STUDENTS LEARN HOW TO SAFELY APPROACH DOGS

JACKSON -- The temptation to pet any and all dogs is often too great for a child to handle. And often it gets them into trouble.

Statistics show that nearly 50 percent of all children in the United States will be bitten by a dog before age 12.

Phyllis Spence and her six-year-old retriever Jake visited kindergarteners at Immaculate Conception School in Jackson to help them learn about dog bite prevention.

The pair had been invited by Lisa Beussink, Spence's sister, who's son Alex is a kindergarten student at the school.

During his visit, Jake couldn't resist being petted by the roomful of children. He wiggled and squirmed as Spence held his leash so that the children could take turns petting him.

But not every dog is as friendly.

Jason Kirby knows firsthand just how unfriendly some dogs can be. He wanted to make friends with his neighbor's dog and got bit in the process.

Stories like Kirby's aren't unusual, said Cynthia Kothe, director of the Humane Society of Southeast Missouri.

Because so many children get bitten by dogs, and most are bitten by dogs they know, Kothe visits children -- 609 just last month -- to teach them how to approach strange dogs and not to be injured.

"They want to learn and want to know how to do it right," she said.

But doing things right also means holding back their excitement and interest in the animals.

Kothe told the children that they must remain still when a stray dog approaches and cannot scream or yell for help. They also must only pet a dog with permission of the owner.

Kindergarten teacher Tammy Carroll said the students spend a week studying pets and how to care for them, but it is usually earlier in the year.