Thousand Palms, CA – May 16, 2022: Animal Samaritans is excited to announce that the first of 8
Summer Critter Camps will start June 13th. From June through August, Animal Samaritans will bring
Critter Camp to children in several cities in the Coachella Valley.
Now in its 10th year, Summer Critter Camp is designed for children from 7 years old to 11 years old to
teach them how to be kind and be responsible with all animals. The first Summer Critter Camp will be
June 13th at the Desert Hot Springs Recreation Center. The theme for this year is, “Becoming a
Veterinarian.”
Animal Samaritans’ Humane Education Center runs these much-needed camps to teach children to be
kind and be responsible when dealing with animals. While at these camps, children will interact with
therapy dogs and their handlers, learn how to handle pets safely and gently, why it is important to spay,
neuter, and microchip your pets, and why it is important to respect animals of all types and abilities.
Angela, a past participant of Summer Critter Camp in Desert Hot Springs, said, “I am glad to be in Critter
Camp because I love all animals. I loved the animals yesterday, it was splendid.”
“Humane Education is at the core of our mission to improve the lives of animals and people,” notes
Animal Samaritans’ CEO, Tom Snyder. “Providing free humane education and summer critter camps to
children helps to create a generation of people who are more compassionate and respectful to both
animals and people.”
During Summer Critter Camp, the children will also have time to express themselves through art projects,
interact with “Cool Critters” provided by Mobile Zoo of Southern California, and play animal themed
games. The goal is to engage children in a fun and exciting way while teaching them the importance of
humane treatment of animals. And for those children attending the Desert Hot Springs Summer Critter
Camp, they will get to meet and interact with Boogie Shoes. Boogie Shoes is a two-pound
Chihuahua with cerebellar hypoplasia, a neurological condition that challenges his motor skills and
gives him his “boogie”. Despite his disability, he is thriving and living his best life. Boogie Shoes is a pet
adoption ambassador, and on a mission to prove that shelter pets make the best pets!
“Thanks to our partners and supporters, we are able to plant the seed of kindness throughout the
Coachella Valley. The best thing is that we come to them, free-of-charge. All they have to do is join us
for an amazing, positive time,” said, Animal Samaritans’ Humane Educator, Diana Martinez.
These summer camps, taking place in Desert Hot Springs, Mecca, and Thermal are free to attend thanks
to generous supporters of Animal Samaritans’ Human Education program.
Animal Samaritans’ is currently raising funds to build a new Pet Adoption & Humane Education Center
next to their Veterinary Clinic in Thousand Palms. Since the founding of Animal Samaritans in 1978,
Humane Education has been at the forefront of what we do.
This new center’s multipurpose classrooms will feature animal-themed displays and interactive exhibits
all about humane education. The Humane Education Center will allow Animal Samaritans to expand our
education programs and provide a space for people of all ages to learn to be kind and be responsible when
it comes to animals.
Animal Samaritans SPCA., a 501 (c) non-profit organization, started in 1978 and brought the first free
Humane Education program and first low-cost spay & neuter clinic to the Desert. As the Coachella
Valley’s most comprehensive animal welfare organization, they strive to one day eliminate the needless
suffering and abuse of homeless and unwanted animals. Programs and services in place to save the lives
of healthy and treatable animals include prevention through humane education, affordable spay and
neuter, vaccinations, and other veterinary care, animal sheltering, animal rescue, pet fostering and pet
adoptions. In addition, volunteers from their Animal Companion Therapy program visit special needs
classrooms, nursing homes, and local hospitals. More information is available by calling 760.601.3755
and by visiting www.animalsamaritans.org
