Critters Care Program

Critters Care is a program that aims to educate youth about humane care for companion animals through story time sessions.  Presentations typically last from 45 minutes to an hour and are accompanied by a Humane Animal Ambassador.  All sessions consist of a story about a particular companion animal followed by a relevant activity.  Stories also focus on a variety of humane and character elements.  Activities are also based on state standards for elementary grade levels.

Current books available for story time sessions are as follows:

A story told from canine Buddy's perspective that takes a journey through his life as a chained dog that lacked proper food, water and shelter from his first owner to being rescued, rehabilitated and adopted by a loving family who gave him the proper care and safe environment all companion animals deserve.  Through the story students learn how to read Buddy's expressions and develop their own sense of empathy and compassion for his situation.  Humane/Character focus:  Compassion, empathy, canine feelings, proper and safe canine care.

Young children take a whimsical journey about what their lives might be like if they were a pet parrot.  The story touches on how a parrot's special feet allow it to climb curtains, bookshelves, and plants; how the hooked beak lets the parrot chew all kinds of great foods, such as seeds, nuts, chair legs, popsicle sticks and even a telephone directory!  Humane/Character focus:  Responsibility, unique care needs for a parrot.

A little boy imagines what life was like for his new dog before he adopted him from a shelter. Maybe he had a boy who loved him, but the family had to move and couldn't keep him. Maybe he belonged to someone who didn't appreciate how mischievous puppies can be. Maybe he was treated badly, and now he can be shown all the love he's been missing. This boy wonders about all of these things, but maybe they don't matter. Because now, his dog is home. Humane focus:  encouragement to adopt a rescue pet.

Describes different kinds of rabbits, their behavior, where they live, and hot to take care of them.  Humane/Character focus:  Responsibility, unique care needs for rabbits.

Children encounter dogs wherever they go: in the park, on the sidewalk, at their friends’ homes. Sometimes it’s love at first sight, on both sides—but not always. The right way for a child to approach a dog to ensure that the first connection is a complete success begins with this question to the owner: Using Harry the dachshund as a gentle guide, Stephanie Calmenson addresses this valuable yet overlooked topic with care and precision, and Jan Ormerod’s warm illustrations portray a wide variety of breeds and personalities and depict situations that are realistic but never scary. Unique and straightforward, this is the essential guide to bringing children and dogs together.  Humane/Character focus:  Proper behavior toward canines.

When visiting her grandmother, Mel discovers a neglected horse. Moved by the sight of his sad, glazed eyes and protruding ribs, Mel initiates a rescue; the horse is transported to a rescue ranch, where Mel learns about horse care. She comes to realize that since she lives in town and her family can’t afford the expense of a horse, she can’t adopt Lucky. When Lucky recovers and moves to a horse therapy ranch, Mel is thrilled that she can volunteer there and continue to bond with the horse she helped save.  Humane/Character focus:  Understanding neglect, rescue, responsibility, empathy and compassion.

Sick of being a bunny, P. J. Funnybunny takes off to become a bear. Hibernation gets dull, so he tries being a bird. And so it goes, with beavers, pigs, possums, and skunks--till P. J. realizes that bunnyhood is for him.  Humane/Character focus:  Unique aspects of being a bunny, accepting differences, empathy.

When Jim and his mom return home from the vet with Molly the cat after her surgery, Jim asks, “Why did we keep Molly from having kittens? I like kittens!” In this delightfully illustrated imagined journey into the future, Jim’s mom shows the many ways that Molly’s (and her kittens’) potential for multiplying would change their lives—and not for the better!  Human/Character focus:  The importance of spay/neuter.

Alex and his dog Max are true friends—the kind that share each other’s excitement, comfort each other when they are sad, wait together when parents are away, and have fun wherever they are. Alex is learning that every good relationship is a two-way street. By observing and listening to his dog, by sharing good times and bad, he and Max are earning each other’s love and devotion. Humane/Character focus:  Animal communication, companion animal bonding, empathy.

This enchanting and educational A to Z guide takes a journey through the alphabet with Sandy, a lovable Labrador retriever, who shows that animals and people share many of the same feelings.  Humane/Character focus:  Empathy, compassion.








This delightful tale takes you through the journey of Australian Shepherd, Henry, who feels different from his other canine friends because he lacks a tail, so goes in search to find one for himself.  Along the way he begins to discover how a tail doesn't necessarily work for him and in the end accepts his unique qualities, as well as do his other friends with paws.  Humane/Character focus:  Empathy, compassion, acceptance.

 This story traces the lives of two dogs who happen to live "in the very same town, on the very same street," but who share very different lives with their families. The lucky dog has lots of daily interaction with his family, from playtime to walks around the neighborhood. The unlucky dog spends most of his time alone in the backyard "rarely hearing a friendly voice." These comparisons give way to hope when the unlucky dog meets a "kind lady" from the animal shelter who helps him find a new "family to love." The Lucky Tale of Two Dogs tells a simple story that makes it easy for children to understand what dogs need to be healthy and happy.  Humane/Character focus:  Empathy, responsibility, compassion.

 In this story kids are introduced to two friends that have fun playing together, even though tiger is a bit of a bully--when they play cowboys, rat always has to be the bad guy, and when they share a snack, rat always gets the smaller piece.  But one day, tiger takes the bullying too far, and rat decides he's not going to take it anymore.  Rat stands up for himself and refuses to be tiger's friends until he learns to play fair and square.  This tale helps to engage listeners on recognizing bullying behavior and how they can make stands to resolve differences by accepting and sharing with others.  Humane/Character focus:  Acceptance of differences, sharing, compassion.