Hardly a week goes by that we don't hear, "How can I get started in Humane Education?" There are hundreds of answers. Here are a few that we hope will be helpful and inspirational. If you would like to add your account, email us at aphe@aphe.org.

I have been humane educating now for almost 16 years. Thousands upon thousands of children, teens and the general public later, I still seize each opportunity as if it was my first. And how did my first one go? Well, I was a nervous wreck.

I have always loved animals since I was little. Eventually I made my way through college graduating in Graphic Communication Design and had a long career enjoying it until one day I landed in an animal caretaker position at my local humane society. After being on the kennel staff and employing myself at 2 other jobs to make ends meet, I was depressed, frustrated, maddened and disgusted at people dropping one animal after another off at the front door. Then came the abused, neglect cases our Investigator brought in. One day during a bad investigation, dozens of animals arrived  - not all alive. The Executive Director noticed my distress and held my head and forced me to look. She told me - "does this make you mad, sad, angry, hurt?" Yes, it sure does, was my reply. "Then you're going to find a positive, enlightening way to channel that energy into something good." That was it, about a week later I was promoted to humane educator, pet therapy coordinator and volunteer programmer. This is where it started and over the years, I've gotten better and better - and so have the students. I have reached many inner city at risk teens, small children and the general public about every issue possible. Educating all of them has left an indelible mark on each one. And you never really know how far your "wave" will eventually reach. It is a great feeling and quite addicting, and now, I love educating humane educators as well by being involved with APHE.

Joanne Cronan Hamoy, Education Director, Spring Farm CARES Animal Sanctuary in Clinton, NY

As a young child growing up on a family farm in West Covina, California, animals were part of my life. In 1957 the city rezoned the farm to become a school. When my family moved to west Los Angeles, I suffered from culture shock. After visiting pet stores, I knew that people needed to learn how to take care of animals. My first job was working at Sears. I spent time trying to upgrade and help in the pet store during my breaks. (Pet stores were a part of the Lawn and Garden Shop in all Sears stores.) In college, I specialized in the study of zoology, earning my bachelor's of science degree. My father, who did career counseling for the federal government, would often say that a degree in zoology was useless unless you went on to other studies, such as medicine, pharmacology or science. The early 70s were hard times for young people seeking employment. It was then that I discovered the Pasadena Humane Society & SPCA and the ideal job for my talents and passion, humane education.

Liz Baronowski, Pasadena Humane Society & SPCA, California

I have loved animals all my life. I volunteered for fundraising for a local rescue group. Our school decided to develop a science unit on pet care. My friend Bonnie Bradford and I wrote the curriculum and lesson plans for third grade. I also taught third grade and greatly enjoyed teaching the unit. Since then, I helped to start Forgotten 4-Paws, and distributed videos and humane education materials to other groups and rescuers.

Libby Cavanaugh

I think I was born to teach children about animals and respect. When I was a very young mother, I lost my dad. He was a man who loved and respected animals and nature. When he lost his long battle with cancer, I decided life was short and I needed to make a difference for the next generation. For the last 24 years, that is what I have tried to do. I started working with zoos teaching people to appreciate the diversity of species and conservation. For almost nine years, I have been creating and teaching humane education programs for the Providence Animal Rescue League and reaching literally tens of thousands of people with our message of responsibility and kindness. I can't imagine myself doing anything else.

Jane Deming, Providence Animal Rescue League, Rhode Island

Even though my job title now states I am a humane educator, I think I have been one all my life. I would always be aware of the animals in my surroundings, especially stray cats and dogs, and asking what happens to them. I remember crying during the movie Benji when he gets hurt and also being visibly upset when I heard there was a movie named the Deer Hunter, thinking that the movie was just about hunting deer (I don't know how my mom explained the actual content at the time…). Needless to say, my family and friends knew they had an animal lover on their hands.

I got my Bachelors in Communications and Masters in Elementary Education and worked in both fields. I had volunteered for the ASPCA and found out that they had a Humane Education dept. I couldn't believe they actually had a job where you could teach children and adults about kindness and respect towards animals. One day, I saw the position in the paper and knowing Sheryl (Pipe) through volunteering as well a mutual friend, knew I had to go after it with all my heart. I'm glad I did!

