Show Time at Moree!

Last weekend saw the show come to town in Moree, country NSW. Rides, showbags, fairy floss, horse jumping, working dog demonstrations and champion cattle were just some of the interesting things going on.

Zoe and Steph from Education were lucky enought to attend and assist the local RSPCA branch with the annual Pet Show and RSPCA Stand.

Steph at the RSPCA Pavillion



 

The Moree RSPCA branch, as well as the local Moree Veterinary Clinic host the popular show event every Saturday, and this year was no exception. Entrants included puppies, a kitten, dogs of all shapes and sizes, 2 ponies, some guinea pigs and even a rabbit.

Local vet, Tenille, had a hard time judging with so many fantastic entrants into categories such as "Best Puppy", "Waggiest Tail", "Best Cross Breed" and "Best Other Pet". The Champion of the 2012 Pet Show was Digby, a Kelpie pup.  The runner up went to Lea, the only feline entrant, and possibly the coolest cat in NSW (she purred the whole competition, even surrounded by excited dogs and puppies!)

Zoe with Lea, the only cat entrant!

Kayley's Fundraising Phenomenon!

Last week, RSPCA NSW Education had an extra special participant at their school holiday program.
Kayley from Emu Plains loves animals and the RSPCA so much, that not only did she come along to the "Stop Cruelty" session about RSPCA Inspectors, she also held a fundraiser at her school.
Kayley organised a stall manned by herself and her animal loving friends, and donated all the money raised to the RSPCA. What an amazing gesture! Thanks Kayley!

Sharing and Caring was the name, animal attending was the game!

The second round of the RSPCA NSW School Holiday Program is halfway through with two of the four themed sessions run last week.

Participants found themselves hands, knees and noses deep in the daily duties of an RSPCA Animal Attendant with our 'Share and Care' sessions. The aim was to allow participants into the lives of RSPCA animals and make them, the participants, pivotal in the responsibilities of caring for all creatures great and small.

You can never guess what animals are living at the largest animal shelter in the Southern Hemipshere so participants had to be prepared to feed, water and clean their way through an afternoon of canine, feline and even leporine tasks!

The RSPCA NSW Education Team were beaming when not one participant baulked at the task of 'pooper scooping' - it is an integral part of Shelter hygiene procedures and as one participants eloquently put it "I have to do it at home so what's another 15 animals?"

As much as the primary, secondary and youth participants enjoyed the experience, they can rest assured that the feeling was mutual with numerous animals now cleaner, fuller and fully hydrated thanks to their extra care!

Smiling rabbit says 'thank you'

Thanks a bunch to the kids from a Vacation Care group in Rouse Hill last week who showed their appreciation for a visit from RSPCA NSW Education by making an awesomely large Easter bunny card.

Education Officer, Eva, was the excited recepient of the uniquely designed card after two talks with the group. Splitting the kids into younger and older groups allows the Education Team to better cater the content and delivery of the message and the Vacation Care group were only too happy to organise this.

The Dog Safety Program went down a treat with the youngins' with Max stealing the show again. The oldies (yes, if you're in Year 3-6, you are now considered an oldie) were shown examples of animal cruelty and their own understandings of animal cruelty were challenged throughout. It is a sad reality that cruelty against animals happens on a daily basis but the kids were quick to react and voice their opinions about the different issues!

If you or a group you know are interested in any, and we mean ANY topic related to animal welfare, the RSPCA NSW Education Team can create a talk surrounding that issue. Drop us a line anytime on 9782 4460 or education@rspcansw.org.au

Our rabbit named 'Mark' :)

There's more to Mortdale

You'll always find Education Officer, Eva, in high spirits before any visit, any opportunity to chat about the world of animal welfare just makes her day! But what she didn't expect was the awesomeness that was Mortdale Public School.

The School invited the Education Team and gave them the entire day to schedule in talks with each class. Each class then chose a topic they felt was more relevant and interesting to them, so with such a wide range of knowledge across the school it made for some interesting lunchtime discussion!

All the students, from Kindergarten to Year 6, were fantastic participants! Whether they were pet owners or not, everyone was completely engrossed in the issues and kept wanting more. Students went away with an appreciation of their impact at the supermarket shelves, how boring can be safe and why cooking can equal disaster for our pets. Cryptic? Well not for Mortdale students!

To top it off, the whole School was an amazing sea of blue, with students kitted out in their favourite blue outfits to raise funds for RSPCA NSW.

Thanks Mortdale Public for another amazing day, Max couldn't stop talking about it on the way home!

All the Mortdale students, big and small, were as curious
as can be!



More Persuasive Texts!

Here are some more persuasive texts about "Animals in Cages" from those talented year 3 boys at Newington College....

By Joel

By Kieran

By Lachlan

By Luke

By Toby

By Zach