Animal Safety Presentation at Fontana’s Citrus Elementary School

The Humane Society of San Bernardino Valley (HSSBV) was invited to give a special presentation to the students at Citrus Elementary School in Fontana, Calif. on February 4, 2010.

See video from ABC News Channel 7 here: http://abclocal.go.com/kabc/video?id=7258800.

Most everyone in the community has heard about the terrible incident of the Fontana family who was attacked by a pack of dogs. Citrus Elementary is where the little girl and her brother attend school. HSSBV was invited by Fontana Police Dept. and Fontana Animal Services to help present a program about how to be safe around animals you don’t know, and to provide comfort to the students.

Information was shared by our Humane Educator Lynn Hildebrand, as well as Fontana School Police Officer Cindy Evaro, Humane Education Specialist Katherine Gigandet with her service dog Pilot, and Fontana Animal Services Officer Jamie Simmons. Lynn spoke about how to be safe around animals, and Katherine told the kids about how therapy dogs can calm and reassure children. Their message was “Animals can be your friends.” HSSBV was also able to share wonderful Animal Safety coloring books that were donated by our friends at State Farm Insurance.

Pictured in the photo (L-R):
Lynn Hildebrand, Humane Educator, Humane Society of San Bernardino Valley; Jamie Simmons, Animal Services Officer, Fontana Police Dept.; Cindy Evaro, Fontana School Police; Kevin Tierney, Principal, Citrus Elementary School; Pilot, Delta Intervention Pet; McGruff, the Crime Dog; Katherine Gigandet, Humane Education Specialist