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Kindness Club teaches about `respect, compassion and an appreciation for all living things' From a ringworm outbreak, coyote appearances and making Canadian case law to organizing animal education and training programs, the Oakville & Milton Humane Society (OMHS) stays busy. Critter Crusaders, a three-part Oakville Beaver series on OMHS, takes a close look at the stalwart of Halton and its impact on the community and the animals it saves. The second in this three-part series highlights the education pillar of Ten-year-old Oakville resident Katie McCarter says she wants to be a veterinarian when she grows up. Why? Simply put, because she wants to help animals. It's a career the Grade 5 St. Vincent elementary school student has been focused on especially after meeting a veterinarian during a speaker series put on by the Oakville & Milton Humane Society's (OMHS) Kindness Club -- Carter has been a returning member of the club for three years. Established in 2004 with the help of the Oakville Community Foundation, the Kindness Club was created because of a perceived need for programming that allowed children to be around animals and educate them on pet care, said founder Heather White. "It's all about the human/animal bond," explained White, who is also OMHS manager of outreach and education. "It's an opportunity for animals to help teach kids, in their own way, about respect, compassion, kindness and an overall appreciation of all living things." OMHS shows it's cool to be kind to animals John Bkila Oakville Beaver Staff 3 | Thursday, March 21, 2013 | OAKVILLE BEAVER | www.insideHALTON.com the new OMHS mission statement, specifically its Kindness Club and the benefits of the program to the community and its members. One of the main attractions of the Kindness Club, says White, is contact with animals, which are always in the room when sessions are held -- including a rabbit, guinea pig, rat, snake, parakeets and fish. "Then there are the animals we bring in specific to topic nights, where the kids have a good opportunity to have access to that particular animal and learn about it in a positive environment," she said. The club also features games around animals; crafts, which can sometimes be for the members or the shelter animals; special guest speakers; and field trips to farms and animal-related fairs to expose children to different types of creatures in a variety of situations. "It all helps give them an insight into the shelter, what we do, how we help and how they can help the animals," said White. Specific topics tackled by the Kindness Club vary with the different age groups, but generally, the club addresses basic care and Kindness Club member Katie McCarter, 10, gets better acquainted with Oreo the rat on her shoulder as club team leader Monica Hutchison looks on. The club is put on by the Oakville & Milton Humane Society and allows children to choose an animal to follow through its time at the shelter, spend hands-on time with pets, learn about wildlife, exotic animals and farm animals from local experts, all while learning important lessons about kindness, compassion and caring. photo by Eric Riehl ­ Oakville Beaver (Follow on Twitter @halton_photog) safety around meeting and handling dogs, cats and smaller animals. With the older groups, White says the club explores communication with animals, body language and adoption. One of the more popular activities in the senior sessions is called the Adoption Option, where club members are tasked to problem solve matching the right pet with the right family -- using the real bios of the shelter animals up for adoption and different family types -- and explaining why they are the right fit. "It gives us an opportunity of exploring things like... what to take into account when adopting; do you have the time and money to adopt; see Club on p.16 Special $ Courses Starts: 469 +HST 4 Days Easter Break March 29, 30, 31, Apr. 1 Saturday 4 Weeks April 6 - 27 Monday/Wednesday March 25 - April 10 2013 9am - 2:30pm 9am - 2:30pm 6pm - 9:30pm 123 Maurice Drive (905) 844-3899 5,376 Facebook Likes. Thanks Oakville & Burlington Register online www.udsonline.ca