Man's best friend teaches respect

[Bruce]

I just read this article in USA Today, and thought this article could benefit all of us.

Once a week a teacher brings in a dog to a class of first graders. She has come up with an idea to tap into children's natural affinity for animals and use it to teach values everyone can agree on.

The teacher said "it's not heavy handed. it's a more subtle way of getting children to understand that you have to treat every living thing, every human being, with respect.

In a lesson last year the children talked about training a dog with praise to reward good behavior. They then took that extra step. They discussed about who in your family needs praise.

Once they grasped the idea that positive reinforcement gets desired results , they start using it with each other all the time.

Then it was said that this idea extended back in time to a quote from St. Thomas Aquinas who said "the way a child treats an animal will predict how he will treat fellow human beings."

In my opinion, I truly believe that if their is one important lesson we all should learn in life, it is to respect each other and to respect all living things. Life is to precious for us to disregard the lesson these first graders have learned from man's best friend.

[Googy]

Bruce,

My words exactly.Any time anyone treats these helpless creatures badly will go to hell !!! ,They bring us so much love.If we ever see any unkindness always report it to the Humane Society.Never walk away from it, then you become evil too. The quote from St. Thomas Aquinar said it all. Thanks Bruce for posting this.What a great teacher, most are like her.

Googy

[LiceN]

Googy, you and Bruce are so correct in saying you can tell by how a person treats animals, as to what their makeup is. I am a great animal lover, and want to share how attentive my scottie, Ben, is. I have had some teary days lately, and last night, I really let it go, after I got my hubby to bed. Ben climbs in my lap, puts his front feet on my chest, and would kiss my cheeks as my tears fell. He would wait, cock his head to the side, then do it again. They have such an insight to unusual happenings. I dearly love him....(I feel better today!) Betty D.

[Bruce]

My friend Bob and his wife just bought a little Yorkie. They dressed up the puppy with a red body suit with white trim for Christmas and they even have some tiny antlers to really dress him up. The dog didn't seem to be bothered by it at all. The puppyis a real extrovert in that he expects everyone to pet him. Yes, Googy and Betty, I share your love for dogs. Bruce

[Googy]

I loved reading your posts,Betty and Bruce.We have out lived 5 dogs and one precious cat.We are limited to having pets in our condo.Really though it is Ok .I just remember them and the love and joy they brought us.

Blessings,

Googy