Claire Tillman and Humane Education - Grace Spring

I was very fortunate to grow up in an animal-loving household. I have always been surrounded by dogs and cats and other critters in my home, so not only have I been able to spend time with and learn to relate to animals, but I also have been able to develop a profound love and respect for them. In many areas, for example race and culture, the less you know about something or someone, the more misconceptions and misunderstanding you will typically have. I believe this holds true for animal-human relations as well. People who have had little contact with companion animals may not understand how to properly care for them or how they should be treated. Furthermore, people, especially children, who have been exposed to animals in a negative way, whether it be through dog-fighting, backyard breeding, or other negative experiences, typically do not interact with animals in a healthy, mutually beneficial way. I believe humane education and awareness is the answer.

After listening to Claire Tillman speak, I feel even more strongly about the positive changes associated with simply educating people, mainly children, on correct animal relations. Especially in Philadelphia where many children see animals on the street or being abused in households, it is essential that passionate people like Claire provide accurate information on caring for and interacting with companion animals.

When I ran my guinea pig rescue in high school, I would first hold a one-on-one education meeting with potential adopters on proper guinea pig care, so that they could then buy the correct supplies and prepare for their new pet. I would frequently be shocked by the misconceptions people had about proper care, some of which came for seemingly legitimate websites! No, guinea pigs can not live in cages the size of a shoebox. Yes, guinea pigs need fresh vegetables. No, you can not file their teeth down with a nail filer. I realized the need for accurate care information early on, but I continually had doubts as to how much was 'sinking in' and how much people remember a few weeks or months later.

Claire had the same problem, which she touched on in her presentation. She mentioned the need to give supplementary presentations and frequently returned to schools multiple times to reinforce what she had taught. I am also thinking about how to best get through to people in terms of my CBL project for Pitbull Awareness Day. How am I going to be able to influence people in the few moments they stop by my booth? I want to impart on them the importance of avoiding petstores at all costs and saving the lives of homeless animals instead, but how to best accomplish that is not an easily answered question. I am hoping that through concise explanations, mildly graphic pictures, and flyers to take with them, the word will get spread . . . at least throughout Temple :)