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Education

Our Education Strategy acknowledges that animal welfare education and learning for both children and adults will be essential to achieving our vision where every animal is treated with compassion and respect, making it socially unacceptable to mistreat and be cruel to any animal. Through our education services, we impact over 150,000 people each year and focus on promoting kindness and empathy towards animals.

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Educational talks

The DSPCA provides a mixture of free virtual and in person educational talks to crèches, schools, colleges, and community groups across the country.

We can work with all ages of children and students and are happy to create an age/ability appropriate session tailored for you. At the DSPCA, we feel it’s important to educate from preschool and beyond that cruelty towards any animal is not acceptable and that animals should be treated with kindness and respect.

When you contact us to book an educational talk one of our dedicated Education Team will contact you to arrange this through Zoom, Microsoft Team, Skype or Google Classroom or in person if time and location allow.

For more information or to book your virtual educational talk,
 email the Education Department

Additional Needs Talks

We run a separate Programme for groups with Additional Needs. If you would like to book a talk online or in person for a group with Additional Needs we would be delighted to tailor a talk for your group.

Please email Brendan for more information.

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Shelter tours

DSPCA Shelter Educational Tours

The DSPCA provides free educational tours to schools, colleges and community groups. We can work with all ages of children and students and are happy to create an age/ability appropriate session tailored for you.

Tours last 1.5 hours and include a talk and a tour around our shelter in Rathfarnham, Dublin 16 to see many of the animals, both residential and available for rehoming. The tour includes a visit to the Dog Rehoming Kennels, the Cattery, the Stable area as well as the resident goats, ducks, chickens and pigs. We will also take you on a walk around the fantastic 1.5km Perimeter Walk around the grounds of the shelter which has stunning views over Dublin City, the Hellfire Club and Dublin Bay (weather permitting). There are picnic benches where your class can have their pack lunches and enjoy the wildlife living on site.

Tours are free of charge however donations always appreciated. Group sizes must be between 10 and 30 students. Please contact us if your group is bigger or smaller before booking at Education Department

All tours must be booked in advance. Book a tour HERE

Additional Needs Talks

Additional Needs Tours and Workshops

We run a separate Tour Programme for groups with Additional Needs. If you would like to book a tour or Education Workshop for a group with Additional Needs we would be delighted to tailor a visit for your groups mobility and educational needs.

Please email Brendan for more information.

Kids camps

The DSPCA run kids camps for children in classes from 1st Class National Schools up to 3rd Year Secondary Schools. We run these camps during the school holidays where children learn lots about animal welfare, caring for animals and meet lots of animals at our shelter. All camps take place on site at the DSPCA in Rathfarnham, Dublin 16.

We do not have dates for the 2024 camps yet but if you would like to receive information once it is available please fill in the Register Your Interest form HERE

DSPCA Kids Camp Groups

Our camps are divided into 2 groups and they are as follows:

Group A

National School - Students who are 1st class up to those who have just finished 6th class

Group B

Secondary School - Students from 1st year to 4th year.

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Work experience

The DSPCA offers Work Experience for Transition Year Work Experience or Community Service students as well as Leaving Cert Applied (LCA) and 3rd Level College Students. Work experience is Block Weeks Only and takes place on site at the DSPCA shelter in Rathfarnham, Dublin 16. Experience is Non-Veterinary and will mainly be working with cats and/or dogs.

It is a great way to get hands on experience on the work we do and to see if working with animals is the right career path for those thinking about a future in veterinary or animal care.

Please note that TY and LCA Work Experience for the school year(s) 2023-2024 are now FULLY BOOKED and the Waiting List is also Closed.

If you are interested in doing your Work Experience for School Year September 2024 – May 2025 please Register Your Interest and you will be notified once the booking procedure opens.

Please note that work experience for the school year 2023-2024 are now FULLY BOOKED.

Registration for Work Experience for School Year September 2024 – May 2025 is NOW CLOSED

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