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Eduation Ideas

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I belong to rescue and take Heidi to work at our booth; we have many events during the year. One example is The Royal Winter Fair is a 12 day (indoor) fair here in Ontario. I will hold Heidi in my arms, people love to come and see the "little" dog. The get all "ohh" and "awww" over the "cute little dog" - they thing she is "normal". Then I point out her cart sitting beside us and tell her rescue story. Suck them in and then hit them over the head. In my arms with a blanket over her back legs, they think she is a regular, normal dog. They accept her before finding out she is "different".

  1. When it is quiet at the booth, we walk up and down the aisles with her in her cart to draw attention. When people make cracks about her doggie stroller ("spoiled, "must be the life" etc) I tell them WHY she has a stroller.
  2. Contact a local rescue group and volunteer to work a shift or two at some of their events, with your cart dog.
  3. See if a local nursing home would like a pet visitation program. The families of the residents will see you and your cart dog. The staff will also tell family and friends about the special visitor. It also makes a great "human interest" story for a local newspaper.
  4. We have also visited children's wards at hospitals and our specialized children handicapped hospital here.
    Ask for a cart division race at any local meetups, or wienerdog races. Even if you are the only participant, it is exposure.
  5. Find a local dachshund meetup group (or start one). So many doxie owners don't know about IVDD, carts, etc.
    Take a picture of your cart baby doing something "normal" (maybe with a toy in their mouth as if they are playing fetch) and send it to a local newspaper. They will use human interest pictures on 'slow' news days.
  6. See if your local cable company has a pet segment and ask to be on it.
  7. There is a company here who does camping trips with your dog. They are holding a BBQ in a few weeks and Heidi and I will be there with our rescue donation box (with their permission).
  8. Look for pet related business and try to team up with them - they look good and you get the exposure.
  9. If you have any doggie chiropractors, or rehab centres or anything along that line, talk to them about starting an annual event. It was the rehab centre that started the Canine Special Olympics. They had other pet related vendor booths there too and some rescues. This drew in all pet owners, not just the special needs folks. We had 3 newspapers and 2 TV stations cover the day, even in the pouring rain.
  10. Walk them through PetsMart in their cart (or any other pet store, where they are allowed).
  11. If your town has human Special Olympics, ask if your cart dog can be the offical mascot at the games. The media will eat up a picture of a human wheelchair athelete and a wheelchair doggie "athelete" sitting side by side.
  12. Ask about being the mascot, or Grand Marshall at any local event. It is a media "win win" situation for cart dogs AND the event.


At some of these events, I get criticised for keeping my girl alive, with her diapers and wheelchair and stroller and all. I tell people that she has doggie "Depends" and a wheelchair just like humans. Should we "put down" handicapped people? I also make sure that I tell them she is happy and healthy and in no pain (in a nice big LOUD voice). I find that relating it to the human condition using the term "doggie Depends" instead of diapers, "wheelchair" instead of cart, brings the entire issue out of the esoteric and into terms that the average person can understand.

  Hope this helps to spark more ideas for getting out the word about carts and that being disabled does not mean being destroyed. --Margaret Blackman

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July 08 - Another thing you can do with your cart doxie is taking them to school (4-H groups, girl scout/boy scout troops, etc.) and teach children about disabled animals. I do this with my cart doxie. I do charge an honoraium fee only because I also have a children’s book about Frankie and it is partly how I make my living.
Currently I am on a committee with Handicappedpets.com putting together a curriculum for schools to teach kids about disabled animals. This will be free information offered to teachers which will be available on Handicappedpets.com. We want to list, state by state, names of people who are willing to bring their animals into the classroom and do presentations. If you are interested in doing that, please let me know. Include your state, city, contact information and name and I’d be happy to pass along to the committee putting together this curriculum. It is just in the infant stages of being put together, but we are working on having that available asap.

   I have a blast taking Frankie to school and she loves it just as much! The kids fall in love with her while learning a very valuable lesson. I truly believe if we start with our children and educate them, there will be fewer and fewer doxie’s who are put down from this disease... maybe even eventually wiping out this disease.
Joyfully,
Barbara Techel
Author of Frankie, the Walk 'N Roll Dog
Watch Frankie's Inspirational Video here, www.joyfulpaws.com
INDIE EXCELLENCE AWARDS FINALIST!

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Disclaimer:
This information is presented for educational purposes and as a resource for the Dachshund community. The coordinators are not veterinarians or health care professionals. Nothing herein should be interpreted as medical advice and all should contact their pet care professionals for advice. The coordinators are not responsible for the substance and content contained herein and do not advocate any particular product, item or position contained herein.

 

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