The York learners are all members of the Animal Club that strives to get children involved in all aspects of animal care. Their SPCA cadet training involves an intense six week course that exposes the youngsters to a lot of behind the scenes care of abused and neglected animals that the SPCA deals with on a daily basis.
"We had to witness a sterilisation, amongst other things," said Animal Club committee member Alex Page, who is one of the first group of qualified cadets. "We then had to write an exam and give a PowerPoint presentation in order to become cadets and earn our badges and certificates."
Lesley Welgemoed and Vanessa Lucas, who head up the Garden Route SPCA's Education Unit, put these youngsters to the test to ensure that when the cadets pass on their animal care knowledge, they are confident in knowing that they are empowering the public with facts. The York Animal Club is sponsoring the Kretzenshoop cadets and the SPCA is convinced that they will all be assets to their community, which has a great need when it comes to proper care of animals.
"The Kretzenshoop cadets in training are an amazing group of kids," said Gillian Lee who, with Hayley Kayser, both teachers at York High, is in charge of the Animal Club activities.
The York cadets have given cheerful help at all of the GRSPCA fundraisers this year. They have presented an SPCA Education Unit approved puppet show at many of these events and also to many schools in and around George. Alan McIntyre and Melissa Fouché are particularly well-known as amusing puppeteers.
From their own fundraising point of view the Animal Club sold popcorn and fudge at the SPCA's annual 'Bark in the Park' and ran a colouring in competition in many local primary and pre-schools including: Beaumont Early Learning Centre, Happy Feet, Holy Cross Pre-Primary, Little Lambs, Tingeling Créche, George Preparatory, Denneoord Primary and George Pre-Primary. The response was remarkable with over 1 000 children taking part. Ethan Jonck, from Outeniqua Preparatory, was crowned the winner. R4 500 was raised through this event for animal charities and generous donations of bedding, food and toys were received. These donations were passed on to the SPCA. The Peoples Dispensary for Sick Animals (PDSA) also benefited and received a vacuum cleaner for their pre-op theatre, dog food and a clothing rail for their new charity shop.
The 2013 York cadets have given three week, fun animal education courses at Denneoord Primary, Kretzenshoop Primary, Conville Primary and Carpe Diem and also dipped animals at Conville Primary. They have forged a strong bond with Marge Wilmore at the Barnyard Donkey Sanctuary where they will be visiting regularly to help groom the donkeys and clean out their paddocks. During the longer holidays, including the December break, they will help in areas like Geelhoutboom and Syferfontein that they don't get chance to call on during term time.
It is heart warming to see these special youngsters in action and their motto on their Animal Club T-shirts says it all 'Those who know better do better'. For more information about the SPCA and the cadet programme please call the GRSPCA on 044 878 1990 or visit their website at www.grspca.co.za.
Alan, Rael and Melissa selling popcorn and fudge at GRSPCA's 'Bark in the Park'.
Article by Wendy Sittig-Jones, GRSPCA volunteer media coordinator
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