Case evaluation of an educative program of ownership in dogs and cats in public schools of fundamental teaching in rural zone Ibiúna, SP, Brazil

The promotion of animal welfare and zoonosis control lacks educative work within the community. The involvement of official organisms of health services is essential for the development of these actions. This study had the objective to promote the change of primary and secondary school children’s attitude towards these themes. The work was between the period of May and September of 2004, totalizing five months and two schools of rural zone of Ibiúna- SP. Previous reunions were made with the teachers to show the project with the supplying of didactic material. Teachers worked with the students during two weeks to let the late familiar with the zoonosis and animal welfare themes. After that period, there was a play organized by the zoonosis sector workers, showing the city reality in relation to zoonosis and animal welfare, and the end of the story was made by students. There was a large participation of teachers and students with a great quantity of works and researches about the themes made by students. Participated 230 students, and four play sessions took place. The work demonstrated that it is needed to awake children’s emotional, due to the fact we are working with animal lives and promoting preventive public health. The mobilization of teachers and students, planning and timeline of the activities, were fundamental points to the success of the program. There is a need of these projects in the schools in a continued form