Educators for Animals

Resources

admin — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 09:06:59 GMT

Documents

Best Friends Intern Lesson Plans

If... (See News story)

What if.web.pdf

One Page Activity Sheets

The Great Bunny Rescue Lesson Plans

Things Students Can Do for Animals

Things Students Can Make for Animals

Links

Continuing Education

Lesson Plans

Become a Best Friends Education Ambassador - NEW NATIONAL PROGRAM!

sandyp — Sat, 04 Apr 2009 00:22:52 GMT

The new Best Friends Education Ambassador Program launched in March, 2009. By the first week in April, we had 19 Education Ambassadors on the ground in 7 states, with others asking for applications. The program was developed to carry Best Friends' message of No More Homeless Pets to children in schools and libraries around the country. Each ambassador receives a packet with full presentations focusing on our current campaigns. There will be 2 presentations for each of the 4 campaigns that have been created by Community Programs and Services. The campaigns are Puppies Aren't Products; Focus on Felines; Pit Bulls: Saving America's Dog; and First Home, Forever Home.

The Education Ambassador presentations each include a PowerPoint with talking points for the presenter. There are also scenarios to present to the children such as using a stuffed dog to teach students how to be safe around dogs. There are also leave-behind worksheets for teachers. The program is designed so that the Education Ambassador can continue going back to the school or library every month during the school year to present a new topic, thereby continuing to promote humane education throughout the year rather than just being a once-a-year visiting guest speaker. It is also possible that the ambassador could work with librarians to arrange the 8 presentations as a summber program at public libraries.

The presentations will allow the children the opportunity to really get the Best Friends message of compassion and kindness to anials through enrichment, using our 4 campaigns. By reaching tomorrow's leaders, we can begin to create a sustainable world of no more homeless pets.

The current program is designed for elementary aged audiences. For anyone wishing more information on the Education Ambassador program, please contact Jennifer Schrolucke at jennifersc@bestfriends.org.

Scruffy_Worksheet_2[1].pdf

Anonymous — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 22:52:03 GMT

Scruffy_Worksheet_1.pdf

Anonymous — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 22:47:11 GMT

Reaching Out to Our Neighbors

JNA — Sat, 21 Feb 2009 23:50:59 GMT

Best Friends Humane Education Department Provides Outreach to Children of the Navajo Nation

Story by Sandy Passmore, Best Friends Staff

In January, 2009, the Humane Education Department at Best Friends joined with the Flagstaff Public Library Bookmobile for a series of monthly visits to Tsinaabaas Habatiin Elementary School in an area known as The Gap on the Navajo Reservation in Arizona. Claudia Randazzo, the library’s Outreach Services Coordinator and long time supporter of Best Friends, arranged the program with the school’s Principal Marilyn Reed. During that first visit in January, Humane Educator Jennifer Andrews and Department Manager Sandy Passmore presented an interactive program called “Being Safe Around Dogs” to the K thru 4th grade student body. Colleague Linda Gage, Manager of The Learning Experience at Best Friends and staff photographer Mollie Wald were also on hand to provide their expertise and assistance.

On February 18, Jennifer and Sandy returned to the reservation with special friend, Seppi the Moluccan Cockatoo and his caregivers Michele Page and Al Johnson. To the delight of the children, Seppi put on his best educational performance! With the encouragement of his caregivers, he exhibited many natural behaviors and showing off to the students his great intelligence. This endearing member of the Best Friends family even said a few words to the audience, capturing their young hearts in the process.

Each child was invited to come up and pet Seppi, who loves children and is often used in educational programs here at the sanctuary. Being able to get “up close and personal” with such a large and special bird was a first experience for most and one that will surely be remembered for years to come. Principal Marilyn Reed shared with us that following our visit, the students talked non-stop about the pink bird with the great personality! She has posted photographs from the memorable visit in the school hallway and has shared a vocabulary list of words pertinent to our visit with the teachers.

On the way home from The Gap, the staff stopped at the area’s dump to drop off fresh food and water for feral dogs who frequent the location to scrounge for a meal. We found a young puppy snuggled alone in between a pile of old mattresses near the dumpsters. Puppies are often dropped off here due to the inability of families to be able to feed and care for growing litters – highlighting the need for more spay-neuter programs on the reservation. The young pup came back with us in the van, cradled in the arms of Jennifer Andrews. He was cold, hungry, thirsty and scared, but after about 15 minutes down the highway, she observed that he suddenly let out a big sigh and fell asleep. Of course, it was hard for him to nap with Seppi doing a perfect imitation of a whining puppy!

The Humane Education Department is returning to the school again later in March, this time with another special animal friend from Best Friends. But it’s a surprise for the children so we can’t reveal our mystery guest. And in April, the children have a treat in store as we are setting up a field trip for the students to come to Best Friends for a day!

National Town Meeting on the Link

Cathie — Thu, 21 Feb 2008 01:59:06 GMT

On June 8th and 9th, 2008, a two-day National Town Meeting on The Link® will be held in Portland, Maine to which you are cordially invited.

As someone who is very concerned about the connections between animal abuse and other forms of family violence, you are acutely aware not only of this issue but of the work that is being done on the community, state and national levels to advance the Link® agenda.

The Town Meeting is being organized by the Linkage Project, Maine's statewide effort to address the link between animal cruelty and human violence, and the American Humane Association along with the Kenneth A. Scott Charitable Trust.

