Dog and Cat Wikimedia Public Domain

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1 inin ins Life Skills Grade 6 CARING FOR ANIMALS Animals are vulnerable and rely on humans to protect them and look after them. Unfortunately, this does not always happen and people sometimes hurt and mistreat animals for their own pleasure. Dog and Cat Key concepts Vulnerable: This is when animals are exposed to being attacked or physically and emotionally being hurt by humans. Extinct: An animal species that has died out and no longer exists anywhere on this planet. Endangered: Animals that are in danger of becoming extinct. Animal Shelter: A place of safety for animals that have been hurt or abused. Version 1: August 2013 Copyright My Cyberwall

2 Acts of Cruelty to Animals Due to mankind taking up space that previously belonged to animals, as well as shooting and killing them, many animals in the wild have become either extinct or endangered. Here are examples of some animals that have become extinct: The Thylacine The Quagga Wikimedia Creative Commons Attribution Share-Alike: Franco Atirador The Passenger Pigeon The Golden Toad The Caribbean Monk Seal The Pyrenean Ibex Version 1: August 2013 Copyright My Cyberwall

3 The Bubal Hartebeest The Javan Tiger The Tecopa Pupfish The Baiji River Dolphin Wikimedia Creative Commons Attribution Share-Alike: Alessio Marrucci All these beautiful animals could still have been part of our world, if mankind had respected and valued nature. There are many animals that are endangered, in other words not many of them are left. If humans do not work together to help our planet, more animals are going to die out completely. Rhinoceros Poaching Rhino poaching has become completely out of control in South Africa. These beautiful creatures are hunted down and butchered for their horns, because some people think they have healing properties when there is no scientific basis for this assumption. Rhinoceros Version 1: August 2013 Copyright My Cyberwall

4 Number of Rhinos Poached Life Skills Grade 6 Poachers are people who hunt rhinos, even in supposedly safe areas. They do not care how much the animal suffers when they remove their horns or kill them. They hunt them relentlessly, without caring that the rhinos are on their way to become extinct, if we cannot stop this terrible practise. 635 rhinos have already been poached in South Africa from January to September The official figures from the Department of Environmental Affairs as at 2012 are shown below: Rhino Poaching in South Africa Line Graph of Rhino Poaching in South Africa Year This needs to stop! For more information on rhino poaching visit the following site: Version 1: August 2013 Copyright My Cyberwall

5 Domestic Animals Some people mistreat domestic animals and farm animals by hitting them, kicking them, burning them, not feeding them or not cleaning them. There are many types of animals that can be kept as pets, but it is our responsibility to take care of them and keep them safe. Pets are not toys they are living, breathing creatures with their own wants and needs. Examples of Animals Kept as Pets Hamsters There are many different types of hamsters and these little creatures need a lot of gentle care. They only take up a small amount of room and are friendly, if often handled by their human companions. Hamsters are easy to look after. If you have never had a pet before, a hamster could be the perfect first pet. Version 1: August 2013 Copyright My Cyberwall

6 Mice These can be sociable little creatures and believe it or not, they are able to form a bond with their owners. They are not solitary and prefer having a friend to live with. Rats The domestic rat is clean, clever and makes a very interesting pet. They are gentle and friendly and bond with their humans. They are not solitary animals and prefer having a friend around. They are very easy to care for. Gerbils These small nocturnal creatures can become quite tame, if handled correctly. Their tails are especially sensitive, so care should be taken when handling them. If they are picked up by the tail, it could literally break off. They are sociable and do not like to live alone. Version 1: August 2013 Copyright My Cyberwall

7 Guinea Pigs Guinea pigs are gentle, easy to look after and are awake during the day. They can live up to 7 years of age. They can be quite cuddly, if they have been tamed. Just remember to give your guinea pig regular doses of vitamin C, as this is an important part of their diet. Their cages need to have toys, water, pellets and leafy vegetables to munch on. Rabbits Rabbits require care and attention, especially long-coated varieties that needs daily grooming. Rabbits are cute, how can you resist that forever-twitching nose? Just remember they are not only cute, they need to be taken care of too. You can keep a rabbit in a hutch outdoors, although there are also hutches that can be kept indoors. You will need to give your pet rabbit lots of space to exercise. Cats There are many types of cats. They can bring a lot of joy, but also need a lot of attention, yearly vaccinations and need to be kept safe from roaming (walking outside the perimeter of their own houses), because they could get hurt. Cats are clean creatures, they only eat when they are hungry and can be quite independent. This does not mean that they don t need attention though! Version 1: August 2013 Copyright My Cyberwall

