If you answered, riding a horse you were wrong. Still wrong if you answered being bitten by a dog. Although according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), participation in recreational baseball/ softball sends more than a 400,000 patients a year to emergency rooms, dog bites are a close second (330,000/yr.).

The annual incidence of dog bites in the United States is estimated at more than 5 million cases. According to the CDC, dog bites are an epidemic in America.

In an effort to stem this rising tide of dog attacks, the State of Georgia (code 4- 8-25) and most municipalities (such as Fulton County Sec. 34-281 and 34-282) now have laws that make dog owners legally responsible for the actions of their pets.

These laws require dog owners with dangerous (any dog that has bitten 2 or more times) or potentially dangerous dogs to comply with containment, insurance, registration and posting regulations.

Generally local "leash laws" prevent the free roaming of any dog. It must be constrained at all times by fences and/or the use of leashes. Female dogs in heat must be further constrained so as to prevent uncontrolled breeding.

These laws address the issue of dog behavior outside the home, but 61% of dog bites each year are inflicted inside the home by the family pet on a family member or visitor. For youngsters under the age of 4, the rate increases to 91% of the attacks being inside the family home by the family's own pet.

Laws, however, cannot dictate human behavior and with the proliferation of pets (65 million dogs) in this culture the incidence of dog bites continue to rise.

When a dog bites a person or another dog for that matter, the owner can be liable for criminal charges as well as civil penalties for damages. Some offenses are even prosecuted as felonies.

In March 2002 a San Francisco women was convicted of murder and her husband of involuntary manslaughter for the deadly attack of their 2 dogs on a neighbor.

Although pit bulls get more press coverage than any other breed for their roles in human fatalities, it is not the only breed responsible for homicides.

According to research published by the Veterinary Medical Association (JVMA 2000; 217:836-840) Rottweilers are second and together with pit-bull type dogs account for 67% of human dog bite related fatalities.

A 1997 CDC study which analyzed data over a 10 year period-1979 through 1996-revealed that each of these breeds had killed at least one person during the period studied: German Shepherds, Akitas, Doberman pinchers, Saint Bernards, Great Danes, chows, huskies, and Alaskan malamutes.

Statistics show that any dog without training and supervision can bite. A Pomeranian in the wrong situation can become a murderer.

The L.A. Times reported a story on October 9, 2000 about an uncle babysitting a 6-week-old baby who left the family's Pomeranian in the bed with the infant when he left the room to prepare her formula. Upon his return, he found the baby mauled.

Subsequently, the baby died from the wounds inflicted by the 4 lb. family pet.

Most dog attacks are inflicted on boys between the ages of 5-9 years. The attacks are generally by male dogs in the home or in the neighborhood.

Control of the pet is the responsibility of the owner. Owners that fail to meet their legal and moral obligations can be subject to criminal and civil penalties under the law.

Sources: Journal of the Veterinary Medical Association (JVMA); Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA); Centers for Disease Control (CDC); The Dog Bite Law Adviser - Kenneth Moran Phillips; and other sources stated in the text.