How do you expose your kids to animals???

Raven67 · #1 12-13-2003, 05:14 PM

Hi all, I am the new mom of a wonderful baby girl, who will be raised vegan. I am already thinking about ways to introduce her to animals that are non-exploitive. My friend mentioned how wonderful our city's zoo is, and how much fun we will have there, since I am an animal lover. Well, of course, the zoo is off-limits because it is not vegan. But, honestly, I feel a little sad that my daughter will miss the "petting zoo" and will never get to see the giraffes and elephants up close. I understand all the reasons why these experiences are off-limits and send the wrong messages about animals. However, I want my daughter to gain first-hand knowledge and experience about animals. We do have cats and dogs at home, so we have that experience. What are some of the ways that your family has interacted with animals? How do vegan parents teach/expose their children to real life animals. Or, can you recommend video or books that provide good, realistic views of animals in nature. I was thinking we might visit a farm sanctuary to vacation when she is older. Has anyone done this? Thanks in advance for your ideas.

sophie · #2 12-14-2003, 12:19 AM

Yes, that's a hard one isn't it? Recently my daughter's preschool went on a farm visit. We didn't go because I hate farms and I hate the way children go to them and are led to believe everything is so rosy and nice for the animals. But my partner raised the point that children need to have contact with animals in order to have compassion for them, so in a way the farm visit was positive, even though the kids don't know what happens to those lovely sheep and cows.
I think the farm sanctuary is a good idea- any place that is actually helping animals is a good place to take vegan kids. When your daughter is old enough you can explain why you don't like zoos, vegan kids tend to be compassionate so I'm sure she'll agree with you.

Erin Pavlina · #3 12-14-2003, 05:39 AM

Yes, the zoo question comes up a lot.

I would try to find an animal rescue or sanctuary. We had a great one nearby that recently moved to a large location (but too far away for us now). The animals were treated so well and no one was allowed to harm them.

The zoo, if you decide to go, will probably depress you. The animals are listless a lot of the time and it looks to the untrained eye at least that they have lost their will to live naturally.

But I agree that it's important for kids to get to know animals first hand. For parents that choose to go to the zoo, make it as educational an experience as possible and explain to your children that the animals would much rather be living free.

Dancer · #4 12-14-2003, 03:07 PM

I volunteer at an animal sanctuary and the philosophical, spiritual and environmental serenity is life-giving, a wonderful venue to introduce the value of all life to children. Most zoos are abominations and I readily admit my unwavering philosophical stance against them. A sanctuary offers a permanent FREE to roam home to its inhabitants and people are invited to gently share the space with the animals as a symbiosis of sorts. I strongly encourage you to seek out a sanctuary, even if it is far away. You could make it a planned part of a vacation. Just before Thanksgiving, my teenage son watched me "hang-out" with 2 resident turkeys, who have very distinct personalities and squawck like crazy when I arrive! They know me!

Your daughter's heart and soul will soar as she becomes one with the animals....

Love,
Dancer

tricia · #5 12-14-2003, 04:14 PM

Man i wish i had a sancutary close to me..the only two i know of is one in NY and one far far away and i have no car so i cant get there

...ok time to pack up and move...lol....

sarahrose · #6 12-23-2003, 11:20 AM

I recently took my daughter to PAWS ( the performing animal welfare society ) so that she could see elephants, bears, big cats, ect....and also learn about how the animals where rescued from the circus, zoo, and roadside "shows". She got to see the exotic animals while supporting a good cause....two birds with one stone! It was wonderful.

mum2sarah · #7 12-28-2003, 01:08 PM

Isn't it interesting how zoos claim to be for "animal lovers" but are actually enslaving animals away from their natural habitats? Not to mention all the animal foods they serve at their restaurants... I remember going to the zoo this past summer. I was vegetarian then but hadn't quite converted to veganism yet. The zoo experience helped reaffirm my lingering thoughts about committing to a vegan lifestyle, as I watched helpless animals, and then stopped for lunch with our friends who were devouring chicken strips while talking about how nice it was to see the animals at the zoo (and seeing absolutely no contradiction in this). So I guess the zoo can be a good experience for reaffirming your values; however, I do not think I will go there again, because I do not want to financially support such a place. Instead, my daughter learns up close about animals indigenous to her climate (as probably most other humans around the globe do), by being outdoors, visiting animal sanctuaries, etc. And se learns about exotic animals from other parts of the world through books, and perhaps someday through tv (we do not use tv right now). Who knows; maybe someday we'll be able to afford a trip to Australia or something and she can see kangaroos running across the road instead of deer, but until then, I don't feel it's worth animals suffering to give her a close-up experience of these sorts of animals.