Being Kind Is Cool!
Each person counts.
You can truly make a difference in the lives of the animals!
Here are some ideas that can make you the best animal guardian around:
Challenge Your Classroom to Care
- Have your class participate in one of IDA's student contests.
- Prepare a report or speech for your class about the pet overpopulation problem or about how to be a responsible animal guardian.
- Ask your teacher if you can do a letter-writing project. Talk to people at your local animal shelter to find out why animals are being turned over to the shelter. Write letters to your local and state government officials and the newspapers. Make a bulletin board and display responses so other students can see them.
- Create a puppet show for your school about why people call themselves animal guardians instead of owners. Ask your principal if you can present it for an assembly.
- Volunteer to help younger students with their reading, and read a story about people helping animals.
Help in Your Community
• Do you know an elderly person or someone sick who has a pet? Volunteer to help feed, walk or bathe the person's dog, or change kitty litter. Your help may enable someone to keep a cat or dog they might otherwise have to send to a shelter.
• Call your local shelter. Ask what you can do to help. Offer to collect blankets and other supplies. Create a bulletin board for your school or library with pictures of adoptable animals.
• Animal rescue groups always need money. Hold a bake sale, collect money from recycling aluminum cans, or hold a yard sale. The money could be given to sponsor spay/neuter programs or to help feed shelter animals.
• Make posters for the neighborhood about taking care of animals, spaying and neutering, adopting older animals, and everything that is involved in taking care of a pet. Ask permission to put these up in stores, veterinarians' offices, or on community bulletin boards.
• Volunteer at your local animal welfare organization
• Inspire other kids. Tell us what you are doing to help animals and we will pass your ideas along.
"I live with three dogs and two cats. It never occurred to me that I "own" them, just as my parents would never say they "own" me. It is my choice and responsibility to love and take care of them and they, in return, in their way, love and take care of me, too. The term "owner" implies some kind of power; the word "guardian" implies a relationship on more equal and compassionate terms."