A dog safety program in Dunedin is educating students on how to interact safely with dogs. The Dunedin City Council started this program in 2007, and it has grown this year to reach more students. A dog named Daniel the Spaniel, along with council animal control officers, teaches the students.
The number of sessions has increased from nine last year to a potential 69 lessons across 18 schools this year. More animal control officers have been trained to teach the students. Janine Day, a council animal control officer, hopes that by the end of the session, children will know how to approach an unfamiliar dog safely.
Even if a dog’s owner says it’s okay to pat their dog, children need to look at the dog to see if it’s comfortable. If the dog is showing its teeth, children should not approach it, even if the owner says it’s okay.
Daniel the Spaniel, wearing a high-visibility vest and fluorescent leash, provides a practical approach to dog safety. Students are taught to give dogs space and not to rush up to them.
The Dunedin City Council recorded 74 dog attacks last year, the highest number in the last five years. This year, 18 attacks have been recorded so far. However, the data does not show how many children were attacked.
Nicky Wallace, another council animal control officer, said children often miss the signs that a dog may bite. She explained that dogs give off cues like licking their lips, tucking their tail between their legs, and showing the whites of their eyes. She wants children to learn to stand still, like a tree, when a dog approaches, rather than running away or yelling. This way, the dog will likely lose interest and move away.
Two students, Evie and Quinn, both 10, learned about these cues and how to approach a dog safely. The aim of these dog safety sessions is to keep children safe and dogs happy.
