This week is RSPCA week. The RSPCA has centres all over the country and they play an important part in the protection of needy animals. But could school also help? Sarah Cochrane asked the young people of Keighley their views on how school can help with the protection of animals.

The students of Keighley college seemed to agree that education was the key. Stephanie Burrows, 16, and Zoe Gilmartin, 17, both felt that it was all down to 'public awareness'. They said: "Children should be taught from a young age how to treat animals. People should be made aware of how animals are mistreated."

This view was echoed by Vicky Speight and Claire Binner, both 17. They both felt that, again, it was the education that was important. Vicky added: "People should know that they can't have a pet one minute and not the next. This problem could be avoided if children and teenagers had been warned about the responsibility involved to start with."

This was the point made by Mark Wright, 17, who believed that children and teenagers were "not aware of the work involved in looking after an animal, and therefore needed to know what they were letting themselves in for before it was too late for the pet involved."

One idea that was put forward by Yvonne Rawson-Chad, 17, also of Keighley College, was that "there should be animals in schools and the children could learn how to look after them." Yvonne felt that this would show children what was involved in caring for an animal before they bought one for themselves.

However, there is always going to be the need for centres like those of the RSPCA and awareness of those was thought to be equally as necessary.

Amy Bullock, 17, and Anna Main, 16, felt that fundraising was important. They thought that if schools took part in more events to raise money for worthwhile causes, then this would educate the students on animal care at the same time as helping the RSPCA.

Overall, the majority of young people felt that the most important way in which schools can help is by educating students from an early age. This would mean greater public awareness on how to treat animals correctly and would also promote the good work done by the RSPCA.

For further information about joining the RSPCA, becoming a branch volunteer or fundraiser, contact the RSPCA's enquiries department on 01403 264181 or write to The Causeway, Horsham, West Sussex, RH12 1HG.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.