Program for Companion Animal Behavior
School of Veterinary Medicine
University of California, Davis
Related Publication
Animals Teaching Adolescents
compiled by Deborah A. MathisThis list is an attempt to identify programs across the country in which animals are helping high school age children to develop empathy. Some of these programs were included as examples that might be adapted to a high school setting. Many of them have developed autonomously across the United States and many more have surely been missed. The list is meant to be a means of establishing contact between these programs and others like them. New programs are invited to send information to the Center for Animals in Society, University of California School of Veterinary Medicine, Davis, CA, 95616. Printed copies of this material are available at this address also.
AUTHOR Deborah Anne Mathis
Class of '99, School of Veterinary Medicine
UC Davis
FUNDING Roy Grant Fellowship
General References:
The Latham Letter
Clement & Schiller Streets
Alameda, CA 94501
(510)521-0920
fax: (510)521-9861
email: Lathm@aol.com
www.latham.orgThis publication is an exceptional source of humane issues and activities.
Delta Society
289 Perimeter Rd East
Renton, WA 98055-1329
Action line: (800)869-6898
Business line: (425)226-7357
Fax: (425)-235-1076
email: deltasociety@cis.compuserve.com
www.deltasociety.orgDelta Society is dedicated to providing training and advocacy as they promote animals helping people improve their health, independence, and quality of life.
Mother Hildegard George
PO Box 425
Shaw Island, WA 98286
(360)468-2321An excellent resource for programs using animals to assist children.
Index by State
California
4-H After School Program Elkus Ranch Farm Sanctuary Helen Woodward Animal Center Human Animal Rescue Team (H.A.R.T.) Humane Society Of Sonoma Co. Lindsey Wildlife Museum - Interpretive Guide Program Mendocino County 4-H Peninsula Humane Society - Education Program For Youth Teaching Love And Compassion Colorado
Argus Center For Human Animal Bond Colorado Boys Ranch - Bovine Program Colorado Boys Ranch - Horsemanship Program Colorado Boys Ranch - New Leash On Life Emily Griffith Center Humane Society of Boulder Valley- Animal Assisted Activities/Therapy El Pueblo Boys & Girls Ranch - Miniature Horse Program Florida
Animal Companion Science Program G.L.O.W.S.- Getting To Love Our World And Self Hawaii
Hawaiian Humane Society Illinois
Chenny Troupe Inc. Rainbow Animal Assisted Therapy Kentucky
Mustang Troop Maine
Follow Your Heart Missouri
Humane Society Of Missouri Volunteer Program TOUCH - Therapy of Unique Canine Helpers New York
Green Chimneys Farm And Wildlife Center Ohio
Humane Society of Greater Dayton Occupational Work Adjustment (OWA) Project Pooch Raise With Praise Rhode Island
Dog Of Joy South Carolina
Magik Treks Tennessee
Asian Elephant; An Endangered Species HALT Texas
Cal Farley Boys Ranch Dolphin Research Team Girls Town USA Hope Therapy Utah
Turnabout Ranch - Horsemanship/Cow-calf Vermont
The Shiloh Project Washington
People-Pet Partnership Prison Pet Partnership The Humane Society for Tacoma and Pierce Co. Viewpoint Farm Wisconson
Future Farmers Of America People, Animals, Learning (PAL) Wyoming
Therapy Dogs Inc. Canada
PAWS In The Classroom, Alberta Vancouver Aquarium - Educational Department, British Columbia
Index by animal type
Birds (also see wildlife)
G.L.O.W.S. - Getting to Love Our World and Ourselves Dogs / Cats
Argus Center for Human Animal Bond Chenny Troupe, Inc. Colorado Boys Ranch - New Leash on Life Dog of Joy Emily Griffith Center Follow Your Heart Girls Town USA HALT - Humans and Animals Learning Together Hawaiian Humane Society Helen Woodward Animal Center Hope Therapy Human Animal Rescue Team (HART) Humane Society Of Boulder Valley - Animal Assisted Activities/Therapy Humane Society of Greater Dayton
Sliding scale after school daycare is provided by paid staff, volunteer
teens and senior citizens. 4-H activities vary.
The Animal Companion Science Program is a Dade Co. Public School Dropout
Prevention Program that provides instruction to students in 4th - 6th grade.
