Caring Paws
Caring Paws is a humane education program located at our R.W. Brown Boys & Girls Club, where we have a small zoo with various animals, including rabbits, guinea pigs, and pet rats. Youth have weekly opportunities to visit this zoo in small groups, where they gain experience with the animals by holding, petting, grooming, and feeding them. Youth may also assist with cleaning and other tasks related to animal care. Through their participation in Caring Paws, youth learn about animals’ needs and responsible pet ownership and develop compassion for the animals. For many of the youth, spending time with the animals is therapeutic.