AIR Defenders

AIR Defenders is an educational program designed to teach children compassion and empathy towards animals. It is developed to teach children how to be good ambassadors for animals through responsibility, knowledge and action. 

The influence children have on the people around them is often underestimated. As we all know, children are like little sponges, they take what they learn and share it with the ones they love. Many things they learn as children are carried with them into adulthood. Our program is designed to meet the children where they are and teach them the crucial role that pets play in our lives and how they can be good stewards for compassion, knowledge and preparedness.  

Donate to our Defender Program

Program Objective –

Our goal is to educate children how to recognize animal cruelty, how to be a responsible pet sibling and how to show children ways to give back to the animal community. It is also our goal to show children the importance of preparing for natural disasters and how they can help their families develop a plan.

Whom does this program serve? –

The AIR Defenders program serves children of all ages and backgrounds but focuses on children 5 years of age to 12 years of age.

Funding/Budgeting –

Grants, children’s fundraising efforts (birthday parties, lemonade stands, car wash, bake sale) ……other TBD

Learning Targets

  • Animal Ethics- all ages
  • Disaster Preparedness – all ages
  • Fire safety – all ages
  • Responsible pet safety – all ages
  • Animal Cruelty Awareness – all ages

Activities –

  • DIY enrichment toys for shelter partner animals
  • Blankets and beds for senior animals
  • Homemade Treats for shelter partner animals

Program head –

Meet Christi Spindle, Director of AIR’s children’s program, AIR Defenders!

Christi’s two biggest passions are education and Rescue, so getting to teach kids about rescue and defending animal dignity is her absolute dream job!

Christi is from Denton, Tx and graduated from Liberty Christian in 1995. She completed both her bachelors and masters degrees from TWU in Early Childhood Education. This is her 27th year as a public school teacher.

Christi’s family has always rescued and helped animals, but she adopted her first two senior dogs from the Denton Animal Shelter in 2016… Chuck and Norris. She feels it was the best decision she ever made and completely changed her purpose in life. She then began volunteering, fostering, and advocating for the local shelter ever since. Christi learned about Animal Investigation and Response (AIR) through an Animal Control Officer at the shelter and ultimately became one of AIR’s most dedicated Responders!

Christi looks forward to working with kids as we learn all the ways we can make our world better for so many animals in need. She is not only excited to share some very special furry friends along the way, she is excited to teach children how they can defend animal dignity!