"Streetwise" the Children`s Safety Centre situated at Elliott Road, Bournemouth is a unique multi-agency partnership safety and citizenship education project inspired and created by Dorset`s emergency services, local authorities, health authority and over 400 partners from the business community......Sue and Julie have been up there to have a look with a view as to how CARING CANINES could not only contribute but also benefit themselves from participation in this scheme and were absolutely amazed by what they found.....

It`s a wonderful project with various life-sized scenarios set out in a warehouse.....without looking up it`s very hard to believe that you are anywhere but in the middle of the High Street, being warned off a back garden shed by a territorial dog, enjoying spotting the fish in a countryside pond or visiting the local park, picking your way round a farmyard, and there`s even a real Virgin train which is mighty big when you`re stood underneath it on the real railway track.....

Dorset`s police and fire service, local councils and health authority along with companies such as Liverpool Victoria play a crucial part in supporting this project (half a million pounds was spent setting it all up).......school parties are shown around by the Volunteer Safety Guides twice daily during

term time.  Families are also welcome to come along and it

is very busy throughout the year. Over 80,000 children have

visited since the centre opened in 1999

STREETWISE is always looking for Volunteer Guides and the commitment is up to the individual with "shadowing" sessions before you go out on your own. Several of our own Volunteers are participating from September onwards and we hope that the contacts made will lead to talks in local schools not only about our work in the local community but also leading on to responsible dog ownership.....

Let`s get our message through BEFORE bad habits are learned............