About
Humane education fosters empathy toward animals' feelings and reinforces the responsibility each member of society has in his/her interactions with the animals of our community -- whether those animals are domestic or wild, living in homes or strays on the streets.
It is about educating people on the importance of treating all animals with kindness and respect. Our program is focused mostly on companion animals, those animals that live in our homes and share our lives, but the messages are intended to convey the importance of having kindness and respect for all animals.
This program is geared toward school-aged children. By focusing the messages of humane education on the younger population we hope to eventually break the cycle of overpopulation, neglect, and abuse of animals.
Ohio Kids Love Animals is designed to introduce and reinforce the humane principles of Kindness, Empathy, Respect & Responsibility.
Ohio Kids Love Animals was made possible by a grant from the Columbus Foundation.
Mission
The mission of Ohio Kids Love Animals is to educate our community on the importance of treating all animals with Kindness, Empathy, Respect & Responsibility to reduce the overpopulation crisis and eradicate the acceptance of animal neglect and abuse.
Facts
Dog Bites
- Children under 15 are the most common victims of dog bites - they account for 70 percent of dog bite victims
- Boys between 5 and 9 are the most frequent victims
- Every 40 seconds someone in the U.S seeks medical attention for a dog bite injury
- Dog attacks cause 4.5 million injuries annually - 800,000 require medical attention
- 24 percent of human deaths involve unrestrained dogs off their property
- Un-neutered dogs are 2.6 times more likely to bite than neutered dogs
Overpopulation in Companion Animals
- Two uncontrolled breeding cats plus all their kittens and their kittens' kittens can have up to 80.4 million offspring in just 10 years
- $1 billion of taxpayer and private money is required to seize, impound and destroy unwanted animals
- 15 million pets are surrendered to animal shelters annually across the United States. Sadly, only 25-30 percent of these animals get adopted
- 70 percent of shelter animals are euthanized because no one wants them - this includes dogs and cats, puppies and kittens, rabbits, gerbils, and hamsters
- While humans give birth to one offspring at a time, cats can have 2-8 kittens per litter
- Cats can have 2 litters per year and can get pregnant as young as 6 months
- 2,000 dogs and 3,500 cats are born each hour in the United States. Compared to 415 humans each hour
- One pair of un-neutered/unspayed rabbits and their offspring can produce up to 200 babies in just one year
Spaying and Neutering
- Dogs and cats can be spayed and neutered as early as 8 weeks
- There are low-cost spay/neuter clinics as an option to having your veterinarian perform the surgery
- Today's technology and pain medication minimize the pain and discomfort. Animals usually recuperate in about a week
Benefits of Spaying and Neutering
- Neutered dogs and cats are less inclined to roam, fight, show aggression, bark excessively, or perform any other unwelcome behaviors. Less roaming and aggression decreases your pet's chance of being injured in a fight or killed in traffic.
- Neutered animals get along better with other animals
- Neutered pets can have twice the average life expectancy of un-neutered pets
- Un-neutered pets have a higher risk of suffering from prostate and testicular cancers
- Spayed pets have a much lower risk of suffering from breast and uterine cancers
- An unspayed rabbit has about 80 percent chance of forming cancer by the age of 5
- No dealing with the "heat" period, which can result in stains on your rugs and furniture
- Un-neutered male cats mark their territory by spraying urine inside and outside of the house
- Un-neutered rabbits may become aggressive, destructive and had to litterbox train
- You will not be contributing 10.5 million animals put to death each year
How You Can Help Decrease Overpopulation
- Adopt your companion animals from shelters and rescue groups
- Spay and neuter your companion animal before he/she adds to the overpopulation
- Tell your friends and family about why it is important to spay and neuter all companion-animal
Link between Animal Abuse and Domestic Violence
- A correlation between animal abuse, family violence, and other forms of community violence has been established
- Animals were abused in 88 percent of homes where child physical abuse was present [DeViney, Dickert & Lockwood, 1983]