Spread Kindness by Caring for Animals
Pets offer us companionship, loyalty, and unconditional love. They provide us with an outlet for our affection and can help to reduce our stress and anxiety. In return, they rely on us for their food, shelter, and care.
One way to show our pets how much they are appreciated is to spend time with them. Walks, play, and time spent together lets them know that they are valued members of the family. In addition to providing our pets with the love and attention they deserve, spending time with them can also have a positive impact on our own well-being.
So, next time you're feeling down, take a cue from your furry friend and spend some quality time together. It's sure to brighten your day and spread a little bit of kindness in the process. Here are some additional ways to show kindness to animals this summer.
With gratitude,
—MiaLisa Millares, Executive Director
ACTIONS
Volunteer with Animals. Spending time with our animals reduces stress and may even provide a boost to our immunity. Create some pet toys, bake dog biscuits for your animal friends or take them to a shelter to share. Some shelters even have programs where kids can practice reading to the animals while simultaneously building a friendship!
Foster Animals. Fostering an animal can be a great way to show kindness and teach children to care for others. When you foster an animal, you are providing a temporary home for an animal that has been homeless, abused, or neglected. This gives the animal a chance to recover from their ordeal and find a permanent home. In addition, fostering an animal can teach children how to be responsible for another living creature. They will learn how to feed, water, and exercise the animal, as well as how to provide love and attention. As a result, fostering an animal can be a great way to show kindness and teach children to care for others.
Advocate for Animals. Advocating for animals is a great way to teach children lessons in kindness and compassion. When kids see how much joy and satisfaction they can bring to an animal's life, they realize the importance of being kind and caring. Furthermore, by advocating for animals, children learn how to stand up for those who cannot speak for themselves. As a result, advocating for animals is a great way to instill empathy and compassion in children. It's also a great way to give them a sense of responsibility and empowerment.
Volunteer Listings. Are you looking for opportunities in your area to volunteer with your kids? Check out our free volunteer listings. Simply subscribe to the list and receive a free monthly email that details a number of different opportunities in your community to give back as a family.
CONVERSATIONS
Here are some ways to start a conversation with your kids about animals.
What is your favorite animal?
If you were an animal, which animal would you be? Why?
If you could have any animal in the world as a pet, what would you choose and why?
Have you shown animals kindness? How?
How can you show kindness to our furry animal friends?
How can you inspire others to show kindness to animals?
READ
Are you interested in reading some books about animals and kindness to your children?
If so, check out this growing list of books for animal lovers!
INSPIRATION
“The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated.”
—Mahatma Gandhi