Humane Education
Teaching a child to help homeless pets in need can be the first step to providing life-long lessons of compassion and caring. Our Humane Education Department serves children and adults of all ages by providing a variety of unique learning opportunities that support the bond between humans and companion animals by nurturing knowledge, compassion and respect toward all living things and spreading awareness about the prevention of cruelty to animals.
Our Humane Educators have visited thousands of children and adults in schools, camps, assisted-living facilities and correctional facilities to teach them about treating animals with kindness, compassion therapy and the prevention of cruelty to animals.
Smarty PAWS Reading Programs
**Our Smarty Paws program is currently closed due to COVID-19. Check back here for updates.**
Kids between ages of 5-13 are invited to take part in this enrichment program for children and shelter cats & dogs on Tuesdays and Thursdays anytime during open hours (12-7pm).
The shelter can be a stressful environment for our feline & canine friends. The higher the levels of stress, the more prone they are to becoming sick. The sound and interaction of children reading to cats and dogs are both soothing and stress-relieving for our homeless pets awaiting homes. Studies have shown that children reading to pets helps with learning disabilities because it provides them with a relaxing, stress and judgment-free outlet for them to practice their reading. In addition to providing an enriching environment for our cats & dogs, this program helps promote adoption, encourages treating animals with kindness and teaches the importance of spaying/neutering.
Smarty PAWS FAQS
