Kids Spread Word to Help Animals

When Mr. Fessler's fourth-graders at U.B. Kinsey Elementary School of the Arts learned about the problem of pet overpopulation, they wanted to do something about it.

They contacted the Peggy Adams Animal Rescue League to see how they could help. Staff at the shelter suggested the students encourage others  to have their dogs and cats spayed or neutered.

After watching public service announcements (PSAs) from other organizations, they decided that's what they would do. They would write, draw, paint, perform, voice and produce nine public service announcements.

"The students were real troopers!" said Mr. Fessler. "They did weeks of research, including a trip to the animal shelter to observe the results of pet overpopulation.

"We worked on the project on and off all school year--and even a bit into the summer," continued Fessler. "They were determined to create these PSAs!"

Action!
The PSAs were produced in both English and Spanish. Some used humor to tell their message, while others took a more serious tone. One PSA begins:

:I don't think there's a house big enough to hold the six to eight million homeless pets that enter shelters every year." A drawing of a house trying to fit all the cats and dogs flashes on the screen.  "And if there is no room in the shelter, these animals are destroyed. Stop pet overpopulation. Spay and neuter your pets today," the PSA ends.

"We gave copies of the PSAs to the shelter and to local TV stations," said Mr. Fessler.  "I am extremely proud of what the students accomplished. Best of all, they became experts on how to stop pet overpopulation!"

Click here to see the PSAs here!

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