"A child can learn some wonderful life lessons while caring for an animal, but there can be some potential hazards that accompany pets of any kind", warns Debra Holtzman, an internationally acclaimed safety and health expert, and best-selling author of "The Safe Baby: A Do-it-yourself Guide to Home Safety and Healthy Living" (Sentient Publications, 2009.)  A young child can harm your pet, and some pets can most certainly harm your child. Never leave a baby or young child alone with any pet and always supervise children around dogs, cats, ferrets, and other animals. Even if your home doesn't have a pet, teach your children these important tips.

ALWAYS:

-Treat animals with kindness and respect

-Handle pets gently

-Wash your hands thoroughly after handling pets

NEVER:

-Approach any unfamiliar animal

-Disturb an animal that is eating, sleeping, caring for its young or guarding something

-Touch any pet before asking its owner if it is okay to do so

-Tease, chase, or stare at an animal

-Grab an animal by the feet, ears or tail

-Feed, touch, pick up or handle a wild or stray animal

-Try to break up animals fighting

-Play with a dog unless supervised by an adult

Also, show your child what to do if approached by an unfamiliar dog:

-Be still like a statue if a dog comes up to you

-If your are knocked down by a dog, roll into a ball and lie still like a rock

Lastly, if your child or any family member is bitten or scratched by any animal, act quickly. Wash the wound thoroughly with soap and water for at least 5 minutes and seek medical attention immediately.

Debra Holtzman has a master's degree in occupational health and safety, is an attorney and is the mother of two children and a dog. She has appeared on major TV news and radio shows around the world, and was chosen an "Everyday Hero" by Reader's Digest Magazine. She teaches infant safety and CPR classes at a regional hospital. Her newest book, "The Safe Baby: A Do-it-Yourself Guide to Home Safety and Healthy Living" (Sentient Publications, 2009) provides lots of money savings tips and easy-to-implement solutions to provide a safe, healthy, and green living lifestyle for children and pets. It also shows you how to get back to the basics of childrearing.

Interviews may be arranged via http://thesafetyexpert.com