4PawPrints | July/Aug | 2015

Transcription

4PawPrints | July/Aug | 2015
July/August 2015
4PAWPRINTS
It’s
4 Paws Move In Day!
Out with the old and into the new!
4 Paws at dawn on the first full day of occupation
Not to beat a Frozen horse but the best way to enjoy this, is to the tune of “For the First
Time in Forever” from the instant children’s classic:
Now we have windows and closing doors,
Don't know if Piper's elated or sassy,
And then Calista needs to start whelping,
I didn't know they did that anymore.
She didn't see her throne,
Great timing isn't her thing,
Who knew we owned 150 doggie crates!
But for the first time in forever....
Nothing like a surprise, when we've come
She can shut her office and be alone!
so far!!
For years we trained in this VFW hall,
But the puppies have no where to fetch a ball, I can't wait to see everything! (Gasps) is
For the first time in forever,
Finally we're moving in today!!!!
there anything we forgot to bring?!
It won't smell always like wet dog,
There'll be actual space for puppies,
Tonight, imagine it full of stuff,
It'll be totally strange!
They said it was big, we'd never fill it up,
But wow am I so ready for this change!!!!!
But puppies and treats are everywhere!
Cause for the first time in forever,
Ooh!
They'll be offices, and a vet suite,
For the first time in forever,
You'll think gosh, now this is neat!
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For the first time in forever,
The air system will cycle air on and on!
And I know it's totally crazy,
To dream up this big move!
But for the first time in forever,
With staff moving boxes here and there,
We've finally got some room!!!!!
It's coming together, a place for each hair,
Finally, we're in the building today!!!!
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4PAWPRINTS July/Aug 2015
Inside 4PawPrints | July-Aug 2015
Front cover ........ It’s 4 Paws Move In Day!
Page 3 ............... Move In Day Continued
Page 4 ............... July Class Graduates
Page 7 ............... Ben’s Corner
Page 9 ............... August Class Graduates
Page 12 ................ The Adventures of Piper Papillon
Page 15 ................ Additional Supporters
Page 16 ................ Golf for 4 Paws
Page 17 ................ STAR Volunteer, 4 Paws in Texas
Page 19 ................ Check This Out!
Page 20 ................ Puppy Program
Page 23 ................ Dayton Dragons Community All Star Award
Page 23 ................ MetLife Supports 4 Paws for Veterans
Page 24 ................ 4 Paws Staff Stars
Page 24 ................ Country Club of the North & 4 Paws for Veterans
Page 25 ................ Additional Supporters
Page 26 ................ The Rusty Ball
Page 27 ................ Your 4 Paws
Page 32 ................ People We Love
Page 33 ................ MOM Jump Start Your Nonprofit Competition
Page 34 ................ Round of Appaws
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4PAWPRINTS July/Aug 2015
Move In Day Continued
That’s right! Beginning August 10, 2015 4 Paws for
Ability began occupying the newly constructed portion of their
building. Joyous is perhaps an understatement. For all the
work and effort and sacrifices that have been made throughout
the construction project the new space is highly worth it;
kennels like palaces, a dog food kitchen and one for the staff
too, the first ever 4 Paws conference room, and offices where
meetings can be held, donors can be greeted, and volunteers
can meet. It’s only half of the total finished project and it is
still joyously perfect. The trainers are using the garage and the
loading dock to prepare for upcoming classes and even that
seems to be a huge change towards wonderful.
Pictured to the right is Ms. Calista, the first
Newfoundland breeder at 4 Paws. She heard that the building
could be occupied and she spared no time to ensure she left
her mark. Purpose built whelping rooms ensure our mommas
have the best care while they’re bringing new service dogs into
this world. Five rooms, all with independent temperature
control and a sink allow staff to keep puppies warm and the
room clean and free of any germs that could harm such tiny,
beautiful beings. Her five Newfoundland Retrievers, Changer,
Neville, Scout, Calais, and Raja will forever hold a special
place in the 4 Paws memory. The first puppies of a new era.
Watch along for more of their story; we anticipate they will be
a popular litter to follow.
Regardless of Calista’s insistence on breaking in the
new building, Piper was sure to get in first! She could be seen
literally prancing about, checking out the new rooms, calling
dibs on her office, and generally being joyful as she moved out
of the old building and into her bright, shiny, spectacular, new
building. It was all hands on deck for staff, moving files and
supplies and equipment into the new space. Surely they didn’t
let a little detail like the fact that filing cabinets wouldn’t arrive
for another week slow them down. Details-schmetails. Even
though the filing cabinets didn’t get to be utilized right away,
most things did. The dog food kitchen was operating at full
capacity on day one. Offices were occupied too, and for the
first time ever, staff had their very own break room and
bathroom to use!
