Special to the Star-Herald
Please visit us at DOC this weekend, Aug. 23. The Central Aroostook Humane Society will be having a car wash on Main Street, Presque Isle, at Daigle Oil Company. It is so wonderful for a local business to support us in such a way. We work hard to earn money for the shelter so that we can house the homeless animals of the County. It costs a lot of money to do what we do and unfortunately this is going to be a tough winter for everyone. We are already seeing animals brought into the shelter because their owners can’t afford to keep them. How sad is that? So we are working hard to ensure that our shelter is there to give animals a good meal and a warm place to sleep.
Dog bite facts:
• Approximately 20 people die each year in the United States as a result of dog attacks;
• Children are more likely to be bitten than any other segment of the population;
• More than 40 percent of severe bite victims are children under age 11;
• More than half of all children will be victims of a dog bite by the time they reach age 12;
• Annually an estimated five million dog bites occur nationwide, with approximately 400,000 bites occurring in Texas; and
• Dog bites cost insurance companies $250 million a year in medical and liability costs, accounting for one-third of all liability claims against homeowners’ policies.
Ask your children what things they think they should consider when deciding whether or not to approach a dog:
• Is the dog with someone;
• Never approach a dog that is tied to anything;
• Never approach a dog that is alone;
• Never approach a dog that is behind a fence; and
• Never approach a dog that is off a leash.
If the dog is with his person, ask the person on the other end of the leash:
• Is your dog friendly; and
• May I pet him/her.
Ask the dog:
• Never approach a dog without letting it see and smell you first;
• Slowly extend your relaxed, closed hand (not clenched fist) for the dog to sniff and watch how the dog responds;
• Even if the person with the dog says it’s ok, you always need to ask the dog;
• After you see that the dog wants to be pet (remember dog body language), then gently stroke the dog under the chin and on the side of the face; and
• Never make your first stroke on the top of the head.
Be smart and be informed. If you are looking for more information on how to protect yourself and your children, call the Humane Society. We are open from 10 a.m. -4 p.m., Tuesday-Saturday, or give us a call at 764-3441. Please be a responsible pet owner and have your pets spayed or neutered!
