Dog safety message

Dog attacks in New Zealand have risen steadily over the last 10 years reaching nearly 11,000 in 2016.

Many of the victims are children. Rotary Matamata was asked if it would be interested in purchasing books for primary schools and kindergartens designed to teach children about keeping safe around dogs.

How to Keep Kids Safe with Dogs was written by advanced dog obedience trainer Pauline Bloomfield.

She was concerned about how many children approached her own dog in an uninhibited and potentially dangerous manner.

Rotary public image director Krishna Narayanasami saw the potential of the project.

With the full support of the club, 50 books were purchased.

The first school to receive books was Matamata Primary School.

Rotarians Narayanasami, Sheryl Ertel and president Michelle Tanner presented six books for the school library at a school assembly.

‘‘I have been so impressed with the reception we have had from the schools,’’ says Tanner.

Rotarians are in the process of distributing the books throughout the Matamata area.