EARTHCARE Eco Kids learned how to be respectful of dogs and avoid dog bites by more safely interacting with dogs through understanding the ways in which dogs communicate both “verbally” and with their body language.

McInnes brought Victor, the No Bite Zone dog ambassador who is originally from the Humane Society of Grand Bahama, to help support their message. “He is a ‘gentle giant’ with a very mellow and easy-going temperament that makes him perfect for our awareness campaign and interacting with people, especially children,” McInnes said.

Victor gave the EARTHCARE Eco Kids a sneak peek at his Halloween costume that made him look like a big lion. The visit included an interactive session where EARTHCARE Eco Kids had the chance to ask and answer questions, role-play, and act-out one of the learned dog safety strategies, to “Be-a-Tree”.

“Be-a-Tree” is a well-known strategy for teaching children how to behave when approached by a dog, to encourage it to leave them alone. It consists of the following steps:

1) Stop. (Stand still)

2) Fold your branches. (Arms folded)

3) Watch your roots grow and count in your head until help comes. (Look at feet and be quiet)

Elaine Charter, Humane Society of Grand Bahama Volunteer gave a presentation on animals and treating them humanely and understanding that they are similar to us in many ways including that they have feelings. “Animals feel pain, joy, loneliness, fear and love just like we do - humans do not have the right to be cruel to other living creatures AND it's against the law,” Charter said.

Charter made important points to consider when adopting a pet including:

• Getting a pet should be a lifetime promise, not something you tire of in 6 months.

• Don't have more pets than you can afford to take proper care of.

• Consider a shelter animal for your next pet. There are a wide variety of cats, dogs...even rabbits to choose from.

• Mixed breeds are usually healthier and, have been vet checked.

Charter added that the Humane Society is in need of volunteers who would be willing to visit the schools and talk to classes about kindness and pet care. “All teaching materials are provided as well as training. I can tell you from personal experience that it's very rewarding and lots of fun...and I have no teaching experience!”

The visit culminated with each child, using the skills they learned, having the opportunity to introduce themselves and pet Victor, the No Bite Zone Ambassador Dog.

EARTHCARE Eco Kid, Danay Delancy from Bishop Michael Eldon School was the lucky winner of the drawing for a No Bite Zone T-Shirt, and all kids took home handouts from Charter.

To show appreciation for their presentations Lynette McInnes and Elaine Charter were presented with EARTHCARE T-Shirts by Havana Gibson, who also designed the shirts.

Woon stated, "Our EARTHCARE Eco Kids really enjoyed the visit from the No Bite Zone and Elaine Charter from the Humane Society of Grand Bahama. The interaction with Victor, such a big, well-behaved dog and teaching our kids how to treat animals humanely, with love and respect, and more safely interact with dogs is extremely valuable."

“Often times because of his size, people are initially afraid of Victor, but after they’ve interacted with him they realize he is very sweet and gentle and isn’t going to bite”, McInnes said.

After she was attacked and mauled by a dog in her neighbourhood, and having learned of others who had dog bite or attack incidences, McInnes decided to turn a negative experience into something that makes, as she says, “a pawsitive difference”.

In co-operation with the Humane Society of Grand Bahama, McInnes launched the awareness campaign, with the goal of making Grand Bahama a “No Bite Zone”.

“It starts with awareness and includes dog owners taking responsibility for their dogs and any damages they may cause. If we have more responsible owners, more enforcement of the law, and more education about respectful and safe interaction with dogs, that’s a big step towards making Grand Bahama safer for everyone, including residents, especially children, visitors and dogs,” McInnes stated.

McInnes emphasized the importance of teaching children how to respect dogs and more safely interact with them, as they are the ones most at risk for being bitten, and it sets the stage for improved people/dog relations in the future.