It’s hard to believe that the project that has consumed
everyone’s thoughts, energy, time, and emotions for the last
year is well over half way complete. Renovation on the old
VFW building that was ‘home’ is well underway. By the next
edition of this newsletter, we won’t even be able to call it the
old VFW anymore. It will be transformed beyond recognition.
Stay tuned!
3 Calista and The Hope & Change Litter
Changer - “Life Changer”
Neville - “New Village”
Scout - “First Explorer”
Calais - “Changing Color”
Raja - “Hope for the Future”
Move in day!
Prepping puppy dinner!
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4PAWPRINTS July/Aug 2015
July 2015 Class
Mimi & Alannah
Eduardo & Isabella
Dickens & Connor
Coffee & Dylan
In a month with our new service dog...
...Coffee has changed our lives so much. Coffee has given us hope, something our family hasn't
felt in years. Coffee has not only become Dylan’s best friend but children are reaching out to
befriend Dylan, something Dylan has never really had. Coffee is teaching Dylan responsibility.
Coffee fills our house with love and laughter. Words can not describe my gratitude.
-Kim Halmess Dermon
Dylan & Coffee
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4PAWPRINTS July/Aug 2015
July 2015 Class
Rambler
&
Elias
Saks & Delanie
Dania
&
Oliver
Thorin & Ian
Navy & Ethan
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4PAWPRINTS July/Aug 2015
July 2015 Class
In a month with our new
service dog...
...Judy has a best friend. She is not afraid to tell people
who stop and ask to pet him, that ‘he is my service dog’. It
makes me happy because people notice her not for
meltdowns, just a girl and her dog.Gerri Mikelski
Judy & Cowboy
Fusion & Raya
Bilbo & Bekah
Cowboy & Judy
Windsor & Ian
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4PAWPRINTS July/Aug 2015
7
Ben’s Corner
Guest Author Web & Media Specialist Jaki Waggamon
Hi everyone! I'm particularly honored to be
hosting Ben's Corner this month, on a topic that is
very important to me. 4 Paws has been placing
service dogs with veterans for just a few years now,
but one thing is clear. Just like our program placing
service dogs with kiddos, the need far out numbers
the access to resources. Veterans with significant
need are being turned down by other organizations
that can't fulfill every request. If you've been to a 4
Paws graduation with a veteran in the class, you will
understand when I say, it is most certainly a
privilege to be even a small part of positive change
for the men and women who risked everything for
us and came home changed.
We are excited to share with you new,
positive changes made by the Department of
Veterans Affairs. Many people are unaware, but
federal buildings have never been required to follow
the laws set forth within the Americans with
Disabilities Act. Why on earth would the same
governing body that put forth the most
comprehensive law for increasing access to those
with disabilities summarily exempt themselves from
it? The good news is that 17 years before the ADA
was put in place, the federal government had
already passed a law, the Rehabilitation Act of 1973,
that increased accessibility to federal employment,
programs, and facilities. It prohibited
discrimination in federal employment based on a
disability and required accessible accommodations
to new construction and rehab projects. I'll take a
stab in the dark and say that the idea was that there
were already protections in place on federal
property, so they didn't need a second law for
themselves. This was a law to cover everywhere else
not already covered by the earlier adopted Rehab
Act. The complication that has arisen from this is
complex and complicated gray area. While the
ADA was being updated and refined, it became the
authority on the subject, and federal buildings and
access became a loophole, where both people who
needed access and those enforcing laws became
confused.
The Department of Veterans Affairs is a
federal institution and therefore not subject to ADA. The positive changes they recently announced look
much more like the access offered by the ADA. Previously, the VA's regulations only
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4PAWPRINTS July/Aug 2015
8
Ben’s Corner, Continued
authorized access to seeing-eye dogs; the 4 Paws family surely knows that seeing eye-dogs are a highly
recognized service dog to the general public, but far from the only type of task-trained service dog available to
assist. Under the updated regulation, all service dogs will be permitted on VA owned and leased property. Additionally, the regulation ensures that internal practices will continue to mirror applicable federal laws.
