Pets and kids can be a wonderful combination. Pets, which often become virtual members of the family, offer unconditional love and companionship, and can teach valuable lessons about commitment, nurturing, responsibility and reverence for life. But mishaps, accidents and injuries can result to children and pets if safe ground rules are not in place. Fortunately, you can take simple steps to teach your children the basics of pet safety, and ensure that your children's interactions with their pets are safe, happy and rewarding for humans and animals.
Step 1
Demonstrate for your children the proper way to pet an animal gently. Explain that animals have feelings, and are not toys. Caution your children against pulling an animal's ears, poking its eyes, going too near its genitals or playing roughly.
Step 2
Teach your children to let cats and dogs eat without being disturbed. Explain to them that dogs and cats may instinctively defend their food while eating; and stress the importance of not sneaking up on, or handling, an animal that is eating. The same goes for the pet's toy. If a dog grabs one of the child's toys--some dogs develop the undesirable habit of thinking of this as a game--you will have to work with the dog to prevent this behavior. In the meantime, The New Parents Guide advises telling your child to ask an adult to get the toy back if the dog doesn't immediately relinquish it.
Step 3
Instruct children about the importance of observing and understanding the body language of their pets. The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals suggests that you teach children to recognize threatening signs in a dog: tail stiff and raised, staring eyes, lips curled, teeth bared and growling are all danger signs. A fearful dog may crouch or put his ears back. Explain to your child that a wagging tail does not always mean a dog is happy; a wagging tail can signal excitement or agitation. The signs of a frightened or angry cat include ears pinned back, fur standing on end, back arched, dilated eyes and hissing.
Step 4
Supervise children when they handle small animals, such as hamsters, mice and guinea pigs until you are sure they know how to pick the animal up correctly; demonstrate the proper techniques for them. Hamsters should be lifted carefully, and mice can be grasped gently by the base of tail and transferred to your hand. Guinea pigs should be picked up by placing one hand under the animal's chest and gently cupping your other hand under its back legs. According to Cavy Spirit, children younger than 5 years old should not be allowed to handle a guinea pig at all without an adult being present. Caution children never hold small animals up high or over hard surfaces; also warn them about letting smaller animals run loose on floors, where they could be stepped on.
Step 5
Instruct children to wash their hands thoroughly with soap and hot water after handling their pets. This is particularly important in the case of reptiles. Pet Education.com advises that 85 percent of all turtles, 77 percent of all lizards and 92 percent of all snakes carry salmonella bacteria, which can be transmitted if the child puts his fingers in his mouth after touching an object that has contacted the animal's feces. Although salmonella, which causes diarrhea, abdominal cramps, and fever, is usually mild and self-limiting, occasionally, serious complications can result.
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