A new Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) study says injuries caused by our furry friends are on the rise… The number of pet-related injuries rose from 18.9 per 10,000 people in 2012–2013 to 47.5 in 2021–2022 – and the AIHW reckons the surge in pet ownership during the pandemic is the reason. There are some breakdowns of the data here, but a key takeaway is that Aussies are 90% more likely to be bitten by a dog than a snake… In 2021-22, 9,542 dog attacks were recorded, versus 539 venomous snake injuries. Man’s best friend is also the most common animal to send its owner to the hospital, followed by cats… Although Dr Jonathan Karro from St Vincent’s hospital reckons he’s also seen “the odd rabbit bite, and a possum and a bat”. Moral of the story? Watch out for your fingers…