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Houston Chronicle

“The main focus is to teach them that they have the tools to rescue each other,” Southard said. “Rescue is super important.”

Camelot Education

“The intent of the program is to help students process hardships and to teach them empathy and compassion,” says Ms. Edmund.

HISD

"We use the animals to deliver messages of diversity, tolerance, and self-empowerment," said Dogs of Character Creative Director Joy Southard.

HISD

Dogs of Character is an anti-bullying presentation taught by rescued dogs in which each dog in the cast is a working assistant in the award-winning character education program The Healing Species.

KHOU

“A lot of kids are in this situation because they've struck out against somebody else because they've been hurt,” Joy Southard, director of Healing Species of Texas, said. “We're not here to punish or even preach anything. We are there to give them tools to heal, so ultimately they can advocate for themselves"

Your Conroe News

Many of the rescue dogs have the same and similar stories as some of the students who have participated in the program, Southard said sharing the dogs have endured neglect, abuse, or have cruel torture. Today, they are important in the classroom, she said.

Houston Chronicle

“Dogs are a safe way to identify issues, like bullying, instead of giving heavy-handed lectures to kids,” said Joy Southard, director of the assembly and its sister program, Healing Species.

HISD News Blog

“The Dogs of Character” rescue dogs recently paid a visit to Lockhart Elementary to teach 600 HISD students some important life lessons. The animals are used to “deliver messages of diversity, tolerance and self empowerment” said Dogs of Character Creative Director Joy Southard.

Love and Leash

Quincy — who teaches kids about speaking out if you’re being bullied or abused, and not giving up until somebody helps,

HISD

“Dogs of Character” visit Lockhart Elementary for lesson in tolerance, compassion and anti-bullying

Dallas ISD

Can rescued dogs teach character? The organization Dogs Of Character believe they can, and that they have the ability to reach children in the most meaningful ways.