A. sneak scaps to the dog when your parents aren't looking.
B. spit it into your napkin.
C. sulk and give your parents the silent treatment.

None of the above! Instead of sneaking, spitting, or sulking, ask them to listen to what you've learned aobut animals and why you want to help them. Adults can learn a lot from kids!

DID YOU KNOW?

• Sarah Hoeb of Ohio convinced her father to take veal off the menu at his Clarion Hotel restaurant after discussing the cruel treatment of calves.
• Megan Thompson of Texas was upset when her teacher told the class that branding doesn't hurt cattle. Megan's teacher didn't understand her concern until she set up a meeting with Megan and her mother. They showed her articles and a videotape about how cattle are hurt when they are branded. The teacher was so moved by Megan's presentation that she joined Megan in a talk to the whole class about the cruelties of branding animals.
• Rhonda Mitchell of Oregon was upset when her grandmother gave her a rabbit fur coat for Christmas. Rhonda didn't want to hurt her grandmother's feelings, but she knew she couldn't accept the coat. After Rhonda told her the facts about fur, Rhonda' grandmother agreed to take the cruelty out of her closet, too. They delivered the rabbit fur jacket and an old fox fur coat to a nearby wildlife rehabilitator, who used the coats for orphaned animal babies to snuggle in!
• River Phoenix's whole family stopped eating meat and all animal products after River asked a few simple questions about eating animals. River say that he was about seven years old and on a boat with some friends who were fishing when he first became aware of cruelty to animals. He remembers, "Every time they caught a fish, they'd hurl it against a board that had nails sticking out of it. I couldn't believe it. These weren't bad people, but they'd become totally desensitized to the pain they were causing. My brother and I started asking my parents why we had to take animal lives to eat, and what exactly was in our hamburgers and hot dogs. Pretty soon my whole family decided it wasn't our place to block another creature's right of way, so we became vegetarians. But it took us kids to start asking the questions."

WHAT YOU CAN DO

• Don't get mad! Others might wonder why you care so much about animals and might not share your feelings about protecting them. Many people are taught to think of animals as nothing more than "things." But with patience and the facts, you can help them understand.
• Don't get discouraged! Some people might feel uncomfortable when you talk about respecting animals instead of using them. Some might even try to make fun of you. Let them know that animals should be though of as friends and it's weird not to care about them. Tell them that what's best for any animal is best for all animals, including us.
• Don't give up! It might seem hard at times to make others understand why you refuse to cut up animals in biology class, why you won't wear animal skins, or why you don't want to eat your friends. People have used animals for food, clothing and entertainment for centuries, but just because something is a tradition doesn't mean it's right. Remember, slavery was once an accepted tradition in the United States and other countries. It takes time to help people kick old habits.
• Think of people who have struggled (and won), or are still struggling, to gain their freedom and rights. When humans band together, they can make wonderfully positive changes. If we work together for animals (that is, all animals - other-than-human beings and all people), we'll have a much better world.