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Animal Friends' Humane Education program brings pets to the classroom to teach children the basics of responsible pet care, humane treatment of animals and, most importantly, compassion and empathy for other living things.
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Humane Education at Animal Friends If you are interested in a humane education presentation or children's tour, please note that we usually take reservations several months in advance. We are currently taking reservations for January, February, April and May of 2010. We make visits to schools on Thursdays or Fridays. Shelter tours are held Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturday mornings. Our presentations/tours are offered free of charge, but we ask that each child bring in a gift for our animals. Supply drives are particularly welcome. Click here to see our supply drive form. During the 2009-2010 school year, we will offer a Junior Girl Scout Pet Care Badge Day in the fall and the spring. Our Badge Days sell out quickly. Please check the Animal Friends University page of our website regularly for Badge Day listings. General Program Information
Groups that we serve
Catnip pillows, cat-calming ghosts, dog rope toys | Click here for easy instructions Would your troop, classroom, or children’s group like to give gifts to the animals at Animal Friends this holiday season? We are currently taking reservations for holiday donation drop-offs on Dec. 17, 18, or 19, 2009. Each group will receive a tour and an animal interaction. Reservations are required, and group size is limited to 8-25 children. Please click here to see what our animals are wishing for this holiday season. Please email Dana Schultz, Education Coordinator, at dschultz@thinkingoutsidethecage.org to schedule your reservation.
The requirements for Humane Education Volunteers include the following:
Don’t have a pet of your own? One of our approved shelter animals could be your four-legged presentation buddy. But first you would also need to complete our dog and cat handling classes.
You can practice reading to your dog at home! Our Rovers recommend Three Stories You Can Read to Your Dog by Sara Swan Miller. Three Stories You Can Read to Your Dog is a book that your dog sure will love. That’s because the stories talk to your dog. So when you sit down with your dog and read to him the first sentence that says, “One day you were taking a nap,” your dog will probably think, “Hmmm. I like to take naps. This books sure sounds like it is about me.” There are three short stories in this book that are about burglars (yikes!), bones (yum!), and being a wild dog (uh-oh!). Have fun snuggling in with your favorite four-legged friend to share this fun book together!
Kids and Volunteering Because of insurance considerations and state regulations, we are restricted in our ability to provide hands-on animal projects for children. Kids 12 and under can support the shelter in other ways such as:
 Links for Kids
Decoding the Secret Language of Animals Download and print out bookmarks that demonstrate the body language of dogs. Click here. Thinking About a Vet Career? See below to download the free brochures from the American Veterinary Medical Association's website, http://www.avma.org/: Interested in learning from Animal Friends' medical team? Students in grades 6-9 are invited to register for a two-hour workshop, AF 105 "Thinking About a Veterinary Career?", led by an Animal Friends veterinarian and veterinary technician. The class is offered several times throughout the school year and during the summer. Registration is limited to 12 students per session, grades 6-9 only. Check the Animal Friends University webpage to see if the class is currently being offered and to see a complete workshop description.
Do You See That Doggie in the Shelter? Have you ever heard the classic song "(How Much is That) Doggie in the Window"? It was recorded in 1952 by Patti Page. Now Ms. Page has re-written the lyrics to encourage people to adopt animals from shelters rather than buy them at pet stores. Click here to hear her sing "Do You See That Doggie in the Shelter." We think you'll agree that it contains lots of good reasons to adopt a homeless pet. Ms. Page decided to rewrite the lyrics to the song because now nearly all puppies sold at pet stores come from puppy mills. Puppy mills are places where dogs are bred for profit. The adult dogs who produce the puppies often do not receive enough human contact, food, water, exercise, or vet care. They may live their entire lives in very cramped or dirty cages. Sadly, there are hundreds of puppy mills right here in Pennsylvania. Want to learn more? This flier is a good resource to learn more about puppy mills and how to stop them. NOTE: The recording of "Do You See That Doggie in the Shelter" is the property of The Humane Society of the United States and may not be used for commercial purposes. |
What's New: Animal Friends' Kids' Club The details of 2010's contest will be available in December in Animal Friends' Petsburgh Press newspaper and Education webpage.
Donate
Adopt a Classroom! Contact Our Education Program Dana Schultz Education Coordinator 412.847.7033 dschultz@ThinkingOutsideTheCage.org
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Pet Adoption & Resource Center | 562 Camp Horne Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15237 | 412.847.7000 Come visit us! Monday - Friday 11am - 7pm | Saturday & Sunday 10 am - 5pm |
