Victims of Canine Attack Organize Week of Awareness and Remembrance -- November 9-15, 2014
East Troy, Wisconsin (PRWEB) October 27, 2014 -- Awareness for Victims of Canine Attack (AVOCA) is organizing its first annual Canine Victims Awareness Week to take place November 9th to 15th, 2014.
In response to the growing numbers of dog attacks on both humans and animals throughout the United States, as reported by Merritt Clifton, Editor of Animals 24-7, on September 27, 2014 - http://www.animals24-7.org/2014/09/27/32-years-of-logging-fatal-disfiguring-dog-attacks - bereaved family members and survivors of canine attack feel an urgency and obligation to educate the public and to dispel widespread misinformation related to dog bite prevention. First among those myths is that breed is irrelevant to any discussion of canine attack risk. By telling their stories and raising awareness about the circumstances of their tragedies, bereaved parents and survivors hope to prevent further death, disfigurement and long-term suffering.
Along with AVOCA, participating advocacy organizations include Dogsbite.org, Daxton’s Friends for Canine Education & Awareness, and Citizens for Canine Attack Prevention.
In 2013, 32 Americans (18 children and 14 adults) lost their lives to canine attack, according to non-profit organization http://www.DogsBite.org which has been tracking U.S. fatal dog attacks since 2005. Since January, 2014, 32 more have already been fatally mauled by dogs. At this rate, someone loses their life to a canine attack in the U.S. approximately every 9 days. AVOCA strongly believes that further fatalities are preventable through canine breed awareness and education.
Canine Victims Awareness Week will kick off with the release of a moving Public Service Announcement video entitled “#WontBackDown” which will be hosted on AVOCA’s website at http://www.VoicesoftheVictims.org. Facebook and Twitter campaigns are also planned for the week in order to engage parents and policy makers all across the country. An Open Letter to the publisher of a major online media outlet which strenuously advocates for pit bulls will be issued during this week and a free public event entitled Harmony In Action will take place at Chicago’s Daley Plaza on Wednesday, November 12 from 12pm-1pm.
AVOCA maintains a list of canine attack victims and bereaved parents who are available for interviews and further information.
About Awareness for Victims of Canine Attack (AVOCA) - AVOCA is a national ad hoc coalition of bereaved families and survivors of canine attack. Our mission is to educate the public about dangerous dogs, and in particular fighting and gripping breeds, with respect to the risk they present to human and animal health and safety.
About Dogsbite.org - DogsBite.org is a national dog bite victims' group dedicated to reducing serious dog attacks. Through our work, we hope to protect both people and pets from future attacks. Our website, http://www.dogsbite.org, was launched in October 2007 and contains a wide collection of data to help policymakers and citizens learn about dangerous dogs. Our research focuses on pit bull type dogs. Due to selective breeding practices that emphasize aggression and tenacity, this class of dogs negatively impacts communities the most.
About Daxton’s Friends for Canine Education & Awareness - Daxton’s Friends was formed in honor of Daxton Borchardt, who passed away on March 6, 2013, due to severe injuries sustained in a dog attack. Daxton’s Friends strives to educate the public about the importance of understanding dog breeds and how, with proper education and pet care, the number of dog-related incidents can be reduced. Our goal is to serve as a resource for healthy canine pet ownership, and advocate for public safety and animal welfare. Through education, promotional vehicles, and providing resources, we aspire to function as an authority on these topics and serve our communities.
About Citizens for Canine Attack Prevention - Citizens for Canine Attack Prevention was founded by Collage C. Warner. Collage Warner is a canine attack educator and dangerous dog breed victims’ advocate. She is also a survivor who is passionate about turning her story into a movement for social activism, victim advocacy, human rights, children’s rights and public safety.
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Jeff Borchardt, Daxton's Friends for Canine Education and Awareness, http://www.daxtonsfriends.com/, +1 (262) 394-5420, [email protected]
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