Aims:
• To teach the children and youth of the community compassion and empathy through the interaction with animals.
• To ensure the safety, health and happiness of the community pets.
• To provide the children and youth in the community with constructive activities that is educational and recreational. Projects:
• The Muppet Project
The Muppet Project offers education to school children thro
ugh the aid of ‘Muppet’, the project ambassador. Muppet is a dog/cat puppet which the presenter uses to give presentations to school children, aged 4-10. These presentations educate the children on the correct and humane way to treat animals. Presentations will cover topics such as: Pet Care, Say No to Animal Cruelty, and Stay Safe With Animals.
• Sponsor a Pet
Families in the community will be able to register their pet with us. If they bring their pet to the Grooming Days and follow our instructions, we can find a sponsor to donate the pet’s monthly food. This will alleviate the financial pressures of keeping a pet, thus reducing the risk of resentment and cruelty to the animal, as well as pet malnutrition.
• Soup Kitchen
A weekly soup kitchen will feed the children and youth in the community every Friday afternoon.
• Knitting Drive
We will approach companies for prize donations for the winner of the knitting drive. The community members will have the chance to knit jerseys, blankets, scarves, mittens and hats to keep the children warm in winter. The person that donates the most items will win the sponsored prize. A knitting club can also be introduced to the community members where they will be able to meet every week and knit or crochet items for the children. This drive will take place every year before winter.
• Movie Day
Once a week we will host a movie day at our venue for the children. The children will be split into groups and alternating groups will attend the movie days so as to ensure that everyone can take part. The movies we will play will be child-friendly and will have an animal protagonist. This will allow the children to view life as an animal, and empathise with the characters. Movies such as Bolt, Dr. Doolittle, The Fox and The Hound, The Lion King, Eight Below, and Spirit will be played.
• Grooming day
Bi-monthly grooming days will happen at our venue. Pets from the community can be brought to us. We will have all of the necessary tools for grooming the pet, such as bathtubs, shampoos, brushes, clippers and towels. The children can groom their own pets with our assistance. In doing this, the children are educated on why and how to care for the animal, while they are also encouraged to take responsibility for the pet. Deworming, dipping, and possible vet check-ups will be provided at every second grooming day.
