Teach Your Children Pet Safety

With the warming weather, people and their pets will be outdoors more often. To promote safer interaction with dogs, the Valley County Health Department has prepared some tips for parents to teach their children that lowers their chances of being bit during these interactions.

Teach your children to not approach a dog that is not their own, even if the pet is on a leash with its owner. If you decide that is safe for your child to approach a particular dog, it is important that your child knows to ask permission from both you and the dog's handler before they pet or approach a dog. Teach your child to stop, fold their hands down in front, and look down whenever they are confronted by an unknown, overly friendly or hostile dog.

Pet owners are strongly urged to keep their dogs restrained on a leash or in a fenced in area. Rabies vaccination clinics will be available in Fort Peck on April 22 from 10:00 am to 11:30 am at the Fort Peck Fire Hall, and from 2:00 pm to 3:00 pm in Hinsdale at the Fire Hall. In Glasgow rabies clinics will be held at the Fire Hall on June 2 from 5:30 pm to 7:00 pm, and on June 3, from 9:00 am to 10:00 am. Rabies vaccinations are mandatory within city limits, and are strongly encouraged in the county.

For more information contact the Valley County Health Department at 228-6261.