Education

The QCAWC Education Center

Classroom QCAWC carries on the tradition of educating our young people to be humane and compassionate to all beings, knowing that kind acts can influence us all.  QCAWC is interested in partnering up with schools throughout the Quad City area to provide quality educational programs to teach young people that treating all living beings with kindness, compassion, and respect is the most responsible way to live.  Our School presentations emphasize proper pet care, bite prevention, animal safety and the pet overpopulation issue.  If you are interested in supporting our efforts to create a humane world please contact Stacey, the Humane Education Coordinator, by email to visit your classroom. 309-787-6830 ext. 12.

Public education is a vital link to the Quad City Animal Welfare Center's goal of providing safe, healthy environments for all Quad City area's pets.  It is only through education and awareness that the staggering numbers of unwanted and abused animals can be reduced.

Our Education Center will address the following societal concerns:

  • A connection has been established between animal abuse and violence towards people.
  • The Education Center will offer a forum for programs to benefit the Quad City community.  Such programs will include Spay/Neuter Awareness, Animal Abuse Investigation and Assistance and Medical Care and Behavior Seminars.  This schedule will be available to school-age children, service organizations and interested groups from the general public.
  • In addition to our "in-house" activities, our shelter is eager to provide speakers to appear at both schools and a wide variety of area functions to discuss shelter operations, pet ownership, safety, and advancing in the no-kill movement.  Presentations can be geared toward adults and/or children of any age.
  • For more information on scheduling tours or speakers, or coordinating volunteer efforts, please contact Stacey Teager at (309) 787-6830.

You Can Make a Difference!!

Millions of animals are killed every year in our shelters because someone did not value the friendship and love their pet gave them.  Adopting a pet is a big responsibility. Your family needs to have time, money and a proper environment.

Help in the Classroom

  • Prepare a report or speech in your class about the pet overpopulation problem or responsible pet care.
  • Ask your teacher if you can do a letter writing project.  Talk to people at your local animal shelter to find out why animals are being turned into the shelter.  Write letters to your local and state government officials and the newspapers.  Make a bulletin board and display the response so other students can see them.
  • Create a program for your school about responsible pet care.  Ask your principal if you can do it for an assembly.
  • Volunteer to help younger students with their reading and read a story about people helping animals.

Helping the Community

  • Do you know an elderly person or someone who is sick who has a pet?  You could volunteer to help walk or bathe the dog or change the kitty litter.  Sometimes your friendship can make a difference in whether or not a pet is taken to a shelter because someone could not take care of him or her.
  • Call your local shelter.  Ask what you can do to help.  Offer to collect blankets or you could keep a board with pictures of adoptable animals at your school.
  • Animal groups always need money, you could hold a bake sale.  Collect money from recycling aluminum cans, or hold a yard sale.  The money could be given to sponsor spay/neuter operations.
  • Make posters for the neighborhood about taking care of animals, spaying and neutering, adopting older animals and thinking before you adopt, about everything that is involved in taking care of a pet.  You can put these up in stores, veterinarian's offices or community bulletin boards.
  • Report animal cruelty and neglect as well as injured or stray animals.  You may prevent suffering and even save a life.
  • Instruct younger children how to care for animals properly and how to treat them with kindness and respect.  Set an example by doing the same.

Look at all of the ways pets benefit your health

We love our pets.  That is why we have them, right?

Did you know that there are actual health benefits to the owners of pets?

Pets require our attention.  Going for a walk, dropping everything for a game of Frisbee or hide and seek, going on a trail ride and providing everyday pet care encourage owners to interact and to get out.  We benefit from the exercise and fresh air that we may not seek out on our own.  This does wonders for our health and emotions.

In addition to being a major health benefit, pets also actively help and assist humans in many ways. Below are just some of the ways that pets are formally helping humans live richer and fuller lives.

  • Pets keep their owners healthy and active.
  • Pet owners tend to have lower cholesterol.
  • Pet owners tend to have lower blood pressure than non-pet owners.
  • Pet owners have a reduced risk of cardiovascular disease.
  • Having a pet in your home can reduce stress.
  • A pet in your home can enhance your self-esteem and social interaction.
  • Children exposed to household pets during infancy run a lower risk of having allergies.
  • Senior citizens are less likely to become depressed if they have a pet.
  • Pet interaction can have a calming influence on a person's mental state.

In a recent survey by the American Animal Hospital Association, 57 percent of pet owners indicated that if they were stranded on a desert island, they would prefer the company of their pet to another human.  Simply put, it makes us happy to experience the wagging tails, enthusiastic greetings, amusing antics and utter devotion of our pets.  Research also demonstrates that, on average, pets help keep their owners healthy and active.