16 - The Oakville Beaver Weekend, Saturday July 1, 2006 www.oakvillebeaver.com Keep kids animal safe this summer S chool is out, but for kids summer can present additional dangers with animals. Keep kids animal safe by being aware. Summer weather and time off school encourages children to spend more time outside. Increased activities both at home and while on vacation can bring your children in close contact with wildlife and unknown domestic pets. These animals are exciting to children, particularly the animal's young. The desire to pick up and touch any animal poses a danger. Teach your children that with any unknown animal, it's best to have a no-touch policy. Baby animal season is still going on at this time of year, with rabbits, grey squirrels, ducklings, goslings, and fledglings commonly seen in the local area. Teach children to enjoy these animals from a distance. The animal's parents are usually close by, even if not seen visibly. Adult animals will protect their young. Any close contact with their young may prompt them to respond in an aggressive manner. Watch from a distance. If concerned about the animal's wellbeing, a child should tell a parent or guardian. An adult can make the decision whether to contact the Oakville & District Humane Society, or a wildlife organization for assistance. Domestic animals can be as dangerous to children as wildlife. Children should be taught to only approach animals when PET OF THE WEEK they are with an adult, and never touch a cat or dog without the permission of the owner. Domestic pets are as individual in their personality as people. It is hard to gauge how a dog or cat will respond without knowing its likes and dislikes. To be safe keep your distance. In particular, dogs that are loose are at risk. Cars and overheating and trouble with other loose animals are their greatest threats. They may be running scared. Children should try to remember what the dog looked like and where they saw it and report it to a parent or call the Humane Society. Do not try to capture the dog. Dog licences are mandatory in the Town of Oakville. Stray dogs that are captured by the Oakville & District Humane Society are easily reconnected with their owners when the dog is wearing a current licence tag. Activities that are part of a child's summer fun can also encourage dogs to become overexcited, chase and grab. Cycling, in-line skating, skateboarding, SASSY: Sassy is a gorgeous Himalayan. She would like to have an adult family because she is not used to young people. She is a little shy with new people but warms up quickly. Many of our available animals can be seen on our Web site at www.oakvillehumane.ca. running and squealing are best left for places away from dogs. Remember that if you are calm around animals, usually they will keep calm as well. Walking can even be dangerous. Watch for garbage and broken glass and never assume that family members of all ages are suitable dog walkers. Children like to walk their pets, but not all dogs that they meet along the way may be as friendly as their family dog. A oneon-one challenge between dogs can be a scary experience when a child cannot control its dog on the leash. If your dog can overpower your child, do not allow your child to walk it on its own. Walking or any exercise for dogs should be done during the cooler hours of the morning. Dogs don't sweat the way we do and can overheat easily. Remind children that their Popsicle, ice cream cone or other food treat can look just as good to them as to their dog on a hot summer day. Many dogs will take advantage of people they don't know by snatching at food treats. Eat at the table out of sight of the dog. Cool treats are as tempting as a cool pool on a hot day. For the safety of children and their domestic pets, remember to keep covers on pools and gates closed. Pool covers are also helpful to prevent waterfowl from setting up their own private lake paradise in your backyard. Not all animals can swim. Getting into the pool may be easy, but getting out poses what may be a fatal challenge. Always supervise children and pets when the pool is in use. Animals, either domestic or wild, need not spoil the fun of summer for your child. Teach your children proper animal awareness to prevent placing them in dangerous situations. For assistance, contact the Oakville and District Humane Society at 905-845-1551. #1 Website oakvillebeaver