SCAA Denies Shelter Dogs for Pawsitive Works™

Why did Second Chance Animal Adoption (SCAA) recently vote to deny shelter dogs the opportunity to participate in the Pawsitive Works™ Program that serves both at-risk youth and homeless dogs?

Pawsitive Works™ is an innovative five week program that teaches compassion, communication, empathy, and goal-setting to at-risk youth.  Written by professionals, Pawsitive Works™ evidence-based curriculum was created to teach youth life lessons through the care and training of homeless, behaviorally challenged dogs.  When youth work with the dogs it teaches them healthy ways of coping, improving communication skills and increasing self-esteem.  The Human-Animal Bond has proven to be effective in teaching empathy and compassion and has a nurturing affect on the youth who care for them and train them.  Not only does this program assist the youth but it gives shelter dogs much needed training, love and socialization. This program truly shapes both ends of the leash……at-risk youth and shelter dogs.

Currently Boundary County has no life skills programs for our youth who are on probation; Pawsitive Works™ can and will solve that problem. The Boundary County Probation Department has committed to this program starting fall of 2011.  In addition, Boulder Creek Academy has committed to running the program throughout the year for their youth.  This is wonderful news for our community!

Unfortunately, we have been denied access to shelter dogs housed in Boundary County. In a recent letter of denial from Second Chance Animal Adoption to Pawsitive Works™ they state: “It was a unanimous decision by SCAA’s board not to ally ourselves or work with non-profit organizations whose agendas and mission statements do not coincide with our own."

We respectfully disagree.  We believe the time has come to find ways to work together – collaboratively –to maximize limited resources in this difficult economic time and create the biggest impact. We know from working with our current shelter partners that this program provides opportunities for shelters that they would not otherwise be exposed to.  Opportunities such as increased monetary support, advanced exposure for dog adoptions, community support and volunteerism, and grant opportunities just to name a few. 

Many people are passionate about the youth in our community and many are passionate about saving dogs.

We know you care and you have a voice.  Pawsitive Works™ is holding a community forum where you will be given the opportunity to ask questions.  Through our experience of running this program in three other counties we KNOW it works; we KNOW it is beneficial in creating more productive members of our society; and we KNOW it helps dogs become more adoptable.

Please join us so we can further educate you on the Pawsitive Works™ Program and help us brainstorm ways in which we can use dogs in Bonners Ferry for this program.   The youth and dogs of our community DESERVE IT!!

DATE: Thursday- June 9

TIME: 5:45 pm

PLACE: Bonners Ferry Visitors Center

Visit www.pawsitiveworks.com for more information