Program Sends Teens to the Dogs

By Ann Williams
Special to The Lookout

May 23 -- “Wanna see something cool?” asked William Lusk, an eager seventh-grader who couldn’t wait to show off the tricks he had taught his dog. “Kramer! Speak…speak. ……Speak!”

Kramer, an Australian Shepherd mix with one blue eye looked expectantly up into William’s face, but knew he wasn’t supposed to bark.

So William changed commands to “Shake,” and Kramer extended his paw for a well-mannered handshake. William beamed with pride. William and Kramer were about to graduate last Friday from K9 Connection, a three week character education program that matches troubled teens with animal shelter dogs. William Lusk and his pal Kramer (Photo by Ann Williams)

About 30 adults watched from folding chairs as the dogs, led by their young trainers, walked politely through a slalom course of orange pylons, sat down on command, came when called, and -- the high point of the show -- went through a nylon tunnel, “not always easy for the dogs,” the emcee told the audience.

For two hours a day, five days a week, six John Adams Middle School students learned how to train their dogs as they developed a better understanding of the importance of self control, patience and empathy in their own lives.

The program is “not punitive,” said Pat Sinclair, Project Director of K9 Connection. In fact, her staff chose not to know why the students had been referred by counselors at John Adams, instead focusing on teaching the students the “power of positive reinforcement.”

The kids identified with the dogs, many of which were “homeless, abused, in trouble,” Sinclair said, adding that their experiences with the dogs made them feel “like I could have a second chance.”

And the dogs, which are “at-risk” of euthanasia, were winners too, learning the behavior they needed to increase their chances of adoption.

The kids “really want the dogs to have loving homes,” Sinclair said, adding that saying goodbye to the dogs at the end of the program was still “bittersweet.”

When asked what he had learned from his dog, William said he had learned “don’t give up,” even when it seemed Kramer wasn’t listening.

“I’m the only person that made him go through the tunnel,” he boasted. William has added “dog teacher” to his ambition of becoming a fireman when he grows up.

Michael Perez, a 12-year-old seventh grader, learned a lot from his dog Cricket, too. “Cricket was like biting” and scaring people, he said, but then “she started liking me.”

”I’m proud of myself because I taught her when everyone was scared of her,” he said with pride. He learned that “every dog can be trusted, every dog can be trained.” You just have to be nice to them.

Local officials who attended the ceremony had nothing but compliments for the pilot program, which is a project of OPCC, formerly Ocean Park Community Center, a non-profit network of services for the homeless, battered women and at-risk youth, among others.

Phil Sanchez, Deputy Chief of Police, was visibly enjoying the enthusiasm of the kids. He wanted to make sure everyone knew that “the Chief of Police and the Santa Monica Police Department are 100 percent supportive of K9 Connection.”

Assistant to the City Manager, Judy Rambeau, praised the program, saying, “This is a strategy in a whole effort to reduce gang violence.”

Before the ceremony was over, Sinclair thanked Principal Irene Ramos and the staff at JAMS, Donn Umber and the Santa Monica Animal Shelter, John Maceri, “mentoring angel” and executive director of OPCC, and K9 Connection staff Meghan Doyle and Lynn Medlin.

She also thanked Co-director Katherine Beattie and her husband for “opening their hearth and home to foster dogs who would not have survived in the shelter” during the three-week program. She asked for volunteers to provide foster dog care for their upcoming programs. Pat Sinclair, Project Director, K9 Connection after Friday's successful graduation ceremony at JAMS.

This summer K9 Connection will be coming to Vista Del Mar Child and Family Services in West Los Angeles. They hope to return to JAMS next fall.

For more information about the program, including dog adoption and foster care for dogs, see www.k9connection.org