Classroom Visits

A humane educator comes to individual classrooms, grades preschool through college, and teaches a grade and age appropriate lesson dealing with a wide range of humane education topics. Some topics discussed might be: dog bite prevention, (particularly for the younger students), responsible pet ownership, overpopulation of pets (with particular emphasis on the importance of spaying and neutering), and possible careers working with animals. Videos, interactive games, story and art are all used to teach topics.

Special Education

A humane educator will come to a class of special education students and bring several animals for the children to meet. Each visit is designed to meet the needs of that particular class. A minimum of three visits for the year is requested, as repetition is very important for this group of children. Some of the disabilities encountered in these classes include autism, schizophrenia, spina bifida, and cerebral palsy.

At-Risk Students

This important program is designed to meet the needs of at-risk preschoolers. By at-risk we mean children from low income families, those who have been abused, children in foster care, or whose fathers are not at home. These children are more likely to be abused and to become abusers. This program takes a proactive approach to the issues of child and animal abuse as the two are clearly linked. The goal is to teach these young students gentleness and kindness to all living creatures, and as an extension, to themselves. An educator visits three schools twice a month with animals, games, arts and crafts and books.