November 2011

November is Prevention of Cruelty to Animals month and what better way to prevent cruelty than to educate!

That is what the humane education department is all about. We have school programs, the BC SPCA Kids Club, workshops, school clubs and summer camps – all focused on educating youth.

We hope that in turn kids will educate others like their friends, families and classmates and that the future will be much brighter for animals.

You can help us too. You’ve already signed up for e-Teacher, some of you have attended a teacher workshop, started a school club or invited us to your classroom.

We know that teachers who are animal lovers themselves are a captive audience but we also want to reach those teachers who may not see how animals fit into the curriculum or the importance of empathy towards animals.

If you share our materials, talk about the classroom presentation experience or forward this newsletter to a colleague, you can help us reach even more kids.

Buddy Unchained
by Daisy Bix

Before being rescued, Buddy lived his life on the end of a chain no matter what the weather, rain, shine or snow. Now that he has been adopted into a loving home, he shares his story of neglect and rescue. The illustrations capture the expression of a dog who has lost hope and then has his trust in humans restored.

The message of the importance of properly caring for pets and reporting neglect and abuse can initiate a great discussion on preventing cruelty.

Suitable for students aged 5+. If you have older students, consider asking them to read this book to their younger reading buddies.

Get more BC SPCA book recommendations online.

Unfortunately tethering a dog is not illegal but that doesn’t mean it is right. Educate your school about the need for dogs to be part of a family, not left in isolation in the back yard or on a chain.

In your school club welcome package you received the poster, A life on a chain is no life at all. Post this on your club bulletin board for all to see or create a display for your school library around preventing cruelty to animals. The BC SPCA has prepared information to help people bring their tethered dogs back inside. You can also download one of three A life on chain posters to put up around your school or community.

Fortunately at the time of writing e-Teacher there are no cruelty cases in the news. What is news-worthy is another important issue: senior pets. Often people overlook senior pets (7+ years) because the cute kittens and puppies draw our attention.

Though they may not be as cute they are often much more suitable for many families. Adopting a senior pet can have advantages. They are usually house-trained, calmer, trained in basic commands and have gone through the teething/destructive stages that a younger animal may still be going through.

The BC SPCA has many senior animals in our care waiting for loving homes to call their own. View some of these mature loving pets online.

Learn more about this and other BC SPCA news that you may want to include in class discussions.