Dog Bite Prevention

Did you know that over 4.5 million dog bites occur in the U.S. each year—and more than half of the victims are children? Most bites happen at home, with over 70% coming from a family or friend’s dog. The good news? Dog bites are preventable!

Our interactive presentation teaches kids how dogs communicate and how to stay safe around them. We cover meeting new dogs, reading canine body language, and interacting safely with both family pets and unfamiliar dogs in public. The 40-50 minute session includes hands-on activities, engaging discussions, and training from experienced handlers and shelter staff. Upon registration, all teachers will receive a detailed lesson plan. In addition, if dogs are allowed, our education ambassador, Magnolia, will join us to demonstrate canine communication and give kids a chance to practice meeting a new dog.

Kindness Education

Kindness is one of the most important lessons we can teach—and who better to help us learn than our furry friends? To teach about kindness, we use a book called Belly Rubbins for Bubbins. This story was created by Jason Kraus and follows the journey of Bubbins the Rescue Dog. The story shares an important message of love, forgiveness and perseverance with kids and adults alike. This inspiring book teaches kids about the resilience of our canine companions and the importance of kindness to animals. The program also includes lessons and activities on being kind to unfamiliar classmates, writing prompts on acts of kindness, and even a pet poetry activity.