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Detroit Public School Community District

Teaching kids to care for dogs teaches them to care for each other.

Detroit Hearts & Hounds is a K–12 program building empathy, responsibility, and community — one classroom, one shelter, one child at a time.

See the program
K–12
All grade levels
5
Program phases
Detroit
Public Schools
Empathy
At the core

Why this program

Detroit's kids and Detroit's dogs need each other.

Detroit has one of the highest concentrations of stray and abandoned dogs of any major U.S. city. Many students encounter dogs every day — as pets, strays, or neighbors' animals — yet have little structured guidance on how to interact with them safely and compassionately.

Hearts & Hounds changes that. By learning to read a dog's body language, care for shelter animals, and advocate for animal welfare, students develop the very same skills — empathy, patience, responsibility — that strengthen families, neighborhoods, and futures.

What students gain

Skills that go far beyond the shelter.

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Empathy & compassion
Understanding another creature's feelings is the foundation of every meaningful relationship.
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Responsibility
Weekly shelter shifts teach students what it means to show up — a skill every employer depends on.
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Community awareness
Students learn to see Detroit's animal welfare challenges as their own — and to act.
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Career pathways
Students explore real careers and graduate with credentials recognized by Detroit CTE pathways.

The program

A journey from kindergarten to graduation.

Hearts & Hounds grows with students over 13 years — from classroom conversations about empathy, to weekly volunteer shifts, shelter leadership, and capstone projects.

1
Grades K–3 · Classroom
Foundations of compassion
Students learn that dogs are living things with feelings and needs — just like people. Through stories, puppets, and role-play, they practice safe interactions and begin to understand Detroit's stray dog community.
2
Grades 4–5 · Classroom
Deepening compassion
Students explore dog body language in detail, learn what shelters do and why dogs end up there, and write persuasive pieces about responsible dog ownership in Detroit.
3
Grades 6–8 · School + Shelter
The bridge
The program's most important transition. Students move from learning about dogs to working with them — supervised shelter visits, dog handling, enrichment activities, and career exploration.
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Grades 9–10 · Active volunteering
Active volunteers
Students commit to weekly 2-hour shelter shifts all year. They build specialized skills in fearful dog handling, adoption support, and enrichment — and develop a professional portfolio.
5
Grades 11–12 · Leadership
Leaders & changemakers
Seniors mentor younger students, lead community outreach, and complete a capstone project. They graduate with a Paws & People Completion Credential recognized by partner shelters and Detroit CTE pathways.

Community partners

Built alongside Detroit's animal welfare community.

Detroit Dog Rescue
Michigan Humane Society
Rebel Dogs Detroit
DCAC
Detroit Public Library
Michigan Veterinary Medical Association

Get involved

Be part of what's building.

Whether you're a teacher, a shelter partner, a funder, or a Detroit family — there's a place for you. Tell us who you are and we'll be in touch.

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Teachers & schools
Bring Hearts & Hounds into your classroom. We'll handle curriculum and training.
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Shelters & rescues
Become a Phase 3–5 shelter partner and welcome student volunteers.
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Funders & foundations
Help us scale to more schools and sustain the program long-term.
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Families
Ask your school to bring the program in — or enroll a student directly.
✅ Thanks! We'll be in touch within 2 business days.