“The boys may throw stones at the frogs in jest, but the frogs die in earnest.”
~ Plutarch
Voice For The Animals Foundation's Humane Education Program teaches empathy, compassion and non-violence to students in schools in the Los Angeles area.
The goal of our Humane Education Program is to sensitize young people to animal issues and to nurture their potential for compassion towards those sentient beings who are considered "subhuman." Although the educational system offers humane education courses at the elementary level, very few opportunities for humane education exist at the secondary level. Since adolescence is the time when young people stop seeing themselves as "children" and begin to see themselves as "adults," it is imperative that, during this developmental period, they do not begin to associate the animal-abusive aspects of adult culture with "growing up".
- Humane education covers a variety of topics, ranging from human interaction with wildlife, mankind's treatment of domestic animals, and animals' place in the overall environment. Through the implementation of humane education courses, we hope to disrupt the cycle of animal and human abuse by decreasing a child's potential to be abusive or neglectful toward animals and, therein, promoting pro-social behavior toward humans.
- Humane education programs seek to prevent violence by teaching empathy, compassion, and respect for all living beings and helping children develop into caring, responsible citizens.
- Numerous academic studies have established a correlation between animal cruelty during childhood and interpersonal violence in adulthood.
- A 2001-2004 study by the Chicago Police Department "revealed a startling propensity for offenders charged with crimes against animals to commit other violent offenses toward human victims." The results of the study revealed that 65% of the people arrested for animal crimes had also been arrested for battery against another person.
- A separate study focused on 36 convicted murderers. Of the 36 convicted multiple murderers questioned for the study, 46% admitted committing acts of animal torture as adolescents.
- Researchers have found that between 71% and 83% of women staying in domestic violence shelters reported that their abusers also harmed or killed the family pet.
- Children's lack of exposure to information regarding the role animals have in the economy of nature and in people's lives contributes to an increase in the number of wild and domestic animals that are subject to cruelty, abandonment, high animal shelter euthanasia rates, and, in extreme circumstances, extinction.
Educational Videos
Click here to view a sample course outline!
In Their Own Words: Click here for Humane Education Presentation Testimonials
IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN HAVING A VFTA HUMANE EDUCATION PRESENTATION OR SPONSORING A VFTA HUMANE EDUCATION PRESENTATION, CONTACT US:You can reach us by contacting our Hotline (310) 392-5153 x1 or by emailing [email protected]