Hey kids!!  Blue here!!

 

 

Hey, did I ever tell you that I was a dog??  I know….you could probably tell from my picture. 

 

Anyway, did you know that dogs are very special??  My foster mom tells me we can do miracles.

 

Some dogs help humans in many different ways.  Some dogs help police find things that might hurt us like drugs and bombs.  Some dogs help people in wheel chairs.  Some dogs help people that can’t see by guiding them so they don’t get lost or hit by a car when they go for a walk.  Some dogs help by loving the people they live with.

 

My friend Pepper lives with me here at foster moms’ house.  She used to help lots of people.  Here is her picture.

 

 

She went to a special school and learned how to help people when they didn’t feel so good.  She was called a “Pet Therapy” dog.  Pepper helped one guy who was in a wheel chair learn how to throw a Frisbee.  She told me that it was very hard for him because he couldn’t move his arms very well.  Sometimes he would only throw it on the ground right in front of his wheel chair.  But Pepper said that was OK because before she came along he never could play with a Frisbee!  Pepper is retired now.  Foster mom says that is OK and that Pepper and all of us here are still special because we make her smile every day!

 

The most important thing that foster mom says I have to remember is that every single living thing is special and important.  She says that every animal has feelings.  I know dogs do, but she told me that cats and even bugs like this butterfly do!! 

 

 

Foster mom and Maggie both told me that the people where I lived before forgot about all living things having feelings.  They didn’t even care if I was wet or cold or had food to eat.  The people at that bad place called a puppy mill forgot that sometimes I hurt too.   They forgot that I was special.  They didn’t clean up where I lived and sometimes I had to sleep in the very same place that I went to the bathroom!!  They forgot that I liked to be clean, just like them.  They forgot that I really didn’t have enough fur to stay warm and dry when the weather got bad.

 

People sure are funny sometimes.  Most of them know how special dogs are!  I’m glad that you kids know how special all living things are!!  Maybe you could tell other people.  Especially tell the grown up people.  Then they can tell the other people that have puppy mills that dogs are special and that dogs have feelings.  Then maybe there won’t be any more puppy mills.

 

Thanks for your help!

 

  This is me and my friend Lizzie.  We were peeking through the door!!  Can you see us??

 

Oh, by the way, foster mom is sending along a very special piece of paper called a “contract”.  She showed it to me.  I just kind of chewed it up – I like to chew things up.  She told me that I couldn’t eat paper.  Oh well, it was fun chewing it up.  Good thing she had another one though so you could all see it!

 

See you later alligators!!!  (Did you know that alligators are special too?  They are living things and have feelings just like dogs and second graders!  I think they have lots of big scary teeth!)

 

Your friend,

 

Blue

 

 

I Will Respect All Living Things Contract

 

 

 I, _____________________, promise to respect all living things and to treat all living things with kindness, compassion and empathy at all times.

 

 

J    I will show concern and compassion for all living things.

 

J    I will always remember that all living things have feelings and needs.

 

J    I will teach others that it is our responsibility to respect and love, and show kindness to people and animals.

 

J    I will remember that all living things need an environment where people are calm and gentle in their voices and actions.

 

J    I will not bring a pet into my family unless I have the energy, resources, love, time, and commitment to see that they have a good and happy life.

 

J    I will remember that all living things are unique and special, and that they are each, in their own way, making a difference in the world.

 

J    I will remember that I am also unique and special; that I need to protect my body, heart and mind, and that I have a responsibility to make a difference in the world by my own special talents.

 

J    I will show my family and friends by my actions and words, how special and unique all living things are.

 

J    I will work to protect the earth and the environment so all living things can have a clean and safe place to live.

 

 

Your Name __________________________________ Date____________________

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“Teaching a child not to step on a caterpillar is as valuable to the child as it is to the caterpillar.” ~ Bradley Miller