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Animals Lockdown with Students

people with rats

@S_ERC Animals Lockdown with Students

It wouldn’t be everyone’s cup of tea to lockdown with some rats, mice or some exotic creatures, but that’s been the choice of a number of students on SERC’s Animal Management course who have taken some furry and not-so-furry friends into their homes for the foreseeable future.

Julie Armstrong, Animal Management Lecturer said, “We have a whole array of creatures who live in SERC’s Animal House, giving our students hands on handling, observation and care access to everything from mice, rats, Guinea pigs to geckos and a tortoise. These animals live at SERC but since the lockdown they have had to move out of the College and in with our students.  

She added, “When we put the call out to see who could take on responsibility for looking after the animals we were delighted with the enthusiasm and support from the students and indeed one of our animal technicians who took on our 14 resident mice!”

They say if you want something done you should ask a busy person and that seems to be the case for Leanne Reid, from Newtownards. Leanne is a first-year student on the Level 3 Foundation Diploma in Animal Management and mother to Brook (14), Korey (8), Indie (5) and Avan (3). Their house is no stranger to animals. Leanne said, “My house is a bit of a menagerie in any case as we already have 4 rats, 2 dogs and a cat, so taking on the 3 College rats, Butch, Marcellus and Joules, didn’t seem like too big an ask. We are all passionate about animals and the kids love having the new rats who have settled in well.

“I know some people are probably cringing about the thought of having any kind of rat as a pet but I have kept them since I was in high school – I used to take them to the local shop with me on my shoulder. They are really like having a wee dog and have their own little personalities and once they are out of their cages they settle down and are well behaved. They do like to be out and about.

She added, “As a mature student returning to education, I have been really thankful for all the support and encouragement that the lecturing and support staff have given me, so I have been delighted to be able to help out by offering to look after the animals in this way.”

Fellow student Nathan McKee, from Bangor, has taken on a couple of African Clawed Frogs, he said, “It has been an absolute pleasure to have the African Clawed Frogs at home while the College is closed. I have been able to observe how they interact with each other, how they feed, and even caught one of them shedding his skin and eating it! Mostly, I am glad to be able to help out a little during this difficult time, and the choir of frogs singing at night is an added bonus.”

Robyn Woods, from Bangor, has taken on a couple of crested geckos and Norman the tortoise. She said, “I feel privileged to have been able to take them in and provide them with a warm holiday home while supporting the College during lockdown. I’m thoroughly enjoying looking after them and spending my extra free time providing care and socialising Norman the tortoise and the crested geckos. My passion and love for these animals has grown so much and therefore I’m very thankful to have the opportunity to learn more about them.”

Hermione and Jason the College Guinea pigs have taken up residence with Naomi Perry from Newtownards. She said, “It has been brilliant being able to house the Guinea pigs as ensuring they are receiving an appropriate level of care means they are well looked after. This means I can occupy myself whilst having to stay at home and I am able to help the College. Overall, I would say it has been worthwhile offering to house these animals over the coming months.” 

Meanwhile, Laura Leabody, Animal Technician at SERC has taken on fourteen (14) mice – sorry, we don’t have all their names – she said, “Having the mice home during this challenging time, has provided excellent quality time in terms of handling and behavioural observations. New behavioural records have now been completed based on nocturnal activity which is something I wasn’t able to do before and I am looking forward to sharing these with the students during the online lessons.”  

 

 

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