I also agree kids need to ba around animals growing up. We had a big barbeque the other week and Niņo was running around in the yard with everyone. Most of the kids either were used to him or they had their own dog but one neighbor who says she just doesn't like pets doesn't know what she is doing to her child. Fleur is a lovley toddler but she was afraid of Niņo and her mother said, "She's never been around a dog before." That just seemed so sad, so I bent down, had Niņo sit, and I introduced him and let her tough his neck. When kids learn to respect and care for something else with feelings such as an animal they most likely will learn to respect humans in turn.