SAFETY WITH ANIMALS

  SAFETY WITH ANIMALS 

DON’T TAKE ANY ANIMAL FOR GRANTED!

ANIMALS CAN'T TELL US IF THEY'RE UPSET OR SCARED, SO THEY SHOW US.

ANIMALS THAT ARE IN PAIN, ARE AFRAID, OR FEEL THREATENED ARE MOST LIKELY SHOW THEIR WHITE PART OF EYE LID OR EVEN BITE OR SCRATCH TO PROTECT THEMSELVES.

MOST DOMESTIC AND FARM ANIMALS ARE NOT NATURALLY VICIOUS. FEAR GENERALLY CAUSES THE OCCASIONAL VIOLENT REACTIONS FROM THEM.

SUDDEN, UNEXPECTED MOVEMENTS, OR EVEN UNUSUAL CLOTHES, CAN FRIGHTEN ANIMALS AND MAKE THEM DANGEROUS.

STRANGE SIGHTS, SOUNDS, OR SMELLS WILL ALSO FRIGHTEN THEM.

WHEN HANDLING ANIMALS ALWAYS MOVE QUIETLY, SPEAK QUIETLY, AND DO THINGS METHODICALLY IN THE USUAL WAY.

BULLS

A FARMER WAS KILLED IN A LOOSE BOX BY A BULL HE FED EVERY DAY.

WHY? – ONE SUNDAY, JUST BEFORE LEAVING FOR CHURCH, HE ENTERED THE BOX IN A HURRY TO PULL DOWN ANOTHER BALE OF HAY. HE FRIGHTENED THE BULL, BECAUSE, IT IS THOUGHT, THE BULL DID NOT KNOW HIM IN HIS SUNDAY CLOTHES.

“DOCILE” BULLS CAUSE MANY OF THE ACCIDENTS ON FARMS. FARMERS ARE FAR TOO CASUAL WITH ANIMALS OF DOCILE REPUTATION, WHEREAS THEY TAKE PRECAUTIONS WITH THOSE KNOWN TO BE DANGEROUS. TREAT ALL BULLS WITH RESPECT.

COWS

DON’T TAKE A DOG WITH YOU IF YOU HAVE TO GET CLOSE TO A COW WITH A NEWLY BORN CALF. THE DOG MAY MAKE THE MOTHER FRANTIC AND SHE WILL CHARGE.

TIE DOGS OUT OF SIGHT IF YOU GO NEAR A COW WITH A NEW-BORN CALF.

BEEF CATTLE

ANIMALS BECOME DOCILE WHEN HANDLED FREQUENTLY. ON INTENSIVELY FARMED PROPERTIES BEEF CATTLE ARE OFTEN DRAFTED IN YARDS BY MEN ON FOOT, BUT THIS WOULD BE DANGEROUS ON A BACK-COUNTRY FARM. THE DIFFERENCE IS BECAUSE THE BACK-COUNTRY ANIMALS SEE MEN INFREQUENTLY AND THEN ONLY ON HORSEBACK.

BE CAREFUL WHEN YARDING CATTLE,

ESPECIALLY BACK-COUNTRY CATTLE.

HORSES

HORSES BECAUSE OF THEIR SIZE, STRENGTH, AND SPEED CAN BE DANGEROUS. NERVOUS AND SUSPICIOUS THEMSELVES, THEY ARE QUICK TO DETECT NERVOUSNESS AND LACK OF CONFIDENCE IN THOSE WHO HANDLE THEM.

ABRUPT ACTIONS WILL MAKE THEM EXCITED, BUT A CALM CONFIDENT APPROACH MAKES THEM ALSO CALM AND CONFIDENT.

ALWAYS RIDE WITH YOUR TOES RESTING JUST ON STIRRUPS. IF YOU BECOME UNSEATED FROM A NERVOUS HORSE THERE IS A CHANCE THAT YOU MAY BE DRAGGED BY THE FOOT ACROSS THE GROUND. WEAR RIDING BOOTS OR, IF YOU MUST RIDE LIKE A GUARDSMAN, DON’T WEAR BOOTLACES!

NEVER SHOUT, BUT ALWAYS SPEAK QUIETLY AND SOOTHINGLY AND ALWAYS MOVE QUIETLY WHEN WORKING WITH A HORSE.

PIGS

BECAUSE PIGS DO NOT HAVE VERY GOOD EYESIGHT, THEY ARE EASILY FRIGHTENED IF NOT CAREFULLY HANDLED. ONCE FRIGHTENED, EVEN A BABY PIG CAN BITE, AND THE BRUTE STRENGTH AND TUSKS OF A BOAR MAKE HIM DANGEROUS. ALSO, A FRIGHTENED PIG WILL HEAD FOR THE NEAREST WAY OF ESCAPE, AND IF IT HAPPENS TO BE BETWEEN YOUR LEGS, THIS COULD BE UPSETTING TO YOU AND THE PIG.

MOVE GENTLY AND QUIETLY WHEN MOVING AMONG PIGS.

DOGS

WARN CHILDREN NOT TO APPROACH, TEASE, OR PAT STRANGE DOGS.

DOGS ARE OFTEN TAUGHT TO GUARD GROUND AGAINST STRANGERS.

IT IS POINTLESS TO RUN FROM A SAVAGE DOG, BECAUSE IT CAN RUN FASTER THAN ANY HUMAN. IT IS BETTER TO STAND FIRM, FACE THE DOG, AND MAKE A SLOW RETREAT WHILE FACING IT. IF YOU CAN RESIST THE TEMPTATION TO RUN AND INSTEAD ORDER IT TO SIT DOWN, VERY OFTEN THIS WILL SHAKE ITS CONFIDENCE LONG ENOUGH FOR THE OWNER TO ARRIVE. BUT NEVER TURN YOUR BACK ON IT. THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT IT WANTS YOU TO DO!

