Paw Pals Houston SPCA Girl Scout Patch Program

The Houston Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and The Girl Scouts of San Jacinto Council Cadette/Senior Leader s Guide Cadette/Senior Level Requirements Paw Pals Houston SPCA Girl Scout Patch Program Girl Scouts of San Jacinto Council 3110 Southwest Freeway Houston, TX 77098 (713) 292-0300 Houston SPCA 900 Portway Drive Houston, TX 77024 (713) 869-SPCA (7722) www.gssjc.org www.houstonspca.org

Houston SPCA Paw Pals Girl Scout Patch Patch Description: The SPCA Patch will consist of each level of girl scouting: Daisies, Brownies, Juniors, Cadettes, and Seniors. Activities will include items directly related to the Houston SPCA s mission statement. Houston SPCA Mission Statement: The mission of the Houston SPCA is to promote commitment to and respect for all animals and to free them from suffering, abuse, and exploitation. Our vision is that we will lead our community to appreciate the value of animals. Patch Design: The Houston SPCA logo is in black and white. There are four levels of paws with different colors to represent each Girl Scout level: Daisies receive a yellow paw Brownies receive a pink paw Juniors receive a purple paw Cadettes/Seniors receive an orange paw Cost: The cost is $3.00 per girl. This price includes both the logo patch ($2) and the paw patch ($1) for the respective level. Checks should be made payable to the Houston SPCA. Cash is acceptable as well. Receipts are provided as requested by Troop Leaders.

Encouraging Humane Treatment of Companion Animals Cadettes and Senior Girl Scouts must complete eight of the eleven activities, including the two that have asterisks. 1. *Visit the Houston SPCA for a tour. At your meeting following your visit, list ten ways the Houston SPCA provides humane treatment for the animals in our care. Make a chart or poster with your findings. 2. With your troop, conduct a supply drive based on the Houston SPCA Wish List (see Activity #2). 3. *What is the difference in humane treatment of our companion animals and the legal mandate that we must provide food, care, and shelter? What does the word humane mean? Could a pet owner follow the law but not be humane? Make a booklet or poster of choices a humane owner would make. 4. Complete the calculations in Dogs, Dogs, and More Dogs (see Activity #4). Make a poster (or use sheets of manila paper) with stickers, crayons, markers, or other supplies that illustrates the population of dogs that would result after two years if we do not spay and neuter. Present your findings to your troop or family. 5. Read Careers for Animal Lovers (see Activity #5). Pick out three of the careers and write how each one contributes to the humane treatment of companion animals. Consider including a career you had not previously considered to be a part of animal care. 6. Investigate careers in humane education. Why is this kind of education important? During your visit to the Houston SPCA, interview the humane educator using the Career Investigator questionnaire (see Activity #6). 7. Write a story from the point of view of a dog or cat at the Houston SPCA. What kind of family does he or she want? What kind of care is important? 8. Research animal abuse. Go through the newspaper and locate three articles pertaining to animal abuse. Share the information you found with your troop and lead a discussion about animal abuse. Then write a letter to the editor of one of the articles sharing your feelings about the abuse described in the article. 9. What are companion animals? Would humane treatment of companion animals be different from humane treatment of exotic animals? Find out why wild or exotic animals DO NOT make good pets (see Activity #9). What kinds of things would a tiger or lion need if it were a pet that a domestic cat would not? What problems occur if that kind of animal were kept as a pet? What animals DO make good pets? Make a poster with one side of pictures of animals that make good pets. Draw your own or use magazine pictures. Share this with your troop. 10. Study information about why cats should live indoors. Then teach what you have learned to your troop or another group. 11. Empathy is the ability to put yourself in someone else s shoes. Empathy is more than feeling sorry for someone; it is identifying with the feelings of that person. Many experts believe this important character trait is often first developed in our relationship with animals. Read the short story, Rusty and Raymond (see Activity #11). With our troop, discuss the questions at the end of the story.

Houston SPCA Activity #2 Our Wish List Our Animals Need: Cat litter (non-clumping) Fabric toilet seat covers (for cat beds) Pet toys - cats and dogs Rabbit litter (Yesterday's News) Puppy training pads Sturdy baby playpen 10x10 White pop-up tents We Also Need: Monetary donations Digital cameras Newspapers Can openers Hand sanitizers Towels and blankets Bleach Batteries (AA, AAA) 8 ½ " X 11" copy paper Office supplies (scissors, tape, pens, black & red sharpies, etc.) Large plastic watering cans Paper towels Plastic shower curtain rings Gallon Ziploc bags Sandwich-sized Ziploc bags Paper towel cardboard tubes Critter Camp Wish List: Markers Glue and glue sticks Hand sanitizer Cotton balls Scrapbook paper (all varieties) LEGOs - bricks and friends Magazines which feature pictures of cats, dogs and other animals (Pet Talk/National Geographic, etc.) Fleece Popsicle sticks Yarn CDs The Houston SPCA is a private, 501(c) (3) organization that is not affiliated with any other SPCA, and receives no government funding or assistance from other animal organizations. The Houston SPCA relies exclusively on donations from businesses, grants and animal lovers to uphold its mission and continue the necessary work.