Like other federal laws, the requirement for access to VA property will be that the dog be a task-trained
service dog. We know from experience that veterans will benefit from this amendment. While we do a lot of
different things here at 4 Paws for a lot of different people, we do not place guide dogs (though we do some
facilitated guide work in our children’s program that requires a third party handler). This means that each and
every single dog we have placed with a veteran could have been denied access to a facility whose sole mission is
to treat patients and use all available resources to better their livelihood. This doesn't just get the service dog in
the door, but hopefully physicians are able to utilize these service dogs as one part of a comprehensive package
of resources for veterans. Service dogs for veterans are mobility tools, they are medical alert indicators, they
are stabilizers for post traumatic stress. And now they can be all of those things at the VA, not just at home
and out to dinner.
With the announcement, the VA identified that training at all VA facilities will take place over the next
30 days and that policies at each facility will be updated to reflect the new decision. Staff will be trained on
where service dogs are allowed, and where they must be restricted, such as operating rooms and sterile
environments. They will be made aware of access requirements - all task trained service dogs will be permitted
and the animals must be under the control of the veteran or an alternate handler. Physicians will have the
opportunity to incorporate service dogs into treatment plans so that patients needing inpatient care can ensure
their service dog will have continued access to the facility during this time.
The VA’s mission statement is “To fulfill President Lincoln's promise ‘To care for him who shall have
borne the battle, and for his widow, and his orphan’ by serving and honoring the men and women who are
America’s Veterans.” At 4 Paws, we believe that providing service dogs is part of that comprehensive medical
resource package, part of caring for those who have borne the battle. We are elated that the VA has finalized
its policy revision. It will roll out over the next few months and hospitals and treatment facilities across the
country will learn the ins and outs of applying it to their own facility. Veterans will have greater access and in
the end, greater care, as a result of having their service dog present during medical appointments. There is no
better way to thank someone for sacrificing their health and wellbeing, so that the rest of us didn’t have to, than
by providing them the best resources for their well being. Thank you to each of our veterans and to the
Department of Veterans Affairs for making service dog access a top priority!
For more information on the update, check out these articles:
http://bit.ly/VAServiceDogUpdate
http://bit.ly/MilitaryTimesSDUpdate
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4PAWPRINTS July/Aug 2015
August 2015 Class
Zuma & Lucas
Sparky & Quinn
We just got home, but
already...
...We just got home, but already we have seen the
benefits of having our service dog in Quinn's life.
Sparky's training in tethering, tracking, and
behavior disruption will no doubt be very important.
As a Father, the most important and wonderful
thing I have seen so far is how he is treated
differently by others. Taking him to the store,
tethered to Sparky, he gets smiles and questions. In
the past he got strange looks and avoided by those
who did not understand him. The acceptance he will
get, and the friends he will make because of Sparky
are the most amazing things we could ever hope for.
I know, at the very least, he will have one best friend
in Sparky, and a bond that will last forever.
-Christopher Walker
Quinn & Sparky
Mirage & Zachary
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4PAWPRINTS July/Aug 2015
August 2015 Class
Rocko &
Breanna
Bungo & Sepi
Razzles
& Eli
Chickpea & Juliana
We just got home, but already...
...we see an amazing bond forming between Razzles and Eli. She has interrupted
meltdowns, behaved perfectly during public outings, and rocked her first track! We
couldn't have asked for a better match. She is amazing!
-Alicia Silverman
Eli & Razzles
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4PAWPRINTS July/Aug 2015
August 2015 Class
Oompa & Caleb
DLite & Cole and William
We just got home,
but already...
...we feel the calming Lightening brings to
Eli. We experienced a calm 15 hour drive
home. We experienced a calm day before
school starting. Both these events would
have previously been filled with behaviors
and yelling. We are seeing a bond develop
between Eli and Lightening that with time
we hope will help Eli navigate a sensory
overloaded extreme anxiety filled
misunderstood world in a much better way.
A calmer Eli is a load lightened! Thanks
Lightening and 4 Paws!!!
-Teresa Christiansen
Eli & Lightning
Lightning & Eli
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4PAWPRINTS July/Aug 2015
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The Adventures of Piper Papillon
One Does Not Question A Lady’s Belongings!
By Piper Papillon
Hello all PIPER here. Just wanted to make sure you knew it was me and not that pesky Belle Ame who
professes to be in charge when I am traveling. I’ve been quite busy these days. I set sail across the world in July.
Really, right across the big blue sea. Of course minus the sails and well, minus the water, okay I flew but I did fly
across the big pond! What a trip we had!
