Social media for National Dog Bite Prevention Week

National Dog Bite Prevention Week® is a great time to make sure your veterinary practice's social media feeds remind your clients of the importance of dog bite prevention.

Here are promotion ideas, sample posts, and downloadable images for use on your own social media feeds before and during National Dog Bite Prevention Week®, which runs April 9-15, 2023. The copy-and-paste posts are formulated for Facebook and Twitter, but you can modify them for use on any social network.

Promoting dog bite prevention on social media

Wherever you connect with clients on social media—Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or somewhere else—you can share great information to help prevent dog bites. Focus on sharing facts, how to recognize risky situations, and tips to understand a dog's body language.

More ideas for social engagement:

Ask your community to share what they do to prevent dog bites.
Find out statistics for your area – for example, how many people in your town/city/state are bitten by dogs every year?
Share simple tips for preventing dog bites.
Share information on what to do if bitten, or if your dog bites someone.
Share information about how to recognize and avoid risky situations with dogs and what people can do to educate themselves about dog bite risk and prevention.
Post a photo of a friendly-looking dog and emphasize that ANY dog can bite, even familiar dogs.
Use the hashtag #PreventDogBites to join the larger conversation.

Like and follow AVMA on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, to see posts you can share with your networks all week long.

Facebook posts

Although Facebook posts are less limited in length than tweets, brevity is appreciated by your audience. Visual content tends to get better engagement than text updates, so try to include photos with your posts when appropriate.

Ask open-ended questions or trivia-type questions to get comments and responses from your followers.

SAMPLE FACEBOOK POSTS—COPY AND PASTE, IF YOU'D LIKE!

Any dog can bite if provoked. They can bite as a reaction to something, if they’re startled, are scared, aren’t feeling well, or are engaged in play. Socialization and education are keys to dog bite prevention. Find out more about why dogs bite and what you can do to prevent dog bites here: https://www.avma.org/resources/pet-owners/why-do-dogs-bite
The AVMA offers many resources on dog bite prevention. The dog bite prevention page includes articles, a podcast, a video, useful links, and tips: https://www.avma.org/resources-tools/pet-owners/dog-bite-prevention
Responsible pet ownership builds a solid foundation for dog bite prevention. The AVMA offers some basics on preventing dog bites and being a responsible dog owner: https://www.avma.org/resources-tools/pet-owners/dog-bite-prevention-responsible-dog-ownership

Twitter posts

Dog bite prevention facts from our page can easily fit in 280 characters and are effective at communicating the importance of dog bite prevention. Use the hashtag #PreventDogBites in your tweets.

SAMPLE TWEETS—COPY AND PASTE, IF YOU'D LIKE!

Did you know? Most dog bites affecting kids occur during everyday activities & while interacting with familiar dogs. Learn more: https://www.avma.org/resources-tools/pet-owners/dog-bite-prevention #PreventDogBites
What should you know about dog bites? Get good information here: https://www.avma.org/resources-tools/pet-owners/dog-bite-prevention #PreventDogBites
AVMA’s dog bite prevention resources include articles, podcast, video, useful links and tips https://www.avma.org/resources-tools/pet-owners/dog-bite-prevention #PreventDogBites
Responsible pet ownership builds a solid foundation for dog bite prevention. Learn more: https://www.avma.org/resources-tools/pet-owners/dog-bite-prevention-responsible-dog-ownership #PreventDogBites
Big or small, male or female, young or old, any dog can bite if provoked. Learn about dog bite prevention: https://www.avma.org/resources-tools/pet-owners/dog-bite-prevention #PreventDogBites
More than 4.5 million people are bitten by dogs every year in the U.S. Here's how to help prevent dog bites: https://www.avma.org/resources-tools/pet-owners/dog-bite-prevention #PreventDogBites