CLEVELAND -- Parents may warn their children to stay away from stray dogs or other animals that could be vicious if provoked.

But NewsChannel5's Tonya Strong reports in Wednesday's Connecting With Kids that parents often fail to make that message as clear inside the home.

Amber's friend was hurt by a dog when the family's pet turned vicious.

"I felt really, really sad, because if I got bit by a dog, I would be crying," she said.

Although the story is sad, it's not that surprising. Statistics show that children and pets are an accident waiting to happen. Half of all children are victims of animal bites or attacks by the age of 12.

Almost 90 percent of the time, it's an animal that the child knows -- often the family pet.

"So he just turned around and bit me, even though he's my dog," Evangelina, 10, said.

The urgency of the issue is not lost on animal specialists, many of whom talk in schools to educate children how to stay safe around animals.

"People think that just because it's their pet, it's OK to touch it all the time, and we'd like to think that that's true, but for some pets, it's not," animal education expert Evelyn Albertson said.

But parents are sometimes the worst offenders.

"Grownups are always the worst about remembering to let the dog smell you or even ask permission before you touch somebody's pet," Albertson said.

Internationally known pet consultant Wayne Hunthausen produced a video to teach children and parents alike the rules of pet safety. Any growling, nipping or biting should be considered a serious caution sign. Also, any dog that is denied attention and affection can be a dangerous dog.

"So the more time that the dog spends with the family and spends positively with the children, the better it's going to behave," Hunthausen said.

Ultimately though, both children and animals can be unpredictable, so experts warn that children should never be left alone with the family pet.

Check out NewsNet5's Connecting With Kids page for more information and helpful tips.