68 Section 4
people. These elements are an integral part of the Green Chimneys physical facil-
ities and organizational identity.
Animal welfare is at the core of the Green Chimneys mission and great efforts are
made to provide optimal nutrition, housing and veterinary care for the animals in-
volved. The role of the farm animals, horses and other species at Green Chimneys is to
live in a mutually beneficial relationship. The animals of the Farm and Wildlife Center
are valued partners, and staff members aim to ensure that animals benefit as much
from the interactions as the children do. Resident animals are not objects to be used,
but individuals to interact with in a respectful manner. Most importantly, the students
learn to become the caretakers of these animals and the shared environment.
Children can respond to animals in ways in which they often cannot do with
people. The human–animal contact helps bring out a nurturing instinct in children.
Learning to care for animals fosters a sense of responsibility and empathy among
children who may not have experienced this themselves. Interactions range from
playing with a dog, cat or rabbit during a session with a trained adult, to a more
comprehensive approach where children experience an immersion with animals
or nature, including therapeutic horseback riding, horticulture therapy including
greenhouse and garden work, outdoor adventure activities, and a dog interaction
and training programme to help prepare rescued dogs for adoption.
Most children come to the Farm and Wildlife Center in their first days with their
social worker, class or dorm staff. They soon ‘pick out’ a favourite animal quite nat-
urally, and the child is given opportunities to work with that animal and form a bond.
However, all the animals are shared by everyone and they are all to be taken care of;
the child’s desire to care for ‘their’ animal dictates that they learn about that animal
from others. The trust and friendship established because of the animal’s needs and
the child’s desire to nurture it are often the basis for therapeutic treatment; the animal
acts as a bridge from the child to the staff working to help them become successful.Case Study 17. Continued.