Tell me about your experience with k9 Connection.

Oh, my gosh, I had so much fun. They’re just such wonderful teenagers. It was such an exciting experience, because each of these kids is or has been at risk, but they have taken on projects to regain their self-respect, love, and confidence. They take on the challenge of training basic obedience to dogs which are adopted out when their three-week program is completed.

These kids have a lot going against them. The organization really helps children get in touch with themselves again as human beings. It empowers them by giving them a project that will make them proud of themselves and their accomplishments.

I have personally observed that when children work with dogs it somehow gets them in tune with their emotions. The California k9 Connection program really produces extraordinary results, and I believe the method they offer will continue to work. The dogs are completely authentic, and the children are completely authentic. So the results they produce are authentic. When children grow older and go through tough times, they lose that authenticity and are at risk of losing their connection with themselves and the outside world.

I gave a speech about what my life was like when I was younger, and I let them know that, in spite of all the negative stuff I’ve encountered and all the mistakes I have made in the past, I can choose right now to make a difference for myself that will bring true fulfillment and choose the actions that are consistent with my new possibilities.

You can prove to yourself that you really can do it. Many kids think ‘I’m not good enough’ and ‘I don’t deserve the good things in life.’ That’s something I feel we have to own up to as a choice we made by believing it. Once we start taking responsibility for that and recognize the self-conversation of, “I am the one that’s sentenced myself to that declaration,” then we can start seeing clearly how that has managed our decisions and choices every day. It just helps these children to see what choices they have made in the past and how they can change those choices for the better. I really hope that my speech helped inspire and empower them to make changes in their lives that will bring joy, love, and compassion for themselves.

What was your most memorable moment of the experience?

When they embraced me. I shared my story about who I used to be and who I am now.  I expressed how powerful I think they are and the importance of the contribution they can bring to others, even the world. Then they came up and hugged me.

Later the director of the program came up and told me, “You know, we’ve had big celebrities in here. It just goes over their heads. They don’t care. But they really connected with you. They hugged you. They actually listened to you. They got up and wanted to be with you. They’ve never done that before.”

That made me think, “wow, I’ve done something.” I hope I planted a seed in their minds that they can be whoever they want to be in their lives.

Why do you think they connected with you?

I think it was because my life wasn’t strawberries and cream. I let them know, look, I wasn’t the perfect straight A student. I wasn’t the good girl who went to school every day and graduated on time. I have a past, but I made a decision to change. I forgave myself for the things I did and moved on. I started choosing possibilities that encouraged me to be a better person; to really be my best. I chose my goals and built structures so I could reach those goals. I let them know that they can move on, too. It doesn’t always have to be this way. They could make a change in themselves. It starts with one choice: “I’m not going to fight today. Just today. Just right now. Then tomorrow. How did that feel? Oh, that felt good, not allowing the negative thoughts to overcome me.” If they fall the next day, it’s ok. What matters is that they get up. Don’t beat yourself up; learn from it and move on. Do the same the next day and the next day until it becomes automatic.

Will you go back and do it again?

Oh, yes, I’m actually going to be more involved now. I was honored that they’ve requested that I go to other communities to speak, and I can’t wait to get going!

What plans do you have for the school curriculum?

Well, my passion is working with children. Cesar loves dogs; that’s his passion. I love dogs, too, and one of my other passions, besides working with people, is children. So the school curriculum project is an opportunity to bring our two passions together.

By law in many states, we’re supposed to incorporate pet care and animal cruelty awareness into the curriculum, but many schools are not doing it. They just don’t have the materials or the resources. We are currently developing several curriculum possibilities and hope to make the material available. Though we will focus on dogs, it will encompass all pets. Our goal is to teach about the importance of pet care and speak out against animal cruelty. And we want to make it fun. We want to make animals a part of all subjects. Math: if you have five dogs at a kennel and three are adopted, how many are left? Geography: the Chihuahua breed originated in Mexico. At least, something like that.

I really want children to understand that it’s wrong to hit dogs. You have to treat them lovingly. Children will learn to be more compassionate. Research shows that there is a direct link between grown-ups that have committed violent crimes and abusing animals as a child. Reaching kids at a young age and teaching them that kind of compassion doesn’t just effect dogs; it can help improve society overall. That’s why I’m committed to this project. I feel so blessed and I’m grateful to be given the opportunity to give back to communities, human beings, and, of course, animals!

For more information, please visit:
Cesar's Way Approved as Public School Textbook
The k9 Connection Website