Back-to-School and After-School Volunteering for Paw Works! 

It’s that time of the year! End of August means back-to-school spirit is in full swing and we, here, at Paw Works cannot wait, because for us it means the expansion of after-school volunteering. Paw Works offers a unique and inspiring opportunity for kids to volunteer with our animals through the Child Pet Ambassador (CPA) program for youngsters’ ages 6-14. Our CPA program is spearheaded by long time Paw Work volunteer and elementary school teacher Kelly Taminich and Paw Works Board member and licensed marriage and family therapist specializing in kids and adolescents, Carrie Rasmussen. Under their careful guidance and curriculum development, young people can engage in an enriching experience.  They can work with our rescue and seeing how our values to lead, protect, HEAL, comfort and shelter, translate themselves into real world growth.

The program enables participants to learn about the responsibilities of being a great pet owner, while also allowing participating in an after-school program that brings a community feel to a serious cause. We shape responsible pet advocates with the steady guidance of our top notch volunteers, where care takers see and experience first hand the personal transformations that animal can have on a human life. Consequently, kids also see the detrimental effects of difficult lives some of our animals have faced before coming into our care. Seeing both sides of the coin has resulted in our kids becoming even more passionate about animal rights, as Angie, CPA member and rising 8th grader at Mesa Verde Middle School recalls, “I’ve seen how animals can change with the proper type of love and care. Through being in the CPA program, I want to teach others to have compassion for all animals. I want to teach them that they do not need to be afraid or nervous about adopting animals, even those that are old or have terminal illnesses.” Well said, Angie!

The benefits of enrolling in our after-school program extend past the kids: with parents having to stay in whichever store their child is volunteering in, quickly becomes an activity and interest for the entire family. Find more information on the CPA program and volunteering at http://pawworks.org/. 

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