8 The cat below was in a shelter for a long time, since her original family did not want her anymore. She has since found a home, where, with some patience and extra love, she has become a confident and joyful cat. She is now completely part of the family and gets along with all the members of the household. With understanding and love, animals from shelters can make extremely good pets. Dogs There are many different types of dogs, all with different needs. Dogs are sociable creatures and like spending time with other dogs. They need to be part of the household. They are great companions and give unconditional love. The Bassets in the picture below were all raised by their owners, since they were puppies. They were taken to puppy school where they were taught how to behave well towards other dogs and people, and are great housemates and friends. They are not part of the same household, but love having play dates with their friends. Version 1: August 2013 Copyright My Cyberwall

9 This dog in the picture below comes from a rescue shelter. She was very scared, because her previous owners had treated her badly. After some loving care, she now always has a smile on her face and brings joy to her new family. She is a kind dog with a gentle nature. All these animals have different needs regarding their food and living quarters. It is essential to gain knowledge about a pet before acquiring one, so as to be sure to be able to look after it properly. Animals all need love and attention. Not giving the right food, shelter and attention are all acts of cruelty. Taking Care of and Protecting Animals Taking care of our wildlife, farm and domestic animals is very important. If you are lucky enough to have a pet or if you are going to get a pet, it is important to take care of them. What should you be doing? Firstly, it is important to know how much time you have to spend with your pet. Dogs, for instance, need more attention than a hamster. Picking the right pet is important, because then you will be able to meet their needs and look after them properly, while they give you joy and love in return. It is always important to do some research, to find out more about the type of pet that you want. It is also important to remember that there are different breeds of dogs, for example, Basset, Husky, Yorkshire terrier, etc. These different breeds have different needs in terms of food, exercise and shelter. Finding out what these needs are, is therefore very important. Version 1: August 2013 Copyright My Cyberwall

10 Your four-footed friend will need: Love and care Children Playing With Puppies Some space when eating. Never tease your pet with food, or anything else for that matter. Give Pets Space When Eating Time to rest. To be handled gently, especially around the tail, mouth and eyes. A clean and safe environment, so pick up the poo and make sure they cannot roam around the streets. Version 1: August 2013 Copyright My Cyberwall

11 Shade in summer and sun in winter. Just like humans, pets can get too hot or too cold, so make sure you keep them in a space that cannot lead to them becoming overheated or too cold. Fresh water this should always be available. Grooming keep their bodies clean and neat. Exercise is just as important for animals as it is for humans. A good meal at least twice a day, depending on the animal s type and age. A meal might need to be offered more often, for example, a puppy needs to eat more regularly. Version 1: August 2013 Copyright My Cyberwall

12 To be taken to a vet for annual injections and check-ups to help keep them healthy. To be taken to the vet when they are ill. Never: Hit, kick or tease your pet. Just like humans, they can get hurt or might want to protect themselves against these actions. Do anything to your pet that you do not like being done to you. Corner an animal, especially if they are scared or ill. Leave a pet alone for long periods of time, without proper supervision and someone to feed them and give them water. Version 1: August 2013 Copyright My Cyberwall

13 Your pet wants to be your friend and be part of your family. Just like any household member, they deserve respect and care, because they give so much love and joy to humans. If you treat your pet with kindness and care, you will find great happiness in return. Places of Safety for Animals Due to the fact that some people hurt animals and mistreat them, shelters for animals are necessary. These places take animals in and help to heal their wounds by providing vet care. They also feed and clean these animals and try to find good homes for them. Stray Dog Version 1: August 2013 Copyright My Cyberwall

14 Some of these places do receive funds from the government and due to the overwhelming amount of animals that end up in shelters, the funding is inadequate. These shelters have to raise funds themselves and rely on donations from the public. It is important to support animal shelters by either adopting a pet from them, if you are able to take care of an animal, or by donating money. There are many places of safety for animals, due to so many pets being abused and abandoned.to find out more about these places, look at the following websites: Alley Cat Allies: Animal Anti Cruelty League: Community Led Animal Welfare (Claw): Friends of Rescued Animals (FORA): Hartbeespoort Animal Welfare Society (HAWS): Kitty and Puppy Haven: Pets Empowerment in Townships (PETS): Wet Nose Animal Rescue Centre: Version 1: August 2013 Copyright My Cyberwall

15 SPCA: Border Collie Rescue: C.H.A.R.M: Four paws: Free me: Version 1: August 2013 Copyright My Cyberwall