RSPCA recognises importance of education
I REFER to your reader Alvin Chung's letter which appeared in the South China Morning Post on June 22.
The Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) was formed 170 years ago. Its sole purpose was to prevent cruelty and promote kindness to animals.
Our modern way of life has brought with it its own problems for animals, but the RSPCA having come a long way since its early beginning, is equipped to deal with today's problems. Primarily, the society has identified four main areas of concern: animal experimentation, farming, wildlife, and companion animals.
Recognising that education is the most powerful weapon to help raise the level of awareness of human indifference towards animal suffering, the society, through its education programme makes every effort to educate schoolchildren and the general public in the proper way to treat animals.
Last year 116 schools visited our centre in Wan Chai and a total number of 7,168 students listened to our talks on ''General Pet Care'', ''How to be a Responsible Pet Owner'' and the ''Work of the RSPCA''. Educational talks to senior school students and young people have broached the subjects of animal rights, encouraging them to respect animals and teach them that animals are not just for humans to use as they wish.
The Education Department also organised several animal care courses for the cadets of St John's Ambulance and candidates for the Duke of Edinburgh's Award.
With the help of the Public Relations Department, some of our staff have appeared on television and were interviewed on radio stations, giving the society's views on animal welfare subjects. Exhibitions organised to promote kindness to animals were held at various locations (City Plaza, Sha Tin New Town Plaza, Metro Plaza, Tsuen Wan Plaza) throughout the year.
Information leaflets on pet care, training your puppy/kitten, are freely available at all our centres. In addition a small library stocked with various types of books, magazines and periodicals, is at the disposal of RSPCA members and junior members.
With a very tight budget and limited funds, the society is doing all it can to combat the problem of abuse of animals. It is hoped that in the long term the attitude of the public towards animals will be changed for the better.
ROSANA LAI Public Relations and Information Department RSPCA
