“Always, no matter what, show everything love because there is no worse feeling than feeling not loved.”
These were the words of 13-year old Brianna at the end of a 10-week program with A Fair Shake for Youth. Each week Brianna and her classmates worked hands-on with three therapy dogs and their guardians. They practiced commands, taught tricks and tried agility – encouraging a dog through a tunnel or over a jump. They discussed animal shelters, rescue and breed discrimination, topics that often resonated with their own life experience.
A Fair Shake works in middle schools in some of the poorest neighborhoods in Manhattan, Brooklyn and the South Bronx. The kids build positive relationships with the dogs, develop self-esteem and empathy as they see the dogs as living beings not so dissimilar from people.
“I was surprised that the dogs like me and listen to me, “ said Juan. “It made me feel like a leader,” said Daniela.
Sam, a 6-year old Blue-Heeler mix from a kill shelter in Georgia works with A Fair Shake. “These dogs know they’re doing something good,“ says volunteer Brenda Johnson. “And it is great for the dogs too – Sam loves all of the attention and socializing.”
Audrey Hendler founded A Fair Shake five years ago after transitioning her marketing career to teach in a prison dog program. Seeing the positive impact dogs had on inmates, she realized how much dogs could help kids.
A Fair Shake has reached over 1,000 youth, now has a waiting list of schools and needs more volunteer teams – handler and dog.
Dogs who work with A Fair Shake are registered therapy dogs or AKC Canine Good Citizens.
For more information or to get involved, please visit www.afairshakeforyouth.org or email volunteer@afairshakeforyouth.org.
