GREEN RIVER – Animal Control Officer Chris Thomas of the Sweetwater County Sheriff’s Office recently provided some special animal safety education – including hands-on training – to over 60 kindergarten students at Harrison Elementary School in Green River.

Thomas covered a wide range of subjects and safety tips with the students, including how to read animal body language, when and when not to approach animals, how to avoid animal bites, and when to call animal control officers or other authorities.

Thomas showed the kids how animal control officers use catch poles and special bite gloves; they then got a chance to try them out themselves on stuffed dogs and a stuffed snake.

Each child received an “animal bite awareness” coloring book.