Be Pet Smart is a free, fun, and interactive learning experience for children aged 3 to 12 years.
Statistics show us that victims of dog attacks occur most frequently on children and the elderly. Over 90% of children injured in a dog attack are from dogs known to the victim. These include dogs which live in the family home, or owned by a neighbour, friend or relative.
Our mission is to educate children on responsible pet ownership and how to safely interact with dogs. The program is available to all Logan education facilities, including community groups.
Peppy and Jacky can't wait to meet you!
Bookings for 2024 have now closed.
The program
Our program is to help children understand how to safely approach a dog.
It is important to know how to approach dogs safely and what to do if you are approached by an aggressive dog. Children, particularly those aged 0 to 4 years old, are most at risk of serious dog bite injuries. Children need to be taught how to behave around dogs and parents need to be aware of the importance of active supervision.
In addition, Be Pet Smart teaches participants how to:
- behave if approached by a strange dog.
- identify and read cat and dog body language.
- look after their pets.
We are committed to educating our community about:
- reducing the number of dog attacks, particularly on children
- responsible pet ownership
- our animal keeping local laws.
- the impact of pets on the environment
Some of our key messages about dog safety are:
- always ask the owner if you can pat their dog.
- approach the dog from an angle, rather than directly from the front or rear.
- keep your hands by your side with your fingers tightly closed and look at the dog’s body language before reaching out to pat the dog.
- don't pat the dog if it backs away, growls, or looks uncomfortable.
- stroke the dog on their back or shoulder (not on top of the head or around the face).
