Art by Marilyn Hyde

Story Writing Contest

Love Animals? Love to Write?

Join Project HumaneKind’s 2025 Competition

Tell a story and be a Writer of Compassion! Calling on students in grades 7 and 8 to write an imaginative story of 1,000 words about animals and people helping each other in compassionate action. The winning author will receive a prize of $500, and two runners-up will receive prizes of $200 each. 

• Open to middle school students from public and private schools in San Mateo and Santa Clara Counties. 
• Deadline for stories: April 30, 2025.

For contest rules and to submit a story, visit https://www.projecthumanekind.org/2025-story-writing-competition/.

A Love Story, or Two

We are pleased to tell you that Princess, brought in from the cold by Wendy, one of our 2024 Ambassadors of Compassion, and by Pink Paws for the Cause, another Ambassador, has settled into a new home and loves her feline companions. And Tippy, a little dog neglected by his owner, is safe and comfortable with his rescuer, his health monitored with help from our Emergency Veterinary Fund. He’s happy and loved. Special thanks to Peninsula Catworks for partnering in our emergency rescues.

Lizard Love

Sixty students at Laurel Upper School in Menlo Park met a most unusual group of fellow creatures. John Hale, a reptile specialist, introduced four from his menagerie: Vince, a Red-footed Tortoise; Inky, an Eastern Indigo snake; Froot Loop, an Arizona Mountain King snake; and a Bearded Dragon named Ginger. Coco Chanel, the star 55-pound tortoise, was still asleep for the winter and couldn’t make it. The students learned some science, took photos, and penned sketches. In the coming days they will create portraits of their favorites under the guidance of their art teacher Summerlynn Burlew; their work will be posted on Project HumaneKind’s website. The Pet Painter program encourages awareness of animals through science and art. Contact us if you would like a Pet Painter session for your classroom or club. 

Photographs by Steve Shpall