Animals/Pet Safety
Sydney Johnson 8th Hour
Introductary Paragraph
Fact #1 What Not To Do Around Strange Animals
Fact #2 What Animals Show You When Upset
Pets can't tell you if they are upset or scared, so they show you in a different language. Body language. They might do this by biting or scratching. To avoid bites and scratches listen the following steps; Never bother a pet when it's eating or pull its food or water away. Don't tease a dog or cat or pull its tail or ears. Never bother a pet when it's sleeping. Don't take a toy or bone away from a cat or dog or hold it out of reach of the animal. Never try to get near a pet with its babies. Animal mothers are very protective and will bite to keep you away. When lifting a rabbit, hamster, guinea pig, or gerbil from its cage, do it slowly. Be sure to hold the animal underneath its belly. Never pick up or hold a rabbit by its ears. When pulling an iguana, lizard, snake, or other reptile from its tank, do it slowly and carefully. Then wash your hands right away because reptiles can carry bacteria like Salmonella on their skin. Never stick your bare hand into a fish tank— most fish can't hurt you. But a few types of fish can, and do sting if they get upset. The water also contains germs that could cause a skin infection. If a pet looks sick or is injured, stay far away. An animal that normally loves to be petted and played with may get very upset and even bite when it is feeling ill. Tell an adult so he or she can get help for the animal. Also, to a strange pet you don't know, always ask the owner before reaching toward it. Any pet, domestic or not, can be dangerous.
Fact #3 What To Do Around Strange Animals
Fact #4 Rabies
Rabies is a disease that naturally affects only mammals. People are mammals, and so are most of our pets like cats, dogs, and bunnies. Lots of farm animals like cows and horses are mammals, and so are wild animals like foxes and skunks, raccoons and bats. Birds, snakes, and fish are not mammals, so they can´t get rabies and they can´t give it to you.
Some other common wild animals that may have or get rabies are skunks, coyotes, bats, and foxes. It would be really rare for rats, mice, squirrels, or groundhogs to get rabies, but it does happen sometimes.