SAPS animal awareness held at Castillian
After the talks, the children had the opportunity to come and meet the wonderful pets that came to visit and speak to their owners.
Brackendowns SAPS Vispol, led by Capt Antoinette Foord, visited Junior Colleges Castillian on March 15 to speak to the learners about animals.
During March, the learners did a project on pets and how to take care of them. They invited the SAPS to talk to the children about working with animals and the importance of taking good care of them.
SAPS teamed up with their partners from the Community in Blue youth, Animal Protection Network and AfriForum, who brought along their four-legged friends for the learners to meet.
“Some of the dogs that were introduced to the children are rescued pets from abusive homes and circumstances,” said WO Gerhard Cornelius, spokesperson for Brackendowns SAPS.
“The message did not only do we as humans suffer from violence but sometimes, there are animals that suffer through it as well.”
Chris Santangelo from APN introduced the dogs to the learners, and the owners told the children their amazing stories of their pets.
There was Eddie Foord with Butterfly, Ronel Barter with Gracy and Petro Lottering with Queen and Diesel. Capt Foord addressed the children about Butterfly, who is a rescue dog. She explained to them how important it is for these dogs to be rescued and told them APN has a specially trained team that rescues animals out of bad places, such as animals stuck in drain pipes.
After the talks, the children met the wonderful pets that came to visit and speak to their owners.
“It is important to teach children these values on animal care and show them that people can be cruel to animals. We have to stand up for our animal friends, as they don’t have a voice of their own,” said Cornelius.
