Following last year’s successful educational presentations to the primary school children of Hydra, the veterinarian, and Equine Care Programme Coordinator, Elisa Geskou was invited again by the Municipality. This time the educational session was addressed to the older ages of the Secondary and High School.
The High School accepted the invitation with enthusiasm, therefore Elisa gave an engaging presentation to approximately 40 students. The first part included useful information on the equines, presenting the services provided by the Equine Care Programme to the donkeys, horses and mules of Hydra, as well as the common problems that the equines face on the island.
At the second part, the students explored what responsible pet ownership is, the struggles strays face and what Greek animal welfare laws say and how we can all be part of the solution, through neutering, microchipping and kindness.
In order to check their knowledge gained and to have fun, at the end of the presentation they tackled a multiple-choice quiz! Elisa admired these young minds that felt comfortable with her to express their opinion and questions with self-confidence and gentle behaviour. Congratulations to the teachers of the Hydra High School for accepting with enthusiasm our educative action and for doing such a great job in teaching these children.
We also express our thanks to the Municipality for inviting Animal Action Greece, organizing and fully supporting this educational action at the “Melina Merkouri” Hall, as well as for the importance it places on educating the younger generation about animal welfare, an initiative that is expected to bring about significant positive change on the island in the coming years.
During this outreach, Elisa was impressed to learn that the High School has adopted a stray cat. The cat used to enter the school’s yard and spend time together with the students, who unanimously decided at the beginning of the school year, with the help and approval of their professors and the Municipality, to neuter, vaccinate, worm and microchip the cat, as well as take responsibility of her everyday feeding and care. As part of the Municipality’s programme for the installation of feeding stations for stray cats at various locations across the island, one of the cat-home-feeding-stations was placed in a protected area within the school yard.
The cat named Kondylo is now officially adopted by the High School, an admirable action that shows not only the sensitivity of the children and teachers of the High School of Hydra, but also their high sense of responsibility towards animals. An action that should set the standard for future similar actions all over Greece.
