Students and Shelter Dogs Win with Pawesome Program
May 7, 2019Green Chimneys School students recently participated in the Rockland Community College’s Health & Wellness Fair. The annual event has not only become a great opportunity to profile the Dog Interaction Program, but it has also consistently given our students the chance to showcase their skills and knowledge.
For some students, this was their first time on a college campus. There was a clear sense of pride among all of them. The students represented Green Chimneys well as they answered questions from the public and described how they help shelter dogs. And to top it off, each student took a turn on the microphone during an oral presentation alongside Animals for Adoptions’ Jane Kopelman.
The Green Chimneys Dog Interaction Program allows students to be actively involved in the everyday care, socialization, and training of shelter dogs. Students help these shelter dogs to become accustomed to human interaction, learn basic commands and become ready for adoption into loving homes. It also provides students additional ways to interact with animals transforming children from care receiver to caregiver.
Here are a few Dog Interaction Program facts:
- In February, the program officially turned 5! Since then, 159 canine “graduates” have been placed in forever homes.
- For the fourth year in a row, we’ve received a grant from the Petco Foundation.
- Students have led dogs in agility exercises, walks around campus and even welcomed them into dorms.
- Dogs have helped students practice reading, accompany therapy sessions, and even attend birthday parties!
