August Program – Dog Days of Summer (can be scheduled anytime throughout the month)
Dogs on the Plaza
Audience: Dog/animal lovers, all ages
Location: Plaza
Branches can participate in their respective parking lots or if there is an outdoor area
Activities:
Dog training demonstrations (scheduled)
Contact PetSmart or other dog trainer (such as www.thinklikeadog.com) to do presentations.
Dog behavior modification (booth or scheduled)
Contact PetSmart or other dog trainer (such as www.thinklikeadog.com) to do presentations or mini-consultations
Pet adoption/fostering booths
Contact CAPS or HSPCA
Therapy animal booths
Contact therapy dog groups, preferably the one participating in the Dog-Earred Book Club (but may include others)
HPL PowerCard booth—sign up for a card or show your card and you get an HPL dog bandana
Order bulk bandanas from a corporate promoter (or somewhere else if there is a cheaper source) printed with an HPL logo and/or slogan (“I had a dog-gone good time at the Library!”)
Recruit staff volunteers to run table
Dog pool with HPL balls
Procure “kiddie pool” to fill with water
Order bulk tennis balls with HPL logo
Recruit staff volunteer to watch station
Food for people and dogs
Contact caterer for people food (water bottles, finger food, etc.)
Contact caterer for dog treats, such as The Dog Company. If this can’t be done locally, see if bulk orders can be made through Three Dog Bakery or Bone Appetit.
HPL Dog Reader table
Recruit staff members will strong readers’ advisory skills to book talk dog mysteries, dog fiction, dog care books, or anything else dog related for adult, YA, and juvenile readers. Ideally, books on dog behavior should be featured right after some of the demonstrations.
Set up outdoor circulation station to check out books immediately if possible.
Also recommended materials: misters, canopies, stations with plastic bags for “whoopsies.”
Dog-Earred Book Club
Audience: Children
Location: any large meeting room, Central and/or Branches
Description:
This is a literacy program where children read aloud to therapy dogs in order to build literacy and communication skills, as well as confidence. Reading Education Assistance Dogs (READ) offers a training program that may be ordered. (http://www.therapyanimals.org/read/orders.php) A brief additional list of local therapy animal associations has been included under Corporate/Community Sponsors and Partners.
This has been proven to be both an effective and fun way to promote literacy and can easily morph into a monthly children’s program at Central as well as the Branches.
Process:
Highly recommended that we purchase the training program from READ (see link above; cost $59 + $5 S & H) for guidelines on getting started, as well as the recommended process.
Contact local therapy dog groups to secure candidates for good canine participants.
Promotion
Ads in Houston Chronicle, Houston Press
Fliers, bookmarks
Contact local dog groups, PetSmart, veterinarians, etc.
Corporate/Community Sponsors and Partners
Therapy Dog Organizations in Houston for Dog Earred Reading Club
Paws for Caring P.O. Box 572230 Houston, TX 77257-2230 Facilities Volunteer Coordinator: Melinda Ashman E-mail: Pawsforcaring @ juno.com (713) 667-8114
Faithful Paws - Pet Therapy Program Sponsored by: Bellaire United Methodist Church 4417 Bellaire Boulevard Bellaire, TX 77401 (713) 666-2167
Faithful Friends Animal Assisted Therapy Ministry 207 Briarwood Court League City, TX 77573 Information Phone: 281-286-4769
Kayla's Club PetShare P.O. Box 590403 Houston, TX 77259-0403 Phone: 281-772-0069
Critters for Christ (a local division of All Faith Animal Therapy)
Contact: Mary Kegarise
mary_kegarise@hotmail.com
Training/Pet Care Demonstrations
PetSmart
Several locations throughout city
1-888-839-9638
Adoption/Foster Care/Spay and Neuter
Citizens for Animal Protection (CAPS)
11925 Katy Freeway
Houston, TX 77079
281-497-1537
Houston Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (HSPCA)
900 Portway Dr.
Houston, TX 77024
713-869-772
Spay-Neuter Assistance Program (SNAP)
Houston Wellness Clinic
1801 Durham Dr., Ste. 1
Houston, TX 77007
713-862-8001
Miscellaneous
The Dog Company—baked dog treatsGalleria Houston5085 Westheimer Road, Suite 2790Houston, TX 77056713-621-3647
Three Dog Bakery
Phone: 1-800-487-3287
http://www.threedog.com/
