2. Positives of pet ownership Wonderful companions Unconditional love Great for developing self esteem Provides opportunity to be responsible and caring Great for exercise

3. One of many tragic stories Herald Sun 7 th Sept 2009 Photograph Ben Swinnerton

4. We Are Family Launched in April 2008 Established in 60 hospitals with antenatal services. Booklets distributed as part of the booking process Has already been taken up by SA Fully endorsed by NACE (National Association of Childbirth Educators)

5. We are making a difference! Child dog bite hospital admissions and emergency presentations have decreased by 22% in the last three year period

6. Over the past three years in Victoria we averaged 1 death 482 hospital admissions 1628 emergency department presentations That’s nearly 6 each day Dog Attacks The Facts

7. 0 to 4 is by far the most at risk group to be hospitalised due to dog attack

8. Most dog attacks requiring hospital treatment occur in the victims’ family home or that of family or friends. They were therefore bitten by their own dog or one known to them. Did you know

9. Toddlers and pets do not have an innate understanding of how to behave around each other. Parents are not good at supervising or separating

10. Children are far more vulnerable to serious injury to the head and neck due to their size. The Facts (82% of hospital admissions and 69% of emergency department presentations were for head, neck and face injuries to the 0-4 age group)

12. Water and road safety have a high community profile. Dog attacks put just as many kids in hospital

13. An accident waiting to happen

14. And so is this

15. Our Key Messages Antenatal Prepare your pets and their environment. Maternal & Child Health Actively supervise all interaction. If you can’t actively supervise, securely separate.

16. DVD Information Booklet Website www.pets.dpi.vic.gov.au Customer Service Centre The Program

17. 40 minutes to an hour DVD is divided into chapters Follow the Educator’s notes pages to initiate discussion. Delivering the program

18. When can I deliver? Parent education sessions Morning teas Home visits Mum’s groups Dad’s groups Grandparent’s groups

19. Curly Questions? Don’t try and answer them Ring or email us –Range of experts we can resource from –We will turn around within 48hrs

20. We need your help wearefamily.program@dpi.vic.gov.au Phone 9217 4321 Virginia Soderstrom Rob Morrice