Making sure you stay safe if there are animals around - Information for little ones

No matter what type of animal you keep as a pet, be it a dog, a cat, a bunny or a reptile of some sort, it is always fun and very nice to have animals around.

They can be fun to play with or cuddle with, but we always need to make sure that we are staying safe if we are around any type of animal.

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We are not only referring to pets, because most of the time the pets are use to us handling them and they like being around us, we are also talking about encountering animals outside your house.

We need to be kind to all animals, no matter what type, so that can mean petting them and grooming and feeding them if they are your pet, but with an outdoor or wild animal it does not mean you can pet it to show you are kind, but not hurting it or making it feel unsafe is also a way of being kind.

Being around wild animals

Depending on where you live, you may see a variety of animals when you go outside.  It can be birds or squirrels or even snakes, raccoons or coyotes.

Most of us live in cities where we do not encounter these animals, but maybe one day you go camping or visit a game reserve where you will see all types of animals that are not pets.

If you are ever in the 'great outdoors' and you see any animal remember the golden rule... do not touch them.  Some of them will look very friendly and cute, but remember they are not pets and not used to people, so even if they look harmless, they can hurt you.

                                           

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Do not try and feed them.  Especially not by hand.  If you put food outside for them it is fine, but the problem is they can start looking for more food and come into your house and then hurt you.  

If you are driving around in a game reserve, make sure you stay in the vehicle.  Do not get out and walk around without an adult present and if you know there are lions or other predators in the reserve, then rather do not get out of all.

It is always safer to admire a wild animal from afar.

If it is a wild animal that are use to people and the game ranger tell you you can feed them, make sure you keep your fingers together, that they do not accidentally mistake a finger for food.

Being around your pet

Sometimes our pets are also not in the mood to play or to be touched.  If you know your pet you will be able to tell from their body language if they don't want you close to them, but sometimes we do not look at that or listen to when they are warning us and can end up with a scratch or a bite.

What can you do to prevent this?

• do not tease your pet by holding food or a toy out of their reach
• if a pet is eating, do not bother it, some of them feel they need to protect their food
• if a pet is sleeping, do not scare it because he will feel threatened and may bite you
• if your pet had babies, do not go to close, unless you see the mom won't mind.  If they hiss or growl then listen to the warning signs.  It is their instinct to protect their babies.
• do not pick up your bunny by the ears or lift it up in the air too quickly - it will try and jump out of your hands
• if your pet looks sick or they got hurt, call your parents to help you.  Do not just pick them up
• do not press your pet too tightly against you - not all animals like it
• do not pull the animal's ears or tail or hit it - they will think since you are hurting them, they need to protect themselves

You do not need to be afraid of your pet if you treat it kindly and give it a lot of love, but on the odd occasion that your pet is sending you a signal of LEAVE ME ALONE, listen to it and that way you both will stay safe and happy.

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