Animal shelters often get overcrowded filled with dogs eager for a loving family to adopt them.
But some potential pets are overlooked simply because they haven't been taught how to behave.
There is a program in Brevard County where some everyday heroes are changing lives one dog at a time.
Kids from the group Canine Commandos are giving dogs at the Brevard Animal Services South Animal Care Center some training as they wait to get adopted.
Finella Kelley and Lucas Goldfarb are just two of the 350 gifted students from 22 Space Coast elementary schools working with dogs at the county's three shelters.
“To make them more adoptable so the shelter won't have as many dogs,” said Kelley.
“I see these dogs in the shelter, and i just think they're barking and yelping, said Goldfarb.
The goal is to improve the shelter dogs' behaviors to give them a better chance at a new home.
The kids teach them classic obedience commands like "Watch Me", "Sit, "Stay" and "Come".
“In just minutes a day you can make changes in the dogs behaviors that are overlooked for adoption, and help them find new homes,” said Virginia Hamilton from Canine Commandos.
The group even recorded their own training video to help anyone who adopts a dog.
For the kids, the experience is rewarding to know they can help save a life.
“So now they're trained, and they know what to do. So they can get adopted,” said Goldfarb.
“That one dog my not change the world, but we changed the world for that one dog,” said Kelley.
Virginia Hamilton, was just nominated, again, for the Women in the Pet Industry’s woman of the year award in the advocacy program
If your child is a Brevard elementary student and you'd like to get them involved in Canine Commandos go to www.caninecommandos.webs.com