Story and Photos
By Terry Miller
On Thursday morning, local media was invited to the Pasadena Humane Society to witness the very first group of 5 & 6 year-old children who learned about the importance of being kind to all animals.
The young children, from Franklin School, got a chance to meet rabbits, birds, dogs and of course, kittens. Volunteers of all ages helped read to the students while they enjoyed seeing all the different animals Pasadena Humane Society cares for.
The Pasadena Humane Society & SPCA launched ‘Kids for Animals,’ community engagement program for kids 18 and under. Kids for Animals fills a critical need by providing opportunities for kids of all ages to get involved with animals and starts a movement of kids being kind to animals.
The centerpiece of the program is the Kids for Animals handbook, a 12 page full-color pamphlet that suggests a variety of ways for children to get involved with animals. There are activities for all young animal lovers. Some of the activities include organizing donation drives, hosting fundraising events, volunteering at the shelter, making crafts for shelter animals and reading humane-themed stories.
There is something sacred and special about the relationship children have with animals. Studies have shown that children who regularly interact with animals see immense physical, social, emotional and cognitive development benefits. The volunteers’ efforts also, obviously, stand to benefit the animals themselves greatly as well!
The Kids for Animals handbook is available at the Pasadena Humane Society located at 361 S. Raymond Ave. in Pasadena. It is also available for download, along with a list of children’s programming, at www.pasadenahumane.org/kids.
