As summer brings longer days and new adventures, it’s the perfect time to celebrate compassion, connection, and the incredible impact we can make together.
They Couldn’t Be Cuter
These bouncing, lap-loving babies are ready to go home with you—eight for you to choose from. There are three orange tabbies. Buttercup and Nutmeg are girls—very unusual for that coloring! Their brother is Rusty. Two of them, Angus and Inky, are black, as you could guess. Firecracker and Brie are grey tabbies trimmed with white. Firecracker is shown here enjoying a nap. Adorable Esther is a calico. The kittens were rescued in Los Baños by K911, a rescue organization based in Antioch. They are now enjoying their days in Redwood City. To ensure responsible placement, an adoption fee of $200 per kitten is requested; you could adopt two for just $300. The fee includes spay or neuter surgery, vaccination, and the all-important microchip. To visit them and get acquainted, contact Carol Scola at (650) 520-7925 or carolscola@gmail.com.
Kindness In Clay and Paint
Creative Creatures Pet Painter camps introduced 40 young people to animals and art. The campers met Georgina, a kitten from the Silicon Valley Animal Control Authority shelter and Molly, an African Gray parrot. The campers learned about these fellow creatures and rendered portraits in clay and paint. The purpose of the camps was to encourage empathy and compassion. One of the instructors, Zohreh Sofdari, describes the outcome this way, “This camp was transformative—beyond art, it nurtured empathy. The children created sculptures and paintings while discovering compassion. Seeing a parrot or kitten up close, they told stories and related those lives to their own. The kids gained something deeper—an understanding of care and empathy. We planted seeds of kindness—seeds that will grow in their hearts, reminding them to care and empathize. This experience changed their world.”
Campers were encouraged to write a story inspired by what they learned about empathy and compassion. We are proud to feature A Cat’s Home, by camper Aria that goes along with her lovely painting entitled Georgina In The Garden.
A Cat’s Home
Once upon a modern time, on a stormy night, a mother brought her little kitten to the big, beautiful but scary world. A Wolf trampled the poor new mother. She then threw young kitten into the night when a human rescued her and took her to the animal shelter. They named her Georgina. Today, she is 9and ½ weeks old. This is her new and happy home.
Creative Creatures is a part of Project HumaneKind’s Pet Painter program. The camps were held in conjunction with Los Gatos Recreation. Our thanks to Erin Boettner, from LGR, and to our three instructors, Zohreh Safdari, Vandana Pawar, and Manisha Chawda. Thanks also to SVACA and to Jonathan Kessler and Molly.
Goodbye To Lilly
We would like to extend our thoughts to Bill Warrior on the death of his beloved dog Lilly. For many years Bill was one of Palo Alto’s outstanding animal control officers. He contributed to the community with many presentations on animal care, accompanied by his dog Lilly. Countless children got to know Lilly and learn about the loving nature of dogs. Lilly had a long life, reaching the age of 16. We pay tribute to her.
Farm Bill Gives Reprieve
Animal Protection PAC reports that the disastrous Save Our Bacon Act has been dropped by the United States Senate’s deliberations over the Farm Bill. Save Our Bacon would have nullified California’s Prop 12 along with other state-level animal welfare laws. This is a major victory for hogs who suffer in confinement pens unless given relief by Prop 12 and similar legislation. The Farm Bill still poses a threat to millions of animals, including minks and horses.
The Farm Bill still poses a major threat to millions of animals, including minks and horses. It allows taxpayer dollars to subsidize inhumane and dangerous mink farming and allowing the slaughter of American horses for human consumption. Animal Protection PAC and Animal Wellness Action are two good sources for up-to-date developments on animal welfare legislation.
Keep Your Pets Cool and Safe This Summer
Summer temperatures can become dangerous for pets much faster than many people realize. Dogs have a difficult time cooling themselves because they primarily regulate heat through panting and limited sweating through their paw pads, making them especially vulnerable to overheating and heatstroke.
Hot pavement is one of the biggest hidden dangers. Even on a warm day, asphalt temperatures can soar:
- When the air temperature is 77°F, asphalt can reach approximately 125°F.
- At 87°F outside, asphalt may climb to 143°F.
- On a 95°F day, pavement temperatures can exceed 150°F—hot enough to burn paw pads in seconds.
A simple rule: if the pavement is too hot for the back of your hand for 7 seconds, it’s too hot for your dog’s paws.
To help keep pets safe this summer:
- Walk dogs during cooler morning or evening hours.
- Provide constant access to fresh water and shade.
- Never leave pets in parked vehicles, even for a few minutes.
- Watch for signs of overheating, including excessive panting, drooling, weakness, vomiting, or disorientation.
Get Involved!
Project HumaneKind is looking for volunteers to help with classroom presentations, community and school outreach, and board service. Contact us if you have interest and questions. Carole@projecthumanekind.org.
Thanks to your support, our community continues to grow kinder—one student, one family, and one animal at a time.