What we do

At the core of the Nelson ARK is a community centre which houses a fully functioning no-kill animal rescue shelter. Youth-at-risk and older people are brought together with the animals, as volunteers or participants to help each other in a variety of educational rehabilitative and integrative programmes. The Nelson ARK believes that joining these groups together in a meaningful and caring endeavour will benefit not only the animal and human participants but will have positive effects for the entire community. Our APART (Animals, People And Rehabilitative Training) programme, which is based on successful programmes in the US and Canada, brings together young people, older people as mentors, and animals in an intensive training environment. Dog training teaches the value of patience, discipline and hard work. It also offers young people the opportunity to learn co-operative ways of dealing with problems in the training which will in turn provide alternative coping strategies in their own life. The programmes give youth an opportunity to participate in positive, rewarding experiences where respect for themselves, other people and animals is reinforced.

APART (Animals People and Rehabilitative Training)

back to top

 

Overview

APART is an innovative programme that uses ARK shelter dogs as a medium to rehabilitate and educate troubled young people. These young people are matched with a carefully selected canine companion and over a ten week period are responsible for training and nurturing the dogs. In addition, older people will be available as mentors to further support the programme. Working closely with qualified dog trainers, counsellors/therapists and ARK shelter staff, young people will participate in a structured programme that will provide them with life skills while preparing shelter animals for adoption. At the end of ten weeks, the youth will experience a successful outcome in being responsible for increasing their canine companion's chances for adoption. The beneficiaries are not only the animals and people enrolled in the programme, but the community at large. APART is based on a similar programme, YAPP, which has been operating successfully, in Ontario, Canada for the past eight years.

Need

• Many young people do not have access to rehabilitative programmes that stress empathy, anti-violence education, accountability and responsibility
• Many animals arriving at animal shelters have been victims of neglect and abuse and need training and nurturing before they can be adopted out to caring families
• Many older people experience isolation and would greatly benefit from a role which would provide purpose, dignity and companionship

The link between the abuse of animals and the abuse of children is widely acknowledged. Dr Frank Ascione of Utah State University confirms that, in households with domestic violence, pets are fifteen times more likely to be harmed or killed than in households with no domestic violence. But the danger to pets is only half the story. While those who abuse animals are far more likely to abuse animals, the reverse is true as well. Research indicates those who abuse animals are far more likely to commit acts of violence against people. Children who are violent and cruel to animals need immediate help.
"Anyone who has accustomed himself to regard the life of any living creature as worthless is in danger of arriving also at the idea of worthless human lives," wrote humanitarian Albert Schweitzer.

Purpose

The APART programme's goal is to teach at-risk youth about responsibility, accountability for actions, self-respect, respect for others, and respect for animals. It gives young people an opportunity to participate in positive, rewarding experiences where respect for themselves, other people and animals is reinforced. Through the programme, we promote trust and nurture friendships between young people and animals.

By creating an atmosphere that is both educational and fun, the APART Programme:

• Teaches the importance and benefits of being kind to animals
• Gives them the opportunity to learn the positive benefits of being responsible
• Builds empathy for animals and people
• Affirms the belief that each young person has the ability to succeed
• Gives the young person an opportunity to believe in themselves and develop self-esteem
• Teaches respect by modelling and creating a reciprocal system of respect
• Gives the young person the belief that they are valued for their contributions, and that their achievements in the programme are special and unique
• Develops self-confidence, giving the young people consistent opportunities to take control of a variety of situations in a responsible manner
• Places young people and older people in the role of nurturers and gives them the positive experience of being needed
• Requires a high level of responsibility and committment from the young person
• Encourages and allows the development of more communication and coping skills for all
• Helps to create more adoptable dogs through obedience training

Outcomes

Through the interaction with a canine companion, the youth will experience frustration, anger, embarrassment, love, respect and happiness. They will learn that these emotions are normal and will discover new ways to manage the negative emotions (which may then be transferred into their dealings with humans). They will have the satisfaction of realising that training, when done humanely, gives positive and immediate feedback, rewarding the young person and helping them to learn new coping skills. One of the most important outcomes is the recognition of hope - that rehabilitation is possible.

The YAPP programme (Canada) has documented considerable success. Among the key findings:

• Lessons learned during animal training become a model for improving human-to-human interactions
• Dogs provided opportunities for the young people to practise communication skills and acquire greater self-awareness
• Interviews with students, counsellors and parents indicated that the YAPP graduates achieved noticeable improvement in their life and communication skills and in their ability to control their anger
• YAPP graduates were less likely than the control group to re-offend; also, their offences tended to be less serious in nature than the offences of the control group
• Considerable improvement in young peoples' ability to trust others shown

In addition, the APART programme will mean reduction in social isolation and loneliness for older people as well as enhanced long-term outcomes for high needs and at-risk youth and rescue animals. APART will provide pathways to further education, training and employment with links to NMIT Certificate courses in Animal Care, Companion Animal Services and Veterinary Nursing.

Future Programmes

back to top

 

Educational Programmes

Animal abuse is a community concern, given the clear link between animal cruelty and human violence. ARK will be launching an extensive campaign, aimed at heightening public awareness of this connection.
With the government's focus on reducing youth violence, we believe it is essential to address this issue through the educational system. ARK will be offering programmes to schools and inviting school groups to come to our facility for an educational visit. School programmes will be developed focusing on the fostering of empathy.

Benefiting NZ

ARK'S canine training programme is adaptable and would provide an alternative and successful way of dealing with troubled youth/youth offenders in a variety of counselling and rehabilitative situations across New Zealand.

Volunteer Programmes

back to top

 

Volunteers are central to the functioning of the ARK and once we have completed our initial start-up phase we will be actively welcoming those who wish to become involved with the ARK.

Animal Adoption Programmes

back to top

 

Animal Adoption Programmes (initially dogs and cats) will be fully implemented with the completion of our animal shelter.