Norris promotes dog safety with children activity booklets

Lanny Norris presents children’s activity booklets to RCS Superintendent Heath Grimes and West Elementary Principal Deanna Hollimon. The coloring and activity booklets aim to teach children how to behave safely around dogs; the booklets are an answer to a high incidence of dog bites.

Children across Franklin County will get a refresher on how to safely interact with canine friends thanks to a special donation from State Farm Agent Lanny Norris.

Norris Tuesday donated 1,023 activity books for elementary students in Russellville City Schools and Franklin County Schools. The free resource is intriguingly titled, “Fido, Friend or Foe?”

Norris said the aim is to reduce the incidents of dog bites – for which State Farm last year paid $118, 743,703 in claims across the United States. “Educating residents of Russellville and Franklin County to be responsible pet owners and educating children about the dangers of dog bites makes the quality of life in our community much better for everyone,” Norris.

Russellville received 425 booklets for students at West Elementary. In Franklin County, almost 600 booklets will go to Vina, Red Bay, East Franklin, Tharptown, Phil Campbell and Belgreen.

Norris presents a set of booklets to Franklin County Schools Superintendent Gary Williams.

Educational coloring pages and favorite activities like connect-the-dots fill the activity booklet, with warnings phrased so children can understand. Don’t reach through a fence to pet a dog; always ask permission before petting a stray dog; and be careful around a mother dog with her puppies are words of advice and caution that can help keep the youngest dog-lovers safe from possible harm. Norris said he hopes the materials will help children realize that under the right circumstances, any dog might bite, regardless of breed.