Teach your children the following basic rules of safety around animals. These rules are:
- Never approach an unfamiliar animal. Remember that not every dog that wags its tail is friendly.
- Always ask the owner's permission before petting an animal.
- Always approach animals slowly and carefully.
- When meeting a new cat or dog, let it come to you and smell you first.
- Know where the animals in your neighborhood live.
- Keep away from stray animals.
- Never run from a dog or cat and scream.
- Remain calm and motionless when approached by an unfamiliar dog or cat (e.g., "be still like a tree").
- Always protect your face, neck and arms. If knocked over by a dog, roll into a ball and lie still (e.g., "be still like a log").
- If you're attacked, give the cat or dog a book or backpack to chew on. Cover your head and neck, and protect your face.
- Never play with a cat or dog unless supervised by an adult.
- Immediately report stray animals or animals displaying unusual behavior to an adult.
- Avoid direct eye contact with a dog.
- Do not disturb a pet who is sleeping, eating, or caring for puppies.
- Do not pet a cat or dog without allowing it to see and sniff you first.
- Do not make loud noises around animals.
- Do not ever tease an animal.
- Never reach through a fence to pet a dog.
- Never put your hand between two dogs or cats.
- Never put your face close to a dog or cat.
- Never try to help a hurt dog or cat; get an adult to help.
- If you do not have permission, never enter a yard with a dog in it. Better yet, wait for the owner to enter the yard with you.
- Never leave a baby alone with a dog.
- If bitten, immediately report the bite to an adult.
- Report all animal bites to the Virginia Beach Bureau of Animal Control (757) 385-4444.