Causeway Coast Dog Rescue (CCDR) has been reviewing ways of how best to support local communities to be more ‘responsible dog owners’. With the steep rise in abuse towards animals, and number of younger dogs and cats being surrendered into charities, CCDR recognised that engagement and education is the way to go, with all age groups. To kickstart this discussion and looking at ‘education as an intervention’ Tara Cunningham, CCDR Manager currently researching this subject with experts in universities in Northern Ireland and England, met with pioneering school principal, Mrs Sharon Lamont MBE, Principal of Millburn Primary School, Coleraine.
Tara stated, “It is crucial we inform and educate those of all ages in relation to responsible dog ownership and how to be aware of dogs which are suffering, plus how to report abuse. I approached Sharon in the first instance as Millburn Primary school is an innovative school, and we are reviewing how we can research and deliver evidence to change the long-term curriculum in schools and other teaching facilities. This is all about mindset and looking at the long-term public health of our communities in relation to companion animal welfare. These are two subjects inextricably linked and it is important to review them in a holistic approach.”
Accompanying Tara in the meeting with Principal Lamont and primary school children, was renowned vet and animal welfare lobbyist Dr Marc Abraham OBE, the mastermind in bringing in ‘Lucy’s Law’ to Great Britain, which primarily focuses on improving the health and well-being of pups and their mums. Lucy’s Law is also about protecting the public from cruelly bred third party sales of young pups in poor conditions without seeing their mother, which also leads to puppy smuggling, trafficking, and lack of breeder accountability. Dr Marc and Tara met with the pupils to discuss some of the responsibilities of pet ownership, and asked them questions on how they currently take care of their own dogs and cats, plus how they protect themselves from unknown dogs which may not be fully socialised.
Dr Marc Abraham OBE said, “Chatting with pupils about animal welfare is an extremely useful vehicle with which to help connect the dots between caring for animals, looking out for one another, as well as respecting their environment; with further emphasis on safety around dogs. By focusing on the impact that kindness to animals can have, our interactive, engaging discussion at Millburn Primary School has hopefully inspired the next generation of animal-lovers, pet owners, changemakers, even campaigners!”
For more information on the work of Causeway Coast Dog Rescue and the forthcoming Conference in Parliament Buildings, Stormont 2nd October 2024, go to www.causewaycoastdogrescue.org
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Photo: Pacemakerpress Ltd Belfast,
Causeway Coast Dog Rescue charity, Manager and Animal Welfare Lobbyist Tara Cunningham with Toots!, Dr Marc Abraham OBE, and School children of Millburn Primary School Coleraine, discussing how to be responsible dog owners and what to look out for when dogs are unhappy or upset, as well as how to ensure dogs are protected. Mrs Sharon Lamont, Principal of Millburn Primary School also met with to discuss Education as an intervention in schools, to inform and protect both local children and their families. www.causewaycoastdogrescue.org
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