Parenting Pep Talk: Small Ways You and Your Kids Can Help Animals
Many of us love animals. However, many of us are also unaware of the small choices we make each day that can impact our beloved animals. Here are six simple choices you and your family can make together to help animals and be an active part of the solution.
Involve children’s schools. Many schools are required to have a Social Emotional Learning curriculum, and the Mutt-i-grees Curriculum is one such program. Mutt-i-grees is an innovative program that teaches children about compassion, tolerance, diversity, and empathy using children’s innate love for animals.
Adopt, don’t shop! Most pet store dogs come from puppy mills, and many dogs that are flown in and sold by supposed breeders are actually puppy mill puppies too. It just isn’t that hard to create a wholesome looking website or to falsify lineage documents. Puppy mills are commercial breeding facilities that treat dogs inhumanely to produce a profit quickly. Shelters, on the other hand, rescue animals that need homes. These animals are capable of being fantastic pets and companions – no less so than any other dog or cat. Why support a horrendous industry (and spend hundreds to thousands of dollars) when you can adopt an animal in need?
Choose nature sanctuaries and parks over circuses or animal theme parks like SeaWorld. It is unnatural for animals to live in captivity, especially in conditions created by places like circuses. Animals who travel in circuses spend much of their time confined in small trucks and are beaten into submission. Nature and animal sanctuaries, on the other hand, rescue and rehabilitate animals, and they offer tours and fun activities for children and adults. Families can visit the Greenburgh Nature Center in Scarsdale or Green Chimneys in Brewster. Also consider animal-free circuses like Cirque de Soleil for some outstanding entertainment.
Use your children’s creativity to help. Children love to be creative to help a cause. One member of the Youth Animal Protectors (YAP) Club, an organization that teaches children how their choices impact our local and global communities, makes and sells bracelets and donates the proceeds to organizations like the Northshore Animal League. Other children create Facebook pages and utilize other social media to help educate others about animal welfare and ways to take action. Children who just want to spend time with animals can help by volunteering at a local animal shelter.
Choose products wisely. Despite the alternatives, many companies routinely test their products on animals. It simply isn’t necessary to mistreat animals so they can test our shampoos, for example, before we do. Involve your children in deciding which brands to buy. There are many cruelty-free brands (Seventh Generation, Trader Joes, and Method, to name a few) that you can buy just as easily as other brands. To check which brands are on the “do not test” or “do test” list, check the Peta.org website, visit the online Peta Mall, or take a look at leapingbunny.org.
Enjoy some meat-free meals. It’s not necessary to go completely meat free to make a difference. Even limiting meat consumption can help reduce animal cruelty, and many experts agree that it is better for your health. When you do buy meat, look for brands that treat animals humanely.
Dr. Jaime Black is a licensed psychologist practicing in Westchester and New York City. Jaime works with high-functioning individuals on the autism spectrum, doing psychotherapy, conducting evaluations, and facilitating various socialization groups including an improv social skills group. Visit www.spectrumservicesnyc.com, e-mail JaimeBlackPsyD@gmail.com or call (914)712-8208.
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