As an elementary school teacher, I read with eagerness the humane education material put out by the SPCA. It is certainly something I would love to put into my classroom. I think the material is fairly well-laid out, especially in relation to curriculum guidelines. All teachers want to know that what they are teaching is going to be meaningful for the students and that it ties in with what we need to be teaching as stated in the curriculum set out by the ministry.

However, much work needs to be done around the 'shelter' portion of taking care of dogs. The material states that the 'best place for a dog is inside with you', but THEN goes on to say if the dog is 'outside in a yard, the dog needs a fenced yard' and if 'the dog sleeps outside, the dog needs some kind of shelter'.

I would absolutely never expect this from an animal welfare organization which should - without question - state that it is not okay to force a dog to live his whole existence outside in a yard.

Does the SPCA realize how many parents I would have on my doorstep complaining about the dog next door, or down the street, or their friend's neighbour who leaves their dog outside all the time and it drives them crazy listening to all the barking? If the SPCA states its hands are tied as far as not being able to help these dogs (I have always wondered if that is actually true), the least it could do is make sure that when it educates students, it does so by making it completely unacceptable to allow a social animal to live outside.

When I teach children about pets in my classroom, I tell students it is not fair to neighbours or to the dog to force a dog to live outside all the time. I tell students to consider a different pet if they are allergic, worried about dog hair in the house, or whatever...I make sure they understand it is not okay to leave dogs outside and that one of the basic needs of dogs is to be inside with their guardian.

As well-laid out as this material is, and as good an idea as it is, the SPCA really needs to do some work around how to educate children on the needs of a dog.
Lori Cumiskey