APART Animals People and Rehabilitative Training (APART Of ARK)

Educational Philosophy:
We believe that bringing young people together with animals is an ideal way to help them understand compassion, empathy and respect for animals, themselves and others.

Aims:
To offer a positive environment for animal and human alike To encourage and allow both to develop more beneficial communication and coping skills To promote the opportunity to consider others’ perspectives and to develop respect for all creatures.

Programme
The runs for 2 hours a morning (9:15 to 11:15 am) 3 times a week (Monday, Wednesday and Friday). The next programme begins on the 23 May 2011 and finishes on the 15 July. Subsequent courses for 2011 are scheduled to begin in August and November.

Staffing
The co-facilitators of the programme are Marguerite Besier (Dog Trainer) with Susan Murray- Rifici (Educational Facilitator) and support from Karen Howieson and a pool of trained volunteers.

APART (Animals People and Rehabilitative Training)

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Overview

The Programme in Brief

The APART Programme is unique in that it combines the powerful combination of dog trainingand the Healing Species Violence Education/Character Education Programme

Dog Training

Each young person is matched with a previously unwanted dog. Under our dog trainer, they are responsible for training their dogs over the eight week course. Dog training teaches the value of patience, discipline and hard work. It also offers young people the opportunity to learn co-operative and considerate ways of dealing with problems which may arise during the training, which in turn provides alternative coping strategies in their own life. The programme gives youth an opportunity to participate in positive, rewarding experiences where respect for themselves, other people and animals is reinforced. At the end of the course the dog will be put up for adoption.

Healing Species Violence Intervention/Character Education Programme

Healing Species is a programme that benefits all students on many levels with empathy being a primary focus. Lesson topics include ‘healing our hearts’, setting boundaries, keeping your power, self-control, reputation, bullies, choices and consequences, diversity and tolerance, responsibility, citizenship. Teachers have consistently reported that the programme has been instrumental in creating closer bonds and reducing behaviour problems within the classroom. The unique aspect to this violence intervention programme is the presence of a rescued dog as ‘assistant teacher’ in each lesson. The dogs serve to reawaken trust and empathy and are living proof that it is possible to heal and go on and live happy and useful lives – a very positive approach to these serious issues. Nelson is a satellite of Healing Species in South Carolina, USA. Healing Species Website

The Healing Species School Programme has served twelve schools in the Nelson/ Tasman area in the past three years. Many of the Nelson ARK’s APART canine graduates have gone on to become therapy dogs, accompanying Susan into classrooms and acting as assistant teachers as their individual stories and past experiences are shared with the young people.

Meet some Healing Species Therapy Dogs!

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DOGGY DAY CARE SERVICE

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Available Tuesdays and Thursdays between the hours of 7:30 am and 6 pm.
$26 per day or $13 for half day
Pick-ups and drop-offs are available for a surcharge of $5 each dog each way.
Phone 03 989-3804 for a booking.

(For more photos of DDC fun see our Facebook page)

Photos thanks to Steph Scurr