Teaching Dog Bite Prevention to Autistic Children; Check out the H39 Revision
Autistic students at the Salem Elementary School in Berwick recently participated in a Safe Dog program presented by Central Susquehanna Intermediate Unit School Social Worker Bonnie Jaskiewicz. Jaskiewicz is not a member of any dog training or therapy group, nor is she a “dog person” so her concern was targeted to her students and probably a first for the dog bite prevention program. It was also a new audience for the program and one we should all reach out to embrace.
( Perhaps some of you have? If so–please get in touch with Connie Cuff so that I can add you to this great outreach.) The program had as its centerfold the coloring books titled “Teaching Children How To Fall in Love With Dogs Safely”, published by Geisinger, illustrated by Joan Bectal, and authored by me. Jaskiewicz used a puppet to teach lessons to the children and had them act out body postures. She added toy dogs of various breeds and asked the students to describe the dogs, paying attention to ears, height and size of dog, tail, type of coat, etc. The latter was done so that victims could help in describing accurately the offending canine. After all, not all dogs who bite are pit bulls or Rottweilers! Just because a dog is “scary” does not make him dangerous. As we all know, little dogs can bite too! And, of course, she also added a therapy dog (TDI) mixed breed named “Gracie”. Gracie was dressed as an angel so she had a real impact on the children. Gracie has a history of working with special needs and disabled children helping them overcome their fear of dogs.
According to the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, total claims for dog bites are estimated to b e $3 billion and direct medical medical care estimated at $254 M. That should be enough of a stimulus package for us all to make dog bite prevention education part of our dedication to dogs. By the way, children are the primary victims and are bitten on the face, head and neck leading to procedures like skin grafting, scar revision and ear reconstruction.
(The lessons were so successful they are being repeated in the Bloomsburg Area Middle School with students in the Emotional Support and Life Skills classrooms.)
There is a new book on my “must have” list of titles and it will sit right next to “Calming Signals” by Turid Rugaas. It is “Canine Behavior: A Photo Illustrated Handbook” by Barbara Handelman. Organized as a canine behavior reference, this has been heralded as the last word–or rather the last picture (pictures are worth a thousand words) in helping us understand canine behavior. Perhaps a birthday, Father’s Day or Mother’s Day gift? From Amazon it is currently priced in the $30 to $40 range.
H39 needs our input now. According to Julian Prager it needs a thorough language revision to be enforceable and distance it from the farm lobby. H39 deals with ear cropping, tail docking, dew claw removal, debarking and c-sections. No matter how you feel about these procedures we need to have clear and enforceable language in all legislation dealing with our canine concerns. Urge your elected official to study the Pennsylvania Federation H39 revision.
One more request–does anyone know of any dogs who are working local airports in bird control? Again, let Connie know.
Feb 17, 2009 | | Uncategorized