The magic of Kids and Canines is the connection formed between dog and child with special needs. We often work with children within the foster care system, or those living with caregivers other than their parents, helping them gain confidences, build self-esteem, find friendship learn coping skills and in our training programs job skills.

Offer two reading programs targeted for at-risk children in high poverty schools, or to those identified as having special needs. One program is a long-term program that focuses on reading comprehension. A shorter program focuses on character building. Both programs utilize the dogs to create a positive environment, have reading incentives and provides books for the children to keep. Offer a dog training program to disadvantaged teens. The 9-month program teaches everything from dog handling to dog training. This program is offered to students with special needs and to teens within the Juvenile Justice system. The teen students learn social skills through interactions with the dogs, self-control, empathy and responsibility. Most importantly they are introduced to animal related job opportunities and are learning needed job skills that will help them in any career path they seek.

We have operated our programs to those identified by Hillsborough County School district (Tampa) as having the highest need for more than 20 years. While the program has changed to meet the evolving needs of the community our program services have a long-proven record. This is made possible by the talented, professional staff which include a professional dog trainer and licensed therapist. Additionally, we work closely with our partners and stakeholders to make sure we are meeting the needs of those in our programs.

Participation in our program is an earned privileged. To come to Kids and Canines the students have shown good classroom behaviors, often allowing them to progress further in their traditional studies. When our program starts we typically have a 60 - 65% participation. Within 6 weeks the student participate runs 90 - 95%. This tells us that the children not only enjoy being in our programs but are exhibiting social and emotional skills to be in them. To ensure the best outcomes we have regular meetings with the student's teacher, therapist or counselor. The best feedback we may get is that from the children themselves. The smiles we see daily, or the hardships they will overcome to be in class lets us know we are making a difference in their lives. The children in our programs have the highest attendance rates, have earned most improved in the school and seen academic improvements on top of the social development achievements.

We have worked with a child who missed more days than they attended in years have a perfect attendance ... because he said his dog needed him there to care for him every day. I have seen angry children, who have had brushes with the law, become protective, caring and more attune to the consequences of their actions. In the pilot program at the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice the lead trainers did not have one incident in 6 months which was unheard of. We have had teenagers who could barely fill out an application find work in animal related jobs. Daily we have children who cannot connect to the outside world connect to the dogs. By using rescue dogs, we remind these children that everyone has value and deserves love. As we grow, more demands for our services have come from teachers, counselors and therapists than we can currently meet. With additional funding we can easily serve more. We have a proven program and we are operationally ready to grow to serve many more.