After studying how to care for animals - and collecting food, blankets and accessories for SPCA - the children at Kamo Kids Childcare put their new skills to the test with a visit from a one-eyed SPCA rescue dog.
The kids at Kamo Childcare Centre enjoyed a visit from Pearl, the one-eyed dog, after they collected a heap of food, blankets and accessories to donate to the SPCA.
The childcare centre arranged the visit from Whangarei SPCA inspector Rachael Wyatt and her dog Pearl as part of Pet Week.
Ms Wyatt explained the importance of taking care of pets while Pearl, who the kids were told came to the SPCA after having her eye poked out, worked the room, her tail wagging excitedly at the attention.
Centre team leader Tasha Owens said the centre had an annual Pet Week where kids would usually bring their pets in, but this year they decided to do something to give back to the community.
"It was something different for the children and everyone really got behind it and contributed."
Four-year-old Rosie Soole brought in some of her own cat's food to share with the SPCA.
"I just wanted to bring food for the animals who don't have some homes."
Rosie enjoyed meeting Pearl and said her family had been thinking of getting a dog soon and she now knows exactly where to go to get one.
"I love all the animals from the SPCA."
Centre staff said the SPCA idea was sparked by a visit from an orphan lamb but encouraging animal care was something they cultivated with the kids. They have a resident rabbit called Cookie who is fed and cared for by the children, with a rotation of families taking it home for weekends and holidays.
Ms Wyatt said getting kids involved was an important part of animal welfare.
"If you can get through to one child and educate them now hopefully it lasts through."
She also taught the kids age appropriate skills for keeping themselves safe around strange dogs.
With the Whangarei SPCA getting about 5000 animals passing through its doors annually the food and goods donated are a big help.