Tails of Compassion
Providing Motivation
Smudge visits with an elementary school special needs classroom. During a visit with a student who is non-verbal and has many physical limitations, the student was removed from her wheelchair as usual and laid on the floor mat. Smudge went over to lay next to her while the rest of the class had a discussion on approaching strange dogs. She some how managed to move her arm enough to touch Smudge and then proceeded to try pet him. What a shock when I found out that the classroom staff had never seen her move a part of her body on her own before!
Each experience is unique
SEASONS is a licensed, clinically focused outdoor treatment program designed to identify the limiting beliefs and unhealthy behaviors that often can prevent the pursuit of constructive goals and personal achievement.
Research and developmental psychology indicates that 11 to 13 year-olds have very specific needs: primarily safety, security, and predictability. Pre-adolescent children and younger teens think in concrete terms and require tangible experiences from which to build.
The goal of the Seasons wilderness program is to create reference points that each child may tap into later for positive self-reinforcement. The staff and daily curriculum give students the tools they will need to chart a course for future growth and success and begin making progress in their lives.
The bi-monthly visits from the Paws with a Purpose teams offers a tangible way for these youngsters to connect on a physical level with something that offers unconditional acceptance. During their visits, the dogs interact with a co-ed group of eight or less students. Usually the interactions happen as a group however at times it may be more appropriate for the dog to connect one on one with a student. A licensed clinician is with the students and Paws team during the entire interaction to offer support and guidance in meeting the treatment needs. The dogs often interact via their areas of strengths, whether that is teaching the students about obedience training, playing fetch, or demonstrating Search and Rescue techniques. Each experience is unique in that the students always take away a different yet meaningful metaphor from their interaction.
