Dogs Take Bite Out of Bullying
Homeless dogs from a local rescue group are helping kids in Kansas City schools learn respect and empathy for each other.
The classes are run by former teacher Jo Dean Hearn, who now runs humane education programs for the group Wayside Waifs.
“The animals are the glue that helps the children stay focused and understand the message,” she said. “Children can easily identify with an animal. And it’s easy for them to transition when we ask them to consider how an animal feels (if ill-treated) to how the kid sitting near them feels (if poorly treated).”
The classes have been such a success in the five years since Hearn began them that there’s now a waiting list for Kansas City schools wanting to book them.
Read the whole story at USA Today.