Getting Involved

Let's face it. Not everyone shares the same thoughts on animals rights and cruelty prevention. Sometimes its because of a lack of education on the issues. Although animal shelters and centers are here to help protect animals after being abused or neglected, it is important to "get involved" with the real causes of the problem. Instead of just helping the effects (the neglected animals), the causes needed prevented. This can be done by getting involved with the community and increasing awareness of issues. The ASPCA is a perfect example of how rescuing animals can be achieved through other means aside from directly helping animals.

Although the ASPCA has saved countless animals, they are also taking the steps to prevent it from ever occurring. They are "getting involved" through community outreach projects. Education workshops are available through the ASPCA for adults to learn how to raise children with the knowledge of the importance of caring responsibly for animals. Along with parent education workshops, they offer teacher workshops as well. They help give teachers the ideas for incorporating caring for animals into their classrooms. What better way to help prevent cruelty, than to go to children and help them learn at an early age the importance of animals. This program is a benefit to teachers as well because in some cases it can be used as continuing education credits. Another workshop they carry is the community education workshops. These are designed for community groups, such as: Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, YMCA, etc. It offers a great chance for youth to get hands on experience with service projects. By offering these workshops, the ASPCA is taking an additional needed step in the preservation of animals.

Having additional means for the public to learn about animals will help increase awareness of the issues that effect animals. If a child grew up with little or no interaction of animals, they may not have a close connection of understanding the necessity for responsibly caring for animals. Through interacting with animals, children learn that animals have emotions and they are not always just necessarily pets, but they can benefit people in a number of ways such as being working animals (guide dogs for the blind, horses that pull carriages, and etc.). The ASPCA is a prime example of what animal rescue centers can do other than just care directly for animals. They can help solve the root of the problem by educating the community and gaining their interest on these topics.

For information on ASPCA's outreach programs, visit their website:
http://www.aspca.org/site/PageServer?pagename=edu_kids