Dear PAWS Volunteers
The first batch of the Sunday Dog Rehabilitation Program graduated eight rescued dogs last February 22, 2009, after 12 weeks of training. Program dogs Smart (Valedictorian), Jack/Putol (who had been adopted mid-way), Cheese, Iris, Jerby (who went to his forever home after graduation), Makisig, Mitch, and Hazel (who was adopted early in the program) thank Volunteers Liza, Gwen, Mila, Katya, Joe, and Brad; adopters Jennifer and Jon; occasional classmates and strong supporters Willy Q and nieces and Faye; and Dog Whisperer and Mentor Jojo Isorena. The program was very good for the dogs' socialization with humans and other dogs, and their comfort level with traveling. It also raised their positive awareness of humans and their willingness to pay attention to humans. They now know how to sit and lie down on command, they will heel on a loose leash, and they will go into the crate when instructed to do so. For us humans it was a truly satisfying, engaging, and fulfilling experience. It was not easy for many of the Volunteers but the joys of coming every Sunday, bringing out the dogs and loading them into the vans, driving them to La Vista, running them, training them and learning from Jojo, seeing the dogs eagerly wanting to please, then getting the desired response and rewarding them, and finally just sitting around, debriefing, and cuddling the dogs was more than worth the hardship. And for the dogs, it was always The Special Day. On 29 March, we start working with the second batch of rescued dogs. We hope to work with about eight to 12 dogs, but it all depends on how many committed volunteers sign up.
WE INVITE YOU TO VOLUNTEER FOR THE SECOND BATCH OF THE SUNDAY DOG REHABILITATION PROGRAM.
To give you an idea of what this Program entails, I have set out below the objectives, purpose, scope of work, the required commitments, and reminders. Please read these carefully, and be very pragmatic about considering the possible extent of your commitments. If you are sure you can and want to make the necessary commitment, please send us an email about why you want to do this so we can discuss arrangements.
Background
At PAWS, we have a constant stream of dogs coming in from harsh conditions. At the moment we have about over 40. Sometimes we go up to 45. Although we have had high adoption rates in the past months, due to the unceasing efforts of our shelter team, there are still several dogs who end staying in the shelter for long periods of time. Long-term residence in shelters keeps them safe from the streets. However, for their canine minds and souls, it is not the healthiest condition to be in. So on top of physical rehabilitation, we have found that we need to do behavioral rehabilitation so that the unadoptable dogs become adoptable, and the adoptable dogs remain so. Behavioral training takes time, commitment, understanding, and strength of will. General physical health is also important. Our dog behaviorist and trainer, who is committed to the well-being of dogs in general, and who is particularly concerned about the welfare of PAWS's shelter dogs, has agreed to help PAWS with the training and behavioral rehabilitation of shelter dogs.
Program Objectives:
To have balanced shelter dogs that have increased chances of adoption.
To create a pool of regular dog rehabilitation volunteers who can work with the shelter dogs on a regular basis, work with special dogs that come into the shelter, and help indigent dog owners with simple and basic obedience training at the shelter.
Program Purposes:
For eight to 12 volunteers to:
- each work consistently with a specific dog from the shelter, under the supervision and mentoring of a certified dog behaviorist and trainer, until their dog achieves a sense of balance and learns basic obedience skills
- learn how to rehabilitate shelter dogs and continue the rehabilitation program on their own, working with other shelter dogs
- mentor subsequent batches of volunteers to continue the program
- help indigent dog owners with simple and basic obedience training
Scope of Work:
Sunday haf-day sessions.
Volunteers meet at PARC (PAWS Shelter) at 9:00 to pick up their partner shelter dogs.
Volunteers, as a group, leave PARC at 9:10 with their partner shelter dogs and proceed either to the River Front Park or La Vista Village.
Volunteers, as a group, run and walk with the dogs for 45 minutes and then proceed, as a group, to the designated training grounds.
Lecture, hands-on training, and mentoring of volunteers start at 10:30 SHARP with the dog behaviorist and trainer.
Sessions would normally go up to 12:00 but could also go up to 1:30 or 2:00 in the afternoon..
There will be at least 12 Sunday sessions starting March 29, 2009.
Mid-week work out with partner shelter dogs.
Volunteers will come in to PARC at least two more times a week, to work on their own, with their partner shelter dogs.
The "homework" will be set by the dog behaviorist.
The mid-week schedules will be regular, consistent, and should be for at least one hour - to allow for exercise time for the dog (just around the shelter) and work out time.
Mid-week schedules will be arranged and coordinated with the PAWS Adoption Head, Liza Umayam.
Echo training.
With the clearance of the dog behaviorist and trainer, the trained volunteers will in turn train and mentor a subsequent batch of volunteers with the objective of ensuring the sustainability of this program.
Sustained rehabilitation program
The trained volunteers are expected to constitute a regular pool of volunteer dog rehabilitators on whom PAWS may rely to come in, when called, to work with specific shelter dogs that need rehabilitation. Their rehabilitation work will have the objective of bringing the specific dog into balance and teaching them basic obedience skills.
Required commitments:
No sunday session and no midweek session can be skipped until the all training sessions are completed.
After the training sessions are complete, the volunteers must continue to work with their dogs and must start rehabilitating other dogs.
The volunteers must also assist with the training of subsequent batches of volunteers.
Volunteers must commit to being active members of the pool of rehabilitators.
Reminders:
Consistency and regularity are important for the dogs.
Strength of will and physical health are important for the program.
Calm, assertive, balanced demeanors are important for the person - dog relationship.
Cleaning up the poop of partner dogs is an Absolute Must on walks (whether inside or outside the shelter).
Bringing treats for the partner dogs is part of the volunteer's responsibility - the volunteers are expected to soon find out what treats work best with their partner dogs.
Please check with the dog trainers and / or shelter manager if your treats are safe for the dogs
Properly dressed is properly prepared - MUSTS: comfortable clothes, socks and running shoes, sunblock. OPTIONS: caps and sunglasses. DON'Ts: strong perfumes or lotions.
If you cannot commit to this program, please do not be disheartened. This is not for everyone. There are many other things you can do to help the animals at the PAWS shelter. Please send an email to philpaws@... for details about feeding programs, walking and bathing the dogs on weekends, and other similar activities.
Kind regards, Elsie Araneta
elparaneta@... Team Leader - Sunday Dog Rehabilitation Program |
Join the Blue Ribbon Online Free Speech Campaign!
0 comments:
Post a Comment