Stay safe & hound
Dogs trust warns parents & kids to paws for thought
A NEW campaign is advising parents how to stay safe around dogs after almost half of mums and dads admitted they would leave a child alone with one. A study by Dogs Trust was carried out to enhance our understanding of canine behaviour and how we allow children to interact with pets. The findings revealed 40% of Irish parents would leave a youngster under the age of 11 by themselves with a pooch. And almost one in eight parents (12%) would leave a child of five or younger alone with a dog. A quarter of Irish adults have let a child approach a dog they did not know, while one in three parents have seen their offspring kiss a canine on the nose. Dogs Trust yesterday launched their Be Dog Smart campaign, a nationwide free education programme to teach family members how to stay safe. The charity’s executive director Suzie Carley said: “With over 30% of households owning a pet dog, it is likely that children will come into contact with dogs regularly. “Whilst being around dogs can have so many wonderful benefits, it is vital children learn how to approach and interact with a dog safely.” There are over 21 telltale signs a pup may be feeling uncomfortable or stressed. However, more than 96% of parents said they were not aware of those alarm signals. Pulling a dog’s tail, sitting on him, disturbing his sleep and kissing his nose are some of the antagonising ways children act around the pets. Ms Carley said last year the charity carried out more than 1,800 workshops teaching 56,000 children about responsible dog ownership. This year the group plans to increase this figure by 50%. Education and community officers will be delivering free Be Dog Smart Workshops in libraries, community centres, antenatal classes and schools. Fiona Gregan, the group’s education and community manager, said: “We wanted to keep the Be Dog Smart campaign message simple: Paws; Think; Stay Safe. “The campaign uses a Be Dog Smart Safety Code which mirrors a traffic light system to teach adults and children how to stay safe with dogs. “We hope that our guidance will become as much a part of a child’s education as road safety awareness.”