Please note: all text in italics was taken directly from the out of print 1976 NY humane education curriculum guide.

Topic/House Pets - Companion Animals

Understanding - Dogs & cats are common American companion animals. Activities - Post pictures of companion animals. After the children have had the opportunity for free discussion, survey the class to find how many children have cats or dogs. Elicit the role of the pet in family life. Supplemental Information - Cats and dogs have been domesticated over the years to serve as house pets.

• Lesson: Dumb Friends League's What is a pet?

Understanding - Companion animals require responsible guardians. Activities - Encourage the children to talk about their pets. Discuss the needs of their pets and the the way the children can help in their care. Have the children look through magazines for pictures of pets. Draw their attention to illustrations depicting care and training. Supplemental Information - A happy house pet is one that is well cared for and knows what is expected off him (consistent, firm, kind training). Consult the library for appropriate books and media.

• Lesson: Humane Society Youth's What Does It Take to Care for a Pet? and accompanying books/materials: I Really Want a Dog by Susan Breslow or Sharing Sam flannel board kit .
• Read-aloud: Are You Ready for Me? Written by Claire Buchwald and illustrated by Amelia Hansen. The Gryphon Press, October 2007. A guide to the many responsibilities involved in dog guardianship, which includes loving and protecting your companion. An excellent Humane Education teaching tool as well as an important book for families to read together before considering committing to a dog. A family contract is provided at the end of the book. Fiction picture book. Interest level: Gr. K-3.
• Cartoons: ASPCA Pet care grooming your cat and teaching your dog to sit.

Understanding - Companion Animals need human attention. Activities - Have children act out how they think a pet feels when: lost, hungry, sleepy, alone, with people, in pain, afraid, happy, playful, naughty. Supplemental Information - Animals know fear, pain, happiness, loneliness, shame, pride.

• Lesson: ASPCA's What do you feel? lesson and activity page.
• Lesson: Dumb Friends League's We all have feelings to use with book, Can I Be Good? By Livingston Taylor. Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, 1993. Although he wants to be good, a big dog keeps doing things that get him into trouble. Rhyming fiction picture book. Interest level: Gr. Pre S-2.
• Read-aloud: My Dog Lyle. Written and illustrated by Jennifer P. Goldfinger. Clarion Books, 2007. The cumulative story, lovingly told by a girl who treats her dog like a true member of the family. Humorous fiction picture book. Interest level: Gr. PreS-2.
• Read-aloud: Breakfast for Jack. By Pat Schories. Front Street, 2004. One busy morning, the entire family has breakfast but they all neglect to feed Jack the dog, who is unsuccessful in his many attempts to prompt them. Wordless Fiction picture book. Interest level: Gr. PreS-1.
• Read-aloud: Harry the Dirty Dog. By Gene Zion. When a white dog with black spots runs away from home, he gets so dirty his family doesn't recognize him as a black dog with white spots. Fiction picture book. Interest level: Gr. Pre S-1.
• Read-aloud: The Way I Love You. By David Bedford. Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2005, 2004. A little girl celebrates all of the ways she loves her puppy. Fiction picture book. Interest level: Gr. PreS-1. Reading level: 2.6

Understanding - Veterinarians can help sick or injured animals. Activities - Encourage the children to talk about a visit to the veterinarian. Invite a veterinarian or shelter worker to visit the class to discuss how s/he helps animals. Supplemental Information - House pets are taken to the veterinarian for preventative and curative purposes. Often a sick or injured animal will bite or scratch. Remind the children that they should not touch a disabled animal, but seek help. Remind children that human medicine can hurt an animal and pets should be taken to the animal hospital immediately if they are sick or injured.

• Lesson: Humane Society Youth's A trip to the vet and links: The American Veterinary Association Care for Animals and Pets need Dental Care Too.
• Read-aloud: Benny. Written and illustrated by Sieb Posthuma. Kane/Miller Book Publishers, 2006. Benny's mother takes him to the veterinarian realizing that something is wrong when he shows no interest in the piece of pie that she offers to him. Humorous picture book from the Netherlands. Interest level: Gr. PreS-1.
• Read-aloud: Sally Goes to the Vet. By Stephen Huneck. Harry N. Abrams, 2004. Sally the dog injures herself on a tree stump while playing chase in the yard and has to be rushed to the vet's office. Picture book. Interest level: Gr. PreS-2.
• Read-aloud: Dog Breath!: The Horrible Trouble with Hally Tosis. Written and illustrated by Dav Pilkey. Scholastic, 2004. Hally, the Tosis family dog, has such bad breath that Mr. and Mrs. Tosis plan to give her away, until she proves to be an invaluable watchdog. Humorous picture book. Interest level: Gr. PreS-3. *Please note that it is important to explain to children that an animal's health or behavior problem must be prevented and remedied rather than giving an animal away.