Classes are conducted on a farm in Amelia Earhart Park (a public Park in
urban Miami). The natural setting is filled with a menagerie of domesticated
farm animals and tame and exotic classroom pets. Animals are incorporated
into the unique curriculum and help enliven lessons and activities. Ecology,
botany, biology, zoology and animal husbandry are topics of classroom lessons.
Science is the motivator, but the program uses many disciplines to stimulate
active participation. Goals are to motivate students and create an enjoyable
learning atmosphere and improve self-discipline and self-esteem. Program
has its own bus and provides transportation for students. Program currently
serves 324 boys and girls from 12 local public elementary schools. The
staff believes that experience is the best teacher! Ages: 10-12
Three separate programs in education. SHARE program matches veterinary
students with grade school and high school classes. Vet students teach
classes based on DELTA Society curriculums - Getting with Pets, Cats as
Pets, Dogs as Pets. One to three veterinary students and one of their pets
put on the class. Pets include dogs, cats and ferrets. Ages 5-11
The Sanctuary is the nation's only natural-habitat refuge for old, sick
and needy Asian elephants. Elephants come from zoos and circuses. Education
programs include outreach and teleconferencing which cover history, biology,
alternative management and medicine, and the crisis facing performing elephants.
Ages: all
Very large residential school (300 students) accepts girls and boys
on a basis of need. Children stay until they graduate from high school.
Working dairy, egg production facility, hog farm, slaughter facility and
cow/calf operation are operated by the children with only adult supervision.
Vocational training is provided by the school. FFA projects to raise and
show livestock are also available to the students. Recreational riding
is taught in a horsemanship program.. Ages: 5-16
This program trains and certifies therapy dogs teams; establishes and
implements therapy programs in the greater Chicago area. Programs are established
through a team effort of the facility, doctors, therapists and CTI program
coordinators. Certified teams volunteer for a minimum of 8 weekly sessions
in the program of their choice. Program coordinators organize teams and
facilitate visits. Programs include hospitals, rehabilitation centers,
residential schools, a teen women's substance abuse center and an orphanage.
Chenny Troupe volunteers and their certified therapy dogs work at each
or these facilities weekly to help each client reach his or her therapy
goals. Ages:all
Children appointed to this psychiatric residential treatment facility
are all showing severe emotional behavioral problems and have failed in
many prior placements. Several animal assisted programs are offered and
all are optional. The Bovine Program involves a working cow/calf operation
designed for the boys. Boys work in every phase including moving the herd
between winter and summer pastures, breeding management, calving, branding,
vaccinations, weaning and selling the calves. All phases of the program
attempt to integrate the children into society as well as teach usable
skills. Staff compete in rodeos with the boys assisting, providing role
models. Ages: 12-18
The Horsemanship Program is very extensive and the boys assist in all
phases. The ranch has a breeding and foaling program, riding and showing
programs. Boys can participate and compete in 4H, FFA and fairs in English
and Western riding, Gymkhana and halter classes. They assist staff who,
acting as role models, compete in rodeo events. In the breeding and foaling
program caring, love responsibility and nurturing are emphasized. A racing
program is doing quite well, and though the boys can't jockey they are
involved in every other stage of training and racing. Children appointed
to this psychiatric residential treatment facility are all showing severe
emotional behavioral problems and have failed in many prior placements.
Several animal assisted programs are offered and all are optional. Ages:
12-18
Children appointed to this psychiatric residential treatment facility
are all showing severe emotional behavioral problems and have failed in
many prior placements. Several animal assisted programs are offered and
all are optional. In the New Leash on Life program dogs from a local shelter
are chosen by instructor and paired with a boy for 10 week training program.
Graduation involves completing the Canine Good Citizenship test and dog
is then placed with new adoptive owners. Charlene Cordin is the instructor
in charge of this program. The ranch also offers a horsemanship program
which is NARHA certified where boys learn to ride, groom, feed and care
for horses. A small animal assisted therapy program is also housed at the
ranch providing classes involving a variety of small animals including
a resident dog, cats, chinchillas, gerbils, hamsters and fish. Chris Harrington
is in charge of this program.. Ages: 12-18
Pearl Salotto is a professional Pet Assisted Therapist who runs several
programs. The D. J. Respect for Living Things Program is adapted for age
from preschool to middle school. Talks revolve around dogs as living beings
and whether they have feelings. This is broadened to people, other religions,
handicaps, etc., working with family therapy pets "DJ" (Dog of Joy) and
"Maj-En" (Majestic and Enthusiastic) as living examples of unconditional
regard. Finally this is tied to having respect for one's self - in drug
prevention, dropout, pregnancy, etc. In 1990, Pearl began a state-of-the-art
cirriculum, offering certification in Pet Assisted Therapy at several colleges.
