Sophia really wants a pet dog. I think that’s one of the reasons that she loves watching Martha Speaks. What kid wouldn’t love a cuddly dog that talks, like Martha? This week PBS Kids’ Martha Speaks is partnering with the Humane Society of US to celebrate animal shelters.
Since our family already has two cats, I’m thankful Sophia can get her fill of dogs from Martha. Hubby and I adopted our two cats before we had the kids. They were sort of practice children. We wanted an animal to love and nurture. We both knew we weren’t ready for kids. Since we’ve lived with cats in with various roommates, we realized that a cat would be a perfect fit for us.
Now our two cats are part of our family. In fact, one them, Jasmine loves to curl up next to whoever is on the couch. With Jasmine next to us, Sophia and I watched and discussed “Carolina Adopts a Puppy,” a Martha Speaks episode educating both children and adults about pet adoption. In this episode, Carolina adopts a puppy because it matches her purse.
This episode was a great starting point for our conversation about adopting a dog. Carolina did not consider if she would be able to care for the dog, especially as it became older and would no longer fit in her purse. Likewise for our family since we live in a small apartment. We discussed how it wouldn’t be fair for a puppy to live in such a confined space with no yard.
Though “Carolina Adopts a Puppy” has already aired, the theme will continue throughout the week on Martha Speaks. Here’s the schedule for the rest of the week. Check your local listings for times.
- Tuesday, October 4, 2011 “Martha’s Life in Crime” (two-parts) Martha tells the story of her puppy days in the animal shelter. As it turns out, Helen wasn’t the first person who adopted Martha.
- Wednesday, October 5, 2011 “Ain’t Nothin’ but a Pound Dog” (two parts) Martha loses her collar and winds up in the animal shelter. When Martha’s family comes to take her home, she decides she can’t leave her shelter friends behind. Martha, Helen, and TD cook up a plan to find families for the pound pooches.
- Thursday, October 6, 2011
- “Paws and Effect” When Martha gets a piece of glass in her paw, Helen, TD, and Alice realize the importance of environmental awareness for the safety of their pets.
- “Trouble with Teddy” Teddy, a neighborhood dog, is sick, and the vet doesn’t know why. When Martha is called in to consult, she learns that certain foods that look tasty to a dog can be hazardous to their health.
- Friday, October 7, 2011 “Martha in the White House” (two-part) The new president is looking to adopt a dog from an animal shelter to live in the White House! Martha knows the perfect dog for the job.
After watching an episode, visit the Martha Speaks website for activities relating to animal shelters that you can do with your children. Your child can make Dog Bone friendship bracelets (PDF) or take a tour of an animal shelter.
We adopted our cats at separate times but in both instances, I believed that they chose us, not the other way around. Have you adopted a family pet? Visit the Martha Speaks Facebook page and share your story!
I received a Martha Speaks screener for review. No compensation was received for this post.