When I was seven years old I was attacked by a neighborhood dog. I received about 100 stitches in my face and throat and was later treated for posttraumatic stress disorder and depression. One year after my attack I decided that I wanted to do something to help keep other kids safe from dog bites. My mom and I began doing research and together with experts, including a school psychologist and animal assisted therapist, we created a dog bite prevention program geared toward children. Since the age of eight I have been going to schools, health fairs, libraries, etc. teaching kids canine body language, basic safety techniques and responsible dog ownership. What started with a presentation in my classroom soon grew to presentations in other area schools, then other states. Within a few years I had presented to about 10,000 children and helped create the nonprofit organization Prevent The Bite.

Every year 4.7 million people are bitten by a dog in the United States and the epidemic continues. From 1993 – 2008 there was an 86.3% increase in dog bite-related hospital stays.* I am determined to do what I can to lower that number. With our educational program and lesson plan, PTB has created a program that can be presented by anyone who wants to bring our safety message to children. Funding efforts continue to create a video that can be used as a guide to our lesson plan and as a stand-alone educational tool. Our goal is to make our information available to anyone who is as determined as my mom and I to lower the incidence of dog attacks to children.

American Veterinary Medical Association dog bite prevention video featuring Kelly Voigt:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LT-4WbOQhUw

*Source: AHRQ, Center for Delivery, Organization, and Markets, Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project, Nationwide Emergency Department Sample, 2008 "Emergency Department Visits and Inpatient Stay Involving Dog Bites, 2008".
http://www.hcup-us.ahrq.gov/reports/statbriefs/sb101.pdf