Barrio Dogs Educational Programs

Barrio Dogs, Inc. is a non-profit 501(c)(3) based in Houston’s Greater East End that began in 2010.  Our purpose is to educate and raise awareness about appropriate animal care in low-income neighborhoods through community-based interventions including canine therapy programs, youth education, and community outreach. We are proud to announce the success of a variety of our programs this past year.

First, we succeeded in providing a number of educational presentations at Browning Elementary School on animal welfare issues such as heart worm prevention and disease, proper pet care and the importance of spay/neuter.  Presentations were made to 4th and 5th grade classes and included activities that the students could participate in to help them retain the things they were discussing. 

Second, Barrio Dogs Tales to Tails program was very well received both at Browning and Cage Elementary schools. Tales to Tails involves individual students reading to a Rescue Education Ambassador Dog (R*E*A*D*) on a one-to-one basis which provides participants with a comfortable environment free from stress and criticism. The program focuses on those who are struggling with their reading skills with the idea that providing a stress-free environment and an opportunity to read at their own pace will give students a stronger sense of confidence and self-esteem. At Cage Elementary, 1st and 2nd graders participated in four 15-minute sessions once a week while at Browning Elementary, the program worked with four 3rd grade students once a week with 20-minute sessions for 6 weeks. Jennifer Washam, Barrio Dogs Education & Therapy Coordinator, brought her R*E*A*D* Chloe to each of these sessions and noted a progression in confidence by all the students. The teachers at Browning and Cage Elementary as well as Cage's librarian also noted that many of the students showed more confidence in the classroom after participating in the program.

Third, Browning Elementary 4th and 5th grade students participated in Barrio Dogs first Read-a-Thon. For a period of two weeks in April, students kept a record of how many 15-minute reading sessions they completed and accepted donations for their efforts. The students enjoyed an ice cream social to celebrate the end of the event and awards were given to the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd top readers from each class. Also, an award was given to the students who collected the most funds from each class. The event was a great success and the money raised went towards the Barrio Dogs' educational programs as well as animal-related books for the school’s library.

Lastly, Barrio Dogs enjoyed a unique opportunity to participate in a Spring Festival at J.R. Harris in May. Gloria Zenteno, Barrio Dogs' founder and Jennifer Washam, along with her therapy and education dog Chloe, represented Barrio Dogs during the event. They met many wonderful students, teachers and parents and appreciated the opportunity to share Barrio Dogs educational mission. 

Barrio Dogs looks forward to the opportunity to work again with the schools this coming fall. With such a great launch to Barrio Dogs' first year in our various missions, we are hopeful that we will have a wonderful growing year ahead.