Take a Hike!

It could lead to a better future for cats and dogs By Chris Shafer. Photos by Dog About Town NW

So many in our Inland Northwest communities work tirelessly to help unwanted pets find homes. This is true throughout the country, yet it is estimated that each year three to four million cats and dogs are euthanized in animal shelters. Incidences of animal abuse and neglect aren't limited to distant cities or regions, but exist right here in our neighborhoods. You may have wondered if there is something that can be done to diminish the plight of unwanted, neglected, and abused animals in our local communities. Yes, there is! Humane education.

Did you know that humane education can serve a community as a long-term strategy for large scale change and improvement in the quality of animals’ lives? One such humane education program is the RedRover Readers. The curriculum is designed for elementary school classrooms and is aligned with academic content standards in the United States and Canada. Educators trained in the RedRover Readers' curriculum read stories to students and lead discussions. It is an innovative approach to social and emotional learning and is designed to promote empathy and compassion.

In the program, children share information about animals, reflect on the roles of animals in their communities, and determine their responsibilities toward them. They are encouraged to put themselves in the place of animals and are asked questions that promote critical thinking. This helps to develop critical thinking skills, as well as increase the level of empathy for people and animals.

Dog About Town NW's trail dog, Miss Riley (rescued from a kill shelter in the Tri-Cities), will be hiking throughout the fall and winter to raise funds to bring RedRovers Readers' professional development training to the Inland NW. This training will be free to thirty elementary school teachers from the region. A conference room has been reserved at the Molstead Library at North Idaho College for Saturday, May 2nd, 2015.

If you'd like to support Riley's Hiking for Humane Education, you can find the link to the campaign's fund raising site @ www.dogabouttownnw.com; look under the heading of “Hiking for Humane Education.” Like Coeur d'Alene's primo pet-supply store GoodDog has done, individuals, organizations, and businesses can show their support by becoming team leaders and sponsors. Contact Dog About Town NW directly for more information: Chris@dogabouttownnw.com. In addition, off-line donations can be accepted as well, and all of the donations are targeted for use in our region.

Happy Tails & Trails!

Chris Shafer is the writer and creator of Dog About Town NW, a regional blog that celebrates dog ownership in the great Northwest where outdoor adventures with one's canine companions are typically more than a walk in the park.

The Benefits of Humane Education:

· Reduces Violence

· Builds Moral Character

· Creates Responsible and Caring Citizens

· Empowers Youth to Make a Difference

· Cultivates Empathy for Animals

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