The Renfrew County health unit, along with Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge health unit are once again urging residents to recognize the yellow ribbon as a sign of caution as part of its ongoing Animal Bite Awareness Campaign.
This is the third annual campaign that promotes tying a yellow ribbon, bandana, or bow to a dog’s collar to signal that the animal needs space. The initiative aims to reduce preventable animal bites, which not only pose a risk of injury but can also lead to potential rabies exposure—often requiring medical treatment or quarantine measures for the animal involved.
With reports of animal bites and scratches on the rise, health units stress the importance of understanding the yellow marker’s message.
“This campaign aims to reduce unnecessary bites or scratches by identifying animals who need space,” said David Tantalo, Manager of Healthy Environments at Renfrew County District Health Unit (RCDHU). “If you see yellow on someone’s pet, give the animal space.”
Reasons a dog might wear a yellow ribbon include nervousness, recovery from surgery, age, or behavioral training. Pet owners are invited to share campaign photos using hashtags #YellowRibbonDog and #GiveMeSpace.
Officials also remind the public to report all animal bites to your local health unit, and they encourage recording owner details and identifying features of the animal when incidents occur.
