Abstract
Pets play an important role in children s lives. Although relationships with animals bring much joy and numerous developmental benefits to many children, not all encounters with animals are positive. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report that each year, 4.5 million Americans are bitten by dogs; the rate of dog bite-related injuries is highest for children ages 5 to 9 years. While these injuries might involve an incident with stray or loose dogs, having a dog in the household is also associated with a high incidence of dog bites, both among children and adults (U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, n.d.). These statistics point to the need for education about safe interactions with dogs for all children, especially for those younger than 9 years old.