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Dublin SPCA Primary School Newsletter                                             Vol. 4     January 2011 


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Dublin SPCA's new Primary Schools Newsletter

Happy New Year and welcome to the January issue of the Dublin SPCA's new Primary School Newsletter. The aims of this newsletter are to keep Teachers up to speed with the work and resources of the Dublin SPCA.


The Dublin SPCA offers a FREE Education Service to help teach about the importance of educating people about responsible pet care and how empathy for animals can go a long way to preventing long term neglect and cruelty to animals.

 

The Dublin Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals is a registered charity, established in 1840 to prevent cruelty to animals and is now Ireland's largest animal welfare organisation. Cruelty, neglect, accidental injury and sickness to animals continues today - and we are still here dealing with these problems.

The Society's education service teaches compassion and responsible behaviour towards animals, humans and the environment we all share. We encourage children to recognise that all animals and creatures matter, not only the cute friendly ones. Children may realise that while humans dominate the planet we live on, they must learn to share it with all other creatures. The Dublin SPCA believes that by understanding our place in the world we develop empathy and respect for all life.


Find out more by visiting Dublin SPCA Education. 

A Letter from Beckham

 

beckhamHello my name is Beckham and I am an Education Dog for the Dublin Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals in Rathfarnham. I was rescued by the Dublin SPCA in 2002 when I was only a year old because a kind person reported that I was living in a back garden in Clondalkin. My owner was not feeding me enough food so I was very thin and sick. One of the Dublin SPCA inspectors took me back to the shelter and there I was looked after very well. I was named Beckham after some famous lady called Victoria who is very skinny and when I was found she had been in hospital with something called anorexia. Not long after I hear that my owner was taken to court and as well as a fine of €150 was given a "Ban for Life" from owning a dog! I was very happy about this.

Shortly after this I moved out of the kennels and into my new home with my owner Gillian Bird who is the Eduction Officer. Part of her job is to give tours and talks in the shelter and I had great fun helping her with the children. Soon I was allowed to come with Gillian when she visited schools and I have been doing this ever since. I love to meet children of all ages, from little ones in Cr�ches and Primary schools to the adults in colleges and adult groups. I am a lively dog but I know that not everyone likes a big dog so I am very gentle and quite in these talks. My favourite thing to do in Primary Schools is to lie on the cool floor and let the children come and pet me. I don't even mind the little ones poking me in the ears and eyes as they are only learning how to pet a dog. With the older children I do some rather clever tricks that I taught my owner to do - I sit, play "Dead", don't touch a dog treat until she tells me and I can even bark when she gives me the signal.

I suppose I should tell you a bit more about the Dublin SPCA (also know as the Dogs & Cats Home). It is a registered charity and has been helping animals since 1840. They investigate cases of cruelty, offer a free animal ambulance service, provide long-term care of animals and rehome animals nursed back to health like me. They also campaign for improvements in the laws and they provide four subsidised clinics for people who cannot afford to visit a private vet. The Dublin SPCA offers a wide range of free education services to suit all ages and levels of ability to anyone interested in animal welfare and pet care. Animal cruelty is usually the result of ignorance and as Gillian is fond of saying, the Dublin S.P.C.A. feels that education is the key to preventing future cases of this type of animal cruelty. The reality is, we would like in the future for there to be no need of our services and for this we need your help.

The reason for this article is to offer my services to you. After over 8 years personally educating children in and around Dublin about the work of the Dublin SPCA and responsible pet care I would like to try to spread this humane message to the younger children as well. Gillian and I already visit many cr�ches and pre-school groups where she gives age appropriate talks and shows photographs of animals but we would love the opportunity to pass on the message of respect and kindness to all animals.

As well as these outreach talks, the children can visit our shelter in Rathfarnham for an hour and a half tour where they will be shown age appropriate videos and a talk followed by a tour around the facilities to see the dogs, cats, horses, donkeys, goats, pigs, rabbits, birds etc. They can also meet me of course! Our services are free of charge but as a charity you understand that donations are always appreciated - the money to rescue animals like me has to come from somewhere.

Gillian says that if you want more information you can visit our web site at www.dspca.ie or call her on 01 4994705 or even email gillian.bird@dspca.ie.  You can find out more about me here.

Looking forward to lying on a floor near you soon!

Beckham
Education Material available for download
Check out our Primary School and main Education sections of the website for of an ever increasing selection of material you can use in your classroom-its all free to use.

school material

Everyone knows recycling is good for the environment, but did you know that recycling is also good for the Dublin SPCA?

The Dublin SPCA has partnered with the experts at the Recycling Appeal to launch an exciting fundraising initiative that recycles mobile phones, PDA's and used printer cartridges - and we want you to be part of it!

If you use a printer or fax machine, each spent cartridge could earn the Dublin SPCA money at no cost to you!

Interested in Helping Your Company Achieve its Green Credentials?
How about joining a Recycling Appeal at a corporate level to dispose of printer cartridges, mobile phones and PDAs in a socially conscious manner?

 

Taking part is easy - simply visit Dublin SPCA Dublin SPCA Recycle Now Appeal and organize to send in your product for free. If you have product to send in, you will either receive a freepost envelope or a call from a member of the Recycling Appeal team to coordinate a free collection for large quantities. Please state that you are recycling for the Dublin SPCA.

 

Your participation in this recycling campaign will raise greatly needed fund for our organisation and help the environment.
Dublin SPCA Education Service
The Dublin SPCA has been educating pet owners for over 170 years.  
 
The Dublin SPCA has a full time Education Department that offers a free education service to anyone interested in animal welfare and pet care.  Animal cruelty is usually the result of ignorance and the Dublin SPCA believes that education is the key to preventing future cases of animal cruelty and neglect.  
 
The Dublin SPCA offers a wide range of education services to suit all ages and levels of ability.  For Primary schools we offer tours of the Animal Centre with visits taking approximately 1 and a half hours or in-class talks. Through tours and in-class talks we can work with all ages of students and are happy to create an age/ability appropriate session tailored to your group's interests.  We can work around any subject including the "Myself and the Wider World" strand of the  S.P.H.E. and S.E.S.E. curriculum.
 
To find out more plsease visit the Primary Section of our website.
Feel free to contact me with any questions or to book a visit.  You can contact me  by email gillian.bird@dspca.ie or on 01 4994705. I'm happy to help in any way I can - Gillian Bird