Rescue animal agency denies families with kids to adopt small dogs...Why?

[cynatnite]

Here is why I ask...

DeGeneres had said her hairdresser's daughters, ages 11 and 12, had bonded with Iggy and were heartbroken when the dog was taken away.

Fink said Moms and Mutts has a rule that families with children under 14 are not allowed to adopt small dogs.

"It's for the protection of the dog," he said.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071017/ap_on_en_tv/people_degeneres

I've been around small dogs all my life. My sister has kids and they raise small sized dogs. I've never heard of an agency denying a family to adopt based on the ages of their kids. This is new to me and I don't understand. What's the reasoning?