consulting
Humane Education
Stephanie Peters discusses the educational programs she has implemented in her community
to help children understand canine communication, be respectful and empathetic around
animals, as well as learn about wider issues concerning animal welfare
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© Stephanie Peters
Stephanie Peters (above) runs community programs whereby she educates children how to interact with dogs safely and respectfully
efore I became a teacher of dogs, I was always a teacher of children. I have 15 years’ teaching experience, ranging from infants to teenagers, including my current work as a humane education specialist with my own business in Ames, Iowa. What started as volunteer visitation with my therapy dog Marmalade ultimately blossomed into a career providing children with the skills and knowledge they need to interact with dogs safely, respectfully, and joyfully. I aim to create safer and happier homes for children and pets alike, whether I’m working with children in their own homes as a family-friendly dog trainer and behavior consultant or out in the community as a humane educator. I offer a range of education programs, including my Tail Waggin’ Tales early childhood story time for infants and toddlers, the Preschool Pups program for ages 3-5, and the Canine Superstars program for elementary children. These programs use age appropriate, arts-based activities to introduce children to foundational topics such as responsible pet care, dog bite prevention, and companion animal welfare. My furry sidekick Marmalade provides children with opportunities to directly observe canine body language and notice how their own behavior impacts her behavior. My silly hand puppet, Benny the Basset, often makes an appearance as well to help children learn how to approach dogs and pet them gently. Helping children to be dog-savvy is crucial to ensuring their wellbeing, as well as that of their pet dogs. During the fall I bring my Canine Superstars program to several classrooms in the rural city of Boone, Iowa, which is home to just over 12,000 residents. Even though their city is small, almost all the children who have participated in my programs there have at least one dog at home. Many children own cats or pocket pets, and some live on farm properties where they interact with cows, horses, or goats on a daily basis. Says Lincoln Elementary School teacher, Paige Cullen: “I think it is so important for children to learn how to take care of animals properly. Even if students do not have a dog at home, they will always see dogs in 56
BARKS from the Guild/May 2019
© Stephanie Peters
Peters’ therapy dog Marmalade provides children with opportunities to observe canine body language and notice how their own behavior impacts her behavior
their neighborhood or at the park. It makes me feel better, as a teacher, to provide them with knowledge to keep them safe around dogs.”
Animal Welfare
In addition, I have developed the Humane Literature: A Compass to Compassion program for middle school language arts students. The program uses humane education storybooks as a springboard to explore challenging companion animal welfare topics. Over the course of four lessons, students learn about homeless pets, breed discriminatory legislation, puppy mills, and the importance of spay and neuter. In addition to participating in hands-on activities during our sessions together, the students write a research paper and create an accompanying illustrated mini magazine on an animal topic of their choice. Compass to Compassion has been hugely successful in the classroom at Roland-Story Middle School, and I am now working to bring the program to additional schools. As part of their humane education experience, participating children in all my programs are encouraged to donate in-kind items to shelter supply drives held in the fall and spring. Children and their families collect supplies, which I then sort and deliver to a number of area shelters and rescue groups. The supply drives further children’s understanding of conscientious pet care, and enables them to actively contribute to the wellbeing of adoptable pets. On the final day of their program, the children and I go through their bin of donations. The children are extremely proud of their contributions, and even small items like old bath towels or cooking utensils make a difference. Marmalade gives her stamp of approval by sniffing and exploring all the donated items, which makes the children cackle with delight. Photos of the adoptable dogs and cats enjoying their goodies are posted to my business Facebook page for the families to see and I am proud that my Plucky Paws children’s programs lend a hand to pets in need.