A group of students and teachers from Stone Bridge urged the Congress of the Republic to accelerate the debate of the bill that proposes to incorporate the teaching of responsible possession of pets in the school curriculum, given the growing problem of animal abandonment in the country, which affects nearly 6 million dogs and cats.
The initiative, called “Patitas en Acción”, was promoted by students from the Los Pinos Educational Institution No. 5179 with the aim of promoting a culture of respect, protection and care for animals in schools throughout the country from the classrooms.
According to the teacher Milagros Trujillohe Bill 14054 has remained since February of this year in the Congressional Education, Youth and Sports Commission without having been debated for its eventual approval or rejection.
Students promote educational project against animal abandonment that affects 6 million dogs and cats in Peru. (Photo: Andina)
The delay has generated concern among students who participated in preparing the proposal. The teacher explained that there is a fear that the initiative will be paralyzed and that, with the installation of a new Parliament, it will be necessary to restart the legislative process from scratch.
The project was presented by Congressman Guido Bellidowho has requested on several occasions a statement from the Education Commission, chaired by Second Montalvo. However, no official response has been issued so far.
The legislative proposal is the result of work that has been carried out since 2023. During that period, fifth-year high school students promoted awareness campaigns, educational talks, parades and community activities aimed at preventing animal abandonment and abuse.
These actions also promoted responsible adoption, pet sterilization and compliance with current regulations on animal welfare.
The concern of schoolchildren is supported by figures that reflect the magnitude of the problem. The professor of Veterinary Medicine and Zootechnics at the Scientific University of the South, Veronica Carrascoindicated that various studies estimate that around 420 thousand pets are lost every year in Peru due mainly to deficiencies in responsible tenure.
Students fear that the initiative on animal care will be shelved with the new Congress. (Photo: Andina)
The specialist explained that one of the most frequent mistakes is taking dogs for a walk without a leash, under the belief that they will always obey their owners. However, he remembered that animals react by instinct and can move away from any unexpected stimulus.
Likewise, he warned that many pets remain outside the home for several hours without supervision, a situation that exposes them to accidents, illnesses and loss.
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Carrasco also highlighted the importance of sterilization to prevent unwanted litters and contribute to the control of the dog and cat population. In this context, he supported the proposal to incorporate content on responsible ownership in school education.
For his part, Trujillo highlighted that “Patitas en Acción” managed to publish an educational magazine on animal welfare last year with the support of the Municipality of Magdalena del Mar and announced a second edition prepared together with the students of this year’s class.
Finally, the teacher asked Congress and the competent authorities to pay greater attention to the proposal promoted by the Puente Piedra schoolchildren, considering that it represents an example of citizen participation and training in values from the classrooms.
