Certainly, humans love their pets.

   Nevertheless, always remember that however docile our pets may behave toward us, and however much effort, time or money spent on training aimed at insuring "good manners," we can never avoid the possibility of their behaviors perhaps lapsing into predominately instinctive responses, especially when they are around other living creatures.

   And "other living creatures” could very well include persons who — at least from the perspective of your pet — behave in unpredictable, unfamiliar ways.

   For all considerations of SAFETY, this line of reasoning applies particularly — and especially! — to children playing with or around a pet.

   NEVER place so much confidence in your pet that you leave your child unattended in its presence. NEVER neglect supervision of children around a pet.

   REMEMBER that just one playful or hurtful (intentional or not) gesture or action directed by a child toward ANY animal could prompt an IMMEDIATE INSTINCTIVE RESPONSE that could result in serious injury to that child.

   And the same, of course, holds for all the actions of any other person or animal (again, intentional or not).

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