After the presentations, the EARTHCARE Eco Kids visited the Humane Society of Grand Bahama with the No Bite Zone and Elaine Charter. Tip Burrows, Executive Director of the Humane Society of Grand Bahama said, “We welcome the EARTHCARE Eco Kids to the Humane Society of Grand Bahama accompanied by the No Bite Zone. Actually this is their second trip to visit us. The awareness and education the No Bite Zone and Elaine Charter brings to Grand Bahama is in-sync with the Humane Society’s commitment of alleviating animal over-population and the humane treatment and overall welfare of all animals on the island of Grand Bahama.”

Burrows went on to state that more responsible dog ownership, includes spaying or neutering dogs, not letting dogs roam, keeping dogs secure in their home and/or yard (NOT tethering them), and treating dogs with respect and love, as they are a part of the family -- not simply an animal that is used for security.

Grand Bahama No Bite Zone offers the following tips for parents and dog owners to help keep children safer around dogs:

The 3 Most Important Things to Teach Your Kids:

1. Dogs Don’t Like Hugs and Kisses – Teach your kids not to hug or kiss a dog on the face. Hugging the family dog or face-to-face contact are common causes of bites to the face. Instead, teach kids to scratch the dog on the chest or the side of the neck.

2. “Be a Tree” if a Strange Dog Approaches – Teach kids to stand still, like a tree. Trees are boring and the dog will eventually go away. This works for strange dogs and anytime the family dog gets too frisky or becomes aggressive.

3. Never Tease a Dog – and never disturb a dog that’s sleeping, eating or protecting something.

The 2 Most Important Things Parents Can Do:

1 Supervise – Don’t assume your dog is good with kids. If a toddler must interact with your dog, you should have your hands on the dog too. Even if your dog is great with kids and has never bitten – why take a chance?

2. Train the dog – Take your dog to obedience classes where positive reinforcement is used. Never pin, shake, choke, hold the dog down or roll the dog over to teach it a lesson. Dogs treated this way are likely to turn their aggression on weaker family members. Involve older children in training the family dog while supervising. Don’t allow children to punish the dog. Condition the dog to enjoy the presence and actions of children using positive experiences.

The 3 Most Important Things Dog Owners can do:

1. Spay or Neuter Your Dog – Neutered pets are calmer, healthier and less likely to be aggressive. Neutering prevents unwanted dogs that may end up in shelters or in less than ideal conditions where they may grow up to be poorly socialized or aggressive.

2 Condition Your Dog for the World – Give your puppy lots of new positive experiences. Train using positive methods i.e. clicker training.

3. Supervise Your Dog – Supervise your dog at all times around children. Do not allow children to hug and kiss the dog. If visiting children are bothering your dog, put the dog away or send the children home.

Launched in 2015, Grand Bahama No Bite Zone is an awareness campaign with the goal of making Grand Bahama a safer, more enjoyable place for everyone, including residents, visitors and dogs. In co-operation with the Humane Society of Grand Bahama, “The Zone” provides resources, education, training and events focused on responsible pet ownership and respectful and safe interaction with dogs by everyone. It’s better in The ZONE!™

Visit the No Bite Zone Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/GrandBahamaNoBiteZone

If you would like to book an educational visit by the No Bite Zone team contact them via email: NoBiteZone@gmail.com

“EARTHCARE would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to our guest speaker sand the entities that made this programme possible including but not limited to Kevin Tomlinson, the Kevin Tomlinson Cultural Center, H. Forbes Charter & Tours, Tip Burrows, Executive Director of the Humane Society of Grand Bahama, the parents, guardians and teachers.”

EARTHCARE Founder,and Save The Bays Director, Gail Woon was elated, “The EARTHCARE Eco Kids Environmental Educational Programme continued with an exciting and successful field trip on Saturday, with a lesson in best practices in animal care and a visit to the Humane Society of Grand Bahama.”

The programme runs from October 2015 through April 2016 with the sessions being followed by a related field trip. Students will receive certificates at the completion of the programme.”

For more information on the EARTHCARE Eco Kids Programme beginning in October 2015, contact: “EARTHCARE”<earthcare.bahamas@yahoo.com>, or call 727-0797. Spaces are available and there is no cost for the programme.