From 2001 to 2020, the estimated number of adults seen at emergency departments for dog-walking injuries increased significantly, from 7,300 to 32,300 a year, lead researcher Ridge Maxson told The Associated Press. Most patients were women (75%). Adults overall between ages 40 and 64 amounted to 47%.
"It's baffling why some dog owners feel the need to pick up their pet's waste but then discard the filled bag into the bushes. They seem to think they've absolved their responsibility, but in reality, they only swap one problem for another."