Be Kind to Animals Week

Celebrate Be Kind to Animals Week!

May 4th - 10th has been designated as a week for each of us to do just that much more in making this world a place for all animals and for ourselves. The Maine State Society for the Protection of Animals joins with the American Humane Society in taking extra time between May 4th and May 10th to recognize those individuals who devote themselves to the care and comfort of animals every day. Please send us your stories and photos that honor those people and the animals they love. We will post them into a special gallery on our website in celebration of Be Kind to Animals Week.*

Be Kind to Animals Week is also a great time for Mainers to contact their local school boards and remind them that Maine law provides for humane education in its public and private schools. 20 MRSA §1221 provides as follows:

1221. Teaching of virtue and morality

Instructors of youth in public or private institutions shall use their best endeavors to impress on the minds of the children and youth committed to their care and instruction the principles of morality and justice and a sacred regard for truth; love of country, humanity and a universal benevolence; the great principles of humanity as illustrated by kindness to birds and animals and regard for all factors which contribute to the well-being of man; industry and frugality; chastity, moderation and temperance; and all other virtues which ornament human society; and to lead those under their care, as their ages and capacities admit, into a particular understanding of the tendency of such virtues to preserve and perfect a republican constitution, secure the blessings of liberty and to promote their future happiness.

All copyrights and other rights to statutory text are reserved by the State of Maine. The text included in this publication reflects changes made through the First Regular Session of the 123rd Legislature, and is current through December 31, 2007, but is subject to change without notice. It is a version that has not been officially certified by the Secretary of State. Refer to the Maine Revised Statutes Annotated and supplements for certified text.

Humane education is not a new concept; in fact, humane education was introduced to American schoolchildren on a broad scale in the late nineteenth century by George Angell, the founder of the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. Angell was responsible for the widespread distribution of humane storybooks to public schools, including Anna Sewell's famous Black Beauty, 3 million copies of which had been circulated by 1909.

Humane education explores the challenges facing the global community and all those who live on earth. It teaches compassion for all living creatures, human and non-human alike. It encourages those involved in the process to consider how respect and empathy for people, animals, and even the environment can help make life better today and in the future. The mission of humane teaching is to educate people regarding their responsibilities to ensure the welfare of companion animals and wildlife, together with the ecosystems required to support life on earth.

There are many organizations that provide free curriculum materials related to humane education. If you would like to learn more about humane education, please visit www.humaneeducation.org; www.aspca.org or www.nhes.org or contact the Maine State Society for the Protection of Animals. The MSSPA sends speakers into school and clubs across Maine to help provide engaging, practical information about humane treatment of animals. The Society's Board of Directors supports humane education for people at every stage of life, but particularly for young people who will shape the future of life for everyone here on our earth.

Local animal shelters and other humane agencies, frequently in collaboration with schools, using materials developed by professional humane educators provide much of the humane education delivered today. Although humane education delivery methods may vary, for example, they might include animal shelter tours, classroom visits, after-school activities, summer camps, junior volunteer programs, as well as the distribution of lesson plans and teaching materials for the classroom, there is a central concept that underlies all humane education, namely, the belief that just as helping children develop good character is an essential component of their education, treating animals responsibly and humanely is an crucial part of good character.

Kindness to animals really is a set of values and behaviors that inform our lives each day, particularly during the week designated to highlight humane practices concerning animals. There are many things that each of can do to help make the planet a better place for animals. Here are a few suggestions:

• Spay or neuter your companion animals; overpopulation is the major cause of otherwise unnecessary euthanizations.
• Be sure that your companion animals have an ID tag or microchip to help identify you as their owner, should your animals ever become lost.
• Know the animal cruelty laws of your state and report suspected animal neglect or abuse to law enforcement agents.
• Teach children about the importance of kindness to animals.
• Adopt a pet from your local shelter, if you are able to provide for that animal's well-being and safety.
• Make a donation to the animal shelter of your choosing.

You are cordially invited to visit the MSSPA at its 279 River Road, South Windham, Maine facility each day between 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm. Barns close at 3:00 pm to permit night feeding of the animals.

*Please provide contact information for any photos or stories submitted. No information will be posted without permission of the owner, parent or guardian of the subject of the photo or story.