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By Alison Court

When teacher Tanya Ritchie set up an animal club at Clifton Hills Primary School in Kelmscott last year, little did she know what a howling success it would become.

Ms Ritchie - a passionate animal lover - established the club under the banner of non profit animal welfare organisation Voiceless, which runs a network of animal clubs in schools throughout the country.  The club, which attracted 63 students in its first year and has grown to 80 students this year, was runner-up in the schools humane prize at the Voiceless annual awards held in Sydney last month and received a trophy and $2500. 

"We were really proud of what we achieved", Ms Ritchie said.

The students hold regular movie afternoons, showing films with animal themes, and donate food and supplies to animal charities.  They have designed T-shirts with animal care themes, run poster and calendar design competitions and invited guest speakers to their meetings.

"Last year we did a lot of activities for the Animal Protection Society in Gosnells," Ms Ritchie said.

"We are concentrating on native animals this year, so we will be working with the Darling Range Wildlife Shelter."

Ms Ritchie said the club gave students the opportunity to learn more about caring for animals, help animals in the local community and develop an awareness of animal welfare problems.

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