The joys of owning a pet can enrich a young person's life and be an important positive influence in a child's development. Extensive research shows that pets help relieve anxiety in times of stress, and teach important lessons about life and responsibility. A pet's unconditional affection provides emotional continuity in a child's life.
Pets can be loyal, accessible companions through the early years into adolescence.
But there is often trouble when animals and young people are together. With their natural exuberance, children often startle, overexcite, or unknowingly threaten a pet, which may lead to a sudden attack. And since children are most often bitten on the face, many need plastic surgery to minimize unsightly scars. The solution is clear. The overall infection rate for dog bites is 5-10 percent, but 30 percent for dog bites of the hand.