DAPHNE, Ala. — Local animal-rescue administrators, city officials and social organization representatives have sponsored an art and poetry contest for students in first through sixth grades to support the American Humane Society’s  “Be Kind to Animals” week May 2-8.

The contest will be divided into two categories:

Submission deadline is March 31.

Representatives from Bay Rivers Art Guild will judge entries on effort, creativity and composition.

“With children, you can’t be too critical. It’s primarily the theme, coloring and how well it’s done,” BRAG spokesperson Lynn Rios said of how submissions will be judged.

Winners of each category will receive a guest family pass from the Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo as well as have their picture, along with their winning works, published on the Daphne Animal Shelter’s and Baldwin County Humane Society’s Web sites.

Winners will be entered for judging against other competing elementary schools in Daphne.

An overall winner will be awarded a $75 gift card and their homeroom class will receive a $100 gift card.

Overall winners’ art work and poetry will be displayed during the Optimist Club of Daphne’s May meeting.

Winners will be announced and awarded during “Be Kind to Animals” week.

Celebrated every year since 1915, the American Humane Society’s national “Be Kind to Animals” week commemorates the roles animals play in their owners’ lives, promotes ways to continue to treat them humanely and encourage others — especially children — to do the same, according to the organization’s Web site, americanhumane.org.

“The Optimist Club is about developing programs where they see a need with the youth,” club spokesperson Maria Nicholson said. “We want to educate children on what it means to be kind and to be respectful to animals.

“If you want to teach the parents something, you teach the children,” she said. “The Optimist Club chose this program because it’s important to get children involved early with simple messages.”

“We’re trying to get the kids aware of being kind to animals and the importance of spay and neutering,” Daphne Animal Shelter animal control officer Rhonda Jones said.

Contest sponsors include: Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo; Daphne Animal Shelter; Baldwin County Humane Society; Maddie’s Pet Rescue Foundation; and the Optimist Club of Daphne.

Daily acts

of kindness

Animal kindness can be practiced on a daily basis by following these guidelines, according to the American Humane Society:

Also:

“Make sure that if they are outdoor pets that they have proper food, water and shelter,” Jones said. “Be there for your pet; spend time with them. They need affection.”

“The public can help by bringing in toys, treats, food and bedding to be donated to the animal shelter,” Nicholson said.

“We are asking everyone who cares about animals to do one thing that week to make animals’ lives better.”