After responding to a recent case of animal neglect in Washington, PAWS & More Animal Shelter is seeking the community’s support for a new program to teach local youth how to treat animals with respect and kindness.

In honor of Honey, a deceased dog that was found along with a malnourished dog in a home earlier this month, the shelter is looking to invest in future pet owners by providing the Kind News magazine to every classroom in Washington County. A donation of $30 to this project would provide 30 copies of the magazine to a classroom five times per year, and students would take the magazines home to share the age-appropriate, positive, and fun lessons about animals with their family. Shelter Director Amber Talbot shares why they have begun this initiative, “The goal of this is to help teach children kindness and humane treatment of animals and just really fundamentally helping kids understand that animals have feelings. I think that studies have shown that a lot of negligence and neglect and cruelty happen in our society due to the lack of empathy and just the realization that these other creatures have feelings.”

Talbot adds that along with the Kind News project the shelter will continue to advocate for strict animal protection legislation and provide support to those unable to care for their pets. Community members have already sponsored eight subscriptions, and Talbot adds they hope to also receive enough donations to expand this opportunity to youth organizations outside of school. You can make a direct and tax deductible donation through PayPal or by check to PAWS & More, 1004 1/2 Madison Street, Washington, IA 52353. Please note that your donation is for Kind News.