Jennifer Dragotta, ASPCA

When I was in the fourth grade, I started volunteering at a local veterinary clinic in New Hampshire, where I grew up. I was there as often as I could be and although I was young, I had always had animals (all kinds) around and was exceptionally good at making myself useful in the clinic. I started with scooping poop, wiping down exam tables, sweeping floors, and lots of observation. By the time I was 14, I had a key to the clinic and was given the responsibility of opening and closing the clinic and managing the boarding and hospital kennels. The motivation was that as soon as I had all the animals fed, cleaned, and settled, the laundry done, the scheduled baths finished, and the paperwork in order, I got to help with appointments and surgeries. I busted butt, because this is what I liked most.

I never really considered that I would do anything else with my career. Then, I went off to school in Vermont as an ASCI major with an all pre-vet classes schedule. The problem: I was also discovering a new lifestyle, previously unavailable to me. I became a vegetarian and a proponent of organic/humane farming. My opinions were not popular in any of my classes and I slowly became discouraged with my classmates, professors, and courses. My options were to change my major or stay an ASCI major, but take as few classes related to "the almighty cow" as possible. So, I enrolled in a lot of wildlife classes.

Then, a new option came up. The ASCI department wanted to join forces with the local animal shelter to solve a problem. It was recently discovered that one town in the county was the source of over half of the surrendered animals. Their solution was to start a humane education program in that town's elementary school. Another ally came into the picture - a local college with a graduate education program. So the partnership began and I signed up for the class. The class consisted of six ASCI students. We were paired up and given a crash course in child development and began to develop lessons to teach second graders about responsible pet care, etc. I excelled at this and loved the work.

That summer I interned at the Bronx Zoo teaching at their summer camp. When I returned, my ASCI professor and the director of the shelter approached me to help with formalizing the curriculum for the project. So began my independent course work in creating a humane education curriculum for the project that also met the state's education standards. From there, I graduated and moved west, eventually landing my job here at the San Francisco SPCA.

Kelley Filson, San Francisco SPCA

I became a teacher and then got my master's degree in education. I taught at a public school on the Navajo Reservation in a remote region of Arizona. Animal suffering was all around us, very visible. I was already a vegetarian; I wanted to do more for the animals on the reservation. For ideas, I went to an HSUS conference and to a conference of the organization which became APHE. I started creating humane education materials and haven't stopped since.

Patty Finch, Vertebrate View and PetsMart Charities, Arizona

Trained in the field of education, I began my teaching career in 1965 and always thought of myself as a humane teacher. I was drawn to the study of things in nature and was dedicated to sharing as much of that love, respect and fascination with students, Scouts and church fellowship groups as possible.

We measured skunk cabbage as it poked its leaves through the February snow, found bloodroot and learned how the Indians used it, did the real traditional Thanksgiving celebration with treasures from the sea. We used binoculars to identify birds and collect goldenrod from the roadsides to boil and use as dyes. We dyed muslin and cut it into strips to make bookmarks. All of this non-traditional stuff was wrapped around reading, math, science, music and art.

In 1989 the school where I taught was closed by the archdiocese and I responded to a position for a humane educator, more out of curiosity than anything else. I realized that this was my calling - my dream job that I had trained for, yearned for and studied for all of my professional life. I came to the world of humane education through the traditional route of shelter work. I responded to the request from the Snyder Foundation to create an education program in their name.

Ann Gearhart, Snyder Foundation for Animals, Maryland

Animals have always been my passion in life. When I was 13 years old, I started working for a dog groomer as a brusher/bather. At 17, I got a job working as a receptionist at a veterinary hospital. I always knew I wanted to work with animals.

While in college, I didn't have a car so I took the bus. One day on the bus, I met a woman who was holding a puppy. Naturally, we struck up a conversation. She told me that she worked at the local humane society. She also said that they were hiring and I should go in and apply for a job. I had never really thought about working at an animal shelter, but that week I went in and was hired as a customer service representative.

My first week at the shelter, I had a shocking dose of reality. There was a line out the door of litters and litters of puppies and kittens that had nowhere to go. I couldn't believe how many unwanted animals there were! It broke my heart. In my previous experience with animals, I saw only the ones that were cared about. Needless to say, my life was forever changed. I realized how important education was if things were ever going to change.

I have spent the last 14 years working in the animal welfare field. I have worked in animal behavior, animal control, customer service, animal care, investigations, wildlife rescue, and humane education. I am currently working at the SPCA of Monterey County, where I have been for five years. For the past two years, I have been the humane educator, which also includes animal behavior classes and dog training. I am still a humane officer and am periodically called to investigate animal cruelty and neglect.

