even if its never bitten before.
Maggie Sim from the advisory committee says it's time to recognize the responsibilities of pet ownership. "If a child is riding by on a bicycle, I've had an owner whose dog has bitten that child say to me 'well you know dogs like to chase bikes'. My response to that is if you know that is a likelihood or possibility, the owner must take responsibility to prevent that from happening."
Last year, 14 people were given the rabies vaccine after being bitten. That's why every animal bite should be reported to public health, so it can find out that animals health.
So far, the results are concerning, says Dr. Julie Kryzanowski, the deputy medical health officer. "We find out two-thirds of these animals either have not been vaccinated against rabies, or their vaccination history is unknown."
Pet owners need to realize even in the city, wild animals and stray animals mingle with pets.
"Anytime an animal bites there can be serious consequences. Both for the injury inflicted but other infections can be caused by animal bites as well and often those require treatment," says Kryzanowski.
The advisory committee on animal control wants the city to launch a public campaign to educate pet owners of their responsibilities and remind people to report animal bites before the bite turns something worse.
