PETS DAY IN SCHOOL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19394, 31 July 1926, Page 11

PETS DAY IN SCHOOL.

THE ANNUAL CELEBRATION. MANY UNIQUE EXHIBITS. IMPRESSIVE PARADES HELD. Green lizards and large black spiders are not usually classed as popular pets for children, but they were nevertheless included in the amazing exhibit of furrecl and feathered creatures with which young Auckland yesterday celebrated Pets Day in Schools. It was a wonderful celebration, showing that Pets Day has already become quite the most popular feature of Animal Welfare Week. Incidentally, the display of nearly a thousand birds aisd domestic animals, the pride which the children took in them, and the vim and enthusiasm with which teachers and pupils alike entered into the spirit of the day, show that the rising generation is growing up with very healthy ideas upon the matter of kindness to animals, which should be reflected a few years hence in a vastly improved public opinion on the subject of animal welfare. Four schools took part in yesterday's celebration, New Lynn, the pioneer of Pets Day, Mount Albert, Gladstone Street, and Nelson Street schools. St, Hellers' school anticipated the official celebration by holding a parade of pets last week. In other schools, the day was observed by special Idssons and talks to the pupils on birds and animals. The Rev. Jasper Cakler, president of the Animal Welfare League, visited the Nelson Street and New Lynn schools, the Mount Albert and Gladstone schools being visited by Miss A. Trevithick, a member of the executive of the league. Ponies Lead Procession. Almost every kind of domestic bird and animal was included in the parade at the New Lynn school. At the head of the procession was the headmaster, Mr. Howard Ellis, leading a couple of ponies ridden by a little boy and girl. To the strains of the boy's band, the children marched briskly round the playground. It was an inspiring sight. First CBine the cats and kittens, all wearing bows and ribbons, some lying docile and complacent in their small owners' arms, some clawing and struggling in panic. One large black cat with golden eyes glarod defiance from the depths of a benzine-box, others licked their lips and chattered at the sight of the canaries and pigeons, held securely in the arms of their owners or safe behind the wire of their cages, so near and yet so far. Nearly all the pets were uncaged, however. Clasped firmly to the breasts of tho girls and boys were tiny bantams, guineapigs, rabbits, pigeons, parrots, doves and cats and dogs of every size and colour. One boy carried a cage with a white mouse in it. In the arms of another lad lay a brown duck, with its head stretched out on his shoulder, its beady eyes surveying with calm indifference the very mixed company in which it found,, itself. Its stoic calm might well have been envied by n large white rooster, a dejected, dishevelled " bird, with its legs tied and a pansy in its collar. It seemed thoroughly out of conceit with Pets Day and bored with the tfhole proceedings. " Daphne" aisd a Call. A black heifer with a garland round her neck and a placard, ' I'im Daphne. Not for sale;" was followed by a small calf which jibbed and baulked occasionally, and had to be forcibly towed by two lads. Every kind of dog was there, dogs of high degree, and just dogs, ana th a .v barked and yapped with excitement as they towed their youug owners round the ground. A donkey with a, pheasant's feather in one ear and a daffodil in tho other, made a picturesque addition to the procession, and in the background was a large collie dog tied to a tree, barking in furious protest at being kept out of all the fun of the fair. At the close of the parade the headmaster and Mr. Calder briefly addressed the gathering, the latter paying a high tribute to the work done by Mr, Ellis and the teachers in organising the display, and congratulating the children on their pride and interest in their pets. " New Lvnn has amply proved to-day, he said, "that the best way to encourage children in kindness to animals is not to talk about- it, but to give them pets to love." The Blufriand-White Dog. The parade of pets at each of the other schools was a great success. The green lizard, housed in a small tin, was an object of much interest at Mount Albert, but the lad who brought a spider did not take part in the parade. Nelson Street put up a remarkably good showing. An opossum and some white lop-eared rabbits were among the popular exhibits, and much interest was £lso taken in a small white terrier with bright blue spots. This was not the.freak of nature it appeared to be. In an excess of zeal, its mistress, after a liberal tubbing, unfortunately squeezed the blue-bag rather too hard in the rinsing Water, with quaint but effective results. Parents and friends of the pupils were invited to the various schools, where, m addition to the pets' parades, there was a very fine showing of children s handiwork in the form of plasticine modelling, drawings and crayon of animals. " From every point of view, animal welfare week in schools has been an outstanding success, reflecting the greatest credit on teachers and pupils alike.