Key Concepts 

Humane Education Begins with Understanding

All life is connected.
No one is alone.  We are constantly interacting with our environment and our environment is interacting with us. 

Everyone needs a home.
All living creatures share similar basic needs – food, water, shelter, and appropriate social and physical environments.  A home, or habitat, provides these basic needs.  Humane Education helps us to appreciate the amazing natural world around us and motivates us to ensure that all animals (human and non-human) have an appropriate habitat.

The natural world is at threat.
Nature is fragile and many living creatures are at constant risk.  Through humane education and appropriate practices, we can help to protect our planet and all its inhabitants.

Key Concepts

All animals are important. They should be treated with respect, responsibility, and compassion.
• All life is interconnected.
• All creatures have similar basic needs – food, water, shelter, and appropriate social and physical environments.
• Everyone needs a home.  In most instances, humans are responsible for the loss of animal habitats.

Animals have feelings.  This is an important aspect to consider, especially when contemplating an animal’s well-being. 
• They may experience emotions and pain. 
• Animals have cognitive abilities and emotional qualities.

All animals deserve consideration and respect for their physical and emotional well-being and should not be exploited.  Circuses, roadside menageries, rodeos, and some forms of media are among the many facets of animal entertainment that are detrimental to animals and to humans’ understanding of them.
• Animals in these conditions have inappropriate living conditions and are subjected to significant stress.
• Animals’ basic needs, both physical and psychological, are not met.
• Animal training in these situations is often inhumane.

Pet owners have a responsibility to meet their companion animal’s needs.  Pets rely on us for their needs, throughout their entire lives.
• Exotic animals should not be pets.
• People need to provide for the appropriate physical and psychological needs of their pets.

Choices can be made that collectively benefit oneself, people, animals, and the environment.  Our choices can have far-reaching effects.  It is important to recognize the impact we have on the Earth and its inhabitants.

We have a responsibility to consciously consider, respect, care for, and protect all creatures and the environment.  Our daily activities can benefit the Earth and its inhabitants if the effort is made to consciously think through our actions.

An individual has the power to make a positive difference for other creatures.  Our personal choices can make a difference.
• We need to protect and care for the animals that share our Earth.
• People should intervene if they see an animal in trouble.