The registration fee of $175.00 covers breakfast and lunch for both days. Hotel accommodations at the Holiday Inn by the Bay in Portland are at a conference rate of $140.00 per room per night. Please go to www.linkageproject.org/townmeeting.html to register. You may contact Susan MacPherson at 207-622-5330 or Susan@GreatGatherings.com with any questions.

A letter of invitation and a copy of the Town Meeting registration brochure are attached. You may also go to the conference website (www.linkageproject.org/townmetting.html) to download the brochure.

Please join us next spring in beautiful Portland, Maine!

New Online Book Club for Kids

Cathie — Wed, 06 Feb 2008 19:30:12 GMT

The ASPCA® (American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to
Animals®) today announced the launch of a new chapter in its national Humane Education program: “Henry’s Book Club,” at
www.aspca.org/henrysbookclub.

This is a new, online, interactive program designed to expose young readers to quality humane literature and increase awareness of animal welfare among children.

“At least 30 million children use the Internet as a source of
information,” said ASPCA President & CEO Ed Sayres. “Henry’s Book Club exemplifies the unique benefits of using the Internet to further
education. It is our hope that through Henry’s Book Club, we will spread awareness of ASPCA award-winning books through online community outreach, while simultaneously teaching children the benefits of the human/ animal bond.”

Named in honor of ASPCA founder Henry Bergh, Henry’s Book Club will feature ASPCA award-winning books selected for their exemplary handling of subject matter pertaining to animals and the environment. The inaugural selections for February— A Dog’s Life by Ann Martin and Buddy Unchained by Daisy Bix—commemorate the millions of animals who enter shelters each year and celebrate those who provide them with safe and loving homes.

On the first Monday of every month, Henry’s Book Club will feature two
books—one for ages five to eight and another for ages nine and up—selected by “Henry,” the club’s dog mascot who will don a Henry Bergh-like top hat. For each of these two selected titles, the ASPCA will provide a brief description of the book and a list of suggested discussion questions that invite use by parents, teachers, scout leaders and kids themselves. The discussion questions are intended to educate children about humane and environmental issues as well as promote respect for their communities, neighbors and animals alike. In addition, the Web site will host special guest authors and moderated discussion groups that will be eligible for readers over age 13.

For more information on the ASPCA, or to learn more about Henry’s Book Club, please visit www.aspca.org/henrysbookclub

Needed: Educators/Police/Social Workers to Speak on Humane Education

Cathie — Mon, 14 Jan 2008 08:13:19 GMT

Virginia Voters for Animal Welfare (VVAW) have been working to introduce legislation to benefit companion animals. We have succeeded in getting Senator Jill Holtzman Vogel to introduce it as SB438. Delegate Hull will co-patron it in the Virginia House of Delegates. You can read a summary of the bill (click on the link under "full text" to see it in its entirety) at:
http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?081+sum+SB438

We URGENTLY need a few educators/police/social workers/parents to speak at the hearing which we believe will be held next Thursday, 1/17 at 8:30 am in Richmond. Interested persons can reply to Diana
Artemis at: artemdi@yahoo.com.

Posted with permission by Cathie Myers

Photo by Clay Myers

Animal Attitudes

Cathie — Thu, 22 Nov 2007 02:35:40 GMT

Here is your chance to share your attitudes about animals with a student from another country. Christina is looking for some assistance (see her email below) with a project.

If you can help, please go to the Resource section of this community and look for the file "Animal Understandings" under General Documents.

Thank you!
Cathie Myers
Community Editor

Cartoon by Steven Hirano, Best Friends

Dear Best Friends
I am Cristina from Switzerland but I spent my last year as a foreign exchange student near York, PA. I had the chance to work in a cat and dog shelter and got even closer to animals. I had already wanted to study veterinary medicine before and it was a great experience to understand how it is to daily work with animals. I had a wonderful time and left with very mixed feelings when the year was over in summer.
Now that I am back home, I work on my graduation project, which looks at American and Swiss animal protection legislations and compares the two systems. I also hand out a survey to get an impression of the people's mindset and attitude towards animals. I would be very honored to send you the survey and receive your answer. Everyone that is willing to fill it out is a great help to me and supports the outcome of my project, so do not hesitate to hand it out also to other people that might share their views.
I look forward to your response, I think it is really great what you are doing.

Best regards
Cristina Gattiker

Things You Can Do to Help Animals.doc

Anonymous — Mon, 19 Nov 2007 19:01:44 GMT

How to Turn Your Trash into Cash.doc

Anonymous — Mon, 19 Nov 2007 19:01:18 GMT

How to Campaign for Animals.doc

Anonymous — Mon, 19 Nov 2007 19:00:50 GMT

FLEECE CAT BLANKETS.doc

Anonymous — Wed, 14 Nov 2007 18:17:16 GMT

DOG TOYS.doc

Anonymous — Wed, 14 Nov 2007 18:11:36 GMT

CAT WANDS.doc

Anonymous — Wed, 14 Nov 2007 18:09:55 GMT

Dog Lesson.pdf

Anonymous — Fri, 12 Oct 2007 01:35:56 GMT

Dog Handout 2.pdf

Anonymous — Fri, 12 Oct 2007 01:34:59 GMT

Parrot Lesson 2.pdf

Anonymous — Fri, 12 Oct 2007 01:33:32 GMT

Dog Handout.pdf

Anonymous — Fri, 12 Oct 2007 01:32:36 GMT

Parrot Lesson.pdf

Anonymous — Fri, 12 Oct 2007 01:26:55 GMT