Be A Tree

Text Box: The Center for Disease Control estimates that dog bites are the second leading cause of injury to children (the first being playground injuries), that half of all children are bitten by dogs by the time they are twelve years old, and that 77% of those bites are to the face. Most of these bites occur with a family dog or another dog familiar to the child.

Teaching methods used in the program are listed below

· Modeling—presenters demonstrate safe ways to act around dogs.

· Role Playing—presenters help students act out safe responses to scenarios involving dogs.

· Simon Says—presenters play Simon Says to illustrate safe versus dangerous actions.

· Visual Learning—students see photos and learn to interpret dog body language.

· Conditioning—students practice “being trees” numerous times during the program.

· Tool Box concept—students will fill their “tool box” with the tools to help them keep safe.

· Positive Reinforcement—students are set up to succeed and will be praised (every child receives something to take home.)

“The Be A Tree program is fun and terrific. The kids and teachers loved it.”

Jennifer Shryock, BA, CDBC

Creator—”Dogs & Storks”

Family Paws

“I believe your program [Be A Tree] is the best dog bite prevention program available.”

Sherri Utter

Retired Elementary School Teacher

Animatch Volunteer

Knowledge empowers children to make safe choices around dogs.

The Be A Tree program is for school aged children. Doggone Safe is a not for profit organization dedicated to dog bite prevention. The organization originated in Canada and now has a US office. Tina Van Why, owner of Sit Happens, is the Southeast Regional Coordinator for Doggone Safe USA. Doggone Safe offers many programs and also offers support for victims of dog bites. No live dogs are used in presentations. Presentations are approximately 45 minutes long and can be delivered to as many as 100 children at a time (although smaller groups allow for greater interaction).

Concepts Covered

· “Be a Tree” if a strange dog approaches or any dog is threatening or frightening

· What a safe dog looks like

· What a dangerous dog looks like

· How to interact safely with a dog

· How to meet a dog safely

· How dogs talk with their tails and other body language

· How dogs warn in subtle ways that they want to be left alone

· Understand what constitutes dangerous behavior around dogs.

· Don’t talk to strangers even if they have a cute dog or have lost their dog.

706-202-5419

tina@sithappens.us