Recently the Year 9 Animal Behaviour and Welfare classes had a visit from Julie Jane, the Centre Manager of the Nelson SPCA.

We were fortunate to have Julie take time out of her busy schedule to speak to students about all the work the SPCA does. Julie shared the history of the SPCA, what happens when animals are taken to the centre, and what the role of an SPCA Inspector looks like. Students had prepared questions to ask, finding out that the most frequent animal visitors are kittens, the most common type of dog breed is an "SPCA Special" and how old you can be to volunteer at the centre.

Prior to Julie's visit, students learnt about enrichment activities and spent time in class designing and building their own enrichment toys. These were gifted to Julie and the SPCA for their use at the centre.

In addition, students have spent time taking care of the four pet rats we have in class (Charlotte, Maddison, Sierra, and Juno) - learning about their health, wellbeing, and how to uphold welfare standards. Hesitant at first, many students have learnt to cherish these gentle creatures and have gained confidence in holding them around the class. Having class pets provides an opportunity for students to take care of a pet they may have never had before, and get a first hand experience with animal care and welfare.