Animal Rescue Superhighway

Animal Rescue Superhighway

by Elisa Black-Taylor
(USA)

Good morning readers. Today I'd like to share some good news with the readers at PoC and tell everyone about Animal Rescue Superhighway located in Steubenville, Ohio. I've done a little research on programs similar to theirs, but unfortunately no one with the other groups ever got back to me.

Melanie VanNuys, executive director of Animal Rescue Superhighway asked me if I'd help spread the word about the wonderful work they do. I'm especially impressed with the kids program, which is called Koala Kid's Club.

The club, which is part of their organization, is open to children from kindergarten through sixth grade. This is the age to begin teaching our children to respect and care for animals.

I read an article written by a school teacher several years ago that stated a child's moral path is set by the time they exit fourth grade. I strongly believe that.

So does Melanie. Studies show that children who learn kindness towards animals will take what they've learned and show empathy toward adults. Since Melanie asked me to do this article to promote their group, I'm going to copy some of their goals and research statistics.

The benefits of their K-6 program are as follows:

• Promoting self-esteem;
• Empowering children;
• Increased sense of responsibility by reaching children to be caregivers;
• Helping children develop the ability to speak up for those who can’t speak for themselves;
• Teaching children how their actions and behaviors can have a direct impact on the people around them and their environment;
• Promoting compassionate behavior;
• Teaching children to work through problems with pets which can transfer into the problems they encounter with their peers.

Statistics show some shocking numbers relating to animal abuse leading to the abuse of people. I did a very important article called Kids Killing Cats that backs up what her organization believes. I still believe this to be the most important article I've ever written for pictures-of-cats.org, as it lists the facts and percentages of animal abusers who later became serial killers.

Animal Rescue Superhighway lists the percentages as follows:

Statistics show that 70% of animal abusers have committed at least one other criminal offense and almost 40% of animal abusers have committed crimes against people.

 
As if those statistics alone don't identify the need for humane education, here are a few more:
 
--36% of serial killers admitted to committing animal cruelty as children;
--46% of serial killers admitted to committing animal cruelty as adolescents;
--36% of serial killers admitted to committing animal cruelty as adults

The organization also offers a lot of information on both cat and dog breeds. They also offer help in transporting, crossposting, and finding missing pets.

In August of this year, the Superhighway will sponsor a walk called Walk 4 Paws. They are looking for animal lovers across the country to form teams and walk with them to raise awareness of three very important issues.

* The prevention of animal abuse, cruelty and neglect;
* Banning BSL - Breed Specific Legislation;
* The importance of spaying and neutering your pets

Please take a look at this page for more information on the Walk 4 Paws. http://www.animalrescuesuperhighway.org

Thank you for bringing your wonderful group to my attention. It's nice to have something good to write about for a change.

Readers, do any of you have groups similar to this? With all of the animal lovers out there I feel there have to be more of these worthwhile organizations.

And Melanie, if I've left anything out of this article, please feel free to add to it in the comment section.

For the readers here I have one question. Think this one over carefully. At what age do you think a child must be taught to love animals? I would say no later than age 9. Readers, I'm not lying when I say I've seen evil in a 10 year old boy. And I was correct. He enjoyed torturing hamsters. So I know evil does exist in the young and you've got blinders on if you can't admit it. Groups such as Koala Kid's Club can and do make a difference. We all need to support every group we can find that believes in teaching the very young.

I'm curious to what everyone else has to say. Have any of you ever seen or known an evil child? One who enjoyed torturing small animals. I think the answers I'll receive back on this article may surprise some of you.

Elisa