States Attorney & Baltimore Humane Society Asking Youth to Change the World in Writing Contest

Reisterstown, MD – Animal abuse and cruelty is a sad fact in this country and crosses all socioeconomic lines. As observed in the recent Parkland, Florida high school shooting, Intentional cruelty to animals is strongly correlated with other crimes including violence against people according to the Humane Society of the U.S. Teaching children compassion toward animals and modeling kindness and empathy to both animals and humans is important to their learning.

As part of Baltimore Humane Society’s humane educational outreach program, the no-kill shelter has partnered with the Baltimore County States Attorney, Animal Abuse Unit to announce the “Change the World for Homeless Pets and Pets In Need Writing Contest.”

“Our goal is to give children a platform to become heroes to themselves and others by giving them non-violent options for expressing themselves and influencing their world for themselves, their peers, and nimals,” says Dr. Heather Friedman, Outreach & Education Committee Chair & Executive Vice-President Baltimore Humane Society. “Because children are often the best vehicles for dissemination of information to their peers and even their family members, we are holding the writing contest.”

Children ages 6-16 are invited to demonstrate their amazing originality and technical skill by use of prose, poems, and rap, to change the world for pets in need! In 250 words or less children are asked to express their feelings about how to help pets and possibly influence others to treat pets with kindness, tolerance and compassion. There will be a winner in each category of writing for each age group —ages 6-8, ages 9-12, and ages 13-16. The deadline is April 2, 2018. Entries can be submitted online at: https://bmorehumane.org/change-the-world-for-homeless-pets-and-pets-in-need-writing-contest/ or by mail to: Change the World Contest, Baltimore Humane Society, 1601 Nicodemus Road, Reisterstown, Maryland 21136

All entries will be read and judged by a panel of independent judges including Adam Lippe, Baltimore County State’s Attorney Chief, Animal Abuse Unit and Tracey Leong, WJZ-TV reporter. The contest is also being sponsored by Baltimore’s Child Magazine.

Children from all Maryland counties and cities are invited to participate.

Some Scary Animal Abuse Statistics

In a study of U.S. animal cruelty cases –

70.1% involved dogs
20.9% involved cats
24.1% involved other animals

71% of domestic violence victims reported that their abuser also targeted pets

In one study of families under investigation for suspected child abuse, researchers found that pet abuse had occurred in 88% of the families under supervision for physical abuse of their children.

(Source: Humane Society of the U.S.)