Not all dogs bite, but any dog could have the potential to bite if threatened or afraid.

Last year, there were close to 5,000 dog bites reported in Maricopa County. Each year, more than 5 million Americans are bitten by a dog, resulting in losses more than $1 billion annually, according to the World Wide Pet Industry Association.

The nonprofit group is striving to educate the public during national Dog Bite Prevention Week, which begins Sunday, by offering tips to help protect people from being bitten and to prevent dogs from biting.

Among the tips: Ask before you pet a strange dog, use common sense and educate children.

Deb Orwig, president of Rescue A Golden of Arizona, and her 9-year-old certified therapy dog, Rocky, volunteer with students of Terramar Elementary School in Peoria as part of the school’s reading dog program. Twice each week during the school year, Orwig and Rocky go to the Happy Valley Road location of Barnes and Noble Booksellers to have students sit and read a book to the dog, which boosts students’ vocabulary and encourages them to read out loud.

"Several of the children there were very much afraid of Rocky when they first saw him," Orwig said. "They came in with eyes as big as dinner plates."

Orwig teaches the students to approach the tall golden retriever, and then have Rocky lay down on the floor for their reading session.

"Some come up and ask if they can pet my dog, and I always say, ‘Yes, thank you for asking,’" Orwig said.

Orwig also advises not to approach a stray dog.

"It could be feral, and you don’t know how it will react," she said.

"And if you see a dog that is walking with a person, ask if you can pet the dog," Orwig said. "If the person says, ‘No, it doesn’t like kids, or ‘it’s not a friendly dog,’ don’t go further.

"And if you are invited to pet a dog, always stick your hand out first with the top of the hand to the dog’s nose. Let them smell you and get your scent; it’s a non-threatening gesture. And then pet the dog gently on the head. Don’t just go and hug the dog."

Cheryl-Ann Trim of Waddell adopted Betsy, a 7-year-old poodle, from Sun Valley Animal Rescue three years ago and has always taught her kids how to handle dogs responsibly.

"We’ve always had dogs in the house since they were little," Trim said. "And our kids have been really good."

Trim said she told her kids to not take food or toys away from them, or out of their mouths.

"When giving treats, give them on an open, flat hand," Trim said she told her kids. "And don’t pull on their tail or ears; it doesn’t matter how old the dog is."

King Campbell, animal control officer with Surprise, said people need to be wary of unfamiliar dogs, and to listen to dog owners if they warn of a dog’s potential to bite.

"Here in Surprise we receive about four to five dog bite calls a week," Campbell said.

Campbell said the majority of the dog bite calls are from people visiting a friend’s home with a dog that is not familiar with them.

"Very few are when dogs are running loose," Campbell said. "Aggressive bites are very rare; it’s not like dogs are out attacking people."

Campbell said he responded to a dog bite call at a residence last week when the pool cleaner approached a dog that was afraid and hiding in the yard.

"The pool man was persistent and wanted to make friends with the dog," Campbell said. "And the pool guy finally got close enough for the dog to bite out of fear. Now that dog has to get quarantined."

Campbell said he also gets calls from people who pick up a stray dog. While awaiting animal control to pick it up, those dogs have bitten children.

"The best way to avoid a dog bite is to avoid petting or getting close to a dog that does not know you," Campbell said.

WWPIA-recommended precautionary measures to help prevent dog bites:

How to Prevent Dog Bites

* Ask before you pet: Always ask pet owners before petting their dogs. Some dogs may not be properly socialized and may bite if a stranger pets them.

* Be cautious: Avoid petting a dog if his hair is standing up. This usually is a sign the dog is angry or irritable and will not want to be touched.

* Manner matters: Do not approach a dog from behind or make loud or abrupt movements when approaching it. Dogs do not like to be taken by surprise, especially by strangers.

* Use common sense: Stay away from dogs while they are eating or sleeping as they may be caught by surprise or become territorial.

* Educate children: Most victims who require medical attention from dog bites are children, and half of them have received bites to the face. To avoid a potentially deadly bite, teach your children the tips mentioned above and supervise their behavior around unfamiliar dogs.

How to Prevent Your Dog From Biting Others

* Socialization: To have a dog that behaves itself in public, it is important to socialize your dog at an early age by exposing it to other people and animals.

* Training: Training for your dog is an important investment to make. Dogs that are trained are less likely to bite and learn how to behave properly. It is important that dog owners go through the training process with their dogs so they can continue to train them after the initial sessions.

* Practice responsible pet care: For the safety of others, ensure your animal is properly vaccinated. Never teach your dog to attack or to chase others because it may get confused as to when this kind of behavior is appropriate. If your dog ever exhibits violent behavior, take it to training courses immediately.

* Use discretion: If you are not sure how your dog will respond to a particular situation, leave it at home or keep it separated from guests who are visiting your home.