The Florida Keys Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (FKSPCA) and the Key West Housing Authority have teamed up to bring voluntary humane education classes to the children of the Housing Authority communities at Campus South, Safe Port, George Allen, Robert Gabriel, and Fort Village. Classes are already underway at Campus South and Safe Port.
Charles Brown, Animal Services Director of the FKSPCA Shelter on Stock Island, and Lori Bakara, Activities and Community Services Coordinator for Campus South and Safe Port, have tailored the Housing Authority Humane Education classes to the appropriate age group.
Age groups include pre-school to high school, said Brown, who creates the teaching guides for each age group. "We make the classes Keys specific," he said, "including information on chickens, lizards snakes, stray cats. Our classes reflect the real situation with animals here in the Keys," he said.
Other information comes from a variety of sources, including the National SPCA, the Humane Society, and People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA).
Wendy Ettish from the Shelter on Stock Island teaches the classes. Safe Port and Campus South children have already been to five classes, held every other week.
The first classes that started this summer, deal with animal safety issues, said Brown.
"Safety awareness and humane issues-- topics such as `what is cruelty?' are discussed. Children can put themselves in the position of animals-- see the connection between themselves and the animal world," said Brown. "Discussions on `what provokes a dog to bite' and how you can prevent this from happening are taught in class," said Brown.
There are plans to expand these classes to the other local housing authorities and to local schools in January.
"Our goal is to pass along information about animals and to generate excitement about learning," said Brown. There are plans to bring dogs and cats from the shelter to the classes, so the children can have a hands-on experience with the animals, and communicate with them.
By making the classes enjoyable the children are more likely to retain the information and want to come back.
Humane education has been around since 1933 when the National Parent Teacher Association Congress issued a statement in support of humane education: "Children trained to extend justice, kindness and mercy to animals become more just, kind and considerate in their relations with each other. Character training along these lines will result in men and women of broader sympathies, more human, more law-abiding-- in every respect more valuable citizens."
If you are interested in bringing humane education to your classroom, church, Boy/Girl Scout group, or youth group, call Charles Brown at the FKSPCA Animal Shelter on Stock Island at 294-4857.
Are you a true animal lover, who believes that affection, patience and gentle training can change a few bad habits in a dog's behavior?
And are you looking for a best friend who will offer unconditional love and loyalty? Well, this may be your lucky day.
"The Instigator," aka `Shammy,' `Coco,' `Shamrock,' and `Retread,' has been brought back to the Shelter on Stock Island six times. His only problem, according to Roy Stone, Key West Kritter Patrol volunteer at the Shelter, is that he "needs to bond with one person, and doesn't like other dogs taking attention away from him. He needs to be the #1 dog." Besides that, "The Instigator" is a "good dog, healthy, smart and loving."
Then there's the "Guard Dog." She's also named "Cindy Lou," and is extremely territorial, though cute as a button with her white fur and funny face. "She's tempermental," says Stone, "and she's a bit nippy-- she's suspicious with people she doesn't know. But if you need a dog to ferociously guard your file cabinet, Cindy Lou is the dog for you."
Cindy Lou is about eight years old, but not completely set in her ways. She just needs someone to appreciate her intense personality and teach her that all people are not out to get her.
Come out to the Shelter to meet "The Instigator" and "The Guard Dog" and 40 other healthy dogs and puppies waiting for good homes. There are 80 beautiful cats waiting for homes, too. Adult dogs only $20 and adult cats only $10.
The Shelter is open this Sunday, Nov. 7 from Noon-3 p.m. for adoptions only. For further info, call 294-4857. You'll be glad you did!