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The Bedford Humane Society has begun an outreach
program which is designed to foster empathy and compassion for animals. Our goal
is to teach people of all ages how to appreciate, respect, and help companion
animals. Through these programs, we empower adults and children with information
about the issues animals face and how each individual can make a difference in
our community.
These programs have been well received and feedback has been very positive. One email received from a Girl Scout leader said: "Thanks for all you & Jessica do for the animals- you have inspired me personally, and my daughter, Mary Catherine, as well as the rest of the girls in our troop." We are currently expanding the program to include other interested organizations. Our customized programs are available to all age groups (including adult organizations) and are available year round. How to schedule a program:
Although the need for humane education in the Bedford community has been recognized for some time, recent cases of neglect have brought more attention to this matter. The success of humane educational programs in other communities has been well documented. BHS believes in the value of these humane educational programs.
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Meet Our Stars .... |
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Sometime in 2005, a crazy young redhead entered the Bedford County Shelter. Unclaimed by her former owners, she spent every day jumping straight up and down in her chain link kennel. Then shelter manager, Kim, saw something special in this high energy girl, and named her "Poppy". Days, then weeks, passed. No one seemed interested in adopting Poppy. Beyond the mandatory hold period required by law (7 days for strays without collars), Poppy's future was uncertain. Finally, the day came when a decision must be made. It was no longer kind to allow Poppy to spend her days in lonesome frustration with no hope of a home. Kim advised BHS that Poppy's time would be up the next day. BHS volunteers knew Poppy from their work at the shelter. But, as usual, BHS foster homes were full ! Phone calls flew. Taking a leap of faith, Annette said she would somehow make room for one more and Poppy was transferred to the safety of her new foster home, where a young volunteer named Jessica soon became her champion. Jessica spent many, many happy hours teaching Poppy everything that a good dog needs to know, and then some. Poppy was an excellent student, and soaked up all this knowledge like the proverbial sponge. Jessica was exactly what Poppy had needed. In time, Jessica's own dog passed away. The new friendship with Poppy was made official, and she became Jessica's dog. |
Holly had been given as a puppy to a family with a little boy. The
boy's grandfather believed that this cute puppy would be a wonderful gift
for his grandson. They put Holly in a cage behind their rural home. Holly quickly grew into a large dog. To prevent Holly from digging out
of her small cage, they chained her to the ground. Each time Holly chewed
through the large chain, her chain became shorter. To prevent Holly from
chewing on the chain, they spiked her chain with wire. They fashioned her
collar from a man's leather belt and nails. Her dog house became too
small, and with the shortened chain, Holly could not access any shelter.
It was easy to ignore Holly's needs because her owners had moved to a new
home some distance away and Holly now lived behind an abandoned house. Debra, a kind neighbor, discovered Holly in her cage. She spent hours
teaching the family about the responsibilities of owning a dog. She made
sure that Holly was vaccinated and she checked on Holly, often providing
her much needed dog food and water. Eventually, the owners agreed to give
the dog to another family. Debra contacted the Bedford Humane Society for
help and Holly became listed on their website. This is where we became involved. Our 13 year old German Sheperd had
recently passed away. We were looking for another and went to see Holly.
Upon seeing her living conditions, we could not bring ourselves to put her
back in her cage. The small space that she lived in had not been cleaned.
It had months worth of waste and decaying "food." Her water had
gelled with algae. With the "owner" permission, we loaded her in
our 4-Runner and took her home. Holly needed to learn basic things like walking through doorways,
climbing stairs, and walking on a leash. She needed exercise to develop
muscle control and coordination. She needed to learn what was expected of
her. Most importantly, she needed to understand what it is to be a
healthy, happy dog. Although this process took time, it was not difficult. There are only a few reminders of Holly’s past. She has broken teeth
from chewing on the chain and a few scars where the wires in the chain cut
her face. She has a tendency to "spin" in circles as if still on
the chain when she is worried about something. This story illustrates how people can help. Without Debra’s help,
Holly would have died, or continued to live a lonely, neglected, and
unhealthy life. This story is also a testament to the good nature of dogs.
Even with her years of neglect, Holly believes in human beings. Most impressively - Holly now has a job. She visits children’s
organizations (i.e. public schools, scout programs, and family programs)
where she is a key component of the Bedford Humane Society’s Educational
Programs for children. Holly has proven to be an inspiration to children
and their families when they hear her story, and they see her kind heart,
excellent behavior, and loving ways. Some say that Holly is lucky, but it is we who are the fortunate ones. |
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The
pilot for this educational program has been conducted with Bedford area Girl
Scout troops. These educational sessions were customized for each troop
dependent on the age group and interests, often incorporating requirements for
animal related badges and interest projects. Each educational session included
worksheets promoting proper care and responsibility of companion animals,
safety, and fun facts, followed by discussion, and question / answer sessions.
The scouts enjoyed interacting with Jessica Wood, a BHS volunteer and Cadette
with Troop 930, and her two BHS rescue dogs, Holly and Poppy.
