Education
The Issue
Humane education involves teaching responsible care of animals, raising the level of awareness of animal suffering and cruelty, and educating about how human decisions impact on animals and natural systems. Central to humane education is the development of empathy skills -- the ability to put yourself in the place of others. Humane education also focuses on how people view and treat animals, both historically and cross-culturally. Further, it includes developing compassionate and caring relationships with animals, promoting critical thinking skills, celebrating the human-animal bond and encouraging respectful relationships between people, animals and nature.
In seeking public feedback, the BC SPCA sought input on whether humane education should be part of the school curriculum, what priority education should have in the BC SPCA's work, and what types of education materials and programs the BC SPCA should offer.
Public feedback
A definite and resounding yes was the overall response to whether education should be part of the school curriculum. In both oral and written submissions it was stated that humane education should be mandatory, starting at pre-school and continuing through to Grade 12.
Starting humane education at a young age is seen as the best means of promoting animal welfare and prevention of cruelty. When children learn appropriate respect for animals as sentient beings this respect extends to all life - people, nature and animals, creating the foundation for more humane communities in the future. Some suggest that children should be exposed to the consequences of animal neglect and abuse by showing them pictures/videos of abused animals. Others note that when children learn something is bad or wrong they take this information home and share it with their parents. For example, when anti-smoking messages are conveyed to children they bring them home, demanding that their parents to quit.
It is also suggested that the prevention of cruelty to animals be part of the post-secondary education curriculum. For instance, in Prince George, the University College of the Cariboo includes an animal welfare component in its Environmental Ethics course. Another submission pointed out that graduates who pursue careers in professional services need more awareness of the indicators of abuse and predictive indicators of future abusers.
The public recommends a range of materials and methods of education, including media campaigns, written materials, videos, website, mall displays with animals, taking animals to the classroom and conducting tours of shelters. Many suggest that BC SPCA animal shelters should serve as humane education resource centres for communities. It is noted that more focus is needed to educate new immigrants about North American standards of humane care and treatment of animals.
Submissions recommend more education on responsible pet ownership with a focus on behaviour and socialization, the importance of population control, mental and physical health and the benefits/costs of having pets. Education regarding the humane treatment of farm animals and wildlife is also cited as important.
Recommendations
The independent panel believes that education should be of the highest priority in the BC SPCA's work. Prosecution is the failure of prevention, and education is by far the best means of promoting animal welfare and preventing animal cruelty. It is essential to introduce humane education at an early age. Our youth are the leaders of tomorrow and our hope for a more humane world.
While we understand that the BC SPCA currently has education materials and programs in place, it is our view that more focus and resources need to be committed to this area. In fact, we see education as the foundation of the BC SPCA's work since success of all its efforts depends on an informed, educated public.
Our specific recommendations call on the BC SPCA to:
Short-term
• Create broader understanding and awareness of animal welfare issues through compelling media, advertising and advocacy campaigns.

• Develop a broad range of educational materials and provide at all BC SPCA animal shelters.

• Expand website to include more comprehensive education materials on specific animal species, care guidelines, training.

• Provide municipalities with animal care educational materials to be distributed when licensing is done.
Long-term
• Work with school boards and communities in the province to incorporate humane education into the curriculum, from pre-school through to Grade 12.

• Locate or develop turnkey education packages that will not increase the workload of those in the school system - programs developed and delivered by animal welfare professionals.

• Develop education materials in different languages, working in coordination with ethic communities.