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Operation Opie™ A Dog Bite Prevention
Program for Children:
Email
Opie@gogreatdog.com
Program Overview
Operation Opie™ is an interactive program created by Great
Dog to teach children about dog bite prevention. The
Operation Opie team consists of Opie; a 9 years old rescued
Jack Russell Terrier (JRT) and his human companion, Judi
Anderson-Wright, co-owner of Great Dog. Judi holds a double
Master’s Degree in Special Education and has many years
experience teaching children, adults, and dogs. She
also is a Certified Professional Pet Dog Trainer. Opie is a
Delta Society Certified Pet Partner dog so they make a
perfect team!
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Operation Opie was created once Great
Dog owners and staff recognized how gentle and patient Opie treated
children who encountered him in obedience classes or in the retail
shoppe. Judi developed the S.T.A.N.D. process a quick and easy way
for children of all ages to learn and remember how to behave when
encountering dogs.
Opie and Judi will come to your
school, club, event or party and share the S.T.A.N.D. bite
prevention program. The program is suitable for children and
youth of all ages. Each presentation is tailored to the
developmental and social skills of each group of children.
During the presentation Opie will first win the hearts of the
kids by demonstrating his delightful tricks and obedience
skills, then he and Judi demonstrate how to safely approach and
interact with dogs, as well discuss how to avoid stray and
unknown dogs. |
Dog Bite Statistics
Each year thousands of children sustain dog bites and they are
usually from dogs that children attempt to pet without knowing
how to avoid unknown dogs or how to safely approach and interact
with a pet dog. Unfortunately children comprise 60% of the dog
bite victims. Severe injuries occur almost exclusively in
children less than 10 years of age. The face is the most
frequent target (77% of all injures). |
During the program children are
encouraged to read a book to Opie and then each child is invited to
meet Opie. Each child is given the opportunity to role-play how to
meet and interact with a dog. Thanks to Opie’s positive attitude and
small stature children are drawn to him-there is nothing threatening
or overwhelming about Opie so children who have been bitten or who
are frightened of dogs are generally eager to approach and touch
this personable little dog. Depending on the size of the group the
presentation will take 30-60 minutes. We are able to schedule
multiple classrooms for same day visits. There is no charge for this
program. We do encourage groups to make an appropriate donation to
either a rescue group for JRT’s or a Humane Education/Service
provider.
Opie’s Story
Opie is a mascot and ambassador for Great Dog and the Jack Russell
Terrier (JRT) breed. As with most terriers, but especially JRT’s,
Opie needs to be very active to keep him from getting into mischief.
Once an orphan dog, in and out of shelters and eventually facing no
home at all, Opie has now found his forever home and his mission in
life via his work with Great Dog’s Operation Opie™. Opie has become
a working dog and is a better and fulfilled dog for doing his work!
Now Opie and Judi go to different schools and humane education
programs to teach children how to be safe around dogs. Opie allows
each child to meet him, pet him and even read to him! He loves to do
tricks for the kids. He also visits nursing homes, and sick children
to help brighten their days! He is very attuned to children and
people with special needs. He is warm, gentle and patient when he
visits and his antics and tricks are sure to bring a smile to each
person that he meets. Opie ends each day tired, but happy knowing
that he is safe, loved and doing his part to help keep others safe
and feeling loved too!
If you would like to email Opie he has
his own email address
opie@gogreatdog.com or stop by and meet him in
person at Great Dog in Seattle’s Northgate/Pinehurst neighborhood.
He will be happy to do some tricks for you and teach something that
might keep you safe the next time you meet a dog!
Opie impacts high risk children through Healing Species Program as
reported by the wonderful Best Friend's Sanctuary.
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