Education

The Peoria Humane Society continues to partner up with schools throughout the Peoria area to provide quality educational programs that teach young people that treating all living beings with kindness, compassion, and respect is the most responsible way to live. Our school presentations emphasize proper pet care, bite prevention & animal

safety, pet overpopulation & animal cruelty prevention, and wild animal respect. For more than 50 years we have been dedicated to the prevention of cruelty and neglect to animals and we proudly offer educational opportunities to benefit people and animals in Peoria County.

CURRENT EDUCATION NEWS

Paws to Read - Reading to Dogs Program

The Peoria Humane Society is offering a reading to dogs program for children over 8 years who love dogs and want to practice their reading skills. The Paws to Read program was started in March of 2005 as a way to help children develop their literacy skills and enjoy the companionship of a canine friend.

The children are partnered with registered and trained therapy dogs, allowing them to relax and enjoy reading and build their confidence in reading out loud. Our hope is to instill a love of reading in young people while fostering friendships between kids and dogs! Children can bring their favorite book from home or choose one from our large selection in the Animal Resource Library.

The reading sessions are scheduled throughout the year at the Education Center at PAWS, Lakeview Library, and Peoria Heights Library. Please contact our Resource Library at 494-8171 to register for upcoming Paws to Read programs.

Dear P.A.W.S. Education Staff,

I'm writing to thank you on behalf of my two sons - ages 8 and 11, who participated in our Paws to Read – Reading to Dogs Program.

I still recall when my wife shared with me that she had registered our sons for a program there they would read to dogs. First, I though to myself, I knew that dogs couldn't read, but I didn't realize that there was a service that had been created to help them out. Obviously, I did not immediately grasp the intended benefits of the program to my kids.

We soon realized the many benefits of the reading program. Each week in preparation for our appointment, my boys began to go through books that they though that their dogs might llike. It was nice to see them be so thoughtful of the interests of others. Then, when we packed to go to our reading time, I had to remind them that they probably couldn't get through more than one or two short books at one visit. They patiently reminded me that they wanted to have backup books in case the dog they were reading to wasn't interested in the first one. I had to smile as I allowed them to each pack a larger stack of books. The biggest benefit happened a couple of weeks into the program. That week, my older son was learning about writing letters. Their first assignment was to write a letter to a friend. Many times, my older son doesn't get motivated to do his in-class writing assignments and they turn into long homework assignments. However, for the first time in weeks, there was no homework. He was so excited to write to his new dog friend, "Chewy" that he finished his assignment at school and had no writing homework. As we finished the reading to dogs program, I realized that the program had been very effective for my kids. I want to thank everyone who supports this innovative reading program including Chewy. With so many dogs being blamed for eating homework, I think it is only fair that Chewy get credit for getting my son excited about his schoolwork and completing it in record time.

We look forward to the next time that you run the program. I know a couple of boys who already have some books picked out.

Education Department Programs

After School Programs
Kids & Critters Club (5th-8th grade)

Outreach Programs
Animal Tales Traveling Library
Paws to Read - Reading to Dogs Program
Animal Resource Library
Tours of PAWS

Summer Programs
AnimalsAloud Story Time (Preschool -3rd grade)
Kids & Critters Camp (5th-8th grade)
Animal Welfare Camp (High School)

Peoria Humane Society

Traveling Animal Library

An Outreach of the Peoria Humane Society's Animal Resource Library

The Peoria Humane Society is offering a traveling animal library. Animal Tales serves as an outreach to Peoria area children who are unable to experience our animal resource library in person.

We recognize that many young readers who would benefit from reading humane books about animals are unable to visit our library due to transportation challenges beyond their control. We want to help area children read and learn about animals without having to worry about coming to us.

A variety of award winning fiction and non-fiction books are included in our traveling collection that is available to area agencies. The children will receive a special paperback to keep for their very own. What great way to encourage a love of reading and animals!

Our Animal Tales is available to schools and other child care agencies by contacting our Resource Library at 309-494-8171. Simply call us today to schedule a visit! We look forward to sharing our library with you.

(Animal Tales was made possible in 2005/2006 by a grant from the Muntwyler Foundation.)

The Peoria Humane Society encourages pet owners to learn as much as possible about any animal they would consider bringing into their home. Pets should be treated as part of the family and cared for appropriately. We realize that different companion animals require different care and it is always in the best interest of the pet to have owners plan ahead and research the pets specific needs prior to joining the family. One way to learn about pets and their needs is to read books from the public library or even your school library. Additionally the Peoria Humane Society has an Animal Resource Library located in the Education Center at PAWS that is open to the public. Local veterinarians and pet supply stores can also be a resource on pet selection, care and handling.

Feline Friends

Cats are currently the most popular pet in the United States, with dogs coming in at second. Our feline friends deserve love, attention and understanding -by learning common kitty behavior - you and your feline friend will both benefit!

Have you ever asked yourself, why does my cat do that? One such question is, why do cats meow anyway? Cat meows can mean many things. A meow could be your cats way of saying " hello, I'm hungry, I'm feeling playful, I'm nervous, or leave me alone- I'm upset!" Different tones and different sounds mean different things! Listen to your cat and pay attention to their different vocalizations - try to guess what they are saying to you. Spend time with your companion, you will learn so much!

If a feline friend is in your future, you may enjoy learning more about cats with one of the following selections of books:

Why Do Cats Meow? by Joan Holub
The True-or-False Book on Cats by Patricia Lauber
How to Talk to Your Cat by Jean Craighead George

Contact the Peoria Humane Society's Education Center at 309-494-8171 for more information on pet care, selection, and behavior.

Book Endowment Fund

The Peoria Humane Society has established a Book Endowment Fund. With our Education Center, we now have a Resource Library filled with videos, books, and pamphlets on a variety of animal topics. In a continued effort to provide humane education to area students, the Education Department at the Peoria Humane Society has reviewed and selected a number of books that have a humane theme and are age appropriate for young people to read. These selected books meet or surpass our standards for humane content. A contribution of $15 will allow us to purchase a book for our library in the name of the donor or in memory of someone the donor designates. Each $15 donation toward the resource library will be recognized in the Peoria Humane Society’s Pawprints newsletter and books purchased will have a donor name label inside.

If you are interested in a list of approved and selected book titles please contact our Humane Educator at 494-8171.

Donations to the Book Endowment Fund can be sent to the Peoria Humane Society, P.O. Box 3592, Peoria, IL, 61612-3592.

KIND NEWS is an award-winning newsletter put out by NAHEE, a division of the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS). This monthly newsletter encourages children to show kindness toward people, plants and animals. For $25 a Kindergarten through 6th grade classroom can receive this monthly children's newsletter complete with a teacher resource guide.

Help the Peoria Humane Society promote kindness by sponsoring a classroom today! For more information contact the Peoria Humane Society Education Department at (309)494-8171.

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Come See Our Education Center

Come see the interactive area in the Education Center that will encourage visiting children, through creative play, to consider the needs and responsibilities of pets.

The "Pets & People" display includes a large pet overpopulation mural, pet care matrix and storybooks to further convey the message that pets need responsible owners.

We have expanded the Peoria Humane Society's Resource Library. Additions to the library include new books, videos and pamphlets on animal care/treatment and environmental issues for people of all ages. All of the materials ordered were funded by a grant from the Muntwyler Foundation.