Wednesday 28 December 2011

Absolutely Barking…

Around 450 pupils from eight different schools in Bromley took part in the Junior Citizenship Scheme at Malcolm Primary School, in Malcolm Road, Penge.

Bromley police joined forces with the London Fire Brigade, RNLI, TfL, parks services, UK Power Network, Tramlink and Battersea Cats and Dogs Home to help teach Year 6 students important safety lessons.
That’s a rather odd assemblage of services, isn’t it?
The Met's Junior Citizenship Scheme co-ordinator, Helen Andrews, said: "It's to really highlight some of the dangers the children might come across when they start the transition in to Year 7 and to make them aware of their responsibilities to act sensibly and responsibly."
OK, so, I can see why you’d involve the fire brigade, the lifeboatmen, the railways staff (I vividly remember the bloodcurdling lecture we all got at secondary school on the dangers of the live rail! Something that would never be said in today's litigious society...), but why Battersea Dogs Home..?
Youngsters met Frank, a six-year-old Staffordshire Bull Terrier, who was rescued and rehomed by Battersea Cats and Dogs Home.

They were told what signs to look out for when a dog is angry, playful and scared.
/facepalm

Once again, we can’t seem to crack down on the wrongdoers (chavs with out-of-control status dogs), so we’ll teach everyone else how to walk on eggshells around them…
Education officer for the animal charity, Amy Watson, said: "It's something Battersea has been doing for a long time. It's a good idea to make sure people of all ages, especially children, know how to behave around dogs, not only for themselves but so dogs do not get scared."
Well, I suppose there’s some small measure of sense in getting children (who may never have seen a dog at close quarters for cultural reasons) used to a dog’s natural method of behaviour and…

Oh:
Frank performed tricks for the pupils including rolling over, singing and weaving through his owner's legs.
*sigh*

Yeah, that'll help...

10 comments:

mikebravo said...

Well at least it proves that you CAN teach an old dog new tricks.
Ha de ha ha.

Anonymous said...

The sound of many boxes being ticked across the board and up the food chain. I wonder just how many SBTs there are in Brom-Lee, especially that Penge bit, da kidz will know all about dem innit!

Well done Helen Andrews - your job is safe, we'll just cut some frontline police roles instead.

Anonymous said...

Spot on Ranter.
It doesn't actually say that Helen Andrews is a police officer though,but I imagine if her job was cut then no-one would really notice.
I worked Boxing day,had yesterday off and back today.Pretty unremarkable but when I booked on with the computer system I did not have a single email from the 9-5-ers that infest the police force.That is the first time ever.And you know what?The world still span and work got done!Back to normal on 3rd Jan as they justify their existence once more.
Jaded

Anonymous said...

I used to love nights and BH's - no numpty SMT-ers about. I'm sure Helen isn't a police officer either but she'll get more praise and kudos for a complete waste of time - as will her oppos in the other organisations - than any of you dealing with the chavistocracy ever will!

Captain Haddock said...

Its something of a miracle that the RSPCA didn't manage to clamber aboard the bandwaggon too ..

James Higham said...

Malcolm Primary School, in Malcolm Road, Penge

Scene of the Penge Bungalow Murders.

dearieme said...

About a year ago I was locking up my bike when one of those aggressive dogs started yapping and bouncing about near me. The dim owner said "Don't worry. I've got it under control." I said "Just as well, otherwise I'd have to kill it." He actually ran away dragging it after him.

P.S. I am a big laddie.

Lerxst said...

I don't really have a problem with this. Even if our law enforcement agencies were better at cracking down on dangerous dogs, it's always possible one could slip through. No harm being prepared.

However, I bet the scheme didn't include advice on self defence, such as the best areas to kick said dog, or how to handle a big stick.

JuliaM said...

"Well at least it proves that you CAN teach an old dog new tricks."

:D

"The sound of many boxes being ticked across the board and up the food chain. "

Jobs for all! Just not useful jobs...

"...but I imagine if her job was cut then no-one would really notice."

Spot on!

"Its something of a miracle that the RSPCA didn't manage to clamber aboard the bandwaggon too .."

Indeed! Not like them to miss an opportunity.

JuliaM said...

"Scene of the Penge Bungalow Murders."

Ah, I do miss 'Rumpole'!

"The dim owner said "Don't worry. I've got it under control." I said "Just as well, otherwise I'd have to kill it." He actually ran away dragging it after him."

Heh!

" No harm being prepared.

However, I bet the scheme didn't include advice on self defence, such as the best areas to kick said dog, or how to handle a big stick."


If they don't, can you really say they are 'being prepared'..?