Classes include history, ethics, safety, training therapy animals, and
a 100 hour field internship. Classes are also offered in how to set up
professionally and ethically based pet assisted therapy programs. A college
text, "Loving Intervention" is currently in publication. In the high school
program a 7 week course on Pet Therapy is offered through Feinstein High
School for Community Service followed by ongoing community service. Students
are introduced to the profession of pet therapy in nursing homes, prisons,
rehabilitation centers, etc., and are taught respect for all living things.
Pearl founded Windwalker Humane Colition in 1995 to educate professionals
and public about the link of abuse between people and pets and to advocate
the profession of pet assisted therapy.
Very limited in terms of funding. Students are at-risk teens from Houston
inner city high schools. Kids are taught to spot and count dolphins and
record observational data for the research project. Whenever possible whole
classes are taken over several trips. On the boat students also learn to
recognize adult and juvenile dolphins, and some dolphin behavior. Charters
are also available. Ages:13-18
High school volunteers assist physically, mentally and financially handicapped
children as the explore and work on this 630 acre ranch. Teams work together
to hike, camp garden and help with various farm animals. There is hope
to eventually have a handicap riding arena at the ranch.
Average stay at this residential treatment center is 12 - 18 months.
The Miniature Horse program is primarily a show program, where children
compete in local through national shows. There is a small breeding program
and a class for the animals programs. Students are active in all phases
of raising, care, training, grooming and showing. Residents also take the
horses into nursing homes for the patients to enjoy. A 4H program for raising
livestock is available. Proceeds from the sale of the animals goes first
toward expenses, then any leftover to the student. Emphasis on responsibility,
nurturing and building self-esteem. Ages: 10-18
This residential treatment center houses 65 emotionally disturbed boys
for approximately 18 month intervals. Horses and llamas are used for both
biology and science curriculum and group and individual therapy sessions.
Therapeutic riding is also used. Children feed, groom and care for resident
animals. 4H projects allow the children to participate in local shows with
horses, llamas and occasionally other animals. Staff may also bring in
dogs. Ages:10-21
Live in program to assist in care of farm animals rescued from abusive
situations. Ages:16 & up
John and Denise DeSanty are certified pet therapists who have developed
a 45 minute program for 3rd - 6th graders using her Springer Spaniel, Jessie.
Topics include morals, trust, self-esteem, honesty, how to control your
tongue and replacing bad habits with good. Use a pretzel reward system.
Teachers reinforce "Jessie would like you ... To be nice, smile, etc."
and "Jessie would not like it if you ... Are mean, say mean things, etc."
Denise and her husband are also starting a violence prevention farm program
for 5th - 8th grade high risk kids. The program will run during school
hours and the summer. Ages:4-14
Programs throughout the United States involving young people with all
aspects of agriculture including livestock.
Girls only residential facility for children that need supervision but
not treatment facility. Animal programs involve 4H projects raising steers,
goats, pigs and rabbits for show and sale. Recreational horsemanship program
requires some class time before riding lessons. Girls may compete in local
rodeos. House parents may keep dogs and cats, girls may keep fish in their
rooms. Ages: 5-16
The Glows program teaches elementary school children empathy and moral
values through the interaction of children, animals, and nature. Classroom
animals, such as rabbits, fish, hamsters and cockatiels, are established
and cared for by the students. Weekly classroom visits by Dr. Dillman include
hands-on experiences with many different animals. Twice a month the children
go on field trips to local parks, Metro Zoo, Butterfly World, Seaquaruim,
and several trips to the Everglades National Park. Emphasis is on teaching
a respect for all living things. Ages: 9-10
A multi-program social sercice agency founded in 1948 and based in Brewster,
NY. Operations include a 150 acre Residential Treatment Center for 102
children, ages 6-21, which is regarded as the country's most extensive
residential animal assisted therapy program for at-risk children and adolescents.
