Students at Coleg Gwent’s Crosskeys Campus were joined by four-legged guests for a special tutorial recently.
IT students welcomed staff and dogs from the charity Hope Rescue, an organisation which finds foster and permanent homes for stray dogs through a network of volunteers.
With the help of Hope Trust’s Rescue Coordinator Alison Ling, volunteers Susan Munro-Crump and Trudie Butterworth, and rescued dogs Taz, Pepper and Chi, students learnt more about the responsibilities of pet ownership and the role of rescue charities.
“We are very grateful to Hope Rescue for their visit,” said tutor Peter Stein. “Being able to meet rescued dogs and hear their stories raised awareness amongst students, and inspired the group to plan some future fundraising to help.”
The Extended Diploma in IT students are now planning fundraising activities in aid of the local charity as part of their tutorial programme.
Extended Diploma in IT student Natasha Suller, 16 from Cwmbran said: “Although animal cruelty is so terrible, it’s brilliant that dogs can eventually find good homes, thanks to charities like Hope.
“It would be fantastic if money we raise could go towards helping dogs like Chi, Taz and Pepper.”
Rescue Coordinator Alison Ling said: “It was a real pleasure to visit Coleg Gwent and I’m glad the students enjoyed meeting the dogs and learning about our role in the local community. We look forward to working with students again in the future.”
It’s not just students who are teaming up to help; Coleg Gwent staff are also supporting the charity. HR Admin Assistant Victoria Hughes, who has an adopted dog and fosters for the charity, is currently collecting donations for Hope Rescue’s Christmas ‘Cosy Kennel’ appeal.
The appeal is in partnership with Welsh homeless charity The Wallich, which aims to support clients and dogs as part of an on-going ‘Hope in The Community’ project.
For more information about Hope Rescue or to help with the Cosy Kennels appeal, please visit www.hoperescue.org.uk