RSPCA South Australia has recruited primary school students to use their artistic skills to help the high number of dogs in care find loving homes.
The organisation currently has 184 dogs and puppies in care, with 33 available to adopt today. The year 5 and 6 students from St Joseph's School at Kingswood have drawn pictures of the dogs currently available to adopt and write their biographies, to assist would-be adopters to choose the best canine for them.
All the drawings and biographies are available to view online at – https://www.facebook.com/rspcasouthaustralia St Joseph's teacher Sasha Khammash said the students felt sympathy and compassion for the animals and were keen to encourage people to adopt them.
"They're all animal lovers and it's been delightful to see these dogs through children's eyes," Ms Khammash said.
"Some of our students now want to adopt particular dogs, so I'm guessing they might have gone home and pleaded with their parents."
With the mercury dropping below 10 degrees Celsius some nights this week, the plight of dogs at RSPCA's Lonsdale shelter - who live in outside kennels built in the 1970s - highlights the urgent need for new facilities. (Work on RSPCA SA's new Animal Care Campus, being built within Glenthorne National ParkItyamaiitpinna Yarta at O'Halloran Hill, is due to begin in October.
In line with best-practise animal care, the Campus will have temperature-controlled accommodation for all companion animals.) For RSPCA SA Animal Care Manager Sam Margrave, who oversees all dog care, the new Campus cannot open soon enough. She praised the students' efforts in helping the dogs escape the shelter and find good homes.
"Any help we can get to move these dogs out is appreciated, and what these students have produced is inspiring - their kindness shines through," Ms Margrave said. "Winter can be a bit miserable at Lonsdale, both for the dogs and for all of us doing our best to keep them warm and healthy in these substandard kennels - rainy, windy days are the worst. "I hope that anyone who is considering adopting a dog comes here to meet our dogs as soon as possible…. they are all beautiful, all unique and all deserving of loving, warm homes."
RSPCA SA is running a "Give a Dog a Home" campaign, with all dogs available to adopt for just $150. They are fully vaccinated, desexed, microchipped and health checked. To view dogs available to adopt and to book an adoption appointment - https://www.rspcasa.org.au/adopt-a-pet/
