The Humane Treatment of Animals: A Guide for Elementary Teachers. NY State Education Dept. Level 2 Grades 1, 2 & 3: |
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 - Pets require responsible owners. Activities - Encourage the children to discuss their pets. Develop a list of the physical and emotional needs of pets. Have each pet owner make a duty chart for his pet incorporating needs listed. Have them keep track of their fulfillment of responsibility to their pet. Discuss results.
Understanding - Owning a pet is a moral responsibility. Activities - Have the class discuss the need for an active commitment of pet ownership. Elicit responsibilities such as: daily care, long-term ownership, possible health bills, cost of set up and supplies, emotional stress and expense at illness or death, recognizing the rights of your neighbors. Supplemental Information - Acquiring a pet on impulse often leads to poor care and eventual abandonment. Pet shop purchases are very often impulse purchases.
Understanding - Different breeds of dogs and cats need different care. Activities - Have the children collect pictures of as many different kinds of dogs and cats as possible. Then, have them make posters for each illustrating proper diet, facilities, and care. Supplemental Information - The larger the animal the more room and food s/he needs. Certain breeds also require more grooming for their personal comfort and to ease care of them. Some pets seem to require more attention from people; others react best when infrequently handled. Personalities vary greatly from breed to breed. Certain dogs love everyone while others are one person dogs. Consult the library for books about specific breeds of dogs and cats as well as Dog Fancy and Cat Fancy magazines. Also ask the librarian if you can search an index to access breed specific articles in back issues of Dog Fancy and Cat Fancy.
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. Dog bites can be prevented and must be taught to keep children safe.
Understanding - Pets need consistent, firm, kind training.
Understanding - Pets need inoculations and yearly check-ups. Activities: Invite a veterinarian to discuss with the children various aspects of pet ownership including preventative medicine, and the need for proper exercise, nutrition, and shelter. Animals who are sick or injured need immediate veterinary care! Failure to do so constitutes animal cruelty (neglect) under NY Agriculture and Markets law Article 26.
Understanding - Not all animals make good house pets. Activities - Review with the children pet ownership responsibilities. Elicit reasons why dogs, cats, and domesticated fish and birds make the best house pets. Supplemental information - "Novelty" animals such as monkeys and alligators are often a great burden because of the special care required. Dogs and cats have been bred over the centuries to serve as house pets. Domesticated fish and birds are suitable for apartments and have needs easier to meet.
Understanding - There are laws governing pet ownership. Activities - Have a town clerk or warden explain to the children local ordinances governing pet ownership. As follow-up, have the children act out or write essays showing how certain laws protect animals and people. Supplemental information: Copies of local ordinances can probably be obtained from the town clerk. See also NY Agriculture and Markets law. Additionally, there are laws to protect animals from cruelty. For background information read Explaining Cruelty. Chaining dogs is illegal in certain states and towns. For information about laws, pending legislation and why chaining is cruel visit Unchain Your Dog. PETA has a number of informative public service announcements about chaining in print and video format that may aid in instruction.
Understanding - Pet overpopulation is a problem. Activities - Encourage the children to relate personal experiences with pet litters and stray animals. Discuss particularly the problems encountered in finding homes for puppies or kittens and other animals such as rabbits that are allowed to breed. Supplemental information - Spaying and neutering are easy methods to control pet population and do not harm the animal. Rabbits should also be spayed or neutered. (www.rabbit.org)
Understanding - Proper giving up of unwanted pets is humane and helps control pet overpopulation. Activities - Elicit from the children instances when a pet may need to be given up, such as: the family moves, someone in the family is allergic to the pet, there has been a litter and there is no room for all the pets. Invite a local animal shelter to explain the work or his/her agency. Responsible pet guardians do not contribute to the overpopulation problem by allowing their animals to breed. Supplemental information - To turn a pet over to an animal shelter, even if a home can't be found and the animal is destroyed, is the most humane way to handle unwanted pets. Abandonment causes hardship, pain, and danger to the pet and a possible menace to people. Abandonment is illegal and is a felony in the state of New York.
Next Topic - The following topics from the guide will be added shortly: Animals in School Animals and People Animals in Their Natural Environment See also Humane Education Resources page for teaching guides, lessons and additional materials including audio visual materials.
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