Benefits of pet owning

The benefits of owning a pet are many, but a little care is needed to ensure children keep safe and really enjoy their animal

There are many benefits of pet interaction for children – pets can be wonderful friends and also enhance self-esteem, social skills and levels of patience. However, this is only possible in households where the basic needs of the pets are met and where interaction with pets is appropriate and safe.

For children – and indeed the whole family – to enjoy the company of pets, a few simple steps should be followed to ensure their health and safety.

General safety

Suitable pets need to be selected according to the age of the child and the family circumstances. Children should not have sole responsibility for a pet.

• Adults should always make sure they supervise any interactions between children and animals.
• Always wash your hands after handling, feeding or cleaning out animals.
• Cover any cuts before handling animals or their belongings.
• Learn to handle your pets correctly so they feel safe and comfortable. Animals that do not feel safe will struggle and may scratch or bite in their efforts to get free. Do not let children pick up cats, as they can’t support them properly and the cat may become defensive.
• Children should sit down when handling small pets. Bare legs should be covered with a towel first.
• Animal food bowls and cages should be washed in a separate bowl to human food utensils.

Diseases

Children are unlikely to catch diseases from their pets if they routinely wash their hands and follow the guidelines below.

• Cats and dogs should be wormed for tapeworm and roundworm every three months.
• Cats and dogs need to be routinely vaccinated to prevent certain diseases being passed on to humans.
• Fleas can be avoided by using preventative treatment available from your veterinary practice.
• A nimal faeces should be cleared away as soon as possible.

Safety around dogs

Although dog bites are not common, 80% of bites to children are by dogs known to them, and 5-to-11-year-olds are most at risk. Dogs usually bite because they feel threatened, so children should be taught certain rules:

• Don’t approach a dog that is eating.
• Don’t approach a dog that is chewing a toy.
• Don’t creep up on or surprise a dog.
• Never touch a dog in a car or behind a fence as it may protect its space.

Children may not appreciate the warning signs that a dog may give before biting, such as growling or snapping, and these will need to be explained. A puppy that is properly socialised and trained is less likely to react badly towards children when it is an adult. Children should be involved in dog training alongside the adults in the family.

Do not allow children to walk dogs that are too large for them to handle, and do not allow children to use a flexiblelength lead – this can be difficult for them to control and may lead to accidents.

The dog should be taught basic good manners and should not be allowed on the furniture, including beds. You must always monitor your dog carefully when children come to play at your house.

Safety around unfamiliar dogs

Children should learn how to behave when they meet dogs they do not know.

GOLDEN RULE: No matter how nice the dog seems, the child must not approach it unless they have asked the owner.

This is what a child should do if a dog runs up to them:

• Stand still and be quiet. Do not run away or scream, as this will excite the dog.
• Drop any food or toys, fold their arms and look away from the dog (staring is a threat).
• Back away slowly.
• If the child is on the ground or knocked over, they must keep quiet and curl up small. The dog may still sniff them, but will soon walk off.

Safety when travelling

All animals need to be restrained when travelling in a vehicle. Otherwise, in an accident, animals will be thrown around the car, hurting themselves and the passengers. Dogs should be in a crate, behind a dog guard, or wearing a dog seatbelt. Put your dog on a lead before removing it from the vehicle.

Dogs that bark in the car can be very distracting so ask your vet or dog trainer for help with this problem. Cats and small pets should be in a travelling crate or well-ventilated box. Birds should have their cages covered to keep them quiet.

Safety around horses

Horses and ponies are large and often unpredictable animals. They are beautiful and, at the same time, a potential hazard. All children and less experienced handlers should learn how to act around horses in order to remain safe.

Clothing and equipment

Sensible clothes should always be worn when dealing with horses. A protective riding hat is essential when riding, and it is highly advisable for children to wear back protectors. Sturdy boots and gloves should be worn when riding or handling horses and ponies, and parents need to ensure that their child’s protective clothing is fitted correctly. All clothing and equipment should be purchased new from a reputable retailer that has up-to-date product knowledge and fitting skills.

Understanding horses

A horse’s behaviour should never be taken for granted – even the oldest and quietest horse can behave unpredictably at times. A horse’s natural instinct dictates either “fight or flight” as a defence reaction if it is feeling threatened.

When around horses, children should be encouraged to always remember the following points:

• A pproach a horse/pony from the side so it can see you clearly.
• Walk around the front of a horse rather than the back. Standing directly behind or in front of a horse can increase the risk of being injured should the horse strike out with a limb.
• A sk an adult before feeding a horse or pony.
• A sk an adult to help you get on or off a horse or pony.
• Walk and talk calmly around horses, never run or shout.
• A sk an adult before going into a field where there are horses.
• A sk an adult before going into a stable that has a horse or pony inside.

On the ground

Children should be encouraged to wear gloves when leading a pony and need to be warned not to wrap the rope around their hand, or allow the rope to trail on the ground. All horses and ponies should be tied up when being groomed or tacked-up, even in a stable. This enables both children and adults to move quietly and confidently around the horse, without the danger of being trapped in a corner.

Children should be encouraged to squat beside the horse (not sit or kneel), enabling a quick reaction should the need arise. Never allow a child to lift a horse’s leg without adult supervision and assistance. Children should always seek assistance from an adult when turning a horse loose in a field or stable. The horse should first be led into the turnout area and then turned around to face the door or gate before being released. This will minimise the chances of being trampled or kicked by an excited animal.

Children should never be encouraged to feed horses in a field, or to take a bucket of food into a field where several animals are being kept, as this can pose a significant risk. Horses can often become aggressive around food and this will increase the risk of injury to both the horses and handlers.

In the saddle

Before any child gets on a horse or pony, all tack and riding equipment should have been checked to ensure it fits correctly and is suitable for the purpose. Never allow a child to ride in tack that shows signs of damage, particularly to straps, stitching, buckles and fasteners.

In the excitement of getting on a horse or pony, a child can easily forget to tighten their horse’s girth and can unwittingly place their feet in the stirrups incorrectly. Stirrup irons that are too wide can allow a rider’s foot to slip through the iron and become trapped. Special safety stirrup irons are available to reduce this risk.

A child should never be encouraged or allowed to ride a horse that is too big for them, or a pony that is too excitable. Children are often very keen to ride by themselves, but this should only be allowed when the child is capable of managing on their own. If a child is riding unassisted for the first time, it must be in a completely secure environment and never on the road.

On the road

Riding on roads demands both common sense and road sense. All road users have a legal duty to care for other road users and should be conversant with the Highway Code. Riders should be appropriately attired and, by law, children under 14 years of age must wear a hat complying with the Horses (Protective Headgear for Young Riders) Regulations 1992. Children should never be allowed to ride on the road unaccompanied by an adult.

If you would like further information on any of the issues discussed, please visit www.allaboutpets.org.uk or www.bluecross.org.uk

 

 

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