Clifford The Big Red Dog Teaches Pet ABCs (NAPSA)—Whenis it okay to pet a dog? What kind of doctor helps animals stay healthy? These are just a few questions answered in “Teaching Big Ideas with Clifford the Big Red Dog”™,” a new reading and writing program developed by Scholastic. The goal of the program—generously sponsored by Heartgard Plus (ivermectin/pyrantel)—is to teach elementary school kids how to be responsible and careful with pets. As part of the campaign, kindergarten and first grade teachers in over 60,000 classrooms nationwide received free Clifford educational materials, including a teaching guide, interactive poster, stickers and more. The take-home materials extend learning and educate families about keeping pets and families healthy. Scholastic has also reprinted the popular Clifford storybook, “The Big Itch,” with a new foreword that discusses heartworm disease and general pet health care tips for kids and parents. Participating schools have been encouraged to invite local veterinarians into the classroom to read Clifford’s “The Big Itch” and to discuss how children can help their parents care for the family pet. “There are currently 64 million pet-owning families in the U.S.,” says Dr. Zack Mills, Executive Director of Veterinary Professional Services at Merial. “So it’s important to teach children at an early age how to be responsible with dogs and cats. Using Clifford as a spokesdog is a great way to instruct kids about the importance of proper pet care.” Here Are SomePet Tips To Share With Your Children: w mJ A new program is helping to educate families about proper pet care. * Be gentle with pets. Don’t play too rough. * Make sure your pet hasa collar and ID tagjust like Clifford. * Keep your dog on a leash at all times. * Always ask a grown-up for permission before you approach an animal. * Wash your handsafter petting or playing with animals. What Parents Should Know: * Visit the veterinarian regularly for vaccinations and preventive medications. * Teach your children about the dangers of eating dirt, grass and sand. * Cover outdoor sandboxes whenthey are not in use. * Clean up after your pet, especially around your home and lawn.