Activity #4 DOGS, DOGS, AND MORE DOGS! Animal shelters take care of 8-10 million lost, abandoned, and surrendered (given up) dogs and cats each year. They try to find homes for as many as they can, but there are not enough homes for all the animals in shelters. A typical female dog will have two litters of six puppies each year. Assume that each litter has three males and three females. The answer to this math problem will help you understand why there are so many homeless dogs and cats. Part A Directions: After each sentence, write the correct number of dogs. Pretend you have ONE unsprayed female dog. Her name is Molly. In the spring, Molly has SIX puppies-three males and three females. TOTAL A = In the fall, Molly has her second litter of SIX puppies. And her THREE daughters have SIX puppies each. (3x6) TOTAL B = The next spring, Molly has her third litter of SIX puppies. Her SIX daughters each have a litter of SIX puppies. (6x6) AND her NINE granddaughters each have a litter of SIX puppies. (9x6) TOTAL C = The next fall, Molly has her fourth litter of SIX puppies. Her NINE daughter each have a litter of SIX puppies. (9x6) 10. AND her FIFTY-FOUR granddaughters and great-granddaughters each have a litter of SIX puppies. (54x6) TOTAL D = A B C D TOTAL + + + =! Part B What should have been done for Molly so that at the end of two years, you would just have one dog?

Careers for Animal Lovers Activity #5 Below are a few jobs or careers working for or with animals. All of these jobs require a love of animals and a firm commitment to their well being. Some of these careers require a lot of training, and not too many of them pay a lot. However, every one of them will give you an opportunity to make a difference for the animals and enrich your life as well. Adoption Counselor: The adoption counselor helps find good homes for homeless animals, interviews potential adopters to make sure they will make good pet owners, and matches owners to the right pet for their lives. Animal Behavior Specialist: The animal behavior specialist evaluates behavior and social skills of animals and trains shelter animals to assist them in getting adopted. Animal Cruelty Investigator: The animal cruelty investigator investigates animal neglect, cruelty, and abuse complaints. He or she also educates the public about relevant animal laws and humane animal care. Fundraising/Special Events Coordinator: The fundraising and special events coordinator plans events like the telethon, Mutt Strut, and the annual gala in order to raise money to fund the care of animals at the shelter. Humane Educator: The humane educator educates children about the Houston SPCA, basic pet care, and how to be compassionate, kind and respectful to all living things. Foster Care Manager: The foster care manager trains and supervises volunteer foster families as they give care in their homes for some of our animals when these animals are not ready to be adopted because of his or her size, age, or health problems. Veterinarian: The veterinarian is a doctor for animals that performs surgeries and treats sick and injured animals. Veterinarian Technician: The veterinarian technician assists the veterinarian with surgeries, vaccinations, testing for diseases, and health examinations of animals. Volunteer Director: The volunteer director is responsible for the recruitment, training, and supervision of volunteers to assist employees in the efficient running of the facility. Other animal careers include: Animal Control Officer Disaster Relief Specialist Groomer Obedience Trainer Office Manager Pet Sitter Service Dog Trainer Wildlife Biologist Wildlife Rehabilitator Zookeeper

Animal Career Investigator Activity #6 Humane Educator 1. Why are you called a humane educator? 2. Describe your job duties to me. 3. What do you like best about your job? 4. What do you like least? 5. How do you prepare for this kind of career? 6. Do all humane educators work in animal shelters? 7. If you could choose one thing you would like my troop to know about the Houston SPCA, what would it be?

Activity #9 Large exotic birds can Many veterinarians be very noisy and make neighbors very angry. can not or will not treat exotic animals. Laws prohibit It is difficult to provide the habitat and foods most exotic animals need to be happy and healthy. the keeping of many wild animals as pets. Exotic pets often get so big that they are difficult to house and dangerous to handle! As animals are taken from the wild for pets, native populations diminish. An angry, frightened animal will never make a good pet. Many exotic pets are very poisonous or carry diseases dangerous to people.

