August 16, 2011
Be a Leader for Animals this School Year with Cool Gear and Easy Ideas
Whether it is through fashion choices, extracurricular activities or class projects, students face many different decisions at the beginning of the school year. Some of those choices can have an impact on animals, and The Humane Society of the United States has fun, school-friendly ideas to help students make the school year a humane one.
“The start of the school year brings new opportunities for young people to learn and share their passion,” said Heidi O’Brien, student outreach director for The HSUS. “Students can write about a pressing issue affecting animals, wear pins and shirts promoting a cause they care about, or start a school animal protection club. Once they make their interest known, others usually join in, and making a difference becomes a fun group activity.”
• Make compassion the fashion. Students can take a stand against cruelty and complete our Fight Fur project, reference our handy fur-free shopping guide, and wear a fur-free pin or tee to spread the word that compassionate fashion saves foxes, rabbits and other furbearers from needless suffering.
• Make a statement. Carolina PadTM, industry leader in fashion school and office supplies, has teamed up with The Humane Society of the United States to inspire students to raise their voice against animal cruelty. A collection of school supplies, entitled “Stand Up,” has been created to benefit The HSUS and raise awareness for its Student Outreach programs. This unique craft-paper collection is available at the Carolina Pad™ store. Students can express themselves with a variety of animal cause tees and caps, with messages such as: Stop Puppy Mills, Save Our Seals, Spay Neuter and much more.
• Cut out dissection. Many students have ethical objections to dissection but believe they must participate in order to pass the class. For a cruelty-free science class, students can ask teachers to use dissection alternative materials, including models and CD-ROMs, all of which are available on loan and free of charge through The HSUS Humane Education Loan Program.
• Add meatless meals. With students looking to eat more humanely, healthy veg-friendly options can easily be added to the menu in school cafeterias.
• Get schooled in animal protection. Middle and high school students can enroll in free online courses at Humane Academy. Course offerings include how to strengthen animal cruelty laws, how to speak up on behalf of animals to lawmakers and how to make engaging presentations. Students can also access videos on a range of issues facing animals and get career advice.
• Get school credit. Students who have a service-learning requirement can help animals and get school credit at the same time. Step-by-step actions on key animal protection issues and project ideas for each academic subject will help students make the grade!
For more information and other ideas for students who wish to effectively speak up for animals, visit humanesociety.org/teens and humanesociety.org/kids or call (860) 434-8666.
Media Contact: Janice Krish: 860-262-1796; firstname.lastname@example.org