BC SPCA Launches New Kids Club to Teach Compassion and Respect for Animals
September 3, 2004. For immediate release. Teaching kids compassion and respect for animals through fun and educational activities is the goal of a unique new Kids Club launched this month by the BC SPCA. The Club is open to youth aged 8-13 years throughout BC who care about animals and who want to make a difference for animals in need in their community.

"Our goal is to reach youth around the province with information and resources that they can use to become more informed and responsible pet guardians," says Craig Naherniak, General Manager of Humane Education for the BC SPCA. "We also want to empower youth to become ambassadors for homeless and abused animals in their community by offering ideas about projects they can carry out in their homes, schools and communities to raise awareness about animal issues and to raise funds for animals in need."

Annual membership in the SPCA Kids Club is $15, which includes an official membership card, an Animals Action activity sheet, regular e-Kids electronic newsletters, two issues of Bark! Magazine - a special SPCA magazine for kids -- per year, a photo-frame fridge magnet and a bone-shaped carabiner key chain. There will also be invitations to special SPCA kids events and on-going promotions and activities.

"We really encourage kids who love animals to join, and for parents, aunts, uncles and grandparents to get the young people in their family involved," says Naherniak. He adds that the focus of all SPCA youth programs is to teach empathy and respect for all living things, whether it be the environment, animals or other human beings. "We believe that nurturing these values in young people provides a solid foundation for creating humane and compassionate communities and we hope the SPCA Kids Club will play a major role in that."

Membership forms and more information about the BC SPCA Kids Club are available on the BC SPCA website at www.spca.bc.ca/kids, or by calling 604-681-7271 (1-800-665-1868 toll-free from outside the Lower Mainland).

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Further information:
Craig Naherniak, General Manager of Humane Education, BC SPCA: (604) 647-1320;
Lorie Chortyk, Community Relations Manager, BC SPCA:
(604) 647-1316, 1-800-665-1868