There are a lot of benefits to raising kids with dogs, but children are also among the most likely to suffer dog bite injuries. With approximately 77.5 million owned dogs in the U.S., every child's life will be touched by a dog, whether they live with one, know someone with a dog, see one being walked in the neighborhood, or encounter a stray.

In New South Wales, Australia, the government has come up with a plan to reduce dog bite injuries: Bring dog bite prevention programs to the classroom. They're teaching children to be dog-safe using visiting dogs, role playing, computer games and other activities with kids aged five to seven. In addition to learning how to safely interact with dogs, they'll also learn about animal welfare, training, pet care and how to choose the right dog for your family.

This program will not only help keep kids safe, but it will teach them the invaluable lessons of compassion and responsibility. The New South Wales program should be replicated in American schools to keep our kids and our pets safe.

Photo credit: n8tr0n