Be a friend to your dog project

• Reach:

  NT

• Focus area:

  Indigenous

• Status:

  Current

• Evaluated:

  No

Overview

This program aims to help Indigenous primary school children in 10 remote communities in the Northern Territory to better care for their dogs. The program is run by Animal Management in Rural and Remote Indigenous Communities (AMRRIC).

The program conveys messages to children about:

• animal welfare
• safety around dogs
• zoonoses (diseases dogs can pass to people and vice versa).

The program involves:

• visits to schools by AMRRIC staff, Indigenous animal management workers and veterinarians
• development and distribution of the Be a friend to your dog resource pack for teachers and students.

The program is underpinned by the philosophy that:

• education is a key way to improve animal welfare standards
• local community members should be empowered to manage their animals themselves (with support from trained workers).

The program is funded by the federal Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Australian animal welfare strategy (AAWS).

For detailed information about the individual resources that are contained in the Be a friend to your dog resource pack, see 'Related publications' below.

Related publications

Be a friend to your dog (2012)

Animal Management in Remote and Rural Indigenous Communities

This resource pack contains materials with which to teach primary school students about the importance of 'being a friend to your dog'. It is designed for use by teachers in remote Indigenous communities.

The resources convey key messages about:

• animal welfare
• safety around dogs
• zoonoses (diseases dogs can pass to people and vice versa).

The packs include flash cards, a colouring book, game ideas and numeracy exercises. Additionally, booklets and power point presentations about zoonoses are included for use with older children, teachers, teacher's aides and community members.

The packs are distributed by Animal Management in Rural and Remote Indigenous Communities (AMRRIC) as part of the Be a friend to your dog project funded by the federal Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Australian animal welfare strategy (AAWS).

Online copies of individual resources included in the pack are accessible through AMRRIC's resources database (by selecting 'schools' in the 'audience' field when conducting a search.)

Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet abstract

• Links
• View information: AMRRIC resources
• View information: Be a friend to your dog
• View website: Animal Management in Remote and Rural Indigenous Communities

Links

• View information: AMRRIC education programs: Be a friend to your dog
• View information: AMRRIC: Contact information
• View website: Animal Management in Rural and Remote Indigenous Communities (AMRRIC)