Write from an animal's perspective
Step into the paws of different animals and imagine a day in their life. Best for ages 11 and up.
Last edited: 21/08/2026
Before you get started
Why this is important
Seeing the world from an animal’s point of view builds a deeper understanding of welfare. This task helps you understand animals’ needs, challenges and feelings, and how human choices affect them, which helps you make kinder choices and explain to others why animal welfare matters.
Supporting documents:
Duke of Edinburgh Worksheet (2 hours)
Instructions
Carrying out your project
Choose your category
Category 1:
- A stray mixed-breed dog who is in good enough health and can roam freely, but has no access to veterinary care and must scavenge for food.
- A pet dog who is slightly overweight as they are left all day in an outside kennel while their owner is at work, with little social contact, stimulation or exercise.
- A well-cared-for pet dog who spends lots of time with their owner but has extreme physical features (e.g. flat-faced) and struggles to breathe and exercise comfortably.
Category 2:
- A stray/feral cat
- An indoor apartment pet cat that never goes outside and has some toys
- An indoor-outdoor pet cat that has access to outside but no toys
Category 3:
- A rabbit kept alone in a small hutch at the end of the garden
- A single house rabbit living indoors with positive family interactions
- A rabbit pair with a large run and enrichment
Write their story
Write a diary entry or story “A Day in the Life of…” for each scenario in that category.
Ensure each animal’s story covers:
- What does the animal eat/do during the day?
- What dangers or problems do they face?
- How do humans affect their life (positively or negatively)?
- How might the animal feel during key moments in the day?
Reflection
Write a sentence or two for each question:
- What did you learn by imagining life from the animal’s perspective?
- Which animal in your category had the best welfare, and why?
- What could humans do differently to improve the animals’ lives?
- Was anything surprising or changed how you feel?
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