So, let me tell you about this airport thing that happened. When we went through security they always make
Karen stop and they wipe her hands and belongings with these pad things and put them in a machine that tests for
bomb residue. So let me process this with you. Is there some reason
they think a person carrying a dog is more likely to have a bomb?
Oh wait, maybe it is me, do you think I look like a terrorista?
Whatever they think in their mixed up minds they always test for
this. SO, on this trip the alarm goes off ! I’m thinking OMG did
someone put a bomb in my dog food? Am I going to explode or
what? Then they swipe everything and find out it is Karen’s iPad
that is alarming so what do they ask her? “Is this a real iPad?” Okay,
I know dogs are smarter than humans, but really would a terrorist
say, “Nope, that there is a bomb?” Really????? Then I am thinking
wouldn’t it be really funny if the thing suddenly came on and it was
playing the mine field game and it made a blowing up noise? All the
humans would hit the ground. I was about rolling on the ground
laughing at the thought.
So they test it again and still it alarms. Of course at this
point they are calling the bomb specialist. He comes and takes every
last thing out of her backpack and lays it around. So there lay my
poop bags -the pretty pink ones, my closable water bowl, my extra
leash, the wet wipes in case I need a refresher, some puppy perfume
pads, my wee little hair brush and various other Papillon essentials
and of course all Karen’s stuff too. He begins to test each one, “Oh
he says it will be these wipes because they have this residue in them
Adult beverages for everyone after that
that is similar.” But no, it was not that. We went through about 8 items
airport experience!
in this fashion and nothing beeps but the iPad. So he turns to Karen
and says “IS this a real iPad?” Really? I guess all humans are a bit
dense. Karen offers to turn it on reaching for it and he jumps back, “Don’t touch ANYTHING” he says. OMG
really, does he think it has a panic button and will detonate the bomb she has with her disguised as a Papillon? Then
he looked at me and I am thinking, that is exactly what he was thinking and he is now praying I will not blow up!
Now the questions start. “Are you traveling alone?” She makes sure he saw me and says well no, I have
Piper. “Well,” he says, “This black zipper compartment has several different passports in it.” Karen explains she is
going on vacation with her kids in a week and put them in there so she wouldn’t forget. “Hmmmmm” so he picks it
up and takes them out to look and when he opens it well he looks at her like she is a terrorist for sure. “Really” he
says. “This one?” It is the passport for one of her kids adopted from Haiti. “Yes,” she says, “that’s my son” His eyes
squint and he shakes his head as he looks at the rest. I guess since they all did not have Karen’s picture on them,
clearly they were not spy alias passports. He moves on. “And you’re sure you are traveling alone.” She points to me
again and says again, not really! He then puts everything back in the backpack and takes it over and puts it through
the xray machine as 4 men study the screen. Then they put it through again, and again, and again a fourth time! As
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13
The Adventures of Piper Papillon, Continued
they pick it up and approach us the Bomb specialist says again, “You
said you were traveling alone” and she says no, “I Said I am
traveling with her” and points to me. “Well then, why is there a
men’s wallet in this backpack???”
Okay up until now, Karen and I were pretty calm, but I see
Minka Fluffentail
her tensing up. “Men’s wallet?” What makes the wallet a MENS
wallet?” He explained this is the kind men use not women. She
Piper Shirk
reaches out to take it and says “Look,” putting it her back pocket. “It
fits perfectly in my MENS pants. Do you have a problem with that?”
Okay well let me tell you. He should have dropped it but no…..
All that nonsense, and they never did
“Yeah, he says… You use a man’s wallet but you have a woman’s
find my super secret spy ID. Poor
dog?” Oh Lord, I feel it coming. It’s about to get ugly. Then she takes
Karen took all that sass. She was the
decoy all along.
a deep breath and looks at him and says calmly, “Arnold
Schwarzenegger has Chihuahuas. I don’t see this has anything to do
with my alarming iPad and I am going to miss my plane.” He hands her the bag and off we go. Thank Goodness. I
really thought she was going to take him out. I for one did not want to land in the airport security lock down with the
terrorists.