Nearly 400 animals reside at the farm and wildlife center, residents live,
attend school, receive counseling and mental health services, annd are
immersed in programs serving abused, neglected and/or injured animals.
Activities include daily feeding, barn care, grooming, medical care, breeding
and birthing processes, riding and driving, as well as therapeutic horticulture,
organic gardening, hiking, swimming, outdoor education, Native American
studies, 4-H and Farm-on-the-Moove, a mobile educational farm program that
enables the residents to travel to the inner-city and teach others about
farm animals. Extensive vocational programs are in place. Operations include
public programs, group homes, runaway prevention and mentoring services,
day care, programs for developmentally disabled adults and a Country Store
featuring gifts and items produced by students. Visitors welcome year round.
Internships available. Animal-Assisted Activities Therapy Handbook is available
for purchase.
The HALT project provides therapeutic intervention for at-risk adolescents
through obedience training of dogs rescued from a local animal shelter.
Dogs are quarantined for a month and veterinary screening, worming and
shots are provided by the University Of Tennessee School Of Veterinary
Medicine prior to the beginning of the program. Each group meets twice
weekly for three hours at a local kennel where the dogs are housed. After
the four week session students present the dogs to their new owners at
a graduation ceremony.
Volunteers must complete a 2 hour orientation to the shelter as well
as quarterly enrichment training with trainers, behaviorists, etc. Duties
include walking, grooming and training dogs as well as working in one special
event per year. Specialized programs include a PAL program caring for pets
belonging to people that are hospitalized or ill (walking and grooming);
Foster care program providing foster homes for pets until permanent owners
can be found; Teacher workshops for preschool and lower elementary teachers
including activity books for their pupils; Animal Assisted Therapy visiting
nursing homes, daycare facilities and facilities for the emotionally disturbed.
All special programs require specialized training. The Animal Assisted
Therapy program uses the volunteers' personal pets which must meet certain
behavior criteria. Ages:14 & up
Several programs allow juvenile volunteers to assist with animal programs.
All programs require training and positions are limited. Most require minimum
commitments. At the Adoption Department students 14 and over assist with
training, walking, grooming and cleaning for both dogs and cats. In Therapeutic
Riding volunteers (14 - 17) assist in lessons and horse care. The Education
Department allows volunteers 11 and up to assist in education programs
about animal care and welfare. Junior volunteers may also assist in some
special events. Ages: 11-17
Providing animal assisted therapy, therapeutic riding, horticulture
therapy, adaptive day camp and vocational training programs. Specifically
tailored programs for various institutions. Volunteer programs available
for all areas. Ages:16 & up
A non-profit animal welfare and social service agency serving the Southern
California area. Founded in 1982, H.A.R.T. was chartered to protect the
beloved dogs of the indigent elderly, terminally ill and AIDs patients
who can no longer care for them due to circumstances beyond their control.
Maintaining a No-Kill Sanctuary for approximately 50 homeless dogs in Fillmore,
CA, H.A.R.T. provides temporary food, shelter and veterinary medical care
until new guardians are identified and screened and the dogs are adopted
out. H.A.R.T. specializes in the rescue and placement of elderly, abused
and disabled dogs. H.A.R.T. also publishes Muttmatchers/Messengers, a free
photo ad newspaper advertising hundreds of homeless conpanion animals for
adoptions being cared for by a wide variety of No-Kill Southern California
Rescue organizations. Adaptable humane education material provided when
available. Individual programs for students.
Animal Assisted Activity/Therapy program involving volunteers with therapy
dogs that are temperament tested and certified by the Humane Society of
Boulder Valley. Visitation sites include a juvenile detention center, safe
house, assisted living homes, long-term care facilities and nursing homes.
Animals help the kids and adults to open up and talk and provide companionship.
