P.A.C.E. Students Help Animals

Students in the P.A.C.E. (Personal Academic and Community Experience) Program at Carmel High School have been busy making healthy dog biscuits and collecting items for the Putnam Humane Society.

Speech-Language Pathologist Laura Blaha said teaching pre-vocational skills helps P.A.C.E. students prepare for life after high school.   

“We are always looking for ways for our students to learn vocational skills,” Blaha said. “Making dog biscuits teaches skills like following a recipe and directions, identifying items in a kitchen, working with others and vital communication skills.”

Occupational Therapist April DeFrancesco also pitched in and helped the students learn rolling, measuring, pouring and cutting skills.

The students rolled out the biscuit dough and cut it into shapes like bowties and hearts using cookie cutters. Unlike cookie dough, however, the dog biscuit dough was kind of tough.

“Mrs. D, you’re strong,” Brianna said. “This dough is hard.”

Supplies for the biscuits were purchased through a generous grant from the Community Foundations of the Hudson Valley. The biscuit recipe came from Tilly Foster Farm and used all natural ingredients.

“We taste tested them with teacher’s dogs and nine out of ten dogs liked them,” Blaha said.

In addition to the dog biscuits, the class collected donations such as cat food and cat toys to donate to the Putnam Humane Society.