The Tribune

CHILDREN learned safety tips for how to behave around dogs during a session with the Earthcare group recently.

The Earthcare Eco Kids Saturday Environmental Education Programme, held on Saturday last week, introduced children to the “No Bite Zone”.

Children learned to be more respectful of dogsand how to avoid dog bites by more safely interacting with them, and learning the ways in which dogs communicate both through their barks and their body language.

Gail Woon, founder of Earthcare, said: “This was our third session for the 2015/2016 school year. Our guest speakers who made a special visit to Earthcare Eco Kids at the Kevin G Tomlinson Cultural Center were Lynette McInnes, Founder of the No Bite Zone, and Elaine Charter, Humane Society of Grand Bahama Volunteer.”

Ms McInnes brought Victor, the No Bite Zone dog ambassador, who is originally from the Humane Society of Grand Bahama, to help support their message.

“He is a ‘gentle giant’ with a very mellow and easy-going temperament that makes him perfect for our awareness campaign and interacting with people, especially children,” she said.

Victor gave the Earthcare Eco Kids a sneak peek at his Halloween costume that made him look like a lion.

The visit included a session where children had the chance act out one of the learned dog safety strategies, to “Be-a-Tree”.

“Be-a-Tree” is a well-known strategy for teaching children how to behave when approached by a dog, to encourage it to leave them alone. It consists of the following steps:

1) Stop. (Stand still)

2) Fold your branches. (Arms folded)

3) Watch your roots grow and count in your head until help comes. (Look at feet and be quiet)

Ms Charter, of the Humane Society of Grand Bahama, reminded children that pets should be a lifetime promise, not something you tire of in six months, and you should not have more pets than you can afford to take proper care of. Sje added tjat Mixed breeds are usually healthier and, have been vet checked.

Charter added that the humane society is in need of volunteers who would be willing to visit the schools and talk to classes about kindness and pet care.

Ms Woon said: “Our Earthcare Eco Kids really enjoyed the visit from the No Bite Zone and Elaine Charter from the Humane Society of Grand Bahama. The interaction with Victor, such a big, well-behaved dog and teaching our kids how to treat animals humanely, with love and respect, and more safely interact with dogs is extremely valuable.”