Banfield Pet Hospital’s FutureVet program headlines activities
CINCINNATI – Hands-on learning is critical to children’s development but sometimes it can get a little ru
Pets come in all shapes and sizes, whether it’s man’s best friend, a 10-foot boa that likes to give hugs or that pony you got for your 6th birthday. They give us joy and unconditional love but they also teach us responsibility by requiring proper nutrition and exercise. They’re also valuable lessons in animal science as every animal has a different lifestyle with different living environments and unique body systems that need special care. Through activities with various organizations, Cincinnati Museum Center shows how pets can be invaluable assets in childhood development.ff. That’s no problem at Cincinnati Museum Center, though. With the help of furry friends from around the community, Museum Center is celebrating National Pet Month by having a dog gone good time with Pet Day in the Duke Energy Children’s Museum on May 17.
One of those organizations is Banfield Pet Hospital which will be demonstrating proper pet care and nutrition during their FutureVet program. Children will have a chance to talk with a real veterinarian and see firsthand the work that they do. Any kid who didn’t want to be a veterinarian before the program will certainly want to be afterward.
“Fueling further learning is one of the goals of the FutureVet program,” says Tony Lawson, director of the Duke Energy Children’s Museum. “FutureVet helps us inspire and educate children and we may even create future veterinarians as they learn about the care of living things.”
Children who attend the FutureVet program graduate with a Banfield stethoscope and certificate. They also get to meet one of Banfield’s canine friends, always a highlight of the program.
“It’s amazing to watch how excited the kids get when they see the animals and want to share their experiences,” says Dr. Elizabeth Sandfoss of Banfield Pet Hospital. “Being a part of this program is a gift that I hope to be a part of for a long time!”
In addition to speaking with Banfield’s veterinarians, children will have an opportunity to practice their reading skills by reading “tails” aloud to therapy dogs. Just please don’t dog ear the pages. You’ll also be able to explore pets in art, including creating artwork inspired by Beatrix Potter and her rabbits. Or make your own costume collage by looking at the photos of artist William Wegman who loves to dress his pets up in costumes and take their pictures.
Cincinnati Museum Center will have its own experts on hand to showcase the animals that call Museum Center home. Get up close and personal with a Sulcata tortoise while learning more about where it lives, what it eats and what makes it so unique. You can meet some frogs and measure how far they jump, then see if you can jump farther!
Pet Day is a celebration of our steadfast friends of all shapes and sizes and an opportunity to learn more about the incredible diversity of the animal kingdom. Hands-on and interactive activities will delight and educate children of all ages as they speak with animal experts from around the community.
“The best way to learn is through hands-on exposure and making those lessons come to life,” says Tony Lawson, director of the Duke Energy Children’s Museum. “With help from organizations like Banfield we’re able to make life science something that lives and breathes and wags its tail.”
Pet Day activities on May 17 are free to Cincinnati Museum Center Members and is included in admission to the Duke Energy Children’s Museum for non-Members. Join Banfield Pet Hospital and their furry friends in the Duke Energy Children’s Museum at Cincinnati Museum Center for a dog gone good time on Saturday, May 17.
For more information, visit www.cincymuseum.org