BOISE — A program aims to educate kids in the Treasure Valley about taking care of animals, responsibility, and how to stay safe around them. The program is through the Idaho Humane Society and hundreds of kids go through it every year.
The IHS Humane Education Program has many different classes. There are camps at the shelter. The Humane Education staff will also go into classrooms during the school year to spread their message to as many kids as possible.
"It's really amazing to just be able to cooperate with the animals," said Keara McBride, who is a 10-year-old taking a camp at the shelter.
Kelly Nagl is the Humane Education Coordinator for the Idaho Humane Society. She says the program starts with animal safety.
"Learn how to approach a dog on a leash, but also what to do if a dog approaches them and they're kinda nervous about it," said Nagl.
Nagl says responsibility is also a major focus of the program.
"For the really young kids I have a box of pet supplies and we talk about what it takes to have a dog, what responsibility that is, and how that relates to us as people," said Nagl. "Really, giving them those values of empathy, caring, responsibility. They're all really important."
McBride says she has loved the entire camp but says the best part was the craft projects focused on the shelter pets.
"We made tug-a-war toys and catnip toys," said McBride.
The kids also made bandanas for the dogs and wrote special messages on them. Nagl says it's rewarding to see all of the love.
"It kinda always goes with you forever," said Nagl.