With all the bad news from Uvalde and Buffalo, we need to think of the good in this world.
Today’s good news comes to us from iheartdogs.com.
Here is the story as written.
First-Graders Create Sweet & Silly Kennel Cards To Help Shelter Dogs Get Adopted
Right now, animal shelters all across our beautiful country are experiencing a crisis. There are continuously more strays and surrenders in need of care than they have room to comfortably accommodate. There are simply more dogs than adopters.
So when some first graders found out that the current lack of space was affecting their local Texas shelter, they did what came naturally to lend a helping hand – they broke out their crayons!
Smile-inducing sweetness is practically second nature to a child. So when the Austin Animal Center made it known to the public that they desperately needed help making space in their shelter, long-time dog lover, volunteer foster mom, and first-grade teacher, Dr. Victoria Zolli, felt inspired to share this with her students. Naturally, they were all extremely excited to help.
So, drawing inspiration from a teacher she heard about on the radio, Dr. Zolli helped her class create kennel cards to entice prospective dog parents to adopt or foster one of their long-stay pooches.
Her creative class wrote from the perspective of the dogs, and using their newly acquired persuasive writing skills, they combined characteristics from the pictures and short bios provided by the shelter.
The kennel cards turned out to be colorfully eye-catching, and the kids’ clever, candid writing was incredibly enticing. Hung above the kennels of the adoptable dog they described, the cards have delighted everyone lucky enough to lay their eyes upon them.
Their amusing childhood candor, combined with the apparent love shown for these sweet pups, made for an extremely endearing endeavor.
It would be incredibly hard to walk away from a kennel with one of these cards above it without giving the pup a second look or even a meet and greet – which is exactly what these students, and their teacher, had in mind.
Sometimes, the dogs that have languished in shelters the longest can find their forever homes after spending some time in the spotlight. These pups have been overlooked long enough. The adorable kennel cards are giving them the attention they so rightfully deserve, which increases the odds that they will finally find forever homes!
Great job, first graders from Chaparral Star Academy, and thanks for caring so much about the fantastic dogs waiting to be adopted at your local shelter.
The good news here is that children were able to relate to those animals who need a forever home which had to have enriched their perspectives on life. Today’s JohnKu talks about life perspectives. I hope you have a lovely weekend.
Aware by John W. Howell © 2022
Do you look around?
For those who need to be helped . . .
Or mind those blinders?
Fiction Favorites 
This is a lovely, heartwarming story. Great poem, too, John. Thanks for sharing. Have a wonderful weekend 💕🙂
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I hope you have a super weekend too, Harmony. 😊
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This is a terrific idea! ❤
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I think so too, Annette. 😁
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Sweet story.
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Thanks, Charles.
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What a great endeavor! I’m sure these cards will help join dogs with their new forever families. Thanks for sharing, John.
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I think the cards will go a long way to introducing folks to the pups. Thanks, Staci.
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Oh this is so sweet, John!
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Thank you, Barbara. We need these kinds of stories. 😊 I’m glad you liked it.
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This brings tears to my eyes. Happy tears for the student’s endeavors and sad tears for the dogs that have been there a long time. Thanks for sharing this, John.
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This story struck me with the idea that kids could identify with the needs of others and then do something to help. Thanks, Joan. 😊
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Such a sweet story, John, and your Haiku is beautiful. Thank you for sharing this uplifting story. 💗
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We need these stories, Gwen. Thanks for the kind words. 🤗
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This is so sweet. Thanks for sharing this heartwarming story, John.
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I’m glad you liked it, Jill. 😊
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This is a beautiful story, John. Kids really are the best.
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They are. 😊
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Good stuff
I am an animal lover (aren’t we all?)
What I nice story !!!
Hope those kids adopt a dog.
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Ha ha ha. I think they are doing their part in making the signs.
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Great story, John. It warms this old heart to see kids doing nice things. Thanks for sharing.
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I agree about warming, Tim. 😁
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Such a sweet story. I think it would help a few more of them to find homes.
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What a wonderful idea! I sure hope they help those pups find their forever homes.
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I do too, Teri.
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A wonderful story … if only adults could see the world through a child’s eyes.
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So true, Frank.
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What a lovely story – it brought tears! Those kids have big hearts.
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They do. I admire the teacher too.
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Aww, what a wonderful idea! Their artwork and descriptions are so good. I hope it helps find these dogs a forever home soon.
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I do too, Deborah.
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Great story, John, though I’m frankly stunned the shelters are having trouble adopting their dogs out. Not so long ago, they were fairly empty as everyone wanted a Pandemic Puppy. I suppose, now that the Pandemic isn’t “a thing” anymore, they’ve turned dogs back in. Some of us knew that was going to happen, and it breaks my heart.
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Yeah, humans can’t suck enough. Thanks, Debby.
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I love this idea and hope it helps those pups find their home.
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Me too.
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So heartwarming. Kudos to this teacher! Thank you for sharing, John.
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Yes the teacher is a hero here. Thanks, Jan.
