Eight students from Olympic Continuation High School in Santa Monica graduated from the unique k9 Connection program Friday successfully completing the intensive program focused on educating “at-risk†teens by working with hard-to-adopt homeless shelter dogs.
The graduation marked the completion of the program in which 14-18 year old teens in challenging situations train homeless shelter dogs in basic obedience, helping the dogs become adoptable. The cornerstone of this multi-phase program is an intensive three-week training session in which students work one-on one with a dog in both dog training and classroom sessions.
Friends,family, and members of the community attended the special event where the students showcased their dogs’ skills in a dog show, received sp
ecialrecognition for their accomplishments, and gave a brief presentation about their experience and growth in the program.
“K9 connection is a remarkable organization whose mission is to teach at-risk teens how to train homeless shelter dogs in basic obedience skills in order to increase their chances of adoption. Through the training they provide to the dogs, the teens benefit by learning how to be more responsible and accountable, the importance of goal setting, and how positive reinforcement offers an alternative to force and violence.†– Dr. Patricia Fitzgerald-Huffington Post
k9 connection was launched eight years ago and is based on dual goals: to help challenged young people succeed in life and to find loving, permanent homes for hard-to-adopt dogs. The unique
programs are offered free of charge to continuation schools and residential facilities and is committed to helping young adults at a critical stage in their lives and shelter dogs on the euthanized list. Since 2005, the program has served 420youths and found homes for 348 dogs. K9 Connection has placed 100% of their dog graduates into permanent loving homes.
