Rural Alaska can be a harsh environment, particularly when you're a young person growing up in one of the smaller communities.
"The teachers in our schools — most of them come from the lower 48," laments Joe Bifelt, a student in Huslia, which houses a population of less than 300 people. "We don't really [get to] learn about our culture.”
That's where the Frank Attla Youth & Dog Care Program comes into play. By pairing at-risk students with working dogs, George Attla intends to both preserve the Alaskan culture of dog sledding while also providing ample opportunity for young people to succeed.
Needless to say, the program has been an immense success, and the short documentary Better With Pets exemplifies that.
Dog therapy is a tradition as old as human memory. Remember the tiny dog at that nursing home? Or that courtroom pup who accompanied children to the stand? With a furry friend at your side, you can face almost anything — because they’ll never stop believing in you.
“People need [these] dogs just as much as the dogs need them," Bifelt continues. Between all the priceless history being passed down, as well as the adorable puppies these teens get to play with, I’d call this venture pretty darn incredible.
For more information regarding the program and ways to support their efforts, you can check out the Purina Supports page.
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Better With Pets – Arleigh Reynolds from {group theory} on Vimeo.