Ages: 13-17 with an adult
This Humane society accepts only animals from cruelty cases. Volunteers
help to socialize both cats and dogs, walk dogs and teach obedience to
the dogs to help with placement of these animals. Also provide jobs for
the Occupational Work Adjustment program of Ohio. Students in OWA undergo
regular employee training and help with animal care. Ages: 12 and up
Volunteers work in adoption center after orientation. Parental guardian
must approve and sign paperwork. Kids clean cages in puppy parlor, transport
animals and help with adoptions. Transport and assist with medical exams
and keep supplies stocked. Ages: 16 and up
Two projects - outreach and in-house. Children served are at risk of
abuse and neglect. Outreach project uses high school seniors working for
credit on senior project to take animals to local preschool through third
grade classrooms. Seniors were highly screened and completed same orientation
and training given adult volunteers at the center, plus extra time to learn
about resident farm animals used in project. In-house program offers projects
for 3 to 18 year olds including animal needs education, gardening and craft
projects individually designed to the group, with special projects available
at certain times of the year. Also work with deaf children. Ages: 3-18
This program strives to nurture a sense of volunteerism and social responsibility.
All cultural and economic backgrounds welcome to apply. Volunteers are
responsible for Pet Library and Petting Circle, butterfly and garden projects,
habitat enhancement, journaling and traveling exhibition development, leading
exhibit hall tours and discussions, and assisting with special events.
Training is required and ongoing. Animals include non-releasable wild animals
and exhibits that encourage a commitment to care of the natural world.
The program is designed to affirm respect for life through activities and
training that promote environmental literacy by connecting students with
their surroundings. Ages: 12-16
Provide structured outing for at risk youths. Maximum of 8 kids with
2-3 adults (including the teacher booking the trip). Each child chooses
a llama which will pack for them. The child is responsible for feeding,
watering, grooming and packing under the supervision of adults. Occasionally
younger children may be matched with older kids or handicapped with not
handicapped. Llamas have organized social structure and set examples of
cooperation and good behavior for the children. The group is out 3 to 5
days, then in for a couple of weeks, then out again in the mountains of
North Carolina over the summer and on a wilderness island over the winter.
Curriculum is centered around animals and environmental education. In the
process of developing a permanent camp with the McCloud Center near Charlette,
NC. May do some day camps. Ages: 13-17
First time convicted drug and alcohol abuse offenders are offered 4-H
as an alternative to rehabilitation centers or counseling programs. Prior
to joining youngsters must test drug free and they and their parents must
agree to attend at least 70% of the 4-H meeting per year. Once admitted
to the program, youngsters are not identified as participants, but treated
as any other member. Many continued as members after their required one
year attendance. 4-H programs include home economics, fine arts, agricultural
and farming projects, livestock projects and puppy training. This program
has the final word on applicants. Ages: 10-15
Youngsters are chosen by the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Division
of Police, Police Activities League. They are teamed with horses donated
by the Bureau of Land Management's "Adopt a Horse Program". Horses are
green broke by the Wyoming Riverton Penitentiary Honor Farm inmates under
the direction of the BLM. One horses arrive at the Kentucky Horse Park
they are worked and trained by the Park's Equine Staff. Troopers are responsible
for the cleaning and setting up stalls and grooming their horses. They
observe and participate in round pen training, lunging and learning to
ride the horses. Due to safety issues rules are very strict and must be
followed to continue participation in the program. Troopers eventually
learn to work together as a drill team and preformed at Equitana (an international
horse event) in 1996. Troopers work their horses Monday through Friday
during the summer and weekends during the school year. The Horse Park also
offers classes in horsemanship and handling during the summer. Ages: 9-14
This is a work study program for freshman high school students. It is
aimed at dropout prone kids with poor attendance records and is designed
to help ease the kids back into the school system. Students are chosen
from incoming attendance records and a program coordinator does a home
visit to see if the student and parents are interested in the program.
OWA students attend 4 hours of regular classes, 2 hours of special OWA
classes including holding a job and any special tutoring that may be needed.
Jobs for the students are from the schools (food service, maintenance)
and the community (food service, animal shelters, service stations, etc.).
Wages may be supplemented by the program. Program coordinators are teachers
paid by the state (via a federal program), which work in local areas.
This program was developed especially for at-risk children who have
not yet had trouble with the law. Selected students are invited to participate
in the class as an elective. For one hour on Mondays for 14 weeks, 4 therapy
dogs and their handlers met with the students and their teacher. If students
maintained attention dogs were allowed off leash to interact with the kids.
