Learn Newsdesk

PSHE and citizenship

17 March 2010


Activity page

Bracken's football feast

HyperLink


Secondary activity

Why do we have pets?

In small groups, discuss these questions. Do you have any pets at home? Why do people keep pets? What problems might be involved in keeping pets?

Use the links at Find out more to learn more about the laws on pet ownership and animal welfare. Find out:

  • At what age can people own a pet?
  • Are people allowed to buy endangered species?
  • What happens when animals are considered dangerous?
  • What rights do pets have?

Have a debate in your group on the rights of pets. Each take on a different role:
An RSPCA inspector
A pet owner hit by the credit crunch
A policeman
Someone who dislikes animals 

Using the information you have gathered, create a factsheet advising people what to do if they have trouble caring for a pet.

Tell us what you think about the newsdesk story at Have your say. Longer reports, or podcasts, can be sent to Be a reporter. We'll put the best on the site.

x ray

Here is the ball still inside Bracken!

Picture: PA

Find out more

PDSA

www.pdsa.org.uk

Laws about pets

www.direct.gov.uk

Teachers' notes

Secondary lesson objectives

  • To reflect on looking after pets and what is involved in caring for an animal
  • To consider some of the social, moral and political dimensions of animal welfare

Secondary curriculum links

Citizenship at key stage 3    (Year 7-9)
Unit 05: How the law protects animals - a local-to-global study
Section 1: How does the law protect our pets?
Section 2: How does the law protect animal welfare?

Glossary

Abdomen the part of the body below the chest that contains the stomach, bowels etc

Abnormality a feature or characteristic in a person’s body or behaviour that is not usual and may be harmful, worrying or cause illness

Boisterous very energetic, full of energy and life

Deflated when something has all the air taken out of it

Diaphragm the layer of muscle between the lungs and the stomach, used especially to control breathing

Extrovert a lively and confident person who enjoys being with other people

Inquisitive extremely curious and nosey

Labrador a breed of large dog that can be yellow, black or brown in colour, often used by blind people as a guide

Traumatic extremely unpleasant and causing you to feel upset and/or anxious

X-ray a type of radiation that can pass through objects that are not transparent and make it possible to see inside them

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