A crowd of young winning artists takes the stage at Caribbean Community Theater for the awards ceremony.

“Kindness is contagious,” according to the Animal Welfare Society’s slogan, and so were the colorful drawings of animals and children on display when the winners of the society’s annual poster contest were announced.
The awards ceremony drew dozens of students and proud parents from across the island to the Caribbean Community Theater Thursday.
More than 200 drawings were entered by students from kindergarten through 10th grade. Therese Donarski, the society’s humane education coordinator, said the contest gives students a chance to share what they’ve learned about the proper way to treat animals.

“This is a valuable way to help animals,” Donarski told the gathering. Repeating the society’s slogan – “Kindness can be contagious” – she said, “Like a flue or a cold, but in a good way. Spreading the word about kindness also can be contagious.”

One of the posters promotes adopting St. Croix strays stateside.

That theme was the basis for the posters.
“They’re asked to draw a picture of themselves being kind to animals,” said Donarski, who has visited classrooms across the island, spreading the message of humane treatment of pets to students at every grade level.
And many of the brightly colored pictures do. There on the walls at the theater were poster after poster featuring children feeding pets, playing with them, petting them and caring for them.
One showed a boy and a bird and bore the legend, “I Am Playing Catch with My Pet Bird.” Another cautioned pet owners against feeding their dogs chocolate. “Pet Food Only,” it warned.
“They get acknowledged for their feelings about animals,” Donarski said. “Their messages will help animals in the territory.”
The society is considering how the posters might be used for promotions or fundraising, possibly in a calendar or post cards.
The winners were congratulated by Sen. Sammuel Sanes, who stopped by to present certificates recognizing their accomplishment. The senator said in times when youth too often make the news for the wrong reasons, it’s nice to be able to award them for positive accomplishments.