Fox Valley Humane Association

The Fox Valley Humane Association in Appleton, Wisconsin has formed a number of creative community partnerships to reach more children in the classroom, at the shelter, and beyond with lessons in kindness to animals.

FVHA, which cares for 3,000 to 4,000 animals every year in the Fox Valley Area and serves 34 municipalities, began to step up its humane education efforts in early 2003 when it acquired a $9,764 grant from the Community Foundation For the Fox Valley Region, Inc. The grant funded a new part-time education coordinator staff position, which allowed FVHA to expand its educational programs for elementary school children.

Among children, perhaps the most popular program is Camp Care-A-Lot, where kids can interact with animals and learn about animal behavior and responsible pet care. The week-long summer sessions include hands-on activities, speakers, and field trips and have included guest veterinarians and service-dog trainers and trips to the nature preserve and equestrian center. FVHA also gives numerous tours and presentations to Scouts and elementary- and high-school students at the shelter, and is beginning its first ever “Kids Club,” a club for 3rd-6th grade students that meets monthly to do projects to help animals.

To get humane lessons into area elementary schools, FVHA participates in NAHEE’s Adopt-A-Classroom program and currently has 122 K-6 classrooms—close to 4,000 students—sponsored with subscriptions to KIND News, NAHEE’s monthly classroom newspaper that helps teachers teach kindness and respect for people, animals, and the environment. To complement the messages in KIND News, FVHA staff and volunteers frequently visit the classrooms with presentations about responsible pet care, the importance of spay/neuter, dog bite prevention, and how kindness to animals translates to kindness to people and respect for the environment.

FVHA’s creative collaborations in the community include work with the Children’s Museum and Appleton Public Library, where FVHA staff, volunteers, and shelter animals provide fun, hands-on programs on animal care and responsibility and dog bite prevention. Education Coordinator Kathy Scheussler often takes along Spirit, a Golden Retriever service dog she has been working with. The library programs have included participation by a range of other community members—including the mayor—and their pets. FVHA has also received the support of many local businesses that fund T-shirts, field trips, books, and other items for Camp Care-a-Lot; and has garnered the support of civic groups and individuals who sponsor classrooms to receive KIND News.

According to Schuessler, “We hope that our success will inspire other organizations to place more emphasis on youth education. Reaching children is especially important, since these lessons will be carried throughout life." Deb Lewis, FVHA executive director, agrees: “There is such a need for more education on the responsibilities of pet ownership. The better educated pet owners are, the fewer surrendered animals we will see at the shelter.”