The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Hyderabad News : Sensitising children towards animals

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Saturday, Jan 12, 2008
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Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

Sensitising children towards animals

Special Correspondent

Photo: Satish H.

Showing the way: Animal rights activist and actress Amala Akkineni releasing the book written by PETA president Ingrid Newkrik in Hyderbad on Friday. —

HYDERABAD: “Children are naturally compassionate and sensitive. They are going to be around much longer than most of us. If they are convinced about the need to protect animals and love them, they can make the world a better place for every one,” says Ingrid E. Newkirk, president and co-founder of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA).

Newkirk authored a book ‘50 Easy Ways Kids can Save Animals’ to get children sensitised to the inhuman treatment meted out to them and turn their compassion into action. She participated in the book-reading session for children at Crossword, a bookstore at City Centre in Banjara Hills, on Friday. Lending support to PETA and the cause of animals is noted animal welfare activist and Blue Cross founder Amala Akkineni.

Protecting animals

There were a whole lot of questions from children on what they could do to protect animals. “Don’t buy a pet, adopt a friend,” “Animals too like their freedom as much as humans, don’t cage or chain them, don’t abuse them,” the author responded.

One child wanted to know the difference between sympathy and empathy. “Sympathy is just feeling sorry and saying so. But empathy is to imagine oneself in the same situation. It is a stronger emotion. If you empathise with animals, you would do your best to protect them,” she said.

Popular for rescuing animals in distress and sheltering them, Amala was asked to share how she felt the day she first rescued an animal as a child. “When I saw an injured bird on the road, I knew I had to save it. I just gathered it in my arms and rushed home. My heart made me do it.” She also gave tips to children on how to communicate clearly to Blue Cross or PETA members to help rescue an animal in distress.

Talking to children helps. They listen and take the message to others. “I also appeal to the children that if they love animals, they should not eat them and whether they would consider being vegetarians,” some indeed turn vegetarian, ” Amala said.

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