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In 1998, the Kids and Canines program was started in Hillsborough County, Florida as an anti-truancy initiative. This innovative program pairs truant middle school teens with a golden retriever to train to be an assistance dog for individuals with physical disabilities or children with autism. The students are paired with an 8 week old puppy and are taught to do the actual ‘hands on’ instructions for the 18 - 24 month period it takes to train the dog to perform over 60 commands. These commands include turning on light switches, retrieving articles, removing laundry from dryers, opening doors, and helping with the shopping.
Students train the dogs for an hour a day and attend regular classes the rest of the school day. During the span of the year and a half training period, the students have their lives changed in many ways. The primary goal of training their beautiful dogs is to help individuals with disabilities lead more independent lives. In return, the students learn self-discipline and patience, develop communication skills, gain sensitivity to those with physical disabilities and improve their own self-esteem. As a result of the bond that grows between the student and the dog, the truancy problem for these youngsters is improved.
The recipients of these amazing dogs have their lives changed in a remarkable way also. Each dog that graduates represents an opportunity for a person with physical challenges to lead a more productive and independent life. Our recipients happily report that their dog quickly becomes an integral part of their lives and not only does their independence and self assurance increase, but their self-esteem improves also. Their dog “opens doors” for them both literally and metaphorically, by providing a point of interest that few people can resist. |
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