Are you or someone you know an elementary school teacher looking for an easy way to slip in messages of kindness and caring into your already full curriculum?  Want a new approach to teaching environmental issues and respect for wildlife?  Are you tired of hearing stories from your students about pet issues without having a good response?  Are you a parent who wants to help your child’s teacher incorporate lessons of respect, compassion and responsibility this school year? 

KIND News does all that and more.  And FAIRE (Friends of the Animals in the Redwood Empire) is offering a subscription free to any interested elementary school teacher in Sonoma County.  It’s their way of helping to get the message of humane values into the classroom. 

KIND News is an eight-page children’s magazine published five times during the school year by the Humane Society of the United States.  A classroom subscription, available in three reading levels, includes 28 copies plus a teacher’s guide.  This high quality publication inspires students by profiling individual children and classrooms that have done projects that have made a difference in their community.  It provides tips on how to live harmoniously with wildlife, gives pet care pointers and encourages youth to become active in protecting animals.  Filled with beautiful photographs, age appropriate articles and fun activities about a topic that all children love – animals - it’s sure to become a classroom favorite.

It’s easy to incorporate humane education into the regular school day by using the ideas in this magazine.  Round out a lesson on pet care or community helpers with a visit from our Humane Educator.  She will bring an animal ambassador and teach a short lesson on a number of topics – safety around dogs (bite prevention), basic pet care, what is an animal shelter or more.  Bring your class for a tour of the shelter to complete the unit.  We welcome groups of all sizes and ages to come visit and learn more about our role in the community.

If you would like more information about KIND News or would like to view past editions, check out their website http://www.humanesociety.org/news/magazines/kind_news/.   Classroom subscriptions cost $30 for a school year. If you would like to sponsor a classroom, donations to cover this cost are welcome too.  Send a check to FAIRE, P.O. Box 2001, Rohnert Park, CA 94927.
FAIRE is looking for classrooms to sponsor with a gift subscription to this wonderful magazine.  They have been promoting humane education for more than 15 years and find that by giving teachers this easy to use teaching material, they are able to bring the message of caring and kindness to hundreds of children throughout Sonoma County.  Teachers who have used this material in the past have been very appreciative and find it quickly becomes a highlight of the school year.  The children really look forward to receiving each issue. 

To get on FAIRE’s subscription list contact them at mail4FAIRE@aol.com or call and leave a message at 538-9098.  They will need the teacher’s name, school name and address, grade level, and phone number or email address.  It’s not too late to make this a humanely focused school year!

Upcoming Events:  Meet the Bunny the second Saturday of each month from 1-5:30 p.m. at the shelter.  Meet our adorable adoptable rabbits, have your care questions answered by our knowledgeable volunteers, bring your bunny for a free nail trim, and shop our Bunny Boutique for fresh hay, fun toys and fabulous deals on supplies.

• Mutt Strut teams are forming now.  Grab your friends or co-workers and sign up at www.animalshelterleaguerp.org .  Help raise money for the shelter animals at this fun dog walk! 
Plan on attending this exciting event on Saturday, Sept. 29, 10-3:00.  Schedule of demos and contests now up on the Web site.

Mickey Zeldes is the supervisor at the Rohnert Park Animal Shelter. She can be contacted at mzeldes@rpcity.org.