I have always believed that education and enforcement bring change. I love my job. I am married and a mother of two great kids. We share our home with wonderful companion animals. My hope is that someday there will be a humane educator position at every school to incorporate kindness and respect into daily living.

Lisa Giesick, SPCA of Monterey County, California

Most of my life, I've had companion animals. When I was teaching kindergarten in a public school here in Florida, I always had a classroom pet. But I noticed that other teachers who had classroom pets didn't always take their responsibility for the pet very seriously. I would talk to the teachers about the pet's needs, but obviously my school wasn't the only one with classroom pets and it always bothered me that other animals might suffer.

After five years of teaching, I decided to "retire" and take a break. My husband was a medical director for four nursing homes. Another "retired" teacher friend of mine and I, after hearing the sad stories of people in the nursing homes who never had visitors, decided to visit nursing homes with animals from a very small local animal shelter. Talk about a great feeling for everyone!

The director of this small shelter was also a teacher and wanted to write a curriculum to use in the elementary schools. So we wrote one, and it is still being used today as part of the Pet Professor Program here in Pinellas County schools. In the meantime, the local SPCA of Pinellas County created a humane education coordinator position and was looking for someone to start a humane education program. I interviewed, got the job, and never looked back. It's the perfect job - animals and kids and a wonderful staff and Board to work with. That was 13 years ago and I'm still going strong.

Sharon Hauser, SPCA of Pinellas County, Florida

As a former teacher and speech therapist with a master's in counseling , a career in nonprofit management and fundraising, and a lifelong interest in animals and nature, it almost feels as though humane education found me. I was researching interesting-sounding organizations in the New York Public Library in 1990 when I happened upon the Latham Foundation and its humane education products and services. I wrote a letter describing my background and experience to the then President Hugh H. Tebault II. and I requested an exploratory meeting. The rest, as they say, is history. As Latham's Director of Development and Public Relations and Managing Editor of the Latham Letter , I am grateful for the opportunity to help promote respect for all life through education.

Judy Johns, The Latham Foundation for the Promotion of Humane Education, Alameda, CA

A number of years ago, I was looking for a part-time job while in graduate school. I was pursuing a high school English teaching credential and needed a job that wouldn't interfere with my student teaching and studying. My sister-in-law, a vet tech, suggested that I apply for a weekend kennel assistant job at the animal hospital where she worked. It sounded great to me. I had always loved animals and had recently become a volunteer cat socializer at a local animal shelter. I took the job and absolutely loved it!

By the end of a year, I was volunteering to pick up extra shifts wherever possible just to get more time around the animals. I was fascinated by veterinary medicine. I graduated with my teaching credential and felt torn. I threw caution to the wind, ignored the warnings of friends and family, and took a job as an office manager of a veterinary clinic. I worked there for three years, first in the front office, then eventually moving to the back as a vet assistant.

I loved the work, but something was missing. As I watched lucky pets come into the hospital with their dedicated human guardians, I wondered and worried about all the unfortunate, unwanted animals who did not receive such loving care. I began to feel that I needed to do something more. I wanted to find a way to use my teaching skills to help educate our community about the plight of animals in need. Miraculously, I was presented with an opportunity to become the education coordinator at the Marin Humane Society. I jumped at the opportunity and never looked back. Three years later, I couldn't be happier. I have found my niche!

Morgan Lance, Marin Humane Society, California

I grew up in a family that hunted animals. I remember "squirrel-cues" on Labor Day, when the squirrels hunted in August were grilled the first weekend in September. I remember having ten different kinds of wildfowl served for Thanksgiving (there were special dishes to spit out the buckshot). Our dogs were hunting hounds.

The problem was, I loved the wild things. The foxes and flying squirrels and deer were inhabitants of the Indiana Dunes, just like I was. I couldn't eat the shapeless lumps of meat that came from our mutual home. Needless to say, my attitude wasn't really appreciated in my family.

As an adult, I veered away from natural things and got my master's degree in French literature. I taught school. I had my family. When my youngest child was six months old, I saw an ad in the classified section for an educator at the humane society. I needed a part-time job, a little money of my own and some time out of the house. I applied and was successful. I didn't realize that I had found what I wanted to be when I grew up.

I took the "little part-time job" and made it my own. It grew to full-time. I increased the variety of programs offered to include the wild animals and habitats that I loved, as well as the companion animals that I was learning to love. The demand for our presentations grew. I met other like-minded people from across the country and became a member of APHE. I've now been at the humane society for nearly 16 years. I've witnessed so many changes in attitudes and sensitivity toward animals in that time! And yes, this is what I always wanted to do when I grew up!

