news-record.com

Kids don't just have to worry about mosquito bites during hot sticky summers.

The summer months, with kids out of school and in the yard, produce the highest incidents of animal bites, said Jay Blatche, chief of Guilford County Animal Control.

There were 63 animal bites in July alone, which is about average, he said.

In response to the dangers of loose — and possibly vicious — dogs, the department has launched a program where Guilford residents can report dogs on bad behavior.

People can e-mail animal control, dvi@gheh.org, with concerns about a neighbor's dog or any dog in their neighborhood that could be a threat.

The department wants to "stay ahead of dog bites" with the program, said Tobin Shepherd, environmental health director for the county.

Calls to animal control hold the highest priority because they usually come "after the fact," he said.

With the e-mail program, wary neighbors can send the department pictures of troublesome dogs before any serious injury happens. Officers then can monitor those animals in the hope of prevention.

The program also allows people to send their written statements, rather than have an officer take it down.

Officers have been spreading the news slowly about the program over the past two months, Shepherd said. But the number of dog bites should decline through the rest of the year, Blatche said.

Contact Karin Dryhurst at 373-7012 or kdryhurst@news-record.com