The shelter and animal rescue situation seems like a revolving door of never ending cruelty and neglect committed by, sometimes very young, adults and untold suffering of many animals. What can be done often seems like a "drop onto a hot stone", as a German proverb goes. I do feel though that even as the anger flares, heartache has tears streaming own your face and the seeming hopelessness creeps in at the extent of the situation, that at some point the children who now as adolescents and adults do these cruel things to animals, never did get what they needed as young children - to grow up with a sense of worth and love, never did get taught empathy, tools for self regulation and healthy empowerment and meaningful relationships and a vision for their life compatible with compassion and heartfelt joy.There is much possible with new and stricter laws to send a message about non tolerance of animal cruelty, there may be unchangeable genetic predispositions which no schooling can influence - in the long run however, we also need to pay attention to the children who are in our care in schools and Kindergartens for 12 and more years - all day long. Much can be done here - and it has to be here we urgently need to look for deeper and lasting change to happen. It might take a while - but check this out:
Please read and watch all of this on this page if you have children or care for animals.
The 2 things you will find described/reported on this page are both very worthwhile.
The project, "School Kids Help Shelter Animals Art Project", as I named it here, is something that can be done today in a school near you.
It is an AMAZINGLY doable thing in schools - for all around raising awareness on the subject of animals in shelters, cooperation, raising funds for shelter animals & empowering children - and all in doing ART.
I was very inspired by this project, which can be incorporated into any school and it WILL change how our children feel and are able to be empathic, and it will change the plight of animals for the better.
I corresponded with Siobhan Nolan, the teacher who did this with her art class to benefit shelter animals with kids in a school in Baltimore, MD, and got some answers to some questions I had about doing this in local schools.
Here is the exchange, with my questions for Siobhan in bold:
....If so, I am still interested to hear more about the project, children-
> lend-a-hand-to-homeless-pets, specifically:
>
> - what was your motive for doing this project (might have been a
> school task assignment vs creative and out of passion for a cause -
> either way is fine :) ?
Our school is an expeditionary learning school, and we do our very best to connect the skills that kids need to learn with real world applications. A lot of our work naturally turns into advocacy work for organizations or connections/service to our community.
My motivation came from the classroom teachers. I am an art teacher and I see the kids once every three days. In their regular classroom and in their math classroom they began the relationship with BARCS (the shelter). The kids started a penny collection and used the penny collection to teach the kids about decimals and adding decimals. The kids collected around $400.
Both of my dogs are rescues, not from this particular shelter, but rescues nonetheless and the second grade team have had a relationship with the shelter previously.
I also used the book, Uncle Andy's Cats by James Warhola to get the kids excited and invested. Its about Andy Warhol the artist, a true story, and really cute. He has too many cats in the story, so he paints them, makes a book - makes them famous, and then everyrone wants to adopt them. So we decided to do the same thing for BARCS.
> - how big a class did you take to the shelter?
The second grade team took the kids to the shelter initially. I did not attend. It was more of a Friday fun activity, let's walk to the shelter so we can see who we're helping. I don't think BARCS took the kids back to see the dogs and cats though. However, BARCS did bring some rescue dogs to the second grade classrooms AND to a school wide meeting. A schoolwide meeting is just that - a meeting where the entire school gets together - kids and staff. The kids shared what BARCS was about and how we can help them. This was ALL before I even had the idea to do the pet portraits.
When I took the kids to photograph the dogs and cats, I only took four kids. Honestly, the photographs did not turn out well because the kids were SO excited they moved around a WHOLE lot.
> - what was the parent involvement?
Not really. Parents came to support their kids at the silent auction, but other than that nothing. I'm also not good at asking parents for help either.
> - how was the project received by the: children, parents, shelter
> employees and managers?
Everyone was in love with the idea and the final result. The kids were proud, parents in awe of their kids work and the shelter workers were inspired. I worked directly with the BARCS director to make the silent auction happen as well as scheduling the shelter visit for photographs, etc.
> - what impact did you observe in all 3 (children, parents, shelter
> employees) ?
Kids became advocates for the shelter. They took ownership of their artwork, the cause, and getting the word out about BARCS.
> - how did the auction go and did you end up making a donation to the
> shelter?
The auction was well attended... about 50 people attended - kids, families, teachers, BARCS volunteers and community. We sold all 42 paintings and raised $1000.
> - preparation time, legalities to consider?
The artwork took a long time to make from start to finish. We did everything in depth. The kids investigated watercolors. They investigated how oil pastels work with watercolors. They investigated the best way to show pet fur with texture and length... We learned how to trace shapes with a high quality, how to transfer the drawing, and how to choose a background color. But, you could probably get it done in ten sessions (hours) from start to finish if you needed to. You also don't have to do the artwork the way we did.
> - did any adverse incidences happen?
Nope, not that I can think of.
> - how do you feel about this project now and will you do it again
> next year. if not, why?
Yup, we're going to do it again next year. I'm thinking about connecting it with an artist study of Andy Warhol.
> - and anything really you feel is important to consider in trying to
> make something like this happen?
Investment and support from all parties, kids teachers and shelter.
> > Again, I am not a teacher, so I would likely face a few other hurdles
> to get something like that going. My questions also may reflect my
> general ignorance of what it may take to do something like this.
> I think though, given the plight of animals in this country and the
> observed cruelty done by humans that it is through raising awareness
> and working with children we may have an impact in the long run.
> This is a project that brings together various elements and benefits
> worthy of repeating elsewhere....at least this is my impression.
>
I hope this helps and any other questions I can answer please ask...
Thank so so much again for doing this and letting us know something about the process.Everyone:
THIS WAS A SUCCESS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Here is the original article on the "School Kids Help Shelter Animals Art Project":
Baltimore, MD - On Sunday, June 5, BARCS Animal Care and Rescue Center will be hosting a beautiful event - an auction for the animals.
But this is more than an auction to benefit the homeless pets....
It is an event that is surrounded by the most amazing, beautiful concept - children helping innocent pets.
To read the reminder of the original article, please click here
Penny Eims
http://www.examiner.com/x-2111-Dog-News-Examiner
National Dog News Examiner
Contributor, Fido Friendly Magazine
Twitter: Eims4gsds
Imagine combining Help the Shelter Animals Art Project with this:
the Mind up program.
Where we need to focus - our children everywhere
I just found out about this 2 days ago.
Where we need to focus - our children everywhere
Well, In cased you really don't see yourself working in the school system, what can you do to help?
Be a responsible dog owner!
Be a good example for your children.
Volunteer at your local shelter. There are many different task that need to get done.
Donate.
Talk about the plight of dogs - advocacy can start very small.
Transport dogs for rescue organisations
