The Amazing Adventures of Archibald Esq.
Dog Duties: Humane Educator Hound
In Canada there’s a new and wonderful way of being a working dog! To be a ‘humane educator’! Which just goes to show how cutting-edge and forward-thinking those wily Canadians are…
In a scheme operating in Guelph (Ontario), Calloway the basset hound has busy days in area schools.
It takes a special dog to be a humane educator, and Calloway underwent a year of progressive training before he was able to do full days in elementary schools. Jessica Ing (his two legged companion) and the seven-year-old hound are now the newest members of the Guelph Humane Society family. She started as their humane educator this fall, and Calloway has been given the title of Humane Values mascot.
Together Jessica and Calloway spend their days in elementary schools teaching children about the humane treatment of animals, animal and human relationships, and even wild animals versus domestic ones. “Humane education is specifically focused on applying the main human qualities of respect, responsibility, fairness and kindness to other species, including ourselves and the environment,” Ing said.
Ing said being a humane education dog isn’t something the average pet can do. Calloway started with scout and guide groups about six years ago, when Ing started her work with the Orangeville and District OSPCA. He also underwent an obedience test and two temperament tests.
Calloway now works full days at schools, but would be happier if school started at 11 a.m. Jessica said that was so especially in cold weather, as Calloway — like many wise hounds — “has a strong preference to stay in bed.”
Once at school Calloway is a run-away success. “He’s unbearably comical. He’s very, very gentle. His passiveness with children is truly amazing,” Ing said.
One part of the training was teaching him to ignore the kids in a classroom who are trying to encourage him to come to them. According to Jessica “his greatest asset is his ability to ignore and be focused and independent. His ability to lie and sit and wait - that kind of patience is a very essential and admirable feature in a dog.”
Sure enough, when Ing and Calloway recently spent the day at Ottawa Crescent school, the floppy-eared dog rested on his carpet as Ing talked to the Grade 1 and 2 students about the emotions animals feel. About halfway through, the basset hound let out a long sigh, which Ing said just signifies boredom.
Lucky for Calloway, the kids were soon able to come up one by one to meet him. “He tends to bring out a lot of children who are afraid of dogs, because he is very anthropomorphic, a very humorous looking dog,” Ing said.
Jessica Ing said she wasn’t aware of any humane education programs that use animals other than dogs, but said animal-assisted therapy programs often use other animals, from dogs and cats to birds and rabbits.
Ing said she always had a great respect for how animals related to her life, and since she was a child wanted to somehow make it up to them. “I was always sensitive and aware of the fact that I enjoyed animals for food, I enjoyed them for entertainment, they provided me companionship and they enriched my life. Ultimately, the older I got the more and more I learned how much animals actually contributed.” Ing finally found the outlet she was looking for in humane education, where she felt she was giving back to all species of animals.
As a humane educator Jessica and Calloway talk to children about how to safely interact with animals, how to tell when an animal is scared or angry and shouldn’t be touched, and how to tell the difference between wild and domestic animals.
But there’s also a lot of energy focused on introducing kids to responsible pet care, Ing said, and a focus on wildlife habitats. She also discusses with older grades the issue of animal treatment, especially related to entertainment and circuses, and the students are invited to participate in a debate about the issue.
Ing said the humane society recognizes the different viewpoints people have about the treatment of animals. Over the past 10 years or so, humane education has developed and humane societies know more about how they should be educating the public.
“What we focus on is understanding the qualities of responsibility, respect, integrity, honesty, fairness and kindness, and essentially introducing children to understanding how those qualities and their definitions apply in different relationships with animals.”
One of the most important things is also for Ing to exemplify the values she teaches. So, how does Calloway ride in the car? Buckled in the back seat, of course.
Awoof! Hear hear for Humane Education!!
Superwoof to Calloway! The ever-admiring Archie.
Posted 03 Aug 08
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