Classes focused on safety around dogs, pack behavior as it relates to human
behavior, responsible pet ownership and non-ownership and careers and volunteer
work involving animals, especially emphasizing realities. A field trip
to the local SPCA was also provided. Ages: 12-16
Many humane education classes are offered by subject area with considerable
choice in study area and instructor. Classes provided both at the shelter
and in the classroom. Shelter also provides an outlet for community service
credit requirement for local junior high and high schools. Volunteers accepted
if 16 or older. Younger less reliable. Junior volunteers start in 6 month
program working in clerical, pet supply store or restocking and eventually
earn right to work with the animals, starting in puppy socialization, then
dog walking and working with cats. Camp 101 is offered in the summer and
during school breaks for 9 to 12 year olds (16 kids per session). This
is a day program (9 am to 3 pm) held at the Humane Society. Two to three
volunteers and one staff person attend the kids each day. Projects include
pet care, wildlife rehabilitation, pet adoption, shelter work with and
for the shelter animals, teaching positive reinforcement obedience training
with staff or volunteer dogs, observe a spay or neuter operation, art projects
(leash, cat collar,pet dinner mat, etc.), and animal laws. Ages: Camp 9-12;
volunteers >16; service learning 13-18; classroom programs K-8.
PAL program is designed for at-risk kids between the ages of 10-13 who
have a definite interest in animals. During the program kids obedience
train shelter dogs and help feed and monitor orphaned baby birds prior
to their release back into their natural habitat. PAL kids become teacher
by presenting the knowledge they have acquired to other kids and adults
in the community. Two sessions are held each summer. Each three-week session
is held Monday-Friday from 9 am - noon. The program is offered free and
transportation is provided to and from the shelter. Ages:10-13
People-Pet Partnership (PPP) is a public service activity of the College
of Veterinary Medicine. Their mission statement is to study the human-animal
bond and its applications. At this time, PPP has four partnerships. Pet
Education Partnerships (PET) vounteers take temperament tested and obedience-trained
companion animals into local schools to provide K-6 lessons from its curriculum
guide "Learning and Living Together: Building the Human-Animal Bond". Lessons
include: responsible pet ownership, the web of life, stewardship of the
environment, people with disabilities and their service animals, prevent-a-bite
and dealing with the grief associated with the loss of a pet. The Companion
Animal Partnership (CAP) volunteers take temperament tested and obedience-trained
companion animals into local care facilities. In addition, research is
being conducted on the effects of animal-assisted therapy on special populations.
The Palpouse Area therapeutic Riding Center (PATH) offers recreational
therapeutic horseback riding lessons for area rides with physical, emotional
and/or mental diabilities. Funding is being sought that will allow the
expansion of the program to offer hippotherapy and therapeutic horse-driving
and to research the effects of this intervention for people with disabilities.
The Pet Loss Partnership provides face to face and telephone counseling
for people who have lost or are facing the loss of a companion animal.
In the fall PPP offers an ethics seminar, Reverence for Life. This course
is taught conjointly with the philosophy department. Materials can be ordered
by calling (509)335-1303 or emailing Fmartin@vetmed.wsu.med.
This non-profit organization contracts with the Washington State Department
of Correction to provide Vocational Education. The Pet Technician Level
I & II curriculum from the American Boarding Kennel Assoc. is used
as a screening tool for female offenders. Classes include Breeds and Handling,
Nutrition, Immunology, Cleanliness and Parasitology. Inmates run a full
service Boarding and Grooming Kennel as well as train dogs rescued from
local humane societies to be Service Dogs for the physically disabled.
The scope also includes Seizure Alert & Social Therapy Dogs. Dogs are
placed in WA, OR and S. British Columbia. Ages: >18
Positive Opportunity Obvious Change with Hounds (POOCH) is an on going
project at an all male juvenile correction facility. Dogs from local humane
societies in need of training to make them more adoptable are assigned
to inmates. Youth are responsible for all care, feeding and training of
dogs. Approved as federal vocational program. Youth learn anatomy in science
classes. Write about dogs in English. Animals assist in anger management.
Dogs are kenneled at night. When animals are ready, adoptions follow guidelines
of humane society. Youth do have some feedback in adoption process, though
breaking the bond can often be hard. Ages: 14-25
A non-profit all volunteer organization dedicated to providing physically
or emotionally challenged children the opportunity to participate in aminal-assisted
activity and therapy. Programs at schools, hospitals, residential centers
and park districts are designed to meet goals set by the child's therapist,
teacher or parent. The special activities are provided free of charge to
the children. Each specially trained and registered therapy dog belongs
to a club member. Serving the greater Chicago area. Ages: All
Paul Ownis has developed a program for teaching nonviolence using animals.
