Pet project aims to stop animal abuse

HANNAH NORTON/Suburbans

ANIMAL LOVE: SPCA education manager Shelley Ryan spoke to 25,000 intermediate students across New Zealand about child and animal abuse and is planning for next year???s tour.

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Shelley Ryan is passionate about protecting society's most vulnerable - animals and children.

The SPCA education manager finished touring the country’s intermediate schools with former All Black Norm Hewitt for the SPCA campaign One of the Family in December and is already planning this year’s tour.

The pair spoke to 25,000 year 7 and 8 students across New Zealand about animal and child abuse.

The campaign aims to encourage children to see animals as members of their family, Ms Ryan says.

"There is correlation between family and child and animal abuse and it is well researched."

Teaching children to respect and love animals will hopefully translate to their relationships with people.

Mr Hewitt says just as abusing animals can be a precursor to a life of violent crime, treating animals well can have the opposite effect.

"It’s proven that teaching children kindness and empathy towards animals shows them how to treat each other the same way."

The pair have received numerous heartfelt letters from children vowing to be kind to animals.

The campaign ties in with an agreement between the SPCA and Child, Youth and Family signed in September to inform each other if they suspect animal or child abuse in the course of their work.

SPCA chief executive Robyn Kippenberger says animal welfare officers might be the first to see signs of abuse of children in the family when inspecting or uplifting animals.

"Putting in place mechanisms for cross-reporting allows us to recognise and respond quickly to any risks to children, young people and any animals."

SPCA general manager David Lloyd Barker says there’s a direct correlation between child abuse and animal abuse so it’s vital those relationships are formed.

"It’s important we are able to share this information."

Mr Lloyd Barker says he has seen animals that have been harmed to get back at spouses in domestic disputes like kittens thrown against a wall and crushed.

Children who see such behaviour could grow up and copy it, he says.

"We’re trying to break that cycle."

The SPCA takes the two-pronged attack of education and enforcement but would prefer not to have to enforce, he says.

"I would love it if we didn’t need to take people to court for animal abuse."

- © Fairfax NZ News