God bless you for the work you do. Not only do you help these fur babies but help to ease the pain of their humans that have to leave them behind. Thank you!
Revelation Gardens
a cat and dog sanctuary
The Power of Toys
Dawn Harris founded the Benton County, TN nonprofit Tree of Life Education Center (focusing on community outreach and resource alignment for pet owners), Revelation Gardens (a dog and cat sanctuary), and Reset Your Defaults (offering virtual retreats and stress reduction tools for pet owners).
Simple Strategies for Living Life Well: The Power of Toys
By Dawn Harris
Our dog and cat sanctuary is home to rescue-pets from 9- weeks old to 16-years old. We see all kinds of pet behaviors including grief and aggression. Often when a rescue comes to live at the sanctuary, they are afraid but slowly they begin to build trust and become content and playful. It is so rewarding to see a rescue-pet that hid on their first day, learn to play with toys and snuggle up to nap with a new rescue-brother or sister.
Sometimes though, pets show behaviors that can be challenging especially when life is very full and the behaviors are destructive or aggressive. There are really great books and videos available that provide ideas on how to work with difficult behaviors. One simple strategy I found that works really well with my aggressive, dominating puppy dog is the use of toys.
When my rescue-pet puppy began to gnaw on her rescue-brother, I found myself unsure how to stop her. Through trial and error I found toys to be a very effective distraction and method of training. Now I am a firm believer in the power of toys!
It was important to find very durable toys because toys can be harmful if they are torn apart and ingested. Once I found durable toys, I gave both dogs a bunch of toys exclaiming how special they were that they had so many toys. By making a big deal out of the toys and speaking in an upbeat way, they associated the toys with feeling good.
I began to condition the aggressive puppy through consistent use of the key word TOY and the upbeat positive tone in which I spoke it and I provided lavish praise when she played with a toy. This coupled with her experience of comfort the toy provided when she chewed on it instilled in her a very positive experience with toys.
Over time when she became aggressive and began to dominate and gnaw on her rescue-brother, I used the keyword TOY and she would find a toy choosing to chew on it rather than him.
Even though this has been very effective, it doesn’t work 100% of the time. Sometimes even when I do all the right things, the outcome is not what I want or expect. So, what do we do when our best efforts don’t work the way we intend?
Stay tuned for more Simple Strategies for Living Life Well when I talk about letting go of expectations.
Until then, remember to purr often, wag without hesitation, and nap in the sun at every opportunity!
If you would like to use toys as a way to curb difficult pet behaviors but cannot afford them, or if you would like me to answer a pet related question, please email me at dawnharris.22@gmail.com
If you are a store manager and would like to donate durable toys or if you are a community member interested in providing a donation, please send an email to dawnharris.22@gmail.com.
Our Weekly Paws: videos on a variety of topics related to pets!
Each Sunday at 2pm (CST) we sit down and talk about all things related to pets!
WE ARE CURRENTLY ON PAUSE FOR NEW RECORDINGS.
PLEASE REVIEW OUR PAST RECORDINGS ON A VARIETY OF TOPICS!
August 15, 2021
~national check the chip day~
The lustre of lost things
book review with angie tucker and joann abuchon-lane
August 8, 2021
~inernational cat day~
How Pets Have Impacted Us
facilitated by angie tucker
with special guests dawn harris and jan overbay
August 1, 2021
~dog-ust shelter birthdays~
kids and pets
Angie Tucker talks about ways kids and pets interact and learn from each other with special guests Daniel Watson and Mary Katherine Watson.
July 11, 2021
~all american pet photo day~
it takes a tribe
This week we discuss the topic It Takes a Tribe with Board Member and Secretary Angie Tucker along with Founder and President Dawn Overbay Harris and special guests Benton County Animal Shelter Board Member Deedra Finch and Director Joelle Costa.
July 4, 2021
~independence day~
who is revelation gardens
DAWN HARRIS TALKS ABOUT REVELATION GARDENS:
What is our impact, what are we doing and where are we going?
