Abraham Kriel Bambanani Children’s Home receives educational talk
The Johannesburg SPCA educated children about animals because they believe that introducing animals to children is critical to their coexistence.
The JSPCA along with some of their board members paid a visit to Abraham Kriel Bambanani Children’s Home on April 6.
Liana Marx, JSPCA public relations officer, said educational talks were held about how to identify animal illnesses and what to do, how to be a good pet owner and why it is important to have a well-socialised pet.
“Our mascots Lola and Merlin and their friend Biqutte were the highlights of the day. The children loved interacting with the dogs and had loads of questions.
“We believe introducing animals to young children is vital for their co-existence. A child will grow up to respect a dog or cat and will form a lasting bond with that animal.
Marx said she would like to express gratitude to everyone who donated Easter eggs and teddy bears which were handed over to the home.
“The children all walked away with arms full of teddies. The smiles on their faces were just priceless, as our team spent the morning interacting with the children and just having fun,” said Marx.
Marx said there are so many advantages to owning a pet that it is difficult to imagine someone disliking an animal.
“It’s quite sad to come across people who don’t like animals because they miss so much,” said Marx.
Benefits of dog ownership
• Increased responsibility: Dogs have many needs, no matter what breed you choose. They need to be fed and receive fresh water daily, played with and walked. These are all tasks that even young kids can do or can do with adult supervision. Many families choose to make pet care a regular part of their children’s daily chores.
• Sense of identity and independence: When a child grows up alongside a dog, that child will undoubtedly develop a connection with the dog that’s unique from anyone else in the family. This can foster a sense of identity in the child.
• Unconditional love and loyalty: There simply aren’t many other pets out there as loyal as a dog. Your kids will readily see this in their pet’s behaviour and may naturally live their life this way.
• Enhanced self-esteem: There’s no fear of rejection when it comes to a dog. At a time when kids are finding their way in the world and likely experiencing their first difficult relationships, a dog who is always happy to see them can provide a much-needed self-esteem boost.
• Greater sense of empathy: With pets comes much happiness, of course, but also sadness and even loss. Walking side-by-side with a pet through their comparatively short lifespans can be an amazing exercise in empathy and dealing with grief.
• More physical activity: Dog ownership provides motivation and support for dog-facilitated physical activity. And children of dog-owning families, who spend time with their pet dog, may benefit in terms of increased physical activity, as well as their social and emotional development.
