Schools in Trabzon’s Ortahisar to look after strays dogs as part of animal welfare project

TRABZON

Each school in the Black Sea province of Trabzon’s Ortahisar district will receive a stray dog along with a kennel as part of a project attempting to teach children compassion from an early age. Both school personnel and children will be responsible for taking care of the dogs, Demirören News Agency reported on June 27.

The district municipality, the Education Ministry, and Trabzon’s Animal Welfare Organization (TRAHAYKO) initiated the project called “Ortahisar Love Vaccine” through a joint effort.

It aims to encourage the love of animals in children in each school district as well as to teach them how to care for a pet, which will also help them develop a sense of responsibility.

The project has already taken effect in a private school called “Bahçeşehir College.” The school has been given a golden retriever, which had been abandoned at a dog shelter in the district. The dog named “Bes” has already attracted the attention of schoolchildren, who have lined up to feed the dog.

TRAHAYKO President Lütfiye Tüzün Kurban said they were against violence toward any living being.

“In order to prevent this, it is important to increase awareness. Love for animals should be taught at an early age,” she said.

Kurban indicated a global rise in crimes of violence against women, children, and animals.

“In this project, we are sending dogs that are calm, agreeable, and can get along with children to the schools. We aim to find homes for the animals and instill a love for animals within the children. This way, when a child is in contact with someone different from them, they can also communicate better with other people in the upcoming years,” she said.

Bahçeşehir College Principal Cihangir Üreyener similarly emphasized the importance of animals for the development of a sense of compassion in children.

“Since the first day they have been enrolled in school, our students have voiced a love of animals. We have then contacted the organization [TRAHAYKO] and adopted a dog, which has made our children very happy. We wanted to surprise them. We are very glad. Our students have thanked us, which has moved us,” Üreyener said.