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Ricks Center for Gifted Children at DU November 1, 2004
	The Kindergartners in Miss Suzanne's class were studying heroes for their "HeroKid Town unit. They had discovered lots of ways people help animals, and they wanted to find out some of the ways animals help people. So they invited Have Paws Will Travel Guide Dog puppy raisers to do a program.. Andrea brought her brand new eight-week-old puppy Sherwood, and Carmen brought her career change dog, Lodge. Andrea talked about how trained guide dogs help blind people to get around. Carmen told the children that Lodge wasn't cut out for guide work, but now he is a therapy dog at hospitals, participates in Doggie Tales, donates blood to help dogs at an emergency vet clinic, and helps her raise guide dog puppies. Miss Meg's kindergarten class joined us for the program, too. They were studying cause and effect, and were impressed how Lodge can help Sherwood and other young puppies learn how to be calm and well behaved simply by setting a good example for them.

The kids were especially interested in Lodge's blood donor job and asked some really astute questions, such as "Doesn't Lodge get sick if they take all his blood" and "Won't he catch a disease from giving blood?"

At the end of the program, Lodge got to meet the class. (Sherwood was too young for pets). Everyone got a chance to touch Lodge's soft fur and admire the therapy dog jacket he wears when he's working.

The Kindergartners of HeroKid Town made a huge paper thank you dog and each signed it with a special message for the raisers. They also gave us home-made dog cookies for Sherwood and Lodge. Both puppy raisers and dogs had a great time meeting the kindergartners at Ricks and helping them learn about animal heroes!