The purpose of the Education Outreach Committee is to promote responsible pet ownership and to create awareness about the tremendous pet over-population problem in our county. The goal is to impact as many people as possible in Rutherford County, starting and focusing on children in the public schools, to cultivate a society of responsible pet owners over the next several generations. Students at Chase Middle, R-S Central, and ICC, through the REACH program, have already been involved in volunteering at the shelter, various events, and preparing presentations. Additionally, presentations have been made by CPC members at various county libraries as part of the Summer Reading Program and at the local Senior Center. Some members take their dogs, which have passed Canine Good Citizens (CGC) testing and become licensed as Therapy Dogs, into the schools and after-school programs, such as Super Buddies. This promotes responsible pet ownership, as well as letting students read to their dogs, as a nonjudgmental listener, with their Paws to Read Program. Members of the education committee are pairing up with other agencies throughout the community to educate the public on a wide variety of pet issues. The CPC, through the Education and Foster Committees, are partnering with PATH to speak to local civic organizations regarding pet issues related to victims of abuse and help find temporary foster homes for their pets.