When Animals Might Be Used for Education
The sea turtle rehabilitation center I volunteer at has a healthy "education" turtle who has been there since he was a hatchling, two years ago. He’ll be released in spring or summer and there will be no more education turtles at the center (it is allowed one legally), so the space may be used for someone who needs it.
Phew! That’s a relief. No need for intervention o’ the Animal Person there (truth be told, I did already make a couple of teeny waves).
I recently found out the center will be getting a shark or two. A healthy shark or two. For education purposes. To help turn around the image of the shark and help people understand how much, deep down, they really do love and appreciate us for everything we do for them.
Or something like that.
I’m hoping to be able to inject a different perspective. Before I’m the first volunteer to be fired, that is.
The people there are fabulous. They’re smart, compassionate, funny, hard working. But they just have a different perspective on our relationship with animals than I do. They fully believe that animals are a resource for us to manage, in the kindest way possible, and they don’t have a consciously malicious bone in their bodies when it comes to animals.
I’ll probably be volunteering elsewhere soon, as my views aren’t welcomed and I’m the only person who has ever voiced views like mine. I wonder if I’m completely wasting my time, all while observing some pretty depressing stuff. I’m fairly sure my time is better spent elsewhere (meaning, where I have a better chance of making a difference).
This is precisely why none of my volunteer work is with animals–or ever has been.
On the upside, I was recently referred by Deb to a curriculum (I’ve been thinking a lot about the Social Justice 12 I wrote about a month ago) founded by Cheri Brown Thompson of South Carolina called The Healing Species.
Mission: The mission of the Healing Species is to intercept crime and violence by reaching children with our innovative, successful, and unique 11-week violence intervention curriculum. Rescued dogs – dogs nobody else wanted – assist us in teaching children:
- life-lessons in respect for the feelings of others,
- gaining power and authority from principles and acts of mercy and compassion instead of from bullying or "violence for violence,"
- age-appropriate awareness on abuse and how to get help and that what happens to us does not have to define us.
- methods for conflict resolution,
- self-esteem from developing responsibility, and
- how to take the initiative to create a more compassionate planet.
The program has had great results, with dramatic decreases in both aggression and out-of-school suspensions for violent behavior. Clearly the program isn’t about not using animals, but when it uses animals (rescued dogs who were once unloved and unwanted), it appears that it does so in the most respectful way.
Do you think this is an acceptable use of the dogs? Do you think it would be as successful if it didn’t include the dogs? What’s your take from the point of view of the dogs? (Okay, not a good question. But still . . .)
Using rescued dogs is the kind of thing that could potentially lead to abuse, which is always the worry when there is any kind of interaction with humans and any other animal (including other humans), but…if we were against the use of dogs in this situation, wouldn't we also have to be against the use of rescued farm animals to help educate people? (that's what the point is of the outreach that the sanctuaries do, and much of that is done by bringing people to the sanctuaries so they can meet the individual animals.)
I think it walks the line, for sure, but I don't think it is a binary issue. When it comes to rescued animals, we're always walking that line.
For instance, with the turtles and sharks, I do feel there is a significant difference. Jonas and the sharks are made dependent on humans when they're living in captivity, meanwhile if they were released they would be free to live their natural lives. Dogs would have access to this only if the world was a different place. As it is, their options are death or caring captivity. And while they are being used in the classroom to some extent, it is the same kind of use that happens when people come to the sanctuaries for some education. They see the animals, and they might even interact with them, but the animals are essentially free to be themselves, and interaction is almost entirely on their terms.
I wouldn't use my cat for this purpose, because she'd be frightened of the kids. My long-departed dog, however, would let kids pull on her ears and hair and she'd just grin, happy to be the center of their attention. She'd have loved to be "used" in this way. Other of our now-departed dogs would have put up with it for a while, and then wandered off to do things that were more interesting to them, like dig holes in the ground.
I think it is important that in the use of these dogs, that it is on their terms, and thus only if it is something they enjoy.
There's certainly room for abuse in this, it is not something that I'd agree with without reservation, but I still can't see it as absolutely wrong.
I have been going through a similiar experience, so I relate. I have contemplated quitting at the sanctuary where I volunteer as well, in part because of the message they give out to the public. They, too, use animals for education on occasion there. And though they send out the message that the animals on the sanctuary need the public's help in terms of donations and that breeding is wrong, they do not in any way advocate vegetarianism, much less veganism.
The owner who runs the sanctuary is one of the most amazing people I've ever met; she is a superwoman in all that she does for the animals on her sanctuary, and I know that she cares very deeply for all of them. Yet, despite how intimate she is with these animals, she still does not make the connection between the animals she cares for and the animals that she eats every day. It boggles the mind that she puts so much energy into taking care of chickens and pigs (and all the other animals), yet at dinner time she can jab her fork into the dead flesh of a chicken or pig and consume it without a second thought. I have, without being forceful, tried to be a positive example of veganism, and have attempted in subtle ways to steer her in the direction of vegetarianism/veganism (speaking about it in passing during conversations, as well as bringing in vegan food), but as you know, in the end, each person must make his or her own choices, and she continues to eat meat. I do not hold it against her, she is still making a huge difference to the animals that she does take in and rescue, and in that sense she has a heart of gold.
However, I've been looking around for other volunteer possibilities. And it's funny that you should mention the program that uses the assistance of rescued dogs, because I recently ran across a brochure for this volunteer program at my local natural pet food store: http://www.readingwithrover.org/
When I was younger I tutored kids, and since then I have always wanted to volunteer in a literacy program for children. When I read about the Reading With Rover program I thought it might be a great opportunity not only to teach children to read, but to make it a fun experience by bringing my rescued dog along as well. However, the more I thought about it, the more I wondered if this fell in line with my feelings about the treatment of animals. I'm still on the fence about it. I must say, it is a bit different than using a wild animal (even one who is imprinted on humans) as an educational tool, which I am totally against. But if a dog just comes along for the ride, only to be petted and loved, and not to do any actual "work," I think I lean toward accepting the idea of using rescued dogs as a way to communicate non-violence or to teach children how to read.
(Sorry for the long post! I must learn not to write so much…ha!)
You call that mind-boggling, I'll give you mind-boggling! 🙂
I know a woman who volunteers in an animal rescue facility and is also rather found of shooting animals with her husband.