Soon enough we were on the plane and heading across the big pond to Switzerland. Thankfully we had a
pretty quiet journey. Switzerland was fun but we did not get to stay in a hotel
until the last day. Instead we stayed with Bumblebee. Bumblebee did his
service dog training at 4 Paws before being matched with a family from
Switzerland. It was nice to visit them. We went out and about the city of
Zurich and saw many cool and beautiful places. So I bet you wonder why we
flew all the way to Switzerland. Really? You don’t know anything yet? Why
would I fly with Karen half way around the world? Yep, you Papillon stalkers
guessed it. A little imp named Sercy joined the 4 Paws family and flew back
in the plane with us to 4 Paws. I have to tell you though flying with a small
imp can be challenging. At one point on the trip back, the airline staff
wanted to see her. As Karen was holding her she suddenly wiggled free and
went running for freedom, up and down the aisles. Lots of cheering and
laughing followed and no one made a serious attempt to get her until she was
done with her laps and went to a flight attendant for some loving.
So, what traveling with a service dog lessons did we learn from this
trip? First of all, when going through airport security, try very hard not to
Do you believe that I ran all over a
look or act like a terrorist, or spy. Make sure your human does not carry any
plane, frolicking in my escape?
fake iPads that alarm like bombs and if your human is a girl, for pity’s sake
Yea, they’re telling fibs on me...
get them a girl’s wallet. Also, it would be a good idea for them to carry only
one passport.
Upon our return from Switzerland we took off almost immediately for sunny Florida. This trip had not so
much to do with 4 Paws and everything to do with the fact that even a superstar Papillon needs a vacation. This year
we decided to wing it and just visit all the “other” parks in Florida rather than seeing Walt Disney again. I must say
though, in all my trips to Disney, I never met good old Walt. I met some other interesting characters, like giant mice,
really big dogs, and a few others, and spent my time with all the royalty who flocked to be seen with me.
The trip through the airport was uneventful. I did wish we had run into the bomb specialist so he could have
seen how silly he was questioning the passports now that we had their humans with us. Believe it or not only a week
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14
The Adventures of Piper Papillon, Continued
later and the same iPad did not alarm. Strange huh? I
liked Universal Studios. I’m not sure if they have some
sort of fake service dog spotter but while Disney World
was FULL of fake service dogs, we did not see not a
one at Universal! Maybe it is the new Florida service
dog regulations putting harsh punishments and stiff
fines on people who fake their pets as service dogs.
Those of you traveling to Universal with your
service dog, they have this great thing there called a
child swap. They even have rooms you can sit in while
you wait. So with this pass, the service dog and part of
the visiting party wait in the child swap room while the
others go on the ride and then when they get back, the
others don’t have to stand in line again, they just swap
out who sits with the service dog and the others go on
the ride. I loved this feature because contrary to what
humans think, service dogs do not understand the
rationale behind these “amusement” park rides. We
happen to not find them amusing at all. Although
Disney World allows service dogs on most rides, I for
one did not enjoy them at all. With the child swap pass,
I could rest safely on solid ground in an air-conditioned
room while my people, fools that they are, scared the
crap out of
themselves on the
“amusement” rides.
We had a ton
of fun out and
about Florida. I
was a pirate for a
day at a pirate
dinner theater, and
visited with my
royal court at
medieval times. I
even had my
picture taken with a
man in armor and
a couple of Knights
of the Round
Table. If you
wonder what those
are, they are men
knighted by me,
her majesty, Queen
Piper, who sit
around a
round table
and sing my
praises. On
this night an
evil villain
entered the
scene but my
knights on the
royal horses
came to my
defense and
all was good
in Piperdom.
We also
visited Shamu
and a group
of dogs who
perform a variety of tricks on stage. I must admit,
seeing the things 4 Paws Dogs do, I had a hard time
understanding the rationale behind their tricks but they
were a cute lot and when that boy Papillon came out
on stage and saw me sitting there all cute and beautiful,
his eyes almost fell out of his head, poor boy.
While in Florida, we did not visit alligator land.
In case you are wondering why - if you have a service
dog, the place not to visit is a park full of animals who
feast on any smaller fury beings they can get their
mighty jaws on. I hear it is even more important to
watch out for one of these beasts who goes tick tock
tick tock because he ate a pirate’s arm! There are some
places my friends where service dogs just would not
enjoy visiting as much as you would. This is one of
them! Have you ever witnessed the TEETH on one of
these giant reptiles? HUGE, trust me, HUGE! I heard
tales, and no I did not witness this but I heard it is true,
that people, fools that they are, actually wrestle with
these beasts. I am guessing that is why there is a pirate
out there with only one arm!
