Fair Shake's team is full!

The Best Teachers in School may be Dogs!

Dogs in middle schools in some of NYC’s poorest neighborhoods are helping kids build greater empathy, self-esteem and the skills they need to  succeed in and out of school, and in life. 

Weekly sessions bring together an instructor, three therapy dog teams, and 12 students. The children learn to work with loving and lovable dogs while they learn about themselves and each other.

One week its commands, then tricks, food puzzles, and agility. There's a lesson about animal shelters, second chances and resilience, a visit to NYC's Animal Care Center. Students discuss breed discrimination and the dangers of stereotyping -- topics that often resonate with their own life experience. They learn to speak up, see, connect, praise and motivate. To see the power of relationships based on trust and respect, and to understand their own feelings as they learn to recognize the feelings of the dogs. 

Loving, non-judgmental and living in the moment, the dogs make it safe for the kids to let their guard down to learn about themselves and each other in ways not possible in a typical classroom.

You can help bring more dogs to New York City kids. Run with Team Fair Shake.  In addition to running for a great cause, you will receive:

1. Swag for you and your dog including newly designed Fair Shake tie-dye tee-shirt and bandana for your dog!

2. A series of training tips from race experts both human and canine (after all, who runs faster?)

3. Access to 1-on-1 training advice from Fair Shake volunteers who have run over 25 marathons around the world.

4. Fundraising tips and support from A Fair Shake.

5. Personal online fundraising page from Haku and support from A Fair Shake staff.

6. Fair Shake dogs and volunteers to cheer you over the finish line.

7. A puppy! (just kidding)

 Please reach out to audrey@afairshakeforyouth.org  or 917-371-9005 if you have any questions.