Every child deserves to know what it feels like to be trusted by another living being.
A K-12 curriculum that teaches compassion, empathy, and responsibility through direct interaction with living animals — from a kindergartner's first gentle touch to a senior's philosophical reflection on what it means to care.
New York's law has been on the books since 1947. Schools risk losing funding for non-compliance. After 80 years, no standard program exists. Meanwhile, 6.5 million animals enter shelters annually — many surrendered by owners who never learned what care requires.
Social-emotional learning is the fastest-growing segment in K-12 education. Animal-focused compassion education sits at the intersection of SEL, experiential learning, and character education — three converging markets with aligned funding.
Statistically significant increase in empathy (p<.01) across multiple studies and cultures
Reduced physical aggression, fighting, and bullying in school settings
Effects persist over a year after intervention — this isn't temporary
Sources: Fung 2021 (PLOS ONE), Samuels 2016 & 2018 (25 schools), Piek et al. 2015 (longitudinal)
K–1. Meet a therapy dog. Gentle touch. Discover trust.
2–3. Animal visitors. Reading to shelter cats. Recognizing needs.
4–5. Pet Care Plans. Responsibility. Advocacy.
6–8. Shelter volunteering. Service learning. Systems thinking.
9–12. Horse & farm stewardship. Philosophy of compassion. Student voice.
SB25-178 just funded K-5 SEL pilots. Humane Colorado operates 4 centers. Mindful Mutts already connects students with shelter dogs. Far View Horse Rescue runs FFA partnerships. The ecosystem exists — it just needs a curriculum to connect it.
3–5 Schools · Fall 2026 · Colorado
Federal Title IV-A, state SEL funding, Petco Love, PetSmart Charities, Banfield Foundation, Latham Foundation, Daniels Fund, Anschutz Family Foundation — the landscape is rich and aligned.
We have the curriculum. We have the evidence. We have the animal partners and the funding roadmap. What we need is a principal who believes — like we do — that children deserve to learn compassion from the most honest teachers on earth: animals who cannot pretend, cannot lie, and respond only to what is real.
Schedule a 20-Minute Conversation →From one classroom to a national movement. From one therapy dog to a generation of children who understand that compassion is not weakness — it is the highest form of intelligence.
Compassion grows one step at a time.
Dolly · Founder
Colorado
Carter Hill · Strategic Advisor
carter@myday7.com · 949.929.7081