Dog bites in Vienna: the smallest victims and shocking incidents!

Dog bites in Vienna: the smallest victims and shocking incidents!

Dramatic incidents in Vienna summarize the worrying reality that goes hand in hand with dog bite incidents. Last Saturday, an one and a half year old boy in Vienna was bitten in the face by a Labrador mixer. The child was in the care of his 66-year-old grandmother. While the child only bought slight facial injuries, this incident illustrates the persistent danger through dog bites, especially for children.

In 2024, around 350 dog bite incidents were registered in Vienna. Children under the age of ten are particularly at risk. According to the findings of Kosmo, experts confirm that parents should never leave their young children unattended with dogs, even if they are known animals. This is particularly important because, according to a study by the Graz Association “Great Sagittarius” in Austria, around 800 children are bitten by dogs every year. In two out of three cases it is a dog that the children know well.

frequent causes of dog bites

The most common cause of bite incidents is that the children in the moments when dogs are bitten by dogs come too close to the dogs. Playing with or caressing dogs are common triggers. According to the results of the research, it can be observed that children often have a distorted image of dogs that are promoted by children's films and books in which dogs are often depicted as "sweet".

according to [Kleine Zeitung] (https://www.kleinezeitung.at/lebensundheit/18531546/hundebiss-in-zwei- von-faellen-bei-hund-von-nachbarn-or) the information about dog behavior and the warning signals could decisively help to prevent such incidents. Dogs often show the first signs of stress or fear before biting, like growling or pulling up the lips. 64 % of the dog bites in children are created by the dog's surprise.

regulations and security

In Vienna, strict regulations apply to dog keeping. There is a linen and muzzle requirement for list dogs, while other dogs have to wear a muzzle or a leash in public transport, markets and in parks. The police regularly carry out controls to monitor compliance with these regulations. Violations can be punished with fines of up to 3,500 euros, which underlines the importance of the right to keep in the city in order to minimize security risks.

The need for such measures is reinforced by the fact that a high proportion of serious injuries to dog bites occurs in particular when the dog comes from the extended family environment, such as grandparents or uncle. Children who are bitten by dogs in their immediate surroundings are younger on average and often bear more serious injuries.

In summary, the incidents show that dog bites represent a serious challenge. The clarification of dog behavior, as well as rigorous regulations for keeping and controling dogs are crucial to ensure the safety of everyone.

In addition, a study shows that 78 % of the dog bites of well -known people affect, which emphasizes the need to sensitize safe behavior in dealing with dogs within families and friends. In this way, the risk of children could be significantly reduced in the long term.

For further information on biting behavior of dogs and their causes, we refer to soin-et-Nature, which treat the topic in more detail and provide valuable insights for prevention.