This Thursday, March 24, ‘Pawprints in the Classroom’ has visited us to give a workshop aimed at instilling in students the need to care for and respect pets’ wellbeing.
The programme is designed by the Environmental Sustainability Area of Malaga City Council, within the Biodiversity and Environmental Education Section. The positive relationship between people and animals becomes a correct responsible coexistence that allows us to relate properly with domestic animals. At the same time, promoting the protection and wellbeing of pets reminds us of the intrinsic values of this project, such as respect for nature and tolerance.
The activity lasted an hour and a half and its central axis was the presence of a dog in the classroom to work on aspects related to the animals’ emotions, respect for living beings and our responsibility towards the environment. The content of the session has been adapted to the different educational levels and developed in 3 phases: initial, intervention and final.
The introduction of an intervention dog is a fundamental tool to promote awareness and sensitisation towards responsible coexistence and animal protection in order to improve the psychosocial development of the participants. In this way, we achieve a better connection with students and thus be able to work with greater involvement different educational aspects from a playful perspective.
The objectives of the workshop are as follows:
- Internalise the concept of Responsible Coexistence of Animals (RCA) and Animal Protection (AP) in a playful way
- Enhance respect for animals and people
- Improve the quality of life of municipalities through the RCA
- Know the nature of the companion dog
- Learn the necessary care for a RCA and AP
- Identify the benefits, responsibilities, needs and potential risks of living with an animal
- Empathise with animals in situations of abandonment/animal abuse
- Raise awareness about the environmental and health problems linked to the non-removal of excrement from public roads, as well as animal abandonment
The workshop pays special attention to the need to care for and promote the welfare of animals, while this is related to the respect of public spaces. The care and promotion of animal welfare involves also the collection of excrement and cleaning of the road network by people who own a pet.
Previously, the teaching staff motivated its students to carry out other activities related to this important issue that characterises today’s society. The ultimate goal of this initiative is to improve the environmental quality of urban spaces and the promotion of companion animals’ health.