June 27, 2021
breed specific considerations
dawn harris facilitates a conversation with angie tucker
about breed specific considerations
June 13, 2021
Book review: The dogs who found me by ken foster
facilitated by angie tucker
with special guest joann aubuchon-lane
mp4 (video)
mp3 (audio)
June 6, 2021
the importance and rewards of fostering
angie tucker and dawn harris talk about the importance and rewards of fostering cats and dogs for revelation gardens
mp3 (audio)
mp4 (video)
May 30, 2021
pet care in the summer
facilitated by angie tucker
with dawn harris, founder & president of revelation gardens
mp4 (video)
mp3 (audio)
May 23, 2021
Ensuring your pet is cared for after you pass away
Facilitated by dawn harris
with special guest marcus noles, attorney
Mp4 (video)
mp3 (audio)
May 16, 2021
Animal welfare with bruce and rebecca griffey facilitated by angie tucker
mp4 (video)
MP3 (audio)
May 9, 2021
~Mother’s day~
what happens to our pet when they pass away?
Facilitated by Angie tucker
with special guest pastor steve whitworth
MP4 (Video)
MP3 (auido)
May 2, 2021
the book Lily and the Octopus by Steven Rowley will be discussed
If you’ve ever gone through the heartache of losing a pet, this book will share those emotions with you. It deals with grief, doubt, uncertainty, and acceptance.et health
facilitated by angie tucker
with special guest Joann AuBuchon Lane
MP4 (video)
MP3 (Audio)
April 25, 2021
PETS AND PLANTS AND THE STRESS REDUCTION BENEFITS OF GARDENING
FACILITATED BY ANGIE TUCKER
WITH SPECIAL GUEST MARY GLEDURA
MP4 (VIDEO)
MP3 (AUDIO)
April 18, 2021
~national pet day~
nutritional recipes for pets
FACILITATED BY ANGIE TUCKER
WITH SPECIAL GUEST vickie harris
MP4 (VIDEO)
MP3 (AUDIO)
April 11, 2021
positive dog training
facilitated by angie tucker
with special guest kristi may, owner of legend acres
Mp4 (video)
mp3 (audio)
April 4, 2021
~easter sunday~
how volunteers save lives
facilitated by angie tucker
with special guest tabrea faulkner
mp4 (video)
mp3 (audio)
March 28, 2021
~Respect your cat day~
books with pets as a main character
facilitated by dawn harris
with special guest angie tucker
MP4 (video)
MP3 (audio)
March 21, 2021
indoor vs outdoor needs
facilitated by angie tucker
with special guest dr. elizabeth paschall, camden animal clinic
mp4 (video)
Mp3 (audio)
March 14, 2021
what to do if you find an animal in need
FACILITATED BY angie tucker
with SPECIAL GUEST Tracy chapman, director of the benton county animal shelter
MP4 (Video)
MP3 (audio)
March 7, 2021
the importance of spay/neuter and Strategies for introducing a new pet into the home
facilitated by angie tucker
with special guest angela jones, lead writer for The Camden Chronicle and
Dawn Harris, founder and president of revelation gardens
MP4 (video)
MP3 (audio)
forthcoming
August 22, 2021
~national take your cat to the vet day~
August 29, 2021
BOOKS ABOUT PETS
September 5, 2021
~labor day weekend~
bridging gaps to pet ownership
September 12, 2021
housing issues
September 19, 2021
~national meow like a pirate day~
trash talk
September 26, 2021
~World’s largest pet walk~
Bringing in a new pet to a household that already has pets
October 3, 2021
~National walk your dog week~
Books about pets
October 10, 2021
October 17, 2021
~National fetch day~
October 24, 2021
October 31, 2021
~Halloween~
Superstitions
November 7, 2021
Winter temperatures and pets
November 14, 2021
gratitude
November 21, 2021
Table scraps: dos and don’ts
November 28, 2021
December 5, 2021
~celebrate shelter pets day~
Holiday dangers for pets
December 12, 2021
December 19, 2021
December 26, 2021
Testimonials
It is awesome that Revelation Gardens provided a true sanctuary for this special needs senior in his final year. He could have had a sad end to his long life, but instead he had a safe, caring exit. Thank you Dawn and others working…
Good afternoon Dawn! We thought we would send you a recent picture of our girls (5-months now!) and let you know they are doing so well! They have a REALLY good life with lots of toys and playgrounds, good food, a running water fountain…
Zephyr and Zara are doing great! Getting them was the best decision I could of made!
Dawn does an amazing job and works so hard and countless hours running her rescue and shoppe that benefits these animals. She is local in Camden, Tennessee. I have seen her shoppe and place and it’s a beautiful and safe place for these rescues.
Reba is awesome. So loveable and playful. She is our best girl and we can not imagine life without her!
