Spreading the Love for Be Kind to Animals Week

Since 1877, the 

 has been leading the way in understanding human-animal interaction and its role in society.  Supporting this goal is the well-known

, which has been celebrated nationally since its foundation in 1915.Be Kind to Animals Week was originally founded to teach children the value of showing kindness to animals. Today, it is widely celebrated as a chance for all people to show appreciation to the dogs, cats, birds, horses, bunnies, fish, and other kind creatures who bring joy into our lives every day, and only ask for love (and the occasional treat) in return.During this special week,

is asking you to do something kind for an animal. We'll be offering "kindness tips" on our 

page to give you some ideas!Perhaps one of the best opportunities to promote kindness to animals occurs when shopping for or adopting new pets. According to a 

, dogs from pet stores -- who often come from puppy mills -- can have "significantly greater aggression toward human family members, unfamiliar people, and other dogs; greater fear of other dogs and nonsocial stimuli; and greater separation-related problems and house soiling."This comes as no surprise to folks who advocate against 

 -- organizations that breed puppies in unhealthy environments with an eye simply to making as much money from puppy sales as possible. By not supporting these organizations, we can help bring this practice to an end.So let’s take this opportunity to thank the furry friends in our lives for being a source of comfort, love, and inspiration. Let's show animals the love and kindness they deserve. What will you do to celebrate?