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By Rhonda Hammerslough
Pawsitive Works
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| Bubbles
wasn't the prettiest girl when Pawsitive
Works took her in ... |
Love of dogs doesn't always equate to the
ability to care for them. When a couple in
Boundary County made the decision to take care
of eight adult Labrador-poodle mix dogs, they
never anticipated that they too would soon be
homeless.
With local shelters full
and unable to take these dogs in, Pawsitive
Works, a non-profit organization that pairs
at-risk youth with shelter dogs, was contacted,
and while they're not a rescue organization,
they realized at once they had to do something
to help. That need, coupled with the desire of
Boulder Creek Academy to run a pilot session of
the Pawsitive Works program, spurred the
executive team to get creative!
Panhandle Animal Shelter in
Sandpoint, even though they're over-full, agreed
to take a couple of dogs. A couple more found
homes in Boundary County, and four lucky dogs;
Mister, Shyla, Ginger and Bubbles, are sharing
their love, attention and need for training to
Boulder Creek Academy youth in a five-week
program that began February 16.
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| ... but
after working with Christian, she
positively glowed, and found a forever
home. |
Since then the transformation has been
remarkable, both in the dandy-doodles and the
students.
Pawsitive Works helps
struggling youth identify and modify damaging
behavior patterns through the care and training
of homeless, behaviorally challenged dogs. That
human-animal connection builds trust and
contributes to the mental and physical wellness
of the youth involved. By identifying behavior
problems and solutions for each dog, kids can
learn to incorporate those skills into their own
behavior issues.
The dogs are groomed on a
regular basis, learn good manners, are
socialized and learn basic skills to prepare
them for adoption. There's a lot of love shared
on both sides of the equation, "shaping both
ends of the leash," the motto of Pawsitive
Works.
Three of the four dogs are
looking for caring homes, and they've proven how
great they are, reciprocating the love they've
been shown. Bubbles, a standard brown poodle,
has already melted the heart of one family and
is now a loving companion in a loving home of
her own.
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|
Shyla looked
almost champagne in color ... |
Shyla, the smallest of the bunch, was initially
thought to have been tan in color, but she
surprised everyone when she came out of her
first bath snow white! Through her experience
with the kids at Boulder Creek, it's been
discovered that she's big on snuggles and play
... who knew how much she enjoyed romping and
wiggling with joy until she had the chance to
show it?!
Mister is the only male of
the group, he's about 10-months to a year old,
champange in color and he was the first in the
group to learn that playing with toys is a
blast! He was afraid of new people at the
beginning, but thanks to the love and care he's
been shown through the Pawsitive Works program,
he's learned that people, especially the ones
who like to play, are pretty good folks to hang
out with.
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|
But turned
snow-white with a little help from
Dylan, who also discovered she's
happiest when she snuggles or plays. |
Ginger, Mister's sister, is a bit more dainty
than he is, but otherwise they look very
similar. She's a great girl, and she's gaining
confidence through the love and care she's
gained through Pawsitive Works. She strives to
please, and she's sitting and downing on command
now!
While not the standard
compliment of dogs going through the Pawsitive
Works program, they and the students who work
with them are showing just how strong the
connection is between people and pets, and how
the "both sides of the leash" program actually
does bring out the best in both the dogs and the
kids given the chance to care for them.
And while they're going to
be sad to say goodbye, the kids will know they
helped another living being in need, and know
they were able to help. Knowing that you can
matter and make a difference is powerful
medicine ... especially when the recipient of
that help doesn't know he or she needs it ...
but gives nothing but love in return and only
honest appreciation when treated well. Shyla,
Mister and Ginger just wants to be good dogs,
and thanks to the students at Boulder Creek
Academy and the staff at Pawsitive Works,
they've shown they're just that. It truly does
go both ways.
If you'd like to find out
more about the Pawsitive Works program or
contribute to their work, or if you'd like to
provide a life-time home for Shyla, Mister or
Ginger and gain a tried and true canine
companion, visit the Pawsitive Works website,
http://pawsitiveworks.com/default.aspx or
call (208) 610-9062.
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