ATTENTION CAT OWNERS! Activity #10 Don t Let Your Cats Loose Outside! If you let your pet kitty roam outside, here are a few things you need to think about: 1. The possibility that he or she will get hit by a car (accidents DO happen) or get lost (particularly without identifying tags). 2. The risk of the cat being involved in a fight with another cat or a dog. 3. The existence of people who HATE cats and are perverse enough to injure, torture, or kill them (such individuals DO exist!) 4. If the cat is not neutered or spayed, adding yet another litter of unwanted kittens to an already huge population (which increase instances of neglect and makes euthanasia by animal shelters a necessary evil). In seven years, one female cat and her offspring can produce 420,000 cats. One male cat can make several females pregnant in a short time. 5. Your cat will be exposed to a list of fatal and dangerous diseases including feline AIDS (NOT transmittable to humans), feline leukemia, respiratory ailments, rabies, and other illnesses that are expensive to treat. In other words, if your feline companion is an important part of your life and you are a responsible and loving friend, consider the wisdom of an INDOOR ONLY cat.

Rusty and Raymond By Judy Golden Activity #11 Raymond ran the five blocks down Center Street from school to his home. He could have cut across Stewart Park, but his mother had told him not to. She said the park was dangerous. When he reached his building, Raymond ran the four flights up to his apartment. As he opened the door, he realized something was different. Hi, Raymond, his mother said. How was school? Okay, replied Raymond. Mom, how come Rusty didn t bark? Rusty was a big brown mutt who belonged to the Johnsons, Raymond s neighbors. The Johnsons moved; they found a better place to live, said his mother. Well, I hope it s a better place for Rusty, too, Raymond said sadly. Oh, they didn t take Rusty with them. They can t have dogs in their new apartment, his mother remarked. Raymond s eyes opened wide and he exclaimed, Where s Rusty? What did they do with him? Calm down, Raymond. Mr. Johnson let Rusty loose in the park. He ll be okay. But how will he find food, and what will he do in the rain? said Raymond. Rusty is a smart dog, his mother said. He ll know what to do. Besides, there are a lot of stray dogs in the neighborhood. They survive! Mom, if Rusty comes back, can we keep him? She knew that keeping a dog was expensive, but she didn t want to disappoint her son. He loved that dog so much. We ll see, she said. Raymond went to his room. He wanted to believe his mother, but he just couldn t. He was frightened for Rusty. He had to find him. For the next two weeks, Raymond looked down alleyways and in between houses. He saw several stray dogs picking through garbage cans, but none of them was Rusty. The dogs looked thin and scared. Raymond became frightened. Is this what s happening to Rusty? Maybe someone found him and gave him a good home, thought Raymond. Or maybe he s injured and hiding someplace. Raymond decided to keep searching. It was getting dark, so Raymond started for home. As he passed Stewart Park, he heard barking and snarling. A pack of dogs was chasing a cat. Some of the dogs were fighting. He couldn t believe his eyes one of the dogs was Rusty! Raymond didn t know what to do. He didn t want to disobey his mother, but he had to go into the park to get Rusty. Raymond stood at the edge of the park. He yelled Rusty s name, but the dog didn t hear him. The park was scary, and Raymond didn t want to get too close to those other dogs. Rusty, Rusty! Raymond screamed. Finally, Rusty looked up. He saw Raymond and ran to him. Rusty was thin and had a cut over one eye. I m going to take good care of you, said Raymond, hugging his friend. This park is no place for either of us. Let s get out of her and go home.

Rusty and Raymond Discussion Questions Activity #11 1. Did Rusty s owners make a humane choice when they moved? What would have been a better way to handle their problem? 2. Do you think Rusty looked for his family? Put yourself in Rusty s shoes (or paws) for a moment. What are you feeling? 3. What do you think happened to Rusty during the two weeks that he was on his own? 4. Have you ever been lost? Can you empathize with Rusty? 5. Do you think the Johnsons should get another pet? 6. Can you empathize with Raymond? How do you think Raymond felt when he learned Rusty had been abandoned? 7. What humane education can you share from this story?

Paw Pals Houston SPCA Girl Scout Patch Program Evaluation Form Troop Number: Your Name: Girl Scout Level: Daisy Brownie Junior Cadette Senior 1. What was your favorite activity and why? 2. Which activities did you/your troop complete? Please list by number. 3. Name at least one thing you learned from the patch program that you didn t know before. 4. Do you have any suggestions for our program? Please send this completed form to: Houston SPCA Education Department 900 Portway Drive Houston, TX 77024 Forms can also be e-mailed to education@houstonspca.org or faxed to 713.869.5857