This May will mark the third year that Pawsitive
Works™ has sponsored the ever popular community
5k dog run. On Saturday, May 18 at 9 a.m., dogs
and humans will take off from the fairgrounds to
run or walk along the scenic Kootenai River.
The course turn around point will have water for
dogs and humans as well as at the finish line.
After the run make sure to stick around for some
fun doggie contests. You can dress your dog for
the best dressed category, perform one best
trick, or if you look like your dog then "dog
that looks most like his human" is the category
for you. There will be fun prizes and raffles.
This year there is an easy online form at
www.pawsitiveworks.com or
here. for registration or you can
find forms in local stores downtown.
Registration starts at 8 am and the run starts
at 9 am. Cost is $10 dog/human team and $25 for
a family. All proceeds go to support Pawsitive
Works™ a 501c3 non-profit organization.
What is Pawsitive Works™? When we tell people
that we pair at risk youth with shelter dogs in
a program that “Shapes Both Ends of the Leash” –
people nod and smile – but they don’t really
“get it”! We often compare the program to prison
inmates training dogs and people begin to get
the idea of what we do.
Youth are referred to the program from juvenile
justice agencies. Most have problem behaviors
that benefit from learning valuable life lessons
such as empathy, self-concept and mindfulness.
Youth are assigned a dog from a community
shelter to train three times a week for five
weeks. The youth work with the shelter dogs to
provide much needed enrichment, love and train
them in better behaviors. The bond is magical
and the changes that are witnessed is emotional
and mind blowing.
Helping youth become better members of society
while nurturing a shelter dog can only be seen
as a win-win. Many shelters lack the staff
and/or funding to provide training or enrichment
programs for their dogs. The training, love and
attention that the dogs in the program receive
are beneficial to the mental health of the dog.
Pawsitive Works™ helps these overlooked and hard
to adopt dogs become more adoptable.
Each five week program session culminates with a
graduation ceremony where the youth can hand
over their training dogs to the new adoptive
families. There typically is never a dry eye in
the room.
Pawsitive Works™ has been operating in
Sandpoint, ID; Coeur d’Alene, ID; Caldwell, ID;
Spokane, WA and Seattle, WA. Pawsitive Works™
has a heartfelt desire to serve the youth and
canines of Boundary County. If you would like to
donate or sponsor and event or find out more
about the program please visit
www.pawsitiveworks.com or call (208)
946-3883. |
