Many children would fall in love with Snowy, the rabbit. He was handed to Hillingdon RSPCA in January after being found as a stray. He is about three years old with beautiful soft, longhaired fur. If you are able to offer Snowy a loving home, phone Hillingdon RSPCA on 01895 833417 or see more details at www.rspcahillingdonclinic.org.uk .
If you feel like treating yourself to a special afternoon tea, Hounslow Animal Welfare Society have arranged a fund-raising tea on April 27 at the magnificent Great Fosters, Stroude Rd, Egham. Tickets are £25 and must be booked in advance. More details from www.haws-animals.org.uk
I’ve just been staying in Essex with a family with three children who puppy walk for Guide Dogs.
This means the puppy lives with them until it is about fourteen months old when it moves onto further training before, if it makes the grade, being matched, as a guide dog, with a blind person. It was lovely seeing how the three children cared about and played with the puppy.
Ensuring that children know how to interact with animals and care for pets is important. That’s why, in view of the government currently reviewing the National Curriculum for England, several animal welfare charities including the RSPCA and the Blue Cross are urging the government to include adequate reference to animal welfare needs in the new curriculum.
The draft curriculum is currently out for consultation and animal welfare groups are asking us to contact our MP and ask them to help ensure that the five basic needs of animals as set out in the Animal Welfare Act 2006 are included in the curriculum for primary school children. These needs relate to diet and the environment, being able to exhibit normal behaviour patterns, the need to be housed with or apart from other animals and the need to be protected from pain and suffering.
To help us do this, the Blue Cross has drafted a letter which we can use as a basis for our own letter. Their letter is available from www.bluecross.org.uk . You can find out who your MP is at findyourmp.parliament.uk. The consultation closes on April 16th.