IF A DOG STARTS RUNNING TOWARD YOU, DON'T RUN. RUNNING AWAY CAN MAKE THE DOG WANT TO CHASE AFTER YOU — EVEN IF IT DOESN'T WANT TO HURT YOU, ITS INSTINCTS WILL TELL IT TO CHASE.

IF A STRANGE DOG APPROACHES YOU, TRY TO STAND VERY STILL. THIS MAY BE SCARY FOR A MINUTE OR TWO, BUT OFTEN THE DOG WILL BECOME BORED AND WALK AWAY. IF THE DOG TRIES TO SNIFF YOU, LET IT SNIFF — THIS IS ITS WAY OF CHECKING YOU OUT.

WALK AWAY FROM A STRANGE DOG VERY SLOWLY. DON'T WAVE YOUR ARMS AROUND OR MAKE A LOT OF NOISE BECAUSE THESE ACTIONS WILL ONLY EXCITE THE DOG. LOOK STRAIGHT AHEAD AND NOT INTO THE DOG'S EYES.

PLAYING SAFELY WITH PETS

WHENEVER WE GO FOR OUTING WE NEED TO KNOW CHILDREN CAN'T PLAY WITH UNTAMED OR WILD ANIMALS AS THEY WOULD TO A PET. JUST BECAUSE A MONKEY COMES UP TO US IN THE PARK WHILE WE'RE EATING OUR SNACKS DOESN'T MEAN THAT WE CAN TOUCH IT. IT'S NICE WHEN A MONKEY STANDS INFRONT OF US AND EXPECTS FOR OUR KINDNESS, BUT IT CAN TURN AT ANY TIME INTO AN AGGRESSIVE ANIMAL AND OVER POWER US TO GET THE FOOD.

BITE BY A MAMMAL WARRENTS IMMEDIATE INOCULATION AGAINST TETANUS AND RABIES GERMS APART FROM TREATING THE WOUND WITH ANTIBIOTICS.

CHILDREN UNDER THE AGE OF FIVE ARE MORE LIKELY TO CONTRACT DISEASES FROM ANIMALS THAN MOST OTHER PEOPLE ; BECAUSE OF THAT FACT THAT YOUNG CHILDREN ARE LESS LIKELY TO WASH HANDS WELL AND ARE MORE LIKELY TO PUT THEIR HANDS OR OTHER POTENTIALLY DIRTY OBJECTS IN THEIR MOUTHS AND KISSING.

THE CDC ( CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION) SPECIFICALLY RECOMMEND THAT INFANTS AND CHILDREN UNDER THE AGE OF FIVE SHOULD AVOID CONTACT WITH THE FOLLOWING ANIMALS: REPTILES, AMPHIBIANS, BABY CHICKS, DUCKLINGS, AND PETTING ZOO ANIMALS.

AVOID APPROACHING ANIMAL MOTHERS WITH THEIR BABIES , EVEN BIRDS WITH CHICKS AS THEY ARE VERY PROTECTIVE AND WILL ATTACK TO KEEP YOU AWAY.

BE ALERT TO NOTE IF THERE IS ANY BEHAVIOURAL CHANGES IN YOUR PET. AN AGRESSIVE DOG MAY TURN INTO DOCILE ONE AND VICE VERSA DURING DISEASES INVOLVING NERVOUS SYSTEM LIKE RABIES.

NEVER PET OR TOUCH A STRANGE DOG OR CAT, EVEN IF IT RUNS UP TO YOU AND SEEMS LIKE IT MIGHT BE FRIENDLY.

NEVER BOTHER A PET WHEN IT'S EATING OR PULL ITS FOOD AWAY.

DON'T TEASE A DOG OR CAT OR PULL ITS TAIL OR EARS ESPECILLY WHEN IN SLEEP

WHEN YOU PICK UP/HOLD/ OR LIFTING A RABBIT, HAMSTER, GUINEA PIG, OR GERBIL FROM ITS CAGE, DO IT SLOWLY. BE SURE TO HOLD THE ANIMAL UNDERNEATH ITS BELLY,NOT BY ITS EARS.

WHEN PULLING AN IGUANA, LIZARD, SNAKE, OR OTHER REPTILE FROM ITS TANK, DO IT SLOWLY AND CAREFULLY. THEN WASH YOUR HANDS RIGHT AWAY BECAUSE REPTILES CAN CARRY BACTERIA LIKE SALMONELLA ON THEIR SKIN.

NEVER STICK YOUR HAND INTO A FISH TANK — MOST FISH CAN'T HURT YOU. BUT A FEW TYPES OF FISH CAN AND DO STING IF THEY GET UPSET. THE WATER ALSO CONTAINS GERMS THAT COULD CAUSE A SKIN INFECTION.

IF A PET LOOKS SICK OR IS INJURED, STAY FAR AWAY. AN ANIMAL THAT NORMALLY LOVES TO BE PETTED AND PLAY MAY GET VERY UPSET AND EVEN BITE WHEN IT IS FEELING ILL.

WHEN YOU'RE AT A FRIEND'S HOME ,CHECK WITH HIM BEFORE TOUCHING THEIR PET, MOVE SLOWLY AND BE SURE TO LET THE ANIMAL SNIFF YOUR HANDS FIRST , ACCEPTS YOU.

IT IS BETTER TO SAVE OUR LOVE FOR OUR OWN PETS – BECAUSE THEY CAN ONLY RECEPROCATE!