Jean McGroarty, Indiana

As a child, the oldest of 11, I became the caretaker of brothers and sisters and all the "critters" the farm had - pigs, cows, chickens, cats, dogs, rabbits, etc. I decided early in life that I wanted to be a veterinarian. Alas, growing up when I did, being a veterinarian was not something GIRLS should aspire to and no college funds were available to head in that direction. After graduating from high school, I took jobs in the accounting field to earn money for college but met my husband-to-be instead.

After one child, 26 years in the accounting field, and 10 years with the League of Women Voters (four as state president in Iowa, which was a whole different kind of education), I became the executive director of a local humane society. I also became, by default, the fundraiser, shelter manager, public relations manager, and humane educator. Of all the job titles, humane educator was my favorite. I have since left that position, but am cofounder of a new humane organization for our community, host of an hour-long radio talk show dedicated to animal education that airs twice a month, and a humane educator for our tristate (Iowa, Illinois, Missouri) area.

Jean Meyer, Friends of Keokuk, Iowa

Back in 1976, there was a surplus of teachers and no jobs - not a good combination, since I graduated with an education degree. While working in retail, I went back to school to learn communications. Soon I found myself writing videos for Fortune 500 companies. But being a writer didn't pull in the cash, so I used my education degree to design and implement interactive educational programs at different children's, science and natural history museums.

After eight years of video writing and program designing, I saw a newspaper ad for a humane educator. Four frustrating interviews later, I got down on one knee and literally begged, "Please, I want this job!" (Good thing they laughed.) That was in 1989, when the education department's focus meant going to schools and teaching pet responsibility. Over the years, I expanded the focus to include legislation, special events, public and media relations, publishing of the agency's national newsletter and, once in a while, video production.

The one thing I never forgot was how hard it was to jump into a job I never did before. This sparked the creation of the Humane Education Guidebook , and its corresponding workshop. With this piece of literature, I hoped other educators, both novice and experienced, would find it easier to come up with ideas and presentations to share with colleagues and the public.

Janice Mininberg, Women's Humane Society, Pennsylvania

I have worked with children most of my life and have always loved animals. I received my degree in elementary education from the University of Arizona and went to work as a kindergarten and first-grade teacher in the Denver public schools. Following that, I worked in a supervisory capacity at a small nonprofit adoption resource center for special needs children. This gave me the management skills that I needed. This was the perfect combination for me to pursue my interest in developing educational programs for the public.

Working for a nonprofit organization that helps the community has always been a priority for me. In 1998, I took the position as the humane education manager of the Dumb Friends League. It has been an amazing experience working for a nationally recognized shelter that provides so many quality services to animals and people in our community and beyond. I thoroughly enjoy the many opportunities I have to develop educational programs and work with teachers and other professionals in our field.

Claudia Mishell, Colorado

When growing up, I always loved different animals and learned respect for all kinds of animals from my father. We loved to go hiking in the back woods where my father taught us (his 3 children) to appreciate wildlife and nature. These lessons of life carried over into adulthood.

Previously, I worked in a hospital, convalescent hospital, day care, and as a telephone operator. All were ok jobs, but never what I really wanted. Once I started volunteering here at the shelter, I felt that I had found my home. I volunteered for five years before I started working as a paid employee. Being raised by a mother who also taught school, helped prepare me for some of my duties. I have enjoyed learning the different aspects of my job, and I, particularly, enjoy hearing students and visitors express their appreciation for what they learn here.

Lea Mitchem, Humane Education Coordinator, Central California SPCA

After I had spent over 20 years doing human services management in public schools and community programs, my husband and I decided to quit our jobs in Asheville, North Carolina, buy a motor home, rent our house, put everything in storage, and travel.

We worked and volunteered in national parks, a wildlife refuge, and a national forest for almost four years. While we were backpacking in Europe for almost four months, we sold our motor home. Now we were homeless in Virginia, so we decided to pack up our little pickup truck and head west. We came to the Coachella Valley to visit relatives, fell in love with the desert, and stayed. Animal Samaritans SPCA wanted to expand their humane education programs and, after promising them that we wouldn't take off on another adventure in a few months, I was offered the position of their first full-time educator. My strength had always been in program development, so we were soon developing and expanding programs and I became the director of our education department. We'll soon be building a new shelter, so the excitement and challenges continue. And now I get to help people and animals too.

