PROGRAMS
AND BEST PRACTICES
Preventing Dog
Bites
Although not
prevalent this time of year, there has been interest
from counties throughout Wisconsin regarding dog
bites. As you plan activities and outreach for the
spring/summer months, prevention of dog bites may be on
your list as well. Below is a listing of our
materials, along with links you can click on for more
information:
Play It Safe with
Dogs, this coloring book, with both English and
Spanish text, teaches children how to avoid dog bites as
well as reduce the chance their own dogs will bite, and
is available for volume discounts. The 32-page book has
large, easy to read pictures on reproducible
paper. Click here to order your
copy.
Dog Bite
Prevention Program. A prototype of the BARK (Be
Aware, Responsible, and Kind) Dog Bite Prevention
Program was developed as part of a master's thesis for
the Johns Hopkins School of Public Health. Thanks to a
pilot study of the program, funded in part by the Humane
Society of the United States, we know that the B.A.R.K.
Program effectively teaches children how to be safe
around dogs. Children learn how to read dog and cat body
language; recognize danger signs, and what to do when a
stray dog threatens. Included in the program is a
31-page activity book and the award-winning 25-minute
video Dogs, Cats, and Kid. Click here to order the
complete program for $25.00; both the book and the
video can also be purchased
separately
Dogs, Cats, and Big Kids is
specially designed for kids in grades 4 through 9, this
18-minute video shows demonstrates how to safely
approach, handle, and play with dogs and cats, and what
to do when an aggressive dog threatens. Click here to order your
copy.
Bow Wow "Ow"
, an 11-minute video, is for children ages 4-9. A
creative mix of animation and live action, it teaches
young children the basics of staying safe around dogs,
and explains safe behavior for 11
situations that often lead to dog bites. To order your
copy click
here.
Play It Safe with
Dogs(tm) Megaposter makes a bold statement
about the importance of dog bite safety. Colorful
drawings and photos illustrate bite prevention tips,
canine body language, and situations that can lead to
dog bites. For ordering information click here.
Doggone
Crazy! a colorful board game, teaches the dos and
don'ts of safe behavior around dogs and how to interpret
dogs' body language, a key to avoiding bites. Players
quiz one another and act out safe behaviors as they race
around the board collecting bones. For ages 4 to adult
and 2-6 players. To order click
here.
Bite Free,
an award- winning video aimed at children aged 4-10,
features neighborhood dogs showing how to stay bite
free. It also includes a 16-minute dog bite safety
presentation for children. Click here to order your
copy.
You can find tips on
dog bite prevention by clicking here.
Here are a few
others:
www.humanesociety.org/youth
www.humanesociety.org/kids
www.humansociety.org/teens
Pedestrian
Safety
International Walk Our Children to School Day is
celebrated each October. To complement the
nationwide work that continues strong, Safe Kids
Worldwide issued a pedestrian safety report looking at
trends from the past five years. Click here to download the
report here to see who continues to be at most risk
for pedestrian accidents.
