Doggone Safe International Dog Bite Prevention Challenge Update

    CAMPBELLVILLE, ON, April 13, 2012 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Plans for the International Dog Bite Prevention Challenge are well underway. Doggone Safe challenged its presenters to visit schools and educate 50,000 children about dog safety in a single month. The Challenge will occur during May in honor of Dog Bite Prevention Week (May 20-26, 2012). So far 57 presenters have pledged to educate over 18,000 kids in eight countries, five Canadian provinces and twenty four US states.

Half of all children are bitten by a dog and most of the time the biter is the family dog or another dog known to the child. "The number of bites to children is atrociously high and can easily be reduced through education. The Be a Tree program aims to provide this education", said Teresa Lewin, vice president and cofounder of Doggone Safe.

The "Be a Tree" program is a dog bite prevention presentation for school children. The program is delivered by Doggone Safe presenters, veterinary technicians, dog trainers, dog behaviorists, public health nurses, emergency medical services personnel, animal control officers, police officers, teachers and humane educators. Presenters use a teacher kit which contains large format photographs showing dog body language signs, games and activities. Program sponsors can purchase supplementary branded learning materials such as coloring books, paint sheets, a story book, a poster, stickers, bookmarks and fridge magnets. Over 700,000 children worldwide have experienced the Be a Tree presentation since 2004. Through the International Dog Bite Prevention Challenge Doggone Safe intends to increase this number significantly.

"I love 'be a tree' (and 'be a rock'). It's the best of its kind. This information has to get out there", said Jean Donaldson - Internationally recognized dog behavior expert, award-winning author and director of the Academy for Dog Trainers.

For more information about the Challenge, to become a sponsor, to book a presentation for your school or to register as a presenter please visit the Doggone Safe website at www.doggonesafe.com.

Doggone Safe is a non-profit organization dedicated to dog bite prevention through education and dog bite victim support.

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