Teaching Children How to Interact with Animals

During the traumatic days of lockdown, many Americans turned to furry, finned, and feathered friends for comfort during the crisis. In fact, pet adoptions went up 57 percent in 2020, according to Shelter Animals Count, a national database of shelter animal statistics and facts. And a recent survey from Westchester’s Banfield Pet Hospital, a major provider of preventative veterinary medicine, shows 1 in 3 people adopted a pet during the pandemic.

This is great news for once-homeless animals, but as society slowly returns to pre-pandemic normalcy, our kids will undoubtedly run into a stranger's—or even a friend's—pet. How do parents ensure that their kids interact with these animals safely and appropriately? We spoke with local experts about how to make every pet encounter a good one.

Ask before you pet.

It's hard for even adults to resist petting cute dogs, but parents should tell their kids to ask permission before attempting to touch any pet, according to Joel Navratik, D.V.M., CEO of MRVL Pet Pharmaceuticals.

“Once you have been given permission by the owner, approach the dog slowly and pet the dog gently,” Dr. Navratik says. “Avoid reaching for the face of the dog on initial contact. If you avoid the face, that keeps you safer and farther from the dog's mouth in case the dog gets startled and reacts with a snap.”

If you know the owner of the dog you are meeting, take the opportunity to ask about the dog's likes and dislikes before attempting to touch or pet him. No one knows the dog better than his owner.

“Ask what the animal is comfortable with,” says Jessica Pownall Hartmann, director of education at the Staten Island Zoo. “Do they like to be pet behind the ears? Do they like to not be pet at all? Do they like to be talked to or left alone? Find out the animal's personality and what they like, the same way we like people to think about that when they interact with us.”

How to Observe an Animal's Body Language

Just like humans, dogs give out signals to tell us how they feel. A dog wagging his tail is most likely approachable. But if the dog is snarling, has his ears back, is cowering, or gives any signal that he is not happy to greet you, it's best to stay away, Dr. Navratik says.