Comments on: Championing Humane Education

By: jenna

jenna — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 06:11:56 +0000

I’ve decided the name Animals Who Educate is definitely AWEsome and I’m planning to use it. I hope everyone will stay interested in helping out during the time it takes me to actually get something off the ground. Finding time to work on it is proving very difficult!

By: jenna

jenna — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 06:10:10 +0000

Thank you Doris! I’m sure there will be ways you can help long distance!

By: Bonnie & Sushi

Bonnie & Sushi — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 19:34:52 +0000

There is a group that Shiba Rescue GTA is a part of, called Helping Homeless Pets. It’s made up of over 10 various rescues. They have held sessions at various rescue-type events where it is set up to only educate the public. They got a sponsor which helped a lot, and they would have kids come in to attend, mostly to learn about how to properly greet a dog ie: ask your parents first, then ask the dog owner, and then follow the dog owner’s intructions, etc…

Bonnie & Sushi

By: Doris

Doris — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 08:39:31 +0000

Jenna,

what a great idea. It is so desperately needed. I live in Europe now and it is no different here. Education is lacking but as Moongoose correctly spells it out, it is the parents that need to be re-educated. We had two dogs and I always made sure to teach my son that our dogs are indivuals with their own feelings, and just like us humans like to be treated kind and with respect – so DO our dogs too. It would great to see your organisation expand internationally. Not sure how I could help from overseas but we are here for you and ready to help.

Hope – “AWE” is AWEsome. I totally love the name.

We love reading the latest news from Snick…keep em coming.

By: jenna

jenna — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 04:33:47 +0000

Hope – I like that! I have to take AWE into serious consideration as a name.

Bonnie & Sushi and thepaisleyfox – Thank you both.

Mongoose – You are SO right. Like so many other things, this should be taught in the home, not the schools. But, as I’m sure you also know, that isn’t going to happen in a lot of homes. What I’ve found with school visits is that by exposing children to animals they can form a connection with, we’re setting them up to think twice before abusing or abandoning an animal. I’m talking mostly about reaching kids who are afraid of animals, many of whom are being taught that in their homes and neighborhoods. It rocks these kids’ worlds when you say your dog lives in the house and sleeps on the bed with you. The idea of an animal as a friend – an unconditionally loving friend, at that – is completely foreign to them.

Thank you ALL for your input. This is exactly the kind of stuff I need to think about and figure out before diving into this thing.

By: Mongoose

Mongoose — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 03:15:03 +0000

My first reaction is that it strikes me as weird that there is an identified need to teach kids to be nice to animals. It seems that would go without saying.

My second reaction is that like most programs that try to make kids into better people, it’s targeted at the wrong people entirely. It’s the parents that should be re-educated, not the kids. Then they’d teach their kids right. Everything I’ve taught my girls in youth group, they do it great at group, and then they go home and behave exactly as their parents behave. Sad.

My third reaction would be that teaching compassion wouldn’t be as useful as teaching kids to understand their pets’ thinking, instead of treating them like toys. Cesar Millan for kids.

However, I also think you have to do what you feel called to, and if this is what you feel is needed from you, go for it. It can’t hurt, anyway.