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How could you resist that–that’s so great! I hope it works! (Which dog…or cat…do you have your eye on?)
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Twiggy say’s none.
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A very heartwarming story. Thank you, John.
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What a wonderful idea! I love this story. Thanks so much. We needed this. (Who wouldn’t want to adopt goofy Douglas?)
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I know right? Thanks, Darlene. 😁
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Thank you for sharing this story, John! I hope those cards do help the pups. You know, we’ve found three to be an ideal number for fur babies. You all could get a pup that’s between Lucy’s and Twiggy’s size 😉 Just sayin’ … lol. Have a great weekend, John.
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We have a senior and junior pup. I’m not sure a third would be welcome to each for different reasons. When Lucy goes over the rainbow bridge, Twiggy will need a comfort animal. I think a puppy at that time would be perfect. 😁
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I hope Lucy will be with us for a long time 🙂
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Me too but she is showing signs of age. She is healthy but a little unstable.(Like me) We have to take it very slow with her. The plus side she has a healthy appetite and loves to play. Not as much as she used to but she is still “with it” when it comes to a ruckus.
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I can totally relate to being healthy but a little unstable 😉 I’m glad to know she’s doing well, just aging like the rest of us 🙂 xo
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Yup.
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What a wonderful FriYay post, John. I hope all those adorable (and goofy) pups get adopted. Thanks for the smiles! 🙂
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Thank you, Mae. I hope so too. Have a great weekend.
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Great project for those kids. So sweet – who could resist those faces? TGIF to you, John! Cheers!
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I know right? TGIF to you too, Jo. 😁
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Boss
This is just what I needed to read after this week. What a beautiful story, and it speaks to something I think should be happening more. Giving kids a role in their community, something . . anything. Letting them feel empowered. It works wonders.
As did this beautiful story. Thank you for it.
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I agree about empowerment. It is the right thing to do.
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Now that is a beautiful thing! And I agree with Marc. The kids need to feel part of their community and this is a wonderful way to do so.
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Thank you, Dale. 😊
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🙂
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I love this story, John, and your poem, too. Kindness does exist among the horrific stories we hear. Thanks for sharing and have a good weekend.
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Thank you for letting me know you liked it, Lauren. 😊
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Excellent story, John. One can’t help but to be moved to emotion when visiting a kennel. Daisy is our 4th rescued dog and each has been a wonderful addition to our family. But, then again, all pets seem to fill a special spot. Enjoyed your haiku. Nice message.
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Thank you, Steve. Ours are rescues as well.
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Thanks for always keeping these feel-good stories coming, John. I’ll bet the kids feel so good about helping.
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I’ll bet they do as well, Pete. Thanks.
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This is lovely good news..sweet news if you will?
It’s a noble JohnKu!
Amazing what can be said in 3 lines!
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Thank you, Resa. You are the best.
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Reblogged this on NEW BLOG HERE >> https:/BOOKS.ESLARN-NET.DE.
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Thanks for sharing. Michael.
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A wonderful and so heart touching idea. I hope all of them will find a new home. Best wishes, Michael
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I do too. It is a nice hope.
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An excellent idea, and what a way to teach kids compassion. Poor Douglas looks so sad, I hope the card works for him and all the other pups.
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I do too, Mark
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How adorable, John. I love projects like these and kids are the perfect ones to carry them out. Amazing hearts and artwork. Thanks for cheering me up on a really sad week.
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I think we need to be cheered yet remember those poor babies,
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It’s utterly heartbreaking, John. I’ve been ranting offline, so I won’t do it here. I lost my brother to gun violence… I’ll leave it there.
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I’m so sorry, Diana.
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I love it. I hope it helped them to be adopted!
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I do too, Chel. On another note I sent in a sonnet on the comments section of your bad poetry post. It has disappeared and wonder if it went to spam. Thanks for looking.
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…
WordPress!! I’ll go see if it’s there!
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Thanks
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I went diving through 5,876 Spam messages, liberated 19 from friends, but could not find your poem. It wasn’t in the Trash either. 😦 Did you save a copy somewhere?
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Nope. Lost forever. 🙄
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John! I have it in my email! We’re saved!
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A big hug to you. The problem is when I read the post the poem hits me immediately so I put it in comments. Thanks for the rescue. Maybe I should use the form. 😁
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I love this!!
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😁
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That is super sweet. I hope it works!
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😊
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Wonderful news, dear John. Might child’s help bring wonderful perspectives for the dogs.
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I think so as well, Maria. 😊
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This was so precious John. And a lovely haiku to finish it off. 🙂
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Thank you, Debby. 😁
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[…] One of my blogging buddies, John Howell, posts good news on Fridays, which always makes my day. We are bombarded with so much bad news and negativity, that good news is so welcome. Here is a good news story about dogs he recently posted https://johnwhowell.com/2022/05/27/friday-johnku-aka-tgif-fri-yay-good-news-16/ […]
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Thank you, Darlene.
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You are so welcome. Just had to share that wonderful story.
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It was a good one. Yours was terrific too.
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