A Community of Caring
Anti-Cruelty offers a variety of ways in which children and tweens can become involved in our community of caring. Whether it’s by helping on-site, hosting a donation drive, or taking part in one of our educational programs, we offer a number of ways for youth to learn more about animals while actively helping those in our care.
Opportunities for Involvement
Kids Who Care
Anti-Cruelty's Kids Who Care program offers families an opportunity to engage in our work while providing valuable education to kids and adults alike! Whether making a toy for a dog or cat, preparing snacks for one of our small mammals or making adoption posters, your family will have the chance to make a direct impact on the life of a shelter pet.
Temporarily on hiatus
Youth Who Care
During the Youth Who Care program participants ages 10-12 years old will learn about a variety of topics including animal behavior, training, care, and other animal welfare issues. Tweens will also have the opportunity to learn about shelter operations while meeting some of the amazing animals in our care. Activities may include in-kennel clicker training, small mammal care, operations support, media creation and more!
Temporarily on hiatus
Reading Buddies
Anti-Cruelty's offers a drop-in Reading Buddies program for visitors of all ages who are encouraged to sit with one of our designated Reading Buddy pets and read to them from their favorite book. This volunteer project helps keep adoptable pets relax in the busy shelter environment. Ideal for all ages.
DIY Donations
All pets need behavioral enrichment items to keep them busy, happy, and stimulated while they live in a shelter environment. For this reason, we have created a number of Do-It-Yourself crafting tutorials to give animal lovers throughout the community a way to pitch in, help out, and give back.
Programs for Classrooms and Youth Groups
Virtual Story Time with Muffin
With the help of Anti-Cruelty's favorite ‘safe dog,’ Muffin, our beloved puppet, kids will see how much fun reading can be while learning ways we can be safe around animals. This free session will feature an interactive storybook reading, followed by a brief Q&A. Ideal for ages 2–8.
Virtual Story Time With Muffin
Pet Care Grab Bag
Pet Care Grab Bag is an educational and entertaining program for students and families which gives young children the chance to learn the basics of pet care as well as how to be safe around animals. Anti-Cruelty's beloved puppet dog Muffin, along with her human handler, will teach children the three rules of how to greet a dog safely before diving into the Grab Bag in search of animal related items to learn all about the essentials of basic pet care. Ideal for ages 4–8.
Contact learn@anticruelty.org to schedule a presentation for your classroom or group.
LIVE! At Anti-Cruelty
Calling all classrooms, community groups, and youth clubs! Are you looking for an engaging activity for your group to learn more about animals and animal welfare? Look no further than LIVE! at Anti-Cruelty. This unique virtual program offers a behind-the-scenes look at some of the important facets of the work we do to help people and pets at Anti-Cruelty. Ideal for all ages.