D.A.W.G.S

DAWGS Update 5-14-09

Spring came to Dalhart, Texas, in the form of a horrible blizzard the first weekend in April.  We had snow drifts over 7 feet tall and over two feet of snow.  With the tall snow drifts, the dogs were able to get out of their pens and ended up running outside our exterior fence.  The storm began on Friday with a “white out” and only got worse from that point on.  The entire sanctuary was completely cut off from us due to the blizzard.  On Saturday, it took us two hours to travel the six miles to the sanctuary.  Once we got there, we found all of our dogs alive, but many were trapped in their igloos and doghouses.  We worked frantically to rescue everyone and they were so happy to see us.  We have several with colds, but other wise everyone is healthy. 

The following week, we had the unfortunate experience of “rivers” running everywhere on the land due to run offs from some rainstorms that moved through the area.  By the end of the week, we had huge windstorms move through the area.  We always have wind in the Texas Panhandle, but the problem is when it hits over 68 mph…that is a lot of wind!  Then this last weekend we had rainstorms and, once again, we are trying to get out from the water and mess.  We are hoping the rest of the spring treats us more kindly.

In order to protect the sanctuary from the forces of nature, we are currently working to build a windbreak to slow down the horrible winds, snow, and rain.  We have looked at several alternatives, all very pricey, and have decided “Going Green” is the most affordable solution.  Our local United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) office is currently promoting a matching funds program, which if we raise the money for this project, they will match it.  The total cost includes the trees, irrigation, and placement.    

To learn more about D.A.W.G.S., please visit their website at: http://www.dawgsntexas.com

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Class Pets

School Board OK’s Animals In Classrooms
The Capital Times

Tuesday, August 8, 2006
By Susan Troller The Capital Times

It's not just children who are getting ready to go back to school at the end of summer.
Animals will be officially welcomed back to Madison classrooms this fall, thanks to a comprehensive new policy unanimously approved by the School Board Monday night.

The policy supports using animals both for instructional purposes and for their contribution to students' social and emotional development. But it also implements extensive safeguards to protect children who have allergies or who are fearful of animals. In addition, poisonous critters will be forbidden on school grounds.

Superintendent Art Rainwater acknowledged that the discussion regarding animals in the schools has been heated at times.

"It's been an adventure, to say the least," he said with a laugh at Monday's meeting.

Classroom pets were sent home during the 2004-2005 school year, pending changes to the policy. In February 2006, a committee studying the issue was unable to come to consensus on its recommendations, and was sent back to the drawing board.

Jill Olsen, a teacher from the Affiliated Alternatives program and a committee member, said she felt teachers as well as the administration were happy with the compromise achieved after dozens of hours of meetings.

"It took us a long time and lots of discussion, but the bottom line will be that animals are allowed in the classroom, but there will be procedures followed that allow us to protect students' health," she said.

Olsen, who works with at-risk students, uses a trained therapy dog named Yoshi in her classroom.

She said the dog seems to know when someone is having a bad day, and that each class takes great pride in helping teach the dog something new. It encourages an atmosphere where learning is respected, she added.

"Last year, one of my students took on the challenge of teaching Yoshi commands in Spanish," she said. And now, her students take pride in having helped teach one of the smarter dogs in the world.

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