Using Animal Care to Promote Empathy in Children

The Spay Clinic was a truly rewarding experience for all of us from Waterford AWARE who volunteered to make this project a reality. It was in many ways transformative. We were able to interact closely with members of the community through caring for their dogs – animals which are often overlooked as priorities despite being valued by their owners. We had a chance to talk to people, show them how to really care for their animals and encourage them to develop a deeper bond. It was an exhausting undertaking on many levels as we worked intensively in the pre-op clinic, the surgery and the recovery unit. However, we all agreed that it was the most rewarding volunteer work we have ever done and we are so grateful for the opportunity to be involved.

These are quotations from some of the students who volunteered at the clinic:

“I thought it was an amazing day because I felt like we were making a huge difference in a community that needed it. I want to be a Vet so it was really a great opportunity. I learned so much!” Nqobizitha Claire Dixon (Zimbabwe)

“The Spay Day for me was exhausting but an even more rewarding experience. It enhanced the love I have for dogs and made me realise how precious they are in the structure of our communities” Matilda Mahne (Finland)

“I learned a lot about surgery and everything that related to it in general. The weekend was a great experience and I gained loads from it. It felt like we actually did help and make a difference” Linda Uusitalo (Finland)

“The spay clinic was an amazing and exhausting experience. I really enjoyed being able to go into surgery and talk to the Vets” Kaina Arizcurinaga (Bolivia)

“The spay Day was for me an opportunity to reach out further than what is usually possible in my everyday life. It was exhausting but very rewarding and there was a strong feeling that we were actually making a difference” Louise Nielsen (Denmark)

“I am so happy that I could be part of a great team that achieved an amazing goal. I hope that through this Spay Day a bit of extra love is spread. I learned a lot a got a whole new view of Swaziland” Joy Dekker (The Netherlands)