Preventing Dog Bites

Debbye Turner: What Kids Need To Know; Many Victims Are Youngsters

(CBS)  Dogs bite for many reasons, out of fear, protecting territory, or guarding their food.

And all too often, reports The Early Show resident veterinarian Dr. Debbye Turner, the victim of vicious dog attacks are young children.

She explains that etiquette we learn at a very young age could be a contributing factor. We're taught that, when we meet someone new, we should look them in the eye, and smile. That's what the average child does when he or she meets a new dog.

But those two actions can be interpreted as a threat to a dog who tends toward aggression...leading to a horrific attack that can, at times, have a tragic outcome.

Headlines are a grim reminder of the 4.7 million dog bite victims each year in the U.S. Of those, more than 300,000 people are bitten so severely, they end up in a hospital, and half of those are children.

Marcus Porter's deep physical and emotional wounds from a dog vicious dog attack are still healing.

He told Turner he thought he was gong to die as the attack was unfolding.

Tune in to The Early Show Thursday for Turner's complete report. Learn of Porter's fate, and how to keep your child from being attacked by a dog.