| 92 years is getting up there, but some things are ageless. So it is with the American Humane Association's national Be Kind to Animals Week, which is celebrating its 92nd anniversary, May 7 - 13, 2006. The week represents a wonderful tradition of celebrating and respecting animals. It's also a time to reflect on the happiness and joy these companions bring to us.
Be Kind to Animals Week is also a time to recognize people who love animals and who've taken actions to improve their lives. At the San Francisco SPCA we see these people every day. We see our staff members, who are dedicated to caring for homeless cats and dogs, whether by performing delicate surgery or by ensuring that an animal's living area is spotlessly clean. We see our volunteers, walking dogs in every kind of weather, or sitting quietly with a shy cat for hours at a time. And we see the donor members of The SF/SPCA family, many of whom have supported our lifesaving work for years.
One aspect of Be Kind to Animals Week that we find particularly meaningful is its focus on children. The San Francisco SPCA also has a long history of working with youngsters through its Humane Education Program. Today, that program runs in-school presentations and after-school classes for Junior Volunteers, summer camps and tours for children, including at-risk youngsters who might otherwise have no positive interactions with animals.
Reed had just celebrated his seventh birthday, and he had requested that family and friends not give him birthday presents; instead, he asked them to contribute to The SF/SPCA. |
Several times a year we write letters of appreciation and gratitude to children who send The SF/SPCA gifts of money, usually small amounts, to help the shelter animals. The generosity of these youngsters is so heartfelt, their love for animals so palpable, that we are always very moved by their gestures. Earlier this year, a small boy named Reed Andary made a special trip to The SF/SPCA, accompanied by his proud parents, John and Wendy Andary, to present The SF/SPCA with a donation check. Reed had just celebrated his seventh birthday, and he had requested that family and friends not give him birthday presents; instead, he asked them to contribute to The SF/SPCA. Reed's birthday gift to the homeless dogs and cats at our shelter was an extraordinary $700. Youngsters such as Reed, and all the other children who care for animals, are an inspiration to us all.
Just as abuse of animals many times correlates with violence towards humans, we believe that kindness to animals goes hand in hand with kindness to people. To celebrate Be Kind to Animals Week, The SF/SPCA is holding its annual Food Drive for the pets of San Francisco's homeless people. During the 2005 Pet Food Drive, The SF/SPCA collected over 1,000 pounds of donated pet food for the companion animals of some of the most vulnerable members in our community. At The SF/SPCA we know that when we help companion animals, we also help and give hope to their human companions. By living the message of Be Kind to Animals Week, our entire society benefits.
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