EDINBURGH University researchers and Scotland’s animal charity, the Scottish SPCA, have joined forces to help prevent young people committing cruelty against animals.

They have created and trialled a new computer game – Pet Welfare – to encourage youngsters between the ages of seven to 12 to engage positively with animals.

Their research involved 184 primary school-aged children from across Scotland, with the results indicating that the game had a positive impact on knowledge about animal welfare, appropriate and safe behaviour towards pets and the recognition of animals as sentient beings. Professor Jo Williams, from the University of Edinburgh, said 70% of children have pets, but accidental cruelty is common.

“This new serious computer game is designed to be engaging for children, and we have shown it promotes their learning about pets’ welfare needs and how to look after pets,” she said.

Dr Roxanne Hawkins, who developed the game as part of her PhD research, said it had three interactive levels based on the pets found to experience most incidents of cruelty – dogs, cats and rabbits.

“Through the multiple levels within the game, children learn important information about the five animal welfare needs, specific to each pet type, learn that pet animals are sentient, and learn about what is appropriate and safe behaviour towards each pet type. A key goal of this game was to prevent multiple types of animal cruelty, but particularly accidental cruelty, which is common in childhood.”

Scottish SPCA head of education and policy, Gilly Mendes Ferreira, added: “We reach around 245,000 school children each year to promote positive interactions with animals and for young people to recognise that animals have feelings.

“Our ongoing research-based programmes enable us to continue engaging with young people using the best innovative teaching methods we can.”