Building Pawsitive Futures
Educational Programs
- The "Link" Program:
- Description: An awareness of the connection between animal abuse, child abuse, and domestic violence. This is done by presenting the existing information, statistics, etc. to social workers, teachers, animal welfare agencies, nurses and the local Domestic Relationship Violence Initiative.
- Goals: To teach that violence is violence regardless of where it is directed...at people or animals. Cruelty towards animals may provide insight into helping children before they become more involved in anti-social behavior. Animal cruelty is an important factor in identifying early mental illness and/or criminal behavior. This program is aimed at educating teachers, social workers, nurses, police, child welfare workers, parents and other interested groups in understanding that animal cruelty may be connected to other forms of abuse and violence.
- Dog Bite Prevention Program:
- Description: Provides information, understanding and techniques of approaching dogs in a safe manner. This program is beneficial for adults, as well as children. Most of our presentations are done for children. Most bites are due to lack of knowledge and understanding of animal/human behavior and body language.
- Goals: As children are the recipients of most dog bites, the goal of the program is to increase knowledge of interacting safely with dogs, thus reducing the number of dog bites in the community.
- Women's Shelter Program/Service:
- Description: Coordination of foster care for the family pet(s) when women need to go to the Emergency Women's Shelter.
- Goals: Studies indicate that the family pet is often the tool used to control and/or abuse a family member. If the woman and her children have the option of a safe place for their pet, it increases the likelihood of them seeking safe shelter. Some will return to the violent relationship for fear of the family pet(s).
- Emergency Room Program/Service:
- Description: To help individuals who need to be hospitalized arrange for care needs for their companion animals. Arrangements have been made with the Emergency Room for this service.
- Goals: Reduce stress for individuals who require hospitalization and have no family members to care for their companion animal. The individual can focus on their care/healing needs, knowing their pet is being cared for.
- Humane Education Program:
- Description: Provide humane education information to the general public, schools and as requested by groups, such as Brownies, Cubs, etc. Focus on teaching kindness and compassion for all living things.
- Goals: To promote, support and encourage a more caring and compassionate society.
- Guardian Angel Program:
- Description: For a yearly sum ($20.00/month for individuals or $50/month for businesses) support the animals that are housed in the specified kennel. They receive information (if requested) on all the animals housed in their supported kennel. A plaque is placed on the kennel with the information given to us by the supporter. Businesses may place their business name and phone number on the plaque. Red Deer & District SPCA is open 7 days a week so this is a very cost-effective form of advertising!
- Goals: To generate income for the care of our guest pets. Also creates an awareness to the costs involved in providing the many needs to the abandoned animals left in our care, and is a way that the Red Deer & District SPCA can provide a benefit in return for support.
- Disaster Program:
- Description: Provides Emergency Response to The City of Red Deer and District in the event of a disaster involving household pets. Directed and governed by the City of Red Deer Emergency Social Services Plan. Many thanks to the support given the Program by Easthill Dog & Cat Hospital and Global Pet Foods.
- Goals: To establish a safe registration, housing/care, and treatment area for pets until they can be moved to a temporary foster care placement or pet owners can retrieve them.
For more information on Disaster Planning visit: www.getprepared.ca
Jackie
