Teaching Kids Kindness to Animals and People

It's Be Kind to Animals Week, a time set aside by the American Humane Association and others to promote kindness to animals. This is a great time to reinforce to children the importance of kindness, not only to animals, but also to other people.

In this day and age of bullying, child neglect, and other issues, re-inforcing the concept of kindness is critical. Children are vulnerable, children are teachable – they often emulate what they witness in adults within the sphere of influence.

Therefore, we adults need to take stock not only in how we treat our kids, but also how we treat other adults and how we interact with pets in our own household, as well as within our community.

The ASPCA (American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) offers some tips for celebrating Be Kind to Animals Week with children. For example, you and your kids can volunteer together at a local shelter or rescue. Although you may not be able to walk dogs, you can hold a bake sale or a collection drive, taking in donations of money and items necessary to run the shelter. Inquire at your local humane society or animal shelter (1) what their volunteer guidelines are and/or (2) what items they currently need. Another idea: spend time together as a family with your own pet – take a walk, play in the park, or toss a ball in your backyard for awhile. Pets need social interaction with their human families; remember to take good care of your pets and involve your children in that care. Your children may want to start a Kind Club with their friends and develop projects to help the homeless animals of your community.

Every year, nearly 7 million animals enter shelters across this nation. What can you and your family do to help these homeless creatures and the people who care for them? You and your children can positively impact your community, and therefore, the nation, by showing kindness to animals, and to other people.

Find some other tips for teaching and sharing kindness at http://behumane.org/component/content/article/2-uncategorised/82-be-kind-to-animals

“Teach your children well,” are part of the lyrics of a Crosby, Stills and Nash song. Those are words we can all live by, so let's teach our children, and ourselves, to be kind to others, both animals and people – when we do, we can all live in a better world.

Try a Little Kindness

Everyone enjoys bits of kindness and concern; our pets are no different. Owning an animal isn't license to do as you will and break its will; having a pet in one's household is a privilege, a joy, as its life melds with yours and you show responsibility for its care.

Kindness – giving of oneself in service to others in order to make another’s life better. In large and small ways, kindness goes a long way in the betterment of individuals and communities. Kind acts and gestures don’t need to cost a lot of money or even a lot of time, yet the affirmation of a smile, a hug, or a small act of selflessness is priceless. And kindness impacts more than human lives when bestowed upon our furry friends.

The second week of May is “Be Kind to Animals Week”, a week designated and recognized by American Humane, a non-profit organization based in Colorado that works to better the lives of both children and pets. Being kind to companion animals, who often give selfless devotion to their owners, can be done in one’s own household and within the community. Here are some thoughts of how you and your family can be kind to animals:

At home:
· Don’t leave your dog constantly kenneled or tied up in the backyard, forlorn and forgotten. Dogs need interaction and socialization; why have a pet if it’s left alone outdoors all the time? Enjoy the companionship, the energy, the loyalty dogs have – relish the devotion and fun that is part of your dog’s makeup!

· Keep your cat indoors and play with her when she seeks your attention. Although cats are often more independent than dogs, they still need their owner’s companionship and care. And, keeping your cat indoors will protect her from roaming dogs and speeding cars.

· Make sure your pets are up-to-date on their shots. With the warming weather, more wild animals, such as raccoons and skunks, will be invading our communities, especially along streams and creeks; sometimes these creatures carry diseases harmful to our pets, such as rabies, so protect your four-footed friends with the proper vaccinations.

Within one's community as well, your kindness to animals is vital. Here are some ways to help organizations that help our community’s pets who are waiting for new homes:

· My community of Casper has several animal welfare organizations that care for homeless pets. Most communities have rescue groups and animal welfare organizations that help pets in need. Donating your time, talent and resources goes a long way to help care for your community’s thousands of animals still waiting for their forever home.

· Your donation doesn’t have to cost a lot of money – recycling and donating your aluminum cans and newspapers, for example, is a help for many of these organizations. If you already recycle cans and newspaper, why not recycle them to the Humane Society, thereby helping care for the animals in their care? And, if you don’t recycle these items, why not start and donate them to the Humane Society? They use newspapers to line cat cages and aluminum has monetary value that can go in the organization’s coffers to buy the items necessary to run the shelter. Simply recycling your newspapers and aluminum doesn’t cost you a dime and helps bring some or save some extra dimes to help homeless pets.

· Give of your time in some way to help animal rescue groups – volunteer! Perhaps you can help at a special event once or twice a year; perhaps you can sign up to walk dogs or brush cats once a week or twice a month; maybe you have carpentry or maintenance skills and can give a Saturday or Sunday afternoon to help the organization with repairs or clean-up; perhaps a few times a year you can transport a few dogs or cats to new locations for a rescue group. Contact your local animal welfare organizations, ask where they might need an extra hand, and extend that hand of kindness to the staff and the temporary 4-footed residents under their care.

Kindness doesn’t have to cost money – it simply takes a bit of effort to better another life. Kindness makes a big difference, but only takes a small step. Be a role model for your children, make kindness toward animals and toward other people a positive practice as a family. Remember that wonderful phrase “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” Leave a positive legacy in your family – be kind to animals and to other people not only this month, but on into the future. Kindness makes the world a better place – and it starts with each one of us.

Make All Things New

A new year has begun, in fact, a whole new decade. I wonder if this will finally be the time that people stop thinking of pets as "dumb animals", disposable and without feelings.

I see the newest ads on TV for the Humane Society of the United States and the ASPCA, and they are heartbreaking. Both organizations fight cruelty and have been doing so for years. All pet lovers need to join that fight; too many companion animals are thrown away, are neglected or abused. Abuse seems to be running amuck in our society, not only of animals but also of children and women , where, in many other countries, women still have few rights and are treated as property instead of people. I pray more of us will step forward this year, this decade, and help combat cruelty in all forms, cruelty found in our communities, our country, our world.

There's a Scripture in the Bible that says, "behold, all things become new." (2nd Corinthians 5:17) With God's help, perhaps we can usher in this new year, this new decade, by helping others who need newness in their lives, who need others to show kindness and caring. Let's make a resolution to bring new joy and new hope to animals and people in need throughout our world!