Assists in the prevention of child abuse

• Reveals through classroom discussions relating to pets, possibly abusive situations in the home.  Connection between animal abuse and child abuse is well documents.
• Helps a child develop the ability to speak up for animals and may enable the child to speak up for him/herself in the event of an abusive situation.
• Helps children to transfer natural feelings of compassion for animals to compassion for people.
• Teaches children how their actions directly impact others.

Promotes trusting and nurturing behaviors

• Demonstrates the positive results gained from loyalty, love and interdependency between people and pets thus leading to similar positive behaviors between people and their neighbors.
• Working with animals gives children a sense of continuity that may not otherwise be present in their lives.

Promotes compassion for others

• Learning about an animal’s natural environment and behavior helps children to understand and appreciate diversity.
• By understanding needs of others, children are better able to cope with differences.
• Helps model for children proper caring behaviors.

Promotes health and well-being>

• Classes dealing with communicable diseases can help to prevent their spread.
• Classes dealing with the proper way to approach animals can help children to avoid animal bites, scratches or attacks.
• Helps to reinforce the importance of good hygiene.

Assists in preventing future violent behaviors

• Teaches children respect for all life.
• Teaches children that any form of cruelty is not acceptable.
• Teaches children techniques for working through problems with pets.  Techniques that can then be transferred to resolving conflicts with peers.

     Some states, including New York, mandate humane education in public elementary schools.  Unfortunately, the law is not applied or enforced evenly and, as a result, the amount and level of humane education in our schools varies and in many cases is non-existent.  While this situation needs to be rectified, another way of providing this important type of education is through the "Kind Kids Animal Lovers’ Club."

    The initial meeting of the Club, which is for children between the ages of 7-11, was held at the Gerritsen Beach Branch of the Brooklyn Public Library on January 20, 2001.   Parents attended with their children.  Members of the club will meet monthly to learn more about animals and the important role they play in our lives.  They will be given the opportunity to develop a greater understanding of the need to respect all living creatures – both human and non-human varieties.  There will be special guest speakers and/or videos on a variety of animal-related subjects.   Participants will receive humane educational materials at each meeting that they can share with family and friends and will receive free subscriptions to humane educational newsletters designed specifically for children.  Any questions that arise from the material will be discussed at the following meeting.