Youth Work in the Community

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Every “School” break is an opportunity to get in on a fun camp, right?! I had the pleasure of teaching several seasons of Camp at Pets In Need from 2014-2019. We did everything from bathing and cleaning the shelter dogs to teaching them obedience on leash, as well

as having fun with them at the nearby park. There’s nothing like fostering that connection! 

We sprouted our first after- school program in East Palo Alto in 2009. We teamed up with board members that supported both The Rich May Foundation as well as the St Francis of Assisi Youth Club and there it all started. We did 3 day programs with kids who signed up and we attended every holiday event with dogs in tow (most likely in costume) We watched kids literally grow up, get their own dogs and be able to teach them commands and have a good working relationship with them based on what they had learned.🤗

In 2014, we expanded our training from after school to weekly lessons at a local rehab (no longer serving minors) and brought classes to them for over a year. We brought in shelter dogs from Pets in Need (in Redwood City) and helped them work on their obedience and social skills to help land a forever home. The dogs and the youth both showed progress in the program.