Today our Primary 1 class had two very special visitors. Siobhan, who is Mason's mum, and Charlotte came to see us from the Ulster Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (USPCA) as part of our spring topic on animals.
They taught us all about animals in the wild and how to help if we ever find an injured animal. We learned that it is important to call for help rather than trying to deal with it ourselves, and that we must never litter because animals can get hurt or stuck in rubbish such as jars and plastic cups.
Siobhan and Charlotte explained how they care for animals. They have vets and nurses who help treat them, and they also have a rehoming service for cats and dogs. They weigh the animals to make sure they are getting stronger, feed them carefully, and most importantly, once the animals are better, they release them back into the wild close to where they were found and belong.
We also learned how important it is to keep injured animals calm and comfortable. The USPCA often use towels to gently wrap animals, helping them to feel safe. When their eyes are covered, animals feel less frightened and are easier to care for. They also use a hot water bottle to keep animals warm, as many injured animals will not feed until they feel warm and safe.
Afterwards, we went outside to see their rescue jeep. Inside, they showed us all the equipment they use. They had a special catching tool called a catch pole which gently secures an animal so it can be rescued safely without hurting it. They also had nets, carry boxes for transporting animals, and even special food to help attract injured swans and other animals. We saw their strong protective gloves too, which Siobhan told us once saved her from being injured after a fox had bitten her!
The children had great fun using the equipment with soft toy animals including a hedgehog and a badger. We also learned about baby animals, such as leverets, which are baby hares, and talked about animals like buzzards. We heard how buzzards were extinct here in Ireland in the past but were reintroduced by the USPCA to places like Castlewellan and are now doing really well again.
It was a fantastic visit and we learned so much about caring for animals and protecting wildlife. A big thank you to Siobhan and Charlotte for giving us such an interesting and enjoyable experience.
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