The Animal Anti-Cruelty League (AACL) Responsible Pet Care talks at schools aim to educate learners on the basic but most important information about responsible pet care and ownership.

The programme is based on the “Five Freedoms of Animals” principles. These include feeding and water, shelter, exercise, safety, ID discs and microchipping, sterilisation, the importance of yearly inoculations and vet visits, identifying a sick pet, basic grooming, and tick and flea control.

The talks include practical activities such as how to walk a dog correctly and basic grooming skills. These hands-on lessons help learners understand how to care for animals in a safe and kind way.

Laerskool Montanus Primary in South Hills recently invited the AACL JHB Responsible Pet Care Programme to visit the school.

The learners enjoyed the morning and participated in the lesson activities. AACL thanked all the learners who donated pet food on the day. This kind gesture is always very special and shows care for less fortunate animals.

Primary schools that participate in the programme also receive free, full-colour, A3-size educational posters. These include posters on the Five Freedoms for animals, responsible pet care, adoption, fireworks, dog bite prevention, and sterilisation. They also provide accompanying activity sheets and worksheets.

The posters are visually appealing in classrooms and can be used in lessons, discussions, activities, and animal-themed lesson plans.

More AACL education material for teachers, including additional posters, activity sheets, information brochures, and lesson plans, is on the AACL website under the education heading.

These materials form part of the AACL Johannesburg Humane Education Programme. The programme aims to educate pet owners about responsible pet care, animal welfare issues, and promote the humane treatment of all animals.

Schools that would like the AACL education officer to visit can contact Johann Steenkamp on 011 435 0672 to arrange a suitable date.