2009

Project: Humane Education Ambassador Readers (HEAR), United Animal Nations (UAN)

Authors: Laura Stokes

With assistance of: Dawn Robles

Type: Report

Publication: May 2009

Developing Children’s Awareness of the Human-Animal Bond: An Assessment of the Experiences and Benefits that Children Receive in the United Animal Nation’s Humane Education Ambassador Readers (HEAR) Program (pdf, 30 pages)

Abstract

In 2007, the United Animal Nations launched the Humane Education Ambassador Readers (HEAR), an innovation that focused on mitigation of animal suffering through education. In the HEAR program, adult volunteers read carefully selected story books to children in grades 3-6 in schools or other educational settings, and hold discussions with the children about the themes of the stories. The immediate aim of the HEAR program is to help children learn about pets and about pet-people relationships, and to help children develop respect, compassion, and empathy related to treatment of pets and all animals. The ultimate goal of HEAR is to contribute to animal welfare through education.
This study focuses on these research questions:

1. What learning opportunities does the HEAR model afford students?
2. What are the potential benefits of the HEAR model?
3. What elements of the model are most significant and promising?

Intended Audience

United Animal Nations, Local Policy Makers, Funders, Teachers, and general public.

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