RECOMMENDED READING:

Sri Sathya Sai Baba’s Quotations on the Animal Kingdom – 1st Part

Sri Sathya Sai Baba’s Quotations on the Animal Kingdom – 2nd Part

The Sathya Sai International Organization of Trinidad & Tobago (SSIOTT) is  pioneering a revolutionary  Program entitled:

“ ANIMAL   AWARENESS   AND  EDUCATION  ON  ANIMAL  WELFARE ”

for the advancement of love, respect, care and freedom of the Animal Kingdom.

It emphasizes the practice of Swami’s teachings and precepts in relation to the animal kingdom.

 

In order to foster its Educational and Seva Activities for the Animal Kingdom,  as well as to work together with STP – Serve The Planet – for this year Seva under the theme: `Love for animals`, a Committee was formed comprising of Sai Devotees,  with the welfare of animals at heart.   It is titled: `Sai Animal Advocates`.

 

This Program – ANIMAL AWARENESS AND EDUCATION ON ANIMAL WELFARE is divided into sections based on age group:

  1. SATHYA SAI EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION CENTRES (ECCE) – 3 to 5 year old, whose  aim is  teaching the children kindness, care and service towards the animal kingdom.

 

These activities will:

  • Encourage children to keep daily,  food and water bowls for their pets, cleaned and filled, and put birds feed outside if no pets .
  • Teachers get a collection of soft different animal toys, interact with the kids asking how each animal helps man and share information with them.
  • Have children draw or paint pictures of animals of their choice.
  • Share stories about animals from Sai literature and PETA and explain why animals are our best friend.
  • Explain that all creation is one family including animals.
  • Visit to animal farms.
  • Collection of used newspapers and old towels/sheets, blankets and toys for the shelter.

 

  1. BAL VIKAS CHILDREN

 

EDUCATION

  • Read and reflect on the many stories from Sai Literature including Baba’s loving interactions with animals. There are excellent articles, and videos:-`Divine Feeding – Baba feeding animals`, `Sathya Geeta` and many more.
  • View PETA`s videos and read their enchanting stories recognising the Sentience of Farm Animals.
  • Education about loving care for their pets through the 3 children booklets, 5-7/8-10/11-12yrs, from AWN, Animal Welfare Network of TnT.
  • Reflecting on how they can mitigate or eliminate animals’ suffering e.g. fireworks use, etc.

 

SEVA                                                                              

  • Adopting a stray animal (rather than buy or breed one) and giving him/her a happy home, as well as feeding stray cats and dogs.
  • To keep food and water bowls for their pets and see that they are clean and filled every day. Also put birds feed outside.
  • Visits to assist at animal shelters ….put aside some of their pocket money and buy food for the shelter animals every month.
  • Collection of used newspapers and old towels/sheets, blankets and toys for the animal shelters.
  • Visits to farms.

 

 

  1.  YOUNG  ADULTS   AND  ALL OTHER   DEVOTEES

 

 

EDUCATION:   TALKS  AND  STUDY  CIRCLES

  • Sharing information on animal welfare, love for animal kingdom, Baba`s quotes on it, and sharing stories from Sai Literature, including Baba’s interaction with animals.
  • Educating oneself and others about the animal kingdom and develop a love and respect for it if this is missing.
  • Studying how individually, Sai devotees, can mitigate/eliminate animals’ suffering through service activities as well as through personal self-introspection of our treatment of our own  pets and of the animals around us. How, in our daily personal choices we can adversely affect the animals near and far?
  • Begin by reading and reflecting on 6 well researched and loving articles:- `Why do Animals Matter`- `Love in all Creation`- `Baba and the Animal World` – `Animal Devotees of the Lord`- `Animals Hurting` – `Why do Seva for Animals`. There are many more such articles.
  • Raising awareness of animal cruelty issues, also as part of conscious consumerism, e.g. using cruelty free cosmetics and household products (not tested on animals).
  • Sharing how each of us individually, can eliminate animals’ suffering, e.g. harm done during fireworks; the use of animal products in clothing….
  • Studying Sathya Sai Baba`s quotes on the animal kingdom. Also His teachings on Vegetarianism and its impact on our spirituality, health, environment and on our economy.
  • Avoid visiting circuses where animals are used as a form of entertainment.
  • Studying and reflecting on how the 5 Human Values are inextricably intertwined with Animals` Welfare and Rights.

 

 

 

SEVA

  • Personally, becoming responsible Custodians and Guardians to our pets, or farm animals. Consider to have our pets spayed and neutered.
  • Helping / volunteering at animal shelters and wildlife sanctuaries on a continuous basis.
  • Adopting an animal at the shelter, that is, sponsor one or two animals, food or medicine, with a monthly sponsorship amount.
  • Donating to food bank for the shelter animals every month.
  • Adopting a stray animal (rather than buy or breed one) and give him/her a happy home, as well as feeding stray cats and dogs regularly.
  • Collection of used newspapers and old towels/sheets, blankets and toys for the shelter.

 

It also comprises of the viewing and studying two PowerPoints:

 

ANIMAL WELFARE AND SAI

On  Swami`s Teachings and Precepts in relation to the Animal Kingdom.

 

5 FREEDOMS

A Professional Guideline For  the Loving Care and Responsible `Guardianship` of our Farm and Domestic Animals.