WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, April 22, 2016 —
For generations of Americans, May has always been associated with kindness. Millions of people around the country young and old are joining American Humane, the country’s first national humane organization, to celebrate the start of the second century of “Be Kind to Animals Week®” (May 1-7), the longest-running, most successful humane education campaign in American history.
This May, “Be Kind to Animals Week” takes on even more significance as American Humane commemorates 100 years of rescuing animals from cruelty and disasters. American Humane’s animal rescue services program was created in May 1916 at the request of the U.S. Secretary of War to save war horses on the battlefields of World War I Europe. The organization rescued and cared for 68,000 wounded horses a month and since then has been involved in virtually every major disaster relief effort from Pearl Harbor to 9/11; Hurricanes Andrew and Katrina; the Mount St. Helen’s eruption; the Joplin, Missouri tornado; the Japanese and Haitian earthquakes; and Superstorm Sandy. Over just the past ten years American Humane has saved, helped and sheltered more than 80,000 animals.
Where you can find “How to be kind”
To reach children and adults nationwide, American Humane invites everyone to visit www.Kindness100.org, where they can find a fascinating historical retrospective of “Be Kind to Animals Week,” a series of pre-K-5 curricula to teach children the value of compassion, and a pledge with four things people can do to improve the lives of millions – actually, billions – of animals.
1,000,000 Challenged to Take the “Be Kind to Animals Week” Pledge
American Humane is challenging 1 million people to take the “Be Kind to Animals Week” pledge online, which aims to protect and better the lives of animals in four distinct areas, including 10 billion farm animals by seeking out humanely raised foods with the American Humane Certified® seal, the 6-8 million animals abandoned each year by adopting from a shelter, the more than 100,000 animal actors who entertain, educate and charm us in film and television each year by looking for the “No Animals Were Harmed®” end-credit, and the many endangered and disappearing species of the world by cultivating caring and understanding of magnificent creatures by taking their children to accredited zoos, aquariums, and conservation centers.
“The need for compassion has never been greater,” said Dr. Robin Ganzert, president and CEO of American Humane. “As we enter a second century of working to rescue and care for our best friends, I hope every American will join us in celebrating ‘Be Kind to Animals Week’ – not just this week, but all year round.”
To celebrate “Be Kind to Animals Week®” 2016 and to learn more about how you can support American Humane’s lifesaving, life-affirming animal rescue work please visit www.Kindness100.org.
