I agree, Peace. THere's only one instance where I think a swat is justified -- and that's when a very young child continues to behave in a physically dangerous manner after being warned otherwise, and no other options are available.

For example -- what to do if very young child continues to hit/annoy a dog? Warn child sternly, and if that doesn't succeed then move the dog -- and/or the child -- out of range of one another with another firm warning. And if THAT's impossible or still ineffective, then one quick well-timed swat just as the child tries another swipe at the dog should get his/her attention and make the parent's message a lot more memorable.

But of course, as Peace says, the easiest solution is to use common sense and not allow a very young child within arm's reach of an animal in the first place, until they are old enough to understand how behave safely around an animal.