July 24, 2002
Humane educator voice for plight of unwanted pets
Carole Huebotter brings experience to newly created role at Cherryland Humane Society
By Carol South
Herald contributing writer
Carole Huebotter burns with commitment - commitment to the voiceless among us.
As humane education director for the Cherryland Humane Society, this retired teacher and her companion golden retriever, Buddy are ready to share about the plight of unwanted pets in this country with anyone who will listen.
This lifelong pet lover channels her passion into helping as many animals as possible - by reaching every child and adult she can about the basics of responsible pet ownership.
"Eighty percent of all animal neglect is caused by ignorance or people not knowing or understanding them," said Huebotter, a Charlevoix resident who works eight days a month at the Cherryland Humane Society. "My job as a humane educator is to go out and reach and educate to prevent the problems from happening. I try to go to the root of the problem."
Huebotter has been in the burgeoning field of humane education since 1991, starting in a suburban Chicago animal shelter. She moved to northern Michigan three years ago and began working with the local humane society in April. She offers a variety of age-appropriate programs to children, youth and adults.
Preschool and elementary programs include Paws, Claws, Feathers and Fins, Friend for Life, and Safety Around Animals. Presentations for older youth and adults include Too Many Pets, Too Few Good Homes and Suffering is Suffering. Huebotter also has a wide variety of research material available on many topics relating to pets.
"I tell children I am a teacher for the animals because the animals can't talk," said Huebotter, who often walked among the cages of dogs in a shelter to inspire herself before heading out to Chicago-area classrooms.
"I don't lecture or harangue and I work very hard at not being angry at the sad situations that pets find themselves in," she continued. "My concern is the help I am going to give pets."
Mike Cherry, executive director of the Cherryland Humane Society, said bringing Huebotter on board is the beginning of a ten-year plan to increase education and outreach in the community.
"We believe that humane education is probably one of the most important ways to handle the pet population problem and bring awareness of the responsible treatment of pets," said Cherry. "It is also a good way for helping to increase the human-animal bond and for teaching life skills."
Huebotter brings Buddy with her to work and to her programs as a living example of the kind of wonderful dogs who are often left at a shelter. The reasons for abandonment vary, but for her it all boils down to lack of commitment to the pet. Her previous dog, Jenny, who recently died, was also saved from a shelter and helped Huebotter reach tens of thousands of children in the suburban Chicago area.
"Buddy teaches them through example because this wonderful type of dog loses its home every day," she said, noting Buddy was left this spring at a shelter when the previous owners felt they could no longer care for him. "Often times people still have a myth about a shelter dog, think that it has a problem - although children never asked that, 'What's wrong with Jenny?'¡"
Huebotter is thrilled with the Cherryland Humane Society's new facility, which just opened Monday, and ready to hit the classroom with Buddy at her side. She fervently believes in her mission and is thrilled to have the chance to help other animals.
"I feel fortunate that I've been given a gift to be able to do this work," she said. "Animals never criticize us, never demean us, never pick a fight with us and never gossip about us. They just love us."