Professor Paws In Guangzhou

The following article is transfered froom Animals Asia

Following the great success that our Professor Paws programme has enjoyed in Hong Kong since its launch in 2004, we are very excited to announce its recent launch in China.

The first Professor Paws programme on the mainland was launched last Wednesday, 19 November 2008 to huge media interest in Guangzhou, where dog and cat eating is rife. The launch took place at Wan Song Yuan Primary School. The school has a total of 1,300 primary students, from whom 90 third graders enjoyed the chance to be present at the launch and to meet Professors Kaka, Sunny, Mao Mao and Fei Bo Zhu, all of whom also work as Dr Dogs in Guangzhou.

The launch began with a wonderful introduction by headmistress Zhou Su Ying and Jill Robinson replied with heartfelt thanks on behalf of Animals Asia, with Christie Yang, our China Relations Director, translating. Our teaching volunteer, Miss Chen, then led the children in an enthusiastic discussion on how to approach, look after, and love dogs. The children also watched the film of our very own Dr Eddie's rescue from the Guangzhou live animal markets, and his graduation as the proud Dr Dog he is today.

The children were then split into groups, allowing them to spend time with our four-legged professors, practicing how to approach a dog properly, and enjoying the company of these wonderful canine ambassadors – all under the professional guidance of our Guangzhou Dr Dog officer, Irene Feng, our China Relations Director, Christie Yang, and our dedicated group of volunteers. At the end of the afternoon, the children made a solemn promise to love and respect animals for the rest of their lives, and each received a commemorative certificate.

The whole event generated much interest from the local media, with TV stations and a number of local press journalists present to record it.

The Chinese programme will be a little different from the Hong Kong programme, consisting of two lessons conducted in Cantonese, and slotting into the school timetable as part of the cultural and moral education curriculum. The promotion of empathy for dogs, and by extension all animals, is still very much at the core.

We hope that this marks the beginning of the spread of the Professor Paws programme through many schools in Guangzhou and beyond, so that more and more Chinese children can learn to love dogs and appreciate the warmth animals bring to our lives.

Animals Asia Foundation is very much indebted to Headmistress Zhou Su Ying and the staff and pupils of Wan Song Yuan primary school, and to our dedicated group of Guangzhou volunteers.