A winning team: sponsor, mentor, teen, dog
By Kathi Hamblet

One of the biggest challenges we face at the SPA is to find homes for our adult dogs that are medium to large in size. In an effort to jump-start those adoptions, we have come up with a program that we feel is a winner. Here is the line-up:

The Sponsor – Irene, the team leader, makes a donation to SPA to cover the cost of the 12-week training program with…

The Mentor – Thomas, a qualified dog trainer who works magic with dogs and with…

The Teen – Jordan, a young animal lover who is learning the skills needed to communicate with…

The Dog – Brunhilda, a deserving, mixed heritage canine. She is two years old and just needs a chance to show the world what a great companion she can be.

I cannot tell you how exciting it is to watch this team in action. We hope that it is just the first in a long history of winning teams.

Positive reinforcement training

Jordan is a responsible young man who shows up two times a week to work with the dogs at the SPA. He is 16 years old and attends school in the mornings. He works one-on-one with Thomas who teaches a style of training that is all positive reinforcement. Jordan is learning to recognize subtle changes in the dog’s attention and attitude and has already taught Brunhilda to sit, lay down, wait and heel. By the end of the 24 sessions with Thomas, this young man will have a great general knowledge of dogs that he hopes will lead to a dog-walking business that will supplement his family income. He may very well decide to continue his education and think about a career as a dog trainer.

How can you help? 

If you know a responsible teen who loves animals and would like to be involved in this program, the SPA will work hard to find sponsors for as many as six students during a 12-week period. They must be between the ages of 14 and 18 and in school. We are currently looking for a sponsor for a 14-year-old volunteer, Regina, who comes several times a week after school to help out. For more information, contact Kathi at kathamblet@gmail.com  or Irene at GDIAM@aol.com.  

Our mission at the SPA is “Hope, Health and Homes for Cats and Dogs in Need.”

If we can work toward these important goals for the animals of San Miguel while employing a hard-working, talented dog trainer and educating some bright young Mexican students, too, then it will prove to be a win-win team-up.

Please stop by the Sociedad Protectora de Animales to see Brunhilda and all of our great animals. We are open 11am–2pm for volunteers and visitors. We are located at Los Pinos 7, right off Calzada de la Estación. Visit www.spasanmiguel.org  to learn more about us.