Sadly, children that are raised in abusive homes, tend to direct aggression toward the family pet. 13% of intentional animal abuse cases involve domestic violence. Abusive family members kill, injure, or threaten children’s pets to coerce them into keeping silent about abuse. Abused children tend to kill or harm animals to emulate the conduct they witness at home. Taking their aggressions out on another victim, usually a helpless animal....often makes them feel better about what is happening to them.

Pet related films help children to develop love and compassion for animals at an early age and teaches them to view animals as valued beings that have feelings too, just like themselves. When parents take their children to the theater or play a DVD at home, making it a special occasion, it's an experience children don't easily forget. I will never forget the first film in a theater my mother took me to, it was Walt Disney's Fantasia for my birthday. I was a huge animal lover at a very early age and that film was one of the most amazing films I had ever seen and the joy that day brought me...I will never forget. I made sure that my son, {now 17} and I watched as many films with animals as possible from the time he was two years old. Because of it, he has grown up to become a huge animal lover and advocate and teaches his friends to be compassionate to all living things."

Because of this difficult and stressful economy, parents are having to work more, sometimes taking two jobs and spending less and less quality time together with their children and their pets. National Pets in Film Day encourages parents, other family members, adult friends, caregivers and teachers to spend more time nurturing this vital bond between children and animals to reduce animal abuse and created a better world for our children and the animals they love.

Adults alike enjoy films that feature pets and this makes it all the while more fun for their children. You don't have to reserve watching pet related films to just this special day...take some time out to plan a pet related movie day at different times of the year.., especially on national pet holidays such as these.

A great way to increase the child/parent/animal bond, is to plan a special pet themed film night each week for the entire family. Don't forget to invite Fido and Kitty!