Merseyside Police has launched a campaign aiming to reduce the number of children who become victims of dog bites.
Figures show more people are bitten in the summer months than any other time of year and that children aged 5-9 are among the most likely to be the victims of dog bites.
In February 2014 there were 21 victims of dog bites while in August there were 69 – more than three times as many!
In addressing the issue, Stuart Davidson, a dogs officer from Merseyside Police, has worked with a teacher at Liverpool College to create a hands-on activity to teach children the best way to conduct themselves around dogs.
The result is Fred, a robotic golden retriever, which Stuart will be taking into schools across Merseyside so the youngsters can learn about the best ways to act in the presence of a dog. If the children are kind and pet Fred, he responds positively but if the children become too enthusiastic, Fred reacts angrily.
Inspector Gareth Phelps, from the Dogs and Mounted Section at Merseyside Police, said: “We are absolutely determined to reduce the numbers of children in Merseyside being hurt by dogs. It is crucial that we educate youngsters at an early age about how to be around dogs.
“We use very simple messages, such as asking how they would feel if someone bothered them while they were eating their dinner and to imagine how a dog would feel if their mealtime was interrupted.
“So far, pupils have really enjoyed meeting Fred and have taken on board all of our advice.”
For more information, please visit the Merseyside Police website.
