Children - the future decision-makers of society

How people treat animals very often has to do with knowledge. In the long term, the most effective way is probably to influence children in their dealings with animals. Children and young people are still very receptive to the development of respect and animal welfare.

The vets in action visit kindergartens and elementary school in Italy, Bulgaria and Greece to explain to the children in a playful way what the different animals' needs are. They work together to understand the body language of different animals and how to treat them accordingly. It is also about teaching children that animals are creatures just like us, who feel love and happiness, pain and sadness. And then it's about the question: how do so many poor street animals come about and what needs to change so that it's no longer like this?

The aim is not only to impart knowledge about animals, but also to address the effects and consequences of human actions. Animals are not gifts or toys, they must be treated well and not simply abandoned. The children learn that as an owner, you are responsible for your pet. In this way, empathy and animal welfare are instilled in young people at an early age so that they make better decisions in the future than their parents do today. In the best case scenario, the children carry their knowledge home with them and bring about a change in thinking there too.

Private pet owners - more awareness of responsibility

All stray animals ultimately come from private pet owners, they are the source of new animals on the streets. Many private pet owners lack knowledge about the subject of castration, they cannot afford it or they lack awareness of the fate of their abandoned litters. By means of information campaigns around our neutering campaigns, the vets in action inform them about the possibilities, but also about their obligations. Most owners are not aware that their pet must be microchipped and that they, as owners, are responsible for their pet and any offspring.

To draw attention to the neutering of dogs and cats in private households, we have developed an animated film.

This animated film will be used to support discussions and education in schools in Bulgaria, Greece and Italy to sensitize children to the issue of neutering.