Pet Project
culture, gillete campbell county, gillette animal control department,
For the last 18 years, the committed staff at the Gillette Animal Control Department has been teaching a popular program that shows children how to care for pets.
“Education is so important in promoting animal safety,” says department director Phyllis Jasseck. “That’s why we cover everything from pet responsibility to pet safety.”
The program, which is offered to students from kindergarten to third grade, is made up of two separate courses. Kindergarteners and first graders learn how to meet a dog and also get a tour of the control department facility, while second and third graders learn basic pet owner responsibility.
The program is designed to teach a range of information about pets and pet ownership as a means to promote public safety and pet owner responsibility. One success has been the reduction of dog bites that have occurred in the community since the education program was initiated.
“Before we started the classes, we had bites on the playground on a regular basis,” Jasseck says. “But now, kids will actually call us when they see a dog out there. The classes have made quite a difference.”
At the age of 12, the children have another opportunity to get involved with animal control in a volunteer program. As volunteers, they have the opportunity to do everything from take the dogs outside for exercise to helping do dishes and dirty laundry.
“Some of the young ones bring their parents in to get a license for their pet,” Jasseck says. “Kids who have been through the program come in as adults and bring in their pets to have them properly tagged. They really are different pet owners down the road.”
Story by Brandon Lowe
