Dog bites to the face and neck are the most dangerous that a person can suffer. Even those who survive could be left with horrible disfigurements. This is one type of animal attack you really want to avoid at all costs.
So, how do these attacks happen? Some studies have shed a bit of light on the issue.
First off, children face the greatest risks. Most of those who are bitten in the face are no more than 12 years old. The reasons are many. Children like to play with dogs and may not see warning signs. They are also shorter, making it easier for the dog to reach their face, and they may lack the strength to push the animal away.
Another important point is that 19% of the cases happened after the person moved close to the dog and deliberately put their face near the animal’s own face. People do this out of affection, but dogs may misinterpret it as aggression.
Finally, more than 75% of bites happened after people bent over the dog that attacked them. They could be bending over to greet it, to pet it, to put their face near it or for another reason entirely. But the common activity was bending down, thereby getting closer to the dog and putting their face at a level where it could be bitten more easily than a leg or an arm.
Of course, while knowing how these bites happen can help you avoid them, it doesn’t guarantee you or a child won’t get attacked. You may need financial compensation for serious injuries.