More than half say no. Then he asks if they think animals can be happy. Nearly 100 percent say no.
But he says children who don’t think animals have feelings nearly always change their minds after visiting with Wildlife Associates staff or volunteers. Children learn that they share a connection with animals as living beings on the same planet.
  
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“The kids walk out with an understanding of their place in the world among living things,” he said. “Looking in the eyes of the animals, seeing them, leaves an imprint on their being. They understand the interconnection between all living beings.”
Since its inception, Wildlife Associates has reached millions of elementary school to adult students around the greater San Francisco Bay Area, through a slate of educational programs.
“Our mission is to teach people empathy toward living things and how they fit into the natural systems to support life on the planet,” he said. “We are only one species and we cannot survive as human beings without natural systems.”
Wildlife Associates supports itself through donations and individual foundations, and through fundraisers like the one it held Sunday. (The event’s honorary chairs were Clint and Dina Eastwood.)
“They both want to help us,” said Karlin of the actor and his wife, whose own daughter was “enamored of our programs and saw their value.”
Wildlife Associates welcomes donors, supporters and volunteers who just want to help out. Call 712-0800 or visit wildlifeassociates.org.
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