He uses dogs to teach nonviolence using food, toys, freedom and praise
for teaching and training. The programs are age based and designed around
specific groups of kids. Video and books are also available on Non-violence
in Dog Training and Stress Management for Dogs and Their Humans.
Twelve children, six male and six female, ages 11 to 13 are paired with
six dogs for a three week period during intersession from school or for
4 weeks as an after school program.. A dog trainer teaches the children
how to train basic obedience and the children also attend violence prevention
lectures/workshops daily. Dogs within the program have had a very high
adoption rate. Post graduation children have the option of continuing on
as trainer/volunteers for the shelter, which includes leading tours, socializing
and grooming shelter animals and giving presentations for younger children.
TLC now has a 4 page color bulletin called Side by Side - Youth & Animals
United, featuring humane education articled and activities focusing on
violence prevention and compassionate treatment of animals. Ages:11-13
Volunteer program requires parental involvement. Kids work in bathing
and grooming animals, nursing home therapy visitations, and shelter events
(manning booths at fairs, etc.) Shelter also has available a brochure on
Breaking the Cycle of Abuse available to teachers and counselors. Ages:
14-17
The Project pairs homeless dogs with juvenile offenders. One licensed
teacher, one humane education instructor and one experienced trainer works
with groups of six youth to train three dogs. Worked with four separate
schools in 1996-97 school year. Case workers or counselors choose the youth
participating. The dogs are brought to the school for each training session.
Program lasts one month, three times per week, 1.2 hours per session of
dog training and one half hour of anger/personal attitude management and
humane education. Dog trainer comes once a week.
Non-profit corporation that provides testing, registration and liability
insurance for therapy dog teams. Teams are tested and observed working
in therapy situations before being registered. Call for local tester information.
Dogs must be at least one year. Minimum age for 4H dog handlers is 12 yrs,
all others 16 yrs of age. Children under 16 required to be accompanied
by parent or guardian. Ages: 12-adult
Support Dogs Inc. (SDI) certifies and monitors therapy dogs in the Midwest
from their base in St. Louis. Canine teams work on a regularly scheduled
basis with several hospital's psychiatric and behavioral units, including
adolescent units, in the TOUCH (Therapy Of Unique Canine Helpers) Program.
Therapy sessions are conducted under the direction of facility counselors,
therapists or other medical personnel. Monthly documentation of the results
and success of this program has been submitted by the facilities and the
canine handlers since 1989. TOUCH dogs are especially good at getting through
to children who have severe withdrawal, with progress often seen in the
day following visitations. Handlers must be at least 18 to be certified
and dogs must be over 18 months to begin training. Ages: all
Several large animal programs. Horsemanship program emphasizes responsibility
and accountability. Children are required to spend class time learning
about horses before interacting with them. They learn how their behavior
can effect the behavior and reactions of the horses. Western riding is
taught. A 200 head cow-calf operation provides a working experience for
the boys and girls who participate in all phases including feeding, maintenance,
vet work, calving, hand-raising abandoned calves, branding, docking and
weaning. Pigs, goats, sheep and chickens are kept and maintained. Ages:
12-18
Several programs are available to students through the Aquarium. Nightlights
is a 12 hour program based on the nocturnal habits of marine mammals. Students
are allowed to sleep beside the killer whales. Other programs include youth
volunteer programs, family camps and many school programs, both on site
and through Aquavan (a mobile classroom). Topics include ecosystems, ethics
and biology. Aquakits are available for local teachers to assist in teaching
the subjects.
Working farm acts as a 90 day stabilization placement for runaway girls housing 4 to 5 kids at a time. Girls attend school, assist with farm chores including hand raising replacement dairy heifer calves and a horse raising operation. Girls are integrated into community riding lessons given at the ranch and participate in 4H special projects. One such project, City Kids and Calves, a joint effort of Viewpoint farm and the Pierce Co. 4H, brought at-risk kids from local metropolitan areas to assist in raising calves. Use of large animals is humbling, yet empowering, helping to build confidence in the teens. Future hopes include a working girls ranch in Washington state. Ages: 12-18
UC
Center for Animal Alternatives
Companion
Animal Behavior Program
School of Veterinary Medicine
University of California, Davis
4/22/03