Did you know that half of all kids are bitten by a dog and most often by their own dog? This information is reported in published studies and is easily verified. Just ask around and you will find that half the people you talk to will have been bitten as a child. Dog bites can leave children frightened of dogs and sometimes scarred physically and emotionally. The dog may lose his home, his family or even his life. Experts agree that dog bites are preventable through education.
Non-profit Doggone Safe provides education to help children learn to act safely around dogs. Doggone Safe has announced the International Dog Bite Prevention Challenge with a goal of educating 50,000 children in one week. The Challenge will take place during Dog Bite Prevention Week (May 51-21).
What Do Kids and Dog Owners Need to Know?
Happy dogs are much less likely to bite than are anxious dogs. Parents need to teach children to recognize the difference and to interact only with happy dogs.
A happy dog wags his tail loosely and pants. He shows interest in interacting with the child. An anxious dog may lick his lips, yawn, turn his head away or show a half moon of white in his eye. By learning to read dog body language and understanding that dogs have feelings, children will develop empathy for dogs.
Children must know what to do if they meet a strange dog or any dog is bothering them. We need to empower them with the knowledge they need to keep themselves safe. Doggone Safe teaches children to stand still, fold your branches (hands folded in front), watch your roots grow (look at your feet) and count in your head over and over to the biggest number you know until help comes or the dog goes away. This is the skill that is going to save a life or prevent a serious mauling if a child ever meets that rare and truly aggressive or predatory dog. We recently received an e-mail from a mother who said “[My 3-year old daughter] was standing in a tree pose as well as she could, shivering while being surrounded by two of the dogs barking and growling at her. We would like to thank you for your campaign and online information. We are convinced that it saved our daughter’s life.”
How Can You Help?
Become a Be a Tree presenter, sponsor a Be a Tree session through your business, donate a Be a Tree teacher kit to a school or an animal shelter, invite a Be a Tree presenter to your school and spread the word about the International Dog Bite Prevention Challenge. Visit the www.doggonesafe.com and learn about dog body language and teach your kids. Watch your own dog for signs of anxiety. Supervise and intervene before the dog gets to the point of growling or biting because all of his other stress signals have been ignored. Teach a child – save a dog.
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