Got Milkbone?

Homemade natural dog treats have definitely become a booming business in the past few years. I stumbled upon this article in the East Valley Tribune in Mesa, Arizona that described the business of "Gryphen's Dog Treats" that is integrated into the treatment program at Gryphen Specialty Products Services in Tempe, AZ. The center is a treatment facility for people with developmental disabilities that offers strategies for its clients to use their many skills and talents to their benefit. They have many day programs and vocational programs that help clients eventually become integrated not only into the workplace, but into the community. Check out their website if you'd like more information about their services.

The article described how their "Gryphen's Dog Treats" program plays a vital role in client's treatments. They kneed, cut and roll the dough and bake the "Got Milkbone" treats and help package them as well. The article explains many of the benefits the workers get from the experience:

"It helps a lot,” Gryphen therapist Peter Graf said. “The skills they learn in doing this business — how they make the treats, weigh them out, package and sell them — those are part of life skills that they need. …"

“They see their efforts rewarded,” Jones said. [clinic site manager] “They can go out and pay for their movie or dinner if they want. They can be regular working people.”

“Day-to-day, you don’t see a lot of changes, because nobody changes that much in a day,” Jones said. “But when you look back a month or three months ago, you see somebody who would have slammed the wall in frustration take a moment to deal with his feelings in a more productive way. Someone who didn’t (want) anything to do with now takes an active role on the team, making the dog treats.”

I think this is a really unique and innovative program to help people with disabilities realize their potential to be integral members of society and to channel their energy into something good for themselves and their community! 

Read the entire article here!