Pups and Pie

This past summer my library experimented with a new idea for a program.  (At least it was new for us!)  We partnered with Sunny Sky's Animal Rescue, a local animal shelter and rescue organization, to create a program that highlighted the many good things this organization is doing for animals in our community as well as make special dog toys to donate. 

Sunny Sky's brought a small number of small dogs to the library for children to pet.  The library provided pre-cut strips of fleece that can be braided into dog toys.  The library also provided apple pie as a special treat. 

While the good people from Sunny Sky's explained what they did and helped the children touch the dogs in a friendly manner, the library staff and volunteers handed out pie and gave directions on the fleece dog toys.  The fleece could be braided into a simple 3 strip weave (like most people do with hair).  But for a sturdier toy, a four strip weave is more appropriate (and more complex to explain).  The Mary Martha Mama blog has excellent directions, with pictures, on how to create this dog toy.  Most of the attendees chose to give the dog toys they made to Sunny Sky's. 

This event was overwhelmingly successful!  We had over 100 people show up in the first 20 minutes.  A program that offered real dogs and a chance to give something back to an organization that saves so many lives, made for a popular summer program.