City Critters

City Critters enables children to develop an awareness of the animals that share their neighborhoods. Learning about these creatures enables children to better understand and appreciate them.  Children are encouraged to study and enjoy wildlife from a distance.  This program teaches strategies to peacefully co-exist or simply avoid disturbing certain types of wildlife.

City Critters also includes a discussion on responsible pet care.  Children are taught that their pets rely upon them to provide for all of their needs, including food, fresh water, exercise and love.  The importance of always having proper identification on their pet is also emphasized.

The City Critters outreach program is offered to agencies including Children’s Hospital and public libraries throughout the year.

City Critters Goals
• To promote an ethic of gentleness for other living creatures
• To create better awareness and empathy of wildlife that share our environments
• To promote appropriate pet choice and care (along with our colleagues at MHS)

City Critters Key Concepts
• All animals are remarkable
• Humans have changed the natural environment. Some animals have adapted to this changed environment and reside in urban environments
• Wild animals are different than domestic animals
• Wild animals should be enjoyed from a distance so as not to disturb them
• Wild animals can harbor and transmit disease
• All animals (including humans) have similar needs – food, water, shelter and appropriate social and physical environments
• Our pets rely upon us to provide for all of the their needs