Once again the Luqa Primary School from St.Ignatius College wanted to dedicate a whole week to highlight the importance of extracurricular events in children's daily lives at school. Respect and love towards animals and the environment were the main topics, with various activities organised over the span of the week. The Department of Animal Welfare was invited to take part during the last day which was spent in Buskett Gardens with a difference, for all the school employees and students along with the parents got together to enjoy the beauty and tranquillity that only nature can offer.

A professional educator from the department having circle time with the students.

The Officers gave a talk to the present crowd in which they highlighted the pitiful incidents involving our furry friends unfortunately on a daily basis, thus explaining that in the last months the service of the Animal Ambulance is operating on a round the clock basis obviously also during weekends and holidays. The children were especially enthusiastic when the officers offered them to become their special assistants and to intervene whenever they saw a helpless animal in distress by calling immediately the Police Depot which are working in conjunction with the Department.

The latter would than immediately notify them and in a matter of a short time the Ambulance would be on the accident spot. Four cute little puppies and Eva the Mascot of Tenderness (which in true fact is a Pit bull) were a living proof for both children and adults alike, of the many loving animals which are abandoned everyday in our streets and would then have to see where to get their so much needed food, how to get warm during the coldest of days and where to get shelter from the scorching sun.

These dogs are just a few from the many which at the moment are being cared for at the Animal Welfare Department. The Officers explained that the routine after finding dogs (or other animals) in need is to take them straight away for a medical examination, keep them for a few days to observe their behaviour and then put them for adoption. Here the importance of Micro chipping our pets came in, so if a dog got lost it could be immediately returned to his owner.

The Officer in Charge recounting a typical day at work to the children.

The children's continuous questioning about how to give the best of care to their pets and also how to assist the ones who weren't was a definite breadth of fresh air for the officers who at times find themselves facing a large number of people who these preoccupations are the least on their mind. In regards, it was explained that dogs and cats are not the only animals in danger which the Officers assist. Lately the Officers reported and took to court some perpetrators who left horses in unsheltered fields, kept animals in restricted cages or spaces or were not providing them with the necessary food and water.
 
May this activity be just one of the many others to be followed by the other schools which want to help the Animal Welfare Department by organising more of these events which finally just aid in giving our students a complete holistic personality. An educated person is one who from an early age at school was taught how to love and respect anyone even animals which have feelings and hurt like us and like as Mahatma Gandhi always used to say - A country is recognised for what it is through the way its people treat their animals.