The National Canine Defence League aims to make “a dog’s life” a synonym for happiness rather than distress. Two new resources encourage children to contribute positively to the process. A primary assembly pack provides stories told from the point of view of five abandoned mongrels, suggesting appropriate music and props as well as reflection on such themes as friendship, bullying and saying goodbye. Related Literacy and Numeracy packs each contain 10 classroom activities in which children can develop the stories into poems and reports, or count and sort dogs while learning about caring for them responsibly. One of each free resource per school (additional copies are pound;4.99). NCDL Education Service, Hamilton House, FREEPOST MID 25654, PO Box 6252, Corby NN17 4BR Tel: 01536 399003 www.ncdl.org.uk