Have a Heart Goes to School

On Thursday Feb. 20, Have a Heart Humane Society's Rosemary Evans (Thunder Paws Dog Training) went to Golden Hills Elementary School and talked to 125 First Graders about how to care for their dogs. Rosemary asked the children questions about what dogs need to live and nearly every hand rose to answer.

Pharaoh, a one year old Lab, who is being fostered by Fiona Nelson, for Guide Dogs of America, was also on hand. Under Fiona's skilled hand, Pharaoh helped the kids understand a guide dog's job. Pharaoh also provided instruction on how kids should approach a dog so they don't get bit. In seven months, Pharaoh, will be put into Guide Dog school, after which, if he passes his tests, he will be given of a blind person to help them live a more full life.

The children went home with goodie bags provided by Have a Heart Humane Society, which included a video on pet training and tricks, a sticker on kitchen toxins that can harm pets, a coloring book provided by the ASPCA that teaches animal kindness and a guide on what to do if you find or lose a pet.

Have a Heart would like to thank first grade teacher Heather Gibson for putting the assembly together.

Many of Heather's students have written stories about adopted pets for Have a Heart's anthology, Touched By A Furry Angel, which will be published this year in trade paperback and eBook format and sold on Amazon.com to raise money for the rescue.

To learn more about becoming a puppy raiser for Guide Dogs of America visit http://.guidedogsofamerica.org. To learn more about Have a Heart's mission here in Tehachapi, visit http://haveahearthumanesociety.org or http://facebook.com/Haveahearthumanesociety