Minnesota ranks 8th for dog bite insurance claims

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Each year, almost five million people are bitten or attacked by dogs.

Dog bites are a serious public health problem that can cause both physical and emotional damage to victims and considerable cost to communities, according to State Farm Insurance.

Minnesota ranks 8th in the nation for dog bite claims filed with State Farm. It had 139 claims, which cost the company about $3.4 million.

Nationwide, State Farm paid more than $90 million as a result of the nearly 3,500 dog bite claims in 2010. This is one of the reasons that State Farm recognizes National Dog Bite Prevention Week, sponsored by the American Veterinary Medical Association during the week of May 15 - 21.

The Insurance Information Institute (III) estimates that in 2009, insurers across the country paid more than $412 million in dog bite claims.

A dog’s tendency to bite depends on such factors as heredity, obedience training, socialization, health, and the victim’s behavior. There are good dogs and bad dogs within every breed, just as there can be responsible and irresponsible owners of each breed. State Farm *does not refuse insurance based on the breed of dog a customer owns but does require policyholders to answer questions about their dogs’ history on a homeowner insurance application.

Children are frequent victims of dog bites. In fact, 60 percent of all dog bite victims are children under the age of 12. Tragically, of the 33 dog bites that resulted in death last year, 20 of these fatalities were young children.

In addition to stressing responsible pet ownership, State Farm encourages responsible behavior and caution around dogs, including family pets. Under the right circumstances, any dog might bite.

NEVER leave a baby or small child alone with a dog.

Be on the lookout for potentially dangerous situations.

Start teaching young children -- including toddlers -- to be careful around pets.

Children must be taught NOT to approach strange dogs.

Always ask permission from a dog's owner before petting any dog.

For more information about dog bite prevention, visit the State Farm Learning Center or the American Veterinary Medical Association.

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