There was a very inspiring event last night -- one that usually gets almost no play in the local media.

Last night was the Awards Presentation for school children around the County who had competed and won in the Be Kind to Animals Poster Contest held every Spring.

http://www.co.pg.md.us/Newsroom/PressReleases/PressReleases/news_article16023.asp?nivel=subfoldmenu(1)
is the press release.

What it doesn't tell you is that many of the award-winners are age ten or younger, and their artwork makes it clear that students understand why being kind to animals matters. Speakers at the event indicated that there is new awareness today of The Link http://www.americanhumane.org/site/PageServer?pagename=nr_fact_sheets_link -- the important bond between people and pets that is often targetted by abusers.

Public safety and reducing violence get talked about a lot around election time, and the Awards give you hope that maybe in a generation or two, the talk will include how education and simple kindness in all our actions, could stem the problems in the county even more effectively.