Tikkun olam one animal at a time

When you think of things that go together, children and animals are an obvious pairing. For the past four years, that pairing has been turned into a mutually beneficial partnership between the students in J-Space/J-Camp and the homeless animals of Rhode Island

Since the fall of 2010, J-Space has hosted weekly visits from the Rhode Island Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RISPCA). This has been an avenue to expose the children to tikkun olam, a Jewish value that means “repair the world,” which is done through education, and improving the lives of our animal friends. With each visit, students have the opportunity to meet, learn about and bond with an animal from the shelter.

More than that, however, they work together on a project – anything from hand-made catnip toys to colorful messages detailing the dangers of leaving pets in cars – to help benefit animals in R.I. This partnership grew during the summer of 2011 and Animal Camp was created as a specialty camp. It continues to be very popular camp option for children each summer.

During these weeks of camp, adoptable pets such as kittens, rabbits and guinea pigs call the Dwares JCC home and help campers learn about pet care and issues surrounding animals in our state. Often times, during camp you would find kittens smuggled into offices or a rabbit in the lobby greeting staff and visitors as the entire community got caught up in the spirit of these pairings. Additionally, many of the animals participating in these programs found their forever homes with staff, J-Campers, and visitors to the Alliance.

This commitment to animal-based education has grown to include partnerships with other area shelters such as Providence Animal Rescue League, Sweet Binks Rabbit Rescue and Handsome Dan’s Rescue for Pit Bull Type Dogs. The partnership between J-Space/J-Camp and the RISPCA has flourished as well, with animals and RISPCA staff visiting the Dwares JCC. Each month animal themes and activities are created in the hopes of benefiting area animals.

For example, during the month of February, campers learned about feral cats and how to keep them warm in the winter. The children built shelters that were donated Paws Watch, a non-profit organization that helps the feral cat population. In March, the children will make bird feeders for native R.I. wild birds.

While all of these actions certainly benefit the animals, for the children it also inspires caring and empathy, increases their confidence, encourages teamwork and develops a variety of other useful skills.

They learn to be passionate about “repairing the world” for our animal friends. Be on the lookout for even more animal themed programs from the Alliance and its shelter partners, because when it comes to children and animals, everyone wins!

LAURELIN SITTERLY was the Director of Humane Education at RISPCA, where she led animal-based education programs. She now spends her time with students in J-Space and J-Camp, as well as working as a zoo educator and a freelance artist.