Understanding - Laws exist for animals protection. Activities - Invite a police officer or animal warden to class to explain local animal laws. Discuss with the children how and why people must use their knowledge to protect animals. Help the children learn their addresses and phone numbers. Explain how a dog's licence tag tells who the dog belongs to and where it lives. Supplemental Information - Most communities have laws concerning reporting of accidents involving animals and mistreatment of animals, as well as animal control laws such as leash laws, penning and transporting animals, and using animals for work or entertainment.

• Lesson: ASPCA's Pet Safety ID
• Read-aloud: Curious George and the Puppies. Curious George and the man with the yellow hat find a tiny kitten in the park and take her to the animal shelter where she will be taken care of. While there, George falls in love with one of the many puppies for adoption. Fiction picture book. Interest level: Gr. pre S-1.

Understanding- Animals require kind, gentle treatment . Activities - Explain the basics of kindness and safety around animals. Animals communicate and it is important to pay attention to these cues to prevent bites and other injuries. Supplemental Information - Each year approximately 4.7 million people are bitten by dogs, ranging from minor nips to major attacks. Children are three times more likely to sustain a serious injury resulting in 800,000 children being hospitalized each year. Half of all children will be bitten before their eighteenth birthday. Most bites can be prevented! Bite prevention should be taught to keep children safe.

• Background information from the Humane Society of the United States - "Avoiding Dog Bites"
• Informative coloring sheet: Humane Society of the US Dog Bites Dos and Don'ts
• The Humane Society of the United States (free) online "Watch the Video" Preventing Dog Bites II
• Recommended video purchase - BOW WOW "OW!" Learning To Be Safe With Dogs bite prevention for ages 4-9.
• Recommended purchase - kindness kit: Let’s Be Kind to Animals! Activity Kit for Preschoolers which includes Bow Wow "Ow!" bite prevention video and many other materials.
• Lesson: Dumb Friends League's Kind Kids
• Lesson: Best Friend Sanctuary's Safety around animals
• Read-aloud: Tails Are Not for Pulling. By Elizabeth Verdick. Nonfiction picture book. Free Spirit Publishing, Inc., 2005. Pets may not have words, but they can communicate. Paying attention to an animal's cues can help a child understand what the animal is "saying" and what an appropriate response might be. A special section for adults includes ideas for teaching kindness to animals, activities, and discussion starters. Nonfiction picture book. Interest level: Gr. Pre S-K. ASPCA Henry Bergh Children's Book Award.
• Read-aloud: May I Pet Your Dog?: The how-to guide for kids meeting dogs (and dogs meeting kids) Written by Stephanie Calmenson and illustrated by Jan Ormerod. Clarion Books, 2007. Harry the dachshund explains to young children how to safely meet dogs, showing the proper way to approach dogs. An important bite-prevention teaching resource. Fiction picture book. Interest level: Gr. PreS-3.
• Nonfiction book: Play It Safe with Dogs/Fuera de peligro en compañía de perros™

Understanding - When a house pet has a litter, homes must be found for the young. Responsible animal guardians spay/neuter their animals to prevent litters. Some locales have laws requiring sterilization. Activities - Discuss with the children how they acquired their pets. Talk about the difficulties involved when their pet has a litter. Supplemental Information - Spaying and neutering are the most humane way of eliminating the problem of unwanted puppies and kittens. Low and no cost sterilization is available. Rabbits should be sterilized too. Visit www.rabbit.org for the most authoritative rabbit care information.

• Background information and lessons: ASPCA's "Pet Population: Behind the Numbers"
• Read-aloud: Millions of Cats. Written and illustrated by Wanda Gag. Puffin Books, 1928, 1956. The memorable refrain of America's first picture book, "Hundreds of cats, thousands of cats, millions and billions and trillions of cats," should help children commit to memory the importance of sterilizing companion animals. Fiction picture book. Interest level: Gr. K-3.
• Read-aloud: Hey Bossie, You're a Spokescow! Written by Mickey de Rham and illustrated by Leigh Gusterson. Plaidswede Publishing, 2005. The story of a real cow who helps the White Mountain Animal League educate people about the need to sterilize companion animals to reduce pet overpopulation. Fiction picture book. Interest level: Gr. PreS-3.

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