The Australian Directory of Human Animal Interaction Programs

Delta Society Australia - Dog Safe

In 2001-2002 an estimated 16,000 people attended Accident and Emergency Departments with dog-related injuries. More than 2,300 of these had injuries severe enough to warrant hospital admission for surgery (Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. Dog bite statistics, inpatient admissions. 2001-2002). Two-thirds of all bites involve the family or neighbours' dog and more than half of them occur in young children. Because children are 'little people' many of these injuries are to the head and neck.

Delta Dog Safe™ is a proactive, dog friendly program targeting junior primary school children (5-8 years old) and, through parent education, their younger siblings in the 12 months to 4 year old group. It is a single-issue public health initiative.

The Delta Dog Safe™ package contains:

• A teacher resource kit ©
• A lesson plan for classroom presenters ©
• A brochure for parent and community education ©
• Comprehensive notes © for a one-day training seminar for classroom presenters, conducted by accredited Delta lecturers. Presenters are then accredited by Delta and issued with photo ID.

Copies of the above material and the information kit for maternal and child health nurses are available 'on approval' to interested organisations. The disk also contains a PowerPoint display for use by presenters and for ongoing use in the classroom by teachers after the presentation.

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