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MVHS Animal Ambassador Program helps kids read
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MVHS's Animal Ambassador Program
The Minnesota Valley Humane Society through their Animal Ambassadors program reaches out to kids to help them foster a love of reading through the help of an Animal Ambassador. 30 volunteers participate along with mostly dogs but they also use cats, rats and even a chinchilla in the program.
The Animal Ambassador program, started more than 20 years ago with a mission of reaching out to the community with animals as ambassadors for their mission and vision. In the last five years, the program has expanded. Animal Ambassadors visit various organizations like visit nursing homes, schools, daycares, and expos. Although it is tied in with general outreach to educate the community about pet, safety and pet care, another side benefit of the program has been to foster a love of reading in youth.
If you love animals and books, then the Burnsville Library’s animal book club for kids aged 2 -7 is for you. You can find an animal ambassador monthly at the Book Club held at the Burnsville Library every first Monday of the month from 6:30-7:30 p.m. www.mvhspets.org/node/98
All books chosen are animal themes. During the program, kids read to one of MVHS's Ambassador Dogs. Each child/family must have a Dakota County Library card. Cost for the program is $35 per child for the school year.
The Minnesota Valley Humane Society hears many stories about their successful program. Rut Newman, volunteer & community outreach manager said, “Our best stories always come out of the nursing homes when our volunteers tell us about the residents that normally don’t interact with anyone, interacting and “lighting” up with the animals. And also kids that are totally in a shell, being drawn out by a cat or dog that is very patient until it gets a reaction from a child.”
Other programs sponsored by MVHS include the Animal Career Explorers, a program for high school students who are interested in animal-related careers; Playful Paws Summer Camp where students in 2nd – 7th grade learn about MVHS and the animals who come there.
For more information about MVHS and the Animal Ambassador Program go to www.mvhspets.org/node/56
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