CHILDREN have been getting tips on how to be responsible pet owners.

Representatives from the animal charity Blue Cross visited Fair Oak Infant School to talk to around 150 pupils about how to care for dogs and stay safe around them.

Blue Cross education officer Kerry Taylor and education volunteer Sally Harding were assisted by Sally’s dog, a sprocker spaniel called Mabel.

Eastleigh MP Mike Thornton also visited to see the charity’s education efforts in practice.

The free education talks are for children aged five to 12 and so far have reached more than 300,000 young people across the UK.

Kerry said: “We hope that if they start learning as early as possible about how to look after dogs properly, this will help reduce the number of neglected and unwanted animals coming into charities like Blue Cross.”

Mr Thornton encouraged other schools to take up the opportunity, adding: “With more and more pets being abandoned every year and with dog attacks still a sad reality, it’s vital that we reach as many children as we can with messages about the responsibility involved in being a pet owner.”

To book a free education talk call 0845 3701027 or email education@bluecross.org.uk.
Talks are free, but donations are welcome.