Paulette Mulinax, Animal Samaritans SPCA, California

In college I majored in biology because I wanted to become a veterinarian. I even worked as a veterinary technician for two years at a local animal hospital. Veterinary school is very competitive and I did not get into the schools that I applied to.

So then I was looking for a job, something to do with biology and animals. I came across an opening for a humane educator. I thought that might be interesting. Well, growing up I did many performances in dancing and cheerleading, so I don't mind being in front of crowds and I've always been good with kids. Come to find out, I love this job.

I've been at it for about a year now and it is wonderful. And it is such an important job. The children love the programs, too. It is a feeling I cannot describe to see the look on their little faces when they understand the lesson and want to be kind to animals and help the ones in need.

Amber Muster, Houston SPCA

I have always been drawn to helping animals and wanted to be a veterinarian as a child. I started working with animals at the local MSPCA shelter while in college, then at an animal hospital, and went as far as getting a pre-veterinary degree. The turning point was when I heard about the Tufts animals and public policy program while looking into vet school. I was elated to find a program that would prepare me to educate people and help animals on a larger level. I did a lot of humane education in my first job at the animal shelter, and also got into other things - fundraising, marketing, and working with the media. My role at NAHEE is working to reach more kids by getting the word out about our materials and programs, and the importance of humane education.

Heidi O'Brien, National Association for Humane and Environmental Education, Connecticut

In 1979 I was hired as a poet-teacher for an organization called California Poets in the Schools. I taught poetry writing to elementary-school children. Although all of my lessons were centered on necessary language skills - such as how to write an image, sounds and language, alliteration, etc. - when appropriate, I had my students use their newfound skills in writing poems about animals.

I worked for California Poets in the Schools for many years until I heard that there was an opening for a humane educator at the Humane Society of Sonoma County. My love of animals, and my experiences working with children and poetry, landed me the job. I wrote my curriculum based upon the fact that children express themselves easily through poetry and that their innate love and connection to the animal world shines through in their poems. I visited hundreds of schools and worked with students of all ages and abilities. Over a period of 10 years, I amassed a huge collection of poems and drawings about animals. Many of these poems and drawings can be seen in my book Teaching Compassion.

Last year I continued to do this work at a charter school for homeless and at-risk youth.

Pamela Raphael, California

While working as a veterinary technician and patient educator for Village Animal Clinic, a veterinary hospital in south Florida, I had served on several committees through our county animal-control facility. While attending one of these committee meetings, I met Marie Davis, the executive director of the Peggy Adams Animal Rescue League. I shared with her that I was starting my own nonprofit organization, Animals 101, Inc., for the purpose of offering humane education to the community at large. She told me that her board of directors had been encouraging her to offer humane education through the Animal Rescue League and offered me a job on the spot. I still founded Animals 101, Inc., but have been working as director of humane education for the league since November 2000. It has been a most fulfilling and rewarding experience. Together with my canine partners, Woody and Katie, two Delta-certified therapy dogs who are the family members of the veterinarians who own Village Animal Clinic, we have educated thousands of school children and adults in the past two years.

Michelle Rivera, Animals 101, Florida

As a New York City Board of Education primary school teacher, I always included information about responsible care of cats and dogs in my classroom presentations. In 1980, after I learned that there was a New York State law that had mandated humane education in the schools since 1947, I began working with colleagues to provide teacher training programs for NYC educators. In 1985, I convinced the NYC Board of Education to develop and disseminate a Humane Education Resource Guide for primary school teachers.

In 1989, I finally convinced the United Federation of Teachers (the NYC teachers' union) to allow us to form a Humane Education Committee. Since our inception, we have offered teachers' training programs, free newsletters, contests and a website.

Sheila Schwartz, Humane Education Committee Chairperson, New York City

As a child, I felt a deep heartbreak when my dear Tom cat found "a good home in the country," and then found me again six months later. Luckily, my friend's mom took him in. Later, my dog Terry was put to sleep when I left for college. His crime? Although he loved our family, he roamed the town, jumped fences and impregnated oodles of dogs. My dad had Lulu the cat and her descendents, (numbering a hundred+) on his ranch in Wyoming. He fed them goat's milk. It was like the overpopulation pyramid. Why do I teach spay and neuter??? While raising my daughter and son, I volunteered for six years as a Girl Scout leader. I also volunteered as a Cub Scout leader, camp director, Bible schoolteacher, Sunday school teacher, and for lots of PTA projects. We created brownie pet care badges, marched in children's parades, participated in litter cleanups, had a "haunted house" and "adopted grandparents" for a year in a rest home(with pet shows) and had art shows!. Intertwined was my love of animals. Of course, I rescued and placed many homeless pets.

