The six-week holidays can be a busy time not only for parents and caregivers but for pets too, this summer leading vet charity PDSA is urging families to make pet safety an essential part of their plans.
The summer can often mean gardens full of games, playdates and children spending more time with the family pets. But while it's a wonderful opportunity to strengthen the bond between children and their pets, the change in routine can also leave pets feeling overwhelmed, sometimes increasing the risk of scratches and bites.
The reminder echoes the research* from the Pet Education Partnership which found that one in five children (21%) say they have been bitten by a pet, while almost two-thirds have experienced at least one negative interaction with an animal.
PDSA Vet Nurse Shauna Walsh said: "The summer holidays are an exciting time for children, but they can be a huge adjustment for our pets. Suddenly the house is much busier, routines change and pets have far less opportunity to rest. Any pet can become overwhelmed if they don't have time away from all the excitement and if they're constantly being followed, cuddled or included in every game."
Shauna says children and pets should never be left together unsupervised, no matter how well they seem to get on.
"Pets communicate how they're feeling through their body language and it's important that adult family members recognise the signs that their pet may be uncomfortable. Most bites and scratches don't just happen out of the blue, pets often give us subtle warning signals first, but these can easily be missed by young children."
Research from the Pet Education Partnership also found that 44% of reported bites involved dogs, with many incidents occurring during everyday interactions such as playing with, picking up or feeding the dog. Almost two-thirds (63%) of dog bites required medical attention, highlighting the importance of teaching children how to interact safely with pets and always supervising them together.
How to know when your pet needs space? Children should be taught to recognise when a pet wants to be left alone.
For dogs, warning signs can include:
- Walking away and lip licking
- Yawning when they're not tired
- Turning their head away or tucking their tail
- Showing the whites of their eyes, growling or barking
Cats may:
- Flick or swish their tail or flatten their ears
- Hide away, hiss or growl
- Become tense or crouch low
PDSA's top tips for a safe summer with children and pets:
- Always supervise children whenever they're interacting with pets.
- Teach children to let sleeping pets lie and try not to wake them suddenly.
- Give pets their own quiet space where they can rest undisturbed if family life becomes too busy.
- Show children and any new visitors how to stroke pets gently; avoid hugging, face-to-face contact, climbing on or pulling tails, ears or fur.
- Do not disturb a pet while they're eating, chewing a treat or playing with a favourite toy.
- Aim to keep garden games separate from pets, as balls, scooters, bikes and excited play can sometimes be frightening for pets or may lead to accidental injuries.
- Maintain your pet's normal routine for feeding, walks and quiet time wherever possible.
While children are enjoying the break from school, Shauna says pets deserve a holiday from the hustle and bustle too. "Pets need time to switch off just as much as we do. A quiet room, a comfy bed or somewhere they can retreat to without being disturbed can make a huge difference to their wellbeing."
Shauna concludes: “The summer holidays provide a good opportunity for children to help care for pets in safe, age-appropriate ways. Getting them involved in simple tasks like filling up the water bowl, helping prepare meals or joining family walks teaches them how to care for their pet responsibly. It’s the perfect time to create positive memories together and by supervising interactions, giving pets their space to rest and teaching children how to behave around pets, families can ensure they keep everyone safe, happy and relaxed."
PDSA are proud to be part of the Pet Education Partnership and have collaborated with other animal charities in the sector to create an animation to help children understand how to stay safe around dogs in the home and when out and about: https://youtu.be/603C5tyakE8?si=rGvTEt8PCutcWEvJ
*PEP Children & Pets Survey 2025 PEP research is conducted every two years, with the next survey scheduled for 2027.
