Abandono e maus-tratos de animais: ação de conscientização no ambiente escolar do seridó potiguar

Abstract

Practices that cause unnecessary pain, injury, distress, or death to animals are considered abuse. These can take various forms, such as physical abuse, neglect of health, abandonment, illegal hunting, among others. This issue is significant for several reasons, including animal welfare, citizen ethics and morality, the link between animal abuse and human violence, environmental awareness, animal law and legislation, and it is regarded as a relevant public health problem. In this context, the present study promoted awareness strategies about animal care in a public school in the municipality of Caicó, Rio Grande do Norte. The importance of addressing this topic in schools was highlighted, aiming to sensitize children about responsibility and respect for animals. The activity took place over three days and included a gamified competition, a movie screening with a short film related to the theme, the use of an animal to allow students to have direct contact, and the presence of the Environmental Military Police to discuss animal abuse, as an intersectoral approach. The goal was to engage a local school in spreading information about proper animal care for promoting animal welfare and the consequences of abandonment. In the end, the research aimed to emphasize the importance of early awareness in shaping positive attitudes toward animals, as a strategy to combat animal abandonment and abuse, a public health issue.