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Thank you to everyone who helped make it a success.

Public Education
 

On September 28, 2004, I visited Laura B. Sprague School in Lincolnshire, IL as our PEC (Public Education Coordinator). I met with a lovely group of first graders (22 in all) to discuss Responsible Pet Ownership. First, we discussed wild vs. domestic animals and how terribly dependent our pets are on us to care for them properly. (Almost every first grader has a story about a goldfish passing away but that's another story!) :)

We also watched a video provided to our club by the AKC on dog ownership. Then we discussed safety rules and how to approach (or not) a dog. The AKC provided materials on this too and a simple picture worksheet which tested the children's knowledge of a friendly dog vs. an angry dog. All the children passed the test!

Having completed that we moved outdoors where the children were surprised by a special treat! They were able to greet and pet LollyPop, my very own 6 year old Cavalier! They also were able to meet my classroom pet, Kanga, a 2 year old Guinea Pig.

When we returned to the classroom each child received a coloring book, a bookmark, and a certificate saying they had completed the safety activities as outlined by Bailey's Safety Program (again provided to us by the AKC). The kids were so proud and gladly wrote their names on their certificates and proceeded to color them beautifully!

First graders are amazing. Many cannot yet read however they truly seemed to grasp that our pets really need us to care for them (as well as provide them with lots of love and kisses)!