·“BE KIND TO ANIMALS” WEEK, PART 3:
CHANGING HEARTS AND MINDS THROUGH HUMANE EDUCATION

In the middle part of the nineteenth century, Henry Bergh, founder of the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), began creating animal-based classroom lessons for children in the New York public school system.  At the time, the endeavor seemed outrageous.  But for Bergh, a man who was ahead of his time in so many ways, the need to change the hearts and minds of young people about animals was crucial to the ASPCA’s goal of protecting non-humans from abuse and neglect.  Today, the Humane Society of Southern Arizona continues this tradition with the largest humane education program in the state of Arizona reaching more than 17,000 people (most of them children) all over the southern part of the state.  Programs include school-based presentations, volunteer opportunities and a variety of specialty programs designed to help specific populations.  As part three of our series celebrating “Be Kind to Animals Week,” HSSA presents some examples of unique local programs designed to reach some of our at-risk populations with a message of compassion.

• CATALINA MOUNTAIN SCHOOL’S PET CARE PROGRAM: For nine years, the Arizona Department of Juvenile Correction’s Catalina Mountain School and HSSA have cooperated on a program designed to build empathy and a sense of stewardship in boys from troubled and violent backgrounds. The maximum security facility can contain youth with long histories of gang involvement, drug use and violent crime.  The CMS Pet Care Program offers these youth some of their first, positive interactions with animals. The nine-week program covers a wide variety of subject matter specifically geared toward this special population, including examining the ethical and legal concerns over animal-related domestic violence and bloodsports.  Some of the boys have later gone on to internship or even paid position with the Humane Society shelter after their release from AZDJC.

• PET VIP VISITATION PROGRAM: Many people in our community have never thought of dogs and cats as “companion animals.”  The concept behind the Pet VIP program is simple: give the public the opportunity to interact with a dog in a safe, trusting environment and watch how that interaction can brighten someone’s day, lift their mood or change their heart. This free program extends the human-animal bond through nursing homes, hospitals, children’s group homes and schools. Currently, arrangements are being made to make the program a regular part of the educational program at the Pima County Juvenile Detention Center in Tucson.
  
  
• EDUCATION & CRUELTY PREVENTION RESOURCE CENTER: This humane education “hub” was established by HSSA two years ago to provide a center for learning and information exchange on a variety of animal welfare issues.  Located only a half-block south of the HSSA shelter, the center includes the largest animal welfare library in southern Arizona; enforcement offices for members of the Animal Cruelty Taskforce and HSSA’s own cruelty investigations team; and an educational center for children.  The library / resource center is open to the public by appointment only by called (520) 881-7408.

Additional information on these programs and HSSA’s vast community outreach efforts can be found online at www.hssaz.org; or call (520) 881-7401, Mondays through Fridays.

“BE KIND TO ANIMALS” WEEK, PART 1
“BE KIND TO ANIMALS” WEEK, PART 2
“BE KIND TO ANIMALS” WEEK, PART 4
“BE KIND TO ANIMALS” WEEK, PART 5