May 6 – Be Kind to Animals, Nurses, and Teachers!!

By Michael Knox

May 6, 2021

Posted on May 6, 2021

This is an update of my post published on May 6, 2010:

In the United States, this is Teacher Appreciation Week, and Week of the Classroom Teacher.

May 6 - Be Kind to Animals, Nurses, and Teachers!!

It is also Be Kind to Animals Week, and National Pet Week.

It is also National Nurses Day!

Whew! What a lot of piling onto one week and day!

Actually, (at least in the United States) every week and day seems to be set aside for appreciation of several somethings and someones—even National Nothing Day has a few not-nothings to celebrate and commemorate!

You certainly can’t celebrate and commemorate everything every day…but it might be nice to give your favorite teacher a cupcake and your favorite dog a bone – or otherwise celebrate teachers and pets. (I’m hoping that you aren’t going to be seeing a nurse as a patient today, but perhaps you know a nurse who could use a cupcake, as well?)

If the pandemic is still raging in your area, and you aren’t seeing people in person, a lovely card or email or a shout-out on social media will still get your message of appreciation out…

By the way…

When we say “Be kind to animals,” does it mean just being gentle with our pets, or does it also mean trying to preserve environments in which wild animals can thrive? Preserving land, cleaning up air and water, and saving forests? If you have a favorite wild spot or wildlife project, this might be a great week to donate time or money to your cause.

Check out the American Humane Society’s website.

Some suggestions for pet- or animal-oriented good deeds:

Make a pet blanket or snuffle mat.

Build a bird feeder.

Build a kitty castle or a puppy bed for your pet.

Make a pet care bin for home storage.

Volunteer clean-up a natural area.

The American Humane Society urges us to appreciate (and perhaps photograph) wildlife, but also points out that wild animals don’t make good pets. The website offers some do’s and don’ts about dealing with wildlife to protect that wildlife and people, too!

Check out your pet…with a vet!

Take this opportunity to make sure your pet’s inoculations are up to date.

The National Pet Week website offers a toolkit for celebrating the week, with images and event-planning tips. There are also articles on traveling with pets and so much more.