I went to college "after kids" and got degrees in marketing, journalism and commercial art. When I moved to Oregon, the humane educator and animal assisted therapy coordinator position was open at Oregon Humane Society in 1989. I will always hold dear the miracles I witnessed during the 2 ½ years of therapy. As programs grew, education became full time, as it combined my experiences and passions for youths and animals. It is a thrill to be part of the humane shaping of youths. Even more impressive are the amazing projects they undertake and achieve for animals and people. I feel blessed and reassured to know they will be the leaders of tomorrow.

Carol Shiveley, Oregon Humane Society, Portland, OR

I was hired by the Maui Humane Society two years ago as the part-time volunteer coordinator and I managed to hang on until I was given the part-time Humane Education position also , thereby making me full-time and responsible for a dual role at the Shelter. I fell head-over-heels in love with education, especially with the younger children, the ones who are so open to learning about kindness and responsibility. They taught me so much that I was humbled by their wonderful spirits.

When I was offered the chance to move up in the organization to the Director of Development, I wanted the promotion but I didn't want to give up Humane Education. It fills me up and makes my day complete. Accomodations were made that allowed me to continue working with the community to teach the values of kindness, non-cruelty and responsible pet ownership. I am now fund-raising to get more videos, materials, puppets and books to make the department even more full of exciting tools for education.

Every time I see that sudden smile that means a child "gets it," I am instantly rewarded. To here a voice crying "Auntie, Auntie!" (all local Hawaiian kids refer to elders as Auntie and Uncle out of respect) when I am out shopping and a child recognizes me and wants me to me his or her family is incredibly heart-warming. We can never under-estimate the power of education. I am so very proud to be a part of it, to make this investment in the future for the sake of our orphaned animals.

Cris South, Maui Humane Society, Hawaii

For as long as I can remember, I always loved animals. As a young child, I was unable to have pets and I could never understand why. I finally got my first pet, a puppy, at age 16. As with almost all 16-year-olds, I thought I knew everything about caring for my new best friend. My older brother had a dog and I watched him, so I thought I knew exactly what to do. Looking back now, I know I made a lot of mistakes simply because I really didn't know how to properly care for a dog.

After moving to California and continuing a career in telecommunications, I became a corporate trainer. I had never taught before, but quickly discovered it was something I truly loved to do. I traveled all over California teaching everything from how to work on a particular system to how to positively interact with the public.

After more than 27 years in the corporate world, I decided to retire and do what I had always wanted to do - help the animals. I had been a long-time member and supporter of the Sacramento SPCA but I never had the time to volunteer. I started volunteering at the Sacramento SPCA about five years ago and did almost every job you can imagine. I loved all my different volunteer jobs but soon discovered that what I really wanted to do was use my teaching skills to help others not make the same mistakes I did with my first dog.

For three years I did humane education as a volunteer because our organization did not have the funds allocated to hire anyone to do education. When the program's popularity grew, I was hired as a part-time humane educator. I am very proud of our program and hope to continue doing this important work for a very long time.

Mary Terrell, Sacramento SPCA, California

A long with a deep appreciation for animals and the sense of well-being that our ever-present family dogs gave me, three unsettling events in my life affected my decision to become a humane educator. First, when I was in sixth grade, a calico kitten walked into our classroom. After we all got a chance to gather around the teacher's desk to pet her, the teacher put her back outside. When I went out later to do my shift as a crossing guard, I was sickened to find the kitten dead beside the curb. Second, my dad gave our "bird dog," Babe, to a turkey farm in the country, because he felt she would have a better life there. After a couple of years, we visited the farm, and there was Babe, skin and bones, tied to a stake, having worn a deep, circular rut around herself - her sentence for having killed a turkey.

Third, after college I worked at a zoo, and found that even here animals suffered, when management placed a higher priority on protecting the zoo's image than on the animals' welfare. After leaving the zoo, I jumped at the chance to apply for the position opening for humane educator. I was truly blessed with this opportunity to foster appreciation for our kindred beings, and to help alleviate their suffering.

Bob Walter, Humane Society for Tacoma and Pierce County, Washington