March 2005
Volume 2 Issue 3
A non-profit organization dedicated to Dog Bite Prevention
Doggone Safe is the first federally incorporated non-profit organization in Canada dedicated to dog bite prevention education and victim support. Doggone Safe provides services in Canada, the US and around the world through its website and network of volunteers.
In This Issue Thanks to Sponsors
Member Update
Case File - I Thought I was a Monster
Keeping Play Dates Bite Free
Jennifer Shryock Appointed Doggone Safe Vice President - US Operations
Doggone Safe Regional Co-ordinators
Doggone Safe TV Commercial
Upcoming Events
Join the Dog Bite Victim Support Group - this is a forum for families of child dog bite victims to talk about their experiences and concerns, learn from and support each other.
Thanks to Sponsors...
A huge thank you goes to our sponsors who make a significant difference to Doggone Safe and help us spread our safety messages effectively.
Thanks to Nutrience for sponsoring the Doggone Safe Trade Show booth
Booth at All About Pets Show
banners designed by Provoq
Thanks to the VOCM Cares Foundation in Newfoundland for adopting five classrooms in the St. John's area so that they can receive the Be a Tree bite prevention education program.
Member Update...
Join Doggone Safe and become part of a growing movement of professionals dedicated to dog bite prevention education.
Welcome to new members and thanks to everyone who has sent in the Be a Tree license agreement. The member section of the website is still under construction - but will be up and running soon. Thank you for your patience. There you will be able to download the logos you are entitled to use, our new member wall certificate and latest updates to our marketing and sponsorship materials.
If you need your certificate and logos right away - please send an email and we will forward them to you.
Send us information about any community events you will be attending so that we can include these in the newsletter and on the website.
If you are a Doggone Safe member and would like to discuss issues and share experiences relating to the Be a Tree program or other programs with other presenters and program creators please send an email and we will invite you to join the group.
Case File - I Thought I was a Monster...
This month's case file was kindly provided by Leanne Repetto
Four year old Ingrid was at a friend's house playing in the backyard. The dog was a friendly neighborhood dog that was "good with kids" and the mom was right in the kitchen, where she could glance out the window, so no one dreamed there was any danger. Ingrid saw a ball and thought it would be fun to throw the ball so the dog would chase it. When she leaned over to picked it up, the dog bit her in the face. She had -- actually, I forget how many stitches, but two long rows of them, and the doctors kept her in the hospital for several days because infection could have been lethal. Even for this very confident and resilient child it was a horrendous experience ... months later she commented out of the blue, "You know, Mommy, when I looked in the mirror, I thought I was a monster. But you never thought I was a monster, did you?" Actually, the exact same thing happened to me with a neighbor's dog when I was three years old. Luckily I was only bitten on the hand and was OK with just a few stitches. The story is SO common, though! Thanks for all you're doing to make it less so.
We hear about dogs that are "good with kids" like this all the time. This story illustrates the need for direct supervision of young children around dogs. Looking out the window is just not good enough.
Keeping Play Dates Bite Free...
Here are some tips on keeping play dates bite free:
When children are visiting your home or others that have dogs please take these things into consideration:
1. Plan ahead how and if you will introduce the child and dog.
2. Is the child fearful of dogs?
3. Have a place for your dog to safely have quiet time away from the children. Crate, yard, gated off area that the kids are not going to disturb him.
4. ADULT SUPERVISION NO MATTER WHAT when the dog is around children. If an adult is not there to defer to when a dog is stressed then he will defer to his natural responses to stress. Licking lips, head turning, moving away, yawning. These are all subtle signals (calming signals Turid Rugaas) that often kids miss or misinterpret. These signals are usually displayed in the dog’s efforts to reduce stress or conflict prior to showing teeth, snarling, growling or a bite. I highly recommend the game DOGGONE CRAZY! (www.doggonecrazy.ca) to help your children learn doggie language and all about these signals. It is amazingly fun and effective in teaching doggie language.
5. If your dog is not comfortable with kids then respect that and get help from a dog behavior consultant to work on helping him be more comfortable. It’s okay to put doggie away. When in doubt leave him out.
6. If it’s a doggy home then have a kid zone! This is a place the dog can not come into without an adult. It is the kids play space that is completely dog free.
7. If there are multiple dogs in the home then consider only allowing one out with you at a time...
8. When your child visits a home with a dog be sure to ask the rules and safety measures the parents have in place.
9. Trust your gut. Follow your instincts. If it feels unsafe….it most likely is. Do not wait to find out.
10. Never allow children to play in a yard unsupervised if a dog is in the yard.
Read the complete article by Jennifer Shryock
Jennifer Shryock Appointed Doggone Safe Vice President - US Operations...
Doggone Safe is pleased to announce the appointment of Jennifer Shryock of Family Paws as Vice President - US Operations. As Doggone Safe grows in the US, Jen will be a resource for new presenters and regional co-ordinators.
Jen is a clinical member of the International Association of Dog Behavior Consultants. Her special interest in in family safety around dogs, intergrating foster dogs safely into families and preparing the family dog for the arrival of a new baby.
Check out Jen's new educational CD that is available from Family Paws.
Doggone Safe Regional Co-rdinators...
Doggone Safe is privileged to be developing a top notch team of regional co-ordinators to help the organization grow. The current list of volunteer co-rdinators are:
Sherri Utter of Animatch - Quebec Region
Tonji Stewart of Canine Company Clicker Training and Consulting - Atlantic Canada Region
Kerry Potter-Kotecki - New York State Region
Doggone Safe TV Commercial...
Thanks to the efforts of Kerry Potter-Kotecki (Doggone Safe New York State Regional Co-ordinator), Doggone Safe has been offered a 22 second public service announcement spot. This will run in the Tri-State area in August and September 2005. This is a very exciting development and will help us to spread our safety messages to parents and children and to promote the Be a Tree program to a large number of schools.
Upcoming Events...
Here are some events at which Doggone Safe members will be speaking or at which Doggone Safe will have a booth. Please find us and say hi!
Capital Parent and Kid Show
Apr 2
Nepean Sportsplex, Nepean ON - Carolyn Clark
Viola School Health Fair
Apr 13
Viola School - Suffern NY - Kerry Potter-Kotecki
Barhaven Business Open House
Apr 9 10-3
Walter Baker Centre - Lynn Hyndman
Mississauga Humane Society Family Day
Great Canadian Cottage Show
May 12-15
Toronto Congress Centre, Toronto ON - Joan Orr and Teresa Lewin
May 21-22
Charlotte, NC - Joan Orr
Oct 29-30
Kitchener ON - Joan Orr and Teresa Lewin
For More Information...
For more information about Doggone Safe and for useful tips about bite prevention please visit the Doggone Safe website. Any materials found at the site can be used at websites or in printed matter without permission (unless specifically noted) provided proper credit is given. A link back to the Doggone Safe site is appreciated.
Privacy Policy...
Doggone Safe will not share its mailing list with third parties