Update: Have a Heart

The winter months were fairly quiet ones for our Have a Heart Fund after a busy fall with the Katrina animals. But the spring season is here and it is usually accompanied by kittens.

We would like to thank all the contributors to our Have a Heart Fund since our last newsletter:

* Sandra Wichelt, in memory of Littles and Sinbad
* Mr. and Mrs. Erv Whitaker, in memory of Gizmo
* Harry and Nancy Fiske, in memory of Poko
* Constance Borawski, in memory of Missy and Skylar
* Toni McFadden, in memory of Fluffy
* Cornelia Allen, in memory of Homer
* Mr. and Mrs. Raines, in memory of Boots
* Nina Manganaris, adopted Tancy, Katrina dog
* Nancy Joyner and Karen Smith, in memory of Molly
* Joanne Luce, in memory of Beauty
* Susan and Raymond MacDuff
* Mr. and Mrs. Ernest Brain
* Gwen Smith
* Susan Levin
* Elizabeth Porta
* Mr. and Mrs. Desrochers
* Nancy Heard
* Nancy Rivers
* Mr. and Mrs. Charles Allgood
* David Cummings
* Kaye Moser

Pets, Children, and Safety

by Dr. Allison Mayo

Summertime brings children and pets outside in great numbers. Therefore, this is a good time to review safety rules regarding children and animals. The Center for Disease Control estimates that half of all children under 12 have been bitten by a dog. This age group also accounts for 60% of the dog bites in the United States each year. These bites are not all from strange or stray dogs either. Some come from the family pet.

Keeping children safe around animals encompasses several different aspects. (Even if you don’t have any children, you are responsible for the safety of children your pets may encounter as visitors to your home or on walks).

First, insure that your own pets do not present any risk to your children or others. A healthy and well-trained dog is the best way to prevent problems. There are diseases that pets can transmit to your children. These are called zoonotic diseases and include things like rabies, intestinal parasites, and ringworm. The best way to avoid these risks is to have your pet visit a veterinarian regularly for its physical checkup and to keep its rabies vaccine current.

In addition, your pets should be trained to behave properly around children. A playful puppy is cute, but 50 pounds later when it is full-grown, it can unintentionally knock down and injure a small child. There are numerous places that offer a variety of training classes. It is also your responsibility to maintain control over your pet at all times. Whenever your pet is outside, it should always be on a leash or in a fenced-in yard. Make sure any children who visit your home know how to behave with your pets.

You have an element of control over your own pets. But that is not the case with other people’s pets or with stray animals. Therefore, it is important to train your children how to properly interact with these animals. Teach your children the rules outlined below. Role playing is a good way to reinforce these rules.

1. Never approach an animal you do not know alone. Even if the animal is on a leash and appears well-behaved, it should not be approached. Sometimes a dog’s behavior will change once you invade its “space” or approach its owner. (Remember that sometimes child molesters use pets to attract a child’s attention.)
   


2. Do not go into any yard alone that has a dog in it. There have been many instances of children being severely injured by dogs that they know well, simply because they entered the yard without the dog’s owner present. The dog may feel he has to protect his property. Likewise, teach your children to not go after a stray toy in another yard or cut through a yard without adult supervision if a dog is present.
   


3. Do not run away from a dog that is threatening. Running from a dog will often cause them to develop a “prey instinct” and it may then attack even more aggressively. Teach your children to try to get behind a gate, fence, door or anything else. If this is not possible, they should hold perfectly still “like a soldier”, not make eye contact, and not scream. Eye contact is a challenge to the dog and screaming may further incite the dog. If the dog does attack, teach your child to drop to the ground and “lay like a turtle”—face down, legs drawn under the body, arms folded so the hands are over the back of the neck. This position will best protect the face, neck and abdomen.
   

Never approach a pet while it is eating or chewing on something. Even well-loved family pets have been known to snap or seriously bite when they think their food is at risk of being taken. Children should be supervised when in the same room with any animal under these circumstances.


4. Never approach wild animals. Wild animals can carry diseases that can be dangerous to people. Any animal noted hanging around a playground or yard may be ill and the proper authorities should be notified (Animal Control 792-6465).
   

And one last rule, this one for parents. Always report any contact your child may have had with a stray or wild animal to your pediatrician. He or she will determine if there is any risk of disease transmission. Although a dog may be current on its rabies vaccination, if it bites your child, your pediatrician may recommend a tetanus update.

Dr Mayo is available to talk to groups of children (Scouts, elementary school classes, day care, etc) about how to interact and behave properly with pets. If you have a group that is interested, please contact our office and ask for the office manager.