Dog Education Programme Starts In Franklin Schools

Franklin District Council’s dog and animal control contractor, Animal Management, visited View Road School this week as part of the new dog education programme in Franklin. Tricia and Janet from Animal Management, spent the day talking to different classes about owning a dog and looking after yourself around dogs, especially dogs you don’t know or don’t know well.

All Franklin primary and intermediate schools have been offered the ‘Dog Do’s and Don’ts’ education programme and at least nine schools will be involved this year. Franklin District has approximately 10,000 registered dogs. The programme will be ongoing to ensure all students in Franklin have the skills they need to be safe around dogs.

“Part of Council’s role is to promote responsible dog ownership and teach people how to be safe around dogs. Understanding why dogs might bark or growl and what we can do to avoid getting hurt, is an important skill for children to learn,” says Franklin District Council’s Group Manager Environmental Services, James Jefferson.
As part of the programme students are taught about the responsibilities of dog owners and basic ways to look after yourself around dogs. A ‘Poem from a Lonely Dog’ reinforces to the older students what it is like for a dog if mistreated or ignored. Jake Elliot was chosen from among the year seven and eight students to demonstrate how to clean up after a dog – not with the real thing though, much to Jake’s relief!

At the end of the time with the animal control officers each student gets a certificate and a book to take home to remember and share the skills they have learnt.