Great Day!

Today was a great day with the kids. We got through week five and week six has started off great. We only have the rest of this week and next week with this group of dogs, then we will be trying something new. We'll bring in a new group of dogs to work with the same kids! It's pretty exciting. The kids have some anxieties still, about having to let go of the dogs they're working with now, but at the same time they are really excited to meet some new dogs and help them find their forever homes! We may keep Lilly, one of the dogs we have now, in the program. She still needs some work on socialization but she really has come a long way!

I had a meeting today with a few people from the MCJJC and the manager of the Shelter. It went well. These people are so easy to work with! A few of the superiors at the MCJJC have decided that the kids, and families of the kids working with the dogs, will not be able to adopt the dogs they are working with. That's a new one for us. Usually one or even two kids end up going home with the dogs they trained. I guess this is a good thing because the rescues we've worked with in the past usually do a really good check on the adopters and the Shelter does not, you just fill out the app., pay the money, and walk out with the dog. The way the MCJJC is looking at it is that they want the kids to learn selflessness and want them to learn to do something for someone/something without getting anything in return, just knowing that they've done something wonderful. Thankfully, I won't be the one who has to tell them that! Someone else will break the news. Not that any of them would have been adopting their dogs anyway, but they all dream that its a possibility. It'll be interesting to see if it changes the dynamic of the group. I don't think it will in the future, but for this group, it will be a disappointment. I don't know, I guess we'll find out!
The MCJJC has decided to change the name of the program too. They were originally calling it "Paws for a Cause" but there is already a non-profit named that so to avoid stepping on any ones "paws" we've decided on "Macomb County Teacher's Pet". That'll get our name out there a little too!
Guess that's it for now! I would have had some videos and pictures to post had my batteries on my camera not died today! Thursday, I promise!

Hey, lets hear a little more for everyone! I'd love to read about how it's going with all of you!

Thanks for reading!
Lisa