Well that is the end of my travels, stay tuned
for the next issue of Piper’s travels to hear all about my
trips to Boston, Washington DC, and San Diego!
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4PAWPRINTS July/Aug 2015
4 Paws for Ability - Additional Supporters
Cloverbud 4H at The Greene
The Cloverbud 4H group set up at The Greene in
Beavercreek this summer to host a supply drive for 4 Paws
for Ability. After a long day of work they were able to
donate towels, newspapers, treats, toys, coloring books,
DVDs, and over $400 as well. Jesse, a member of the
Cloverbud 4H Club is currently waiting for his 4 Paws pup,
and we’re so thankful that this group thought to help us
while he waits to meet his fur friend!
Pictured: L-R: Naomi, Nora, Riley, Emily, Nick, Chloe,
Jesse, and Tony with pups Rye and Silena.
Thank you Cloverbud 4H!
4 Paws Receives Gift from
PetSmart
4 Paws for Ability is pleased to announce a charitable donation of
$13,326 from PetSmart to be used for its new building project.
Karen Shirk, CEO, noted, “We are delighted to receive funding
from PetSmart to help us with our expansion. Our families love
PetSmart. One of the first places they go when they come to
learn how to work with their task-trained service dogs for their
children is the PetSmart closest to our training center in Xenia.
Several families make multiple trips there during their 12 days of
training. And, of course, once they get home with their service
dogs, they continue to shop there for dog food, training treats,
and anything else the dogs might need.”
PetSmart will provide this charitable donation through its
PetSmart Gives Back initiative. This initiative focuses on giving back
to local communities throughout the nation in support of
organizations that enrich people’s lives through the power of
pets.
Thank you PetSmart!
Binky Patrol Donates Blankets to our Kids
A generous group of Binky Patrol volunteers, led by Donna Serra, in the
Maryland area, have been making and donating blankets to our kids
receiving service dogs over the past few months. Thank you so much,
Donna and volunteers! To learn more about Binky Patrol's blanket
donations to give children and teens comfort, go to www.binkypatrol.org
Thank you Binky Patrol!
15
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4PAWPRINTS July/Aug 2015
Elements IV Interiors Supports 4 Paws for Ability
Golf Outing Benefits Local Charities
By Jaki Waggamon
Each year Dayton based interior design company, Elements IV Interiors, hosts a golf outing to benefit
charity. This year, they selected two charities to help, and 4 Paws was one of them! On July 18, the masses
converged on Cassel Hills Golf Course in Vandalia to a day of good golf.
The service dog team of Dani and Bobo, with parents Kim and Mike, from the December 2012 class
greeted the golfers at the beginning of the day, and Kelly with 4 Paws Ambassador Dog, Lucy, attended at the
end of the day and spoke during dinner. This event generated more than $4,500 to support the 4 Paws for
Ability building fund. We are super grateful for their support!
Thank you Elements IV Interiors!
Fraternal Order of Police Double Dog Dare!
Charity Golf Scramble benefits 4 Paws for Veterans
By Jaki Waggamon
FOP Lodge 170 at Wright-Patterson AFB is comprised of active and retired law enforcement from WPAFB and
other federal agencies. They have recently become active supporters of 4 Paws for Ability’s veteran program and in
August they held their very first charity golf event to benefit 4 Paws. The “Double Dog Dare Golf Scramble” took
place on August 26 at Twin Base Golf Course, on WPAFB. Golf teams from all over the Miami Valley participated.
Rooty and Cider, both 4 Paws pups in training, were able to attend the event and meet with participants. The event
raised more than $450 and it was so much fun this year, that they plan to do it again next year!
Thank you to FOP Lodge 170 and we look forward to participating again
next year!
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4PAWPRINTS July/Aug 2015
STARVOLUNTEER
17
Logan Fahey and 4 Paws in Texas
5 Pups are in Texas at
our first foster hub!
By Jaki Waggamon
Perhaps you've heard Logan's name before. Great volunteers have a way of making themselves
known. Logan first appeared in our star volunteer
series with 4 Paws UK. Logan began her college
career at Wittenberg,
our flagship college
program. A transfer
to the University of
Kentucky had her
missing those fluffy
campus faces, so she
brought the program
to UK. A few years, a
lot of puppies, and a
Fiji meets her foster brother!
big cross country
move, and we're back
here wondering how exact Logan Fahey is still a star
volunteer...
Earlier this year, 4 Paws began exploring the idea
of fostering hubs outside of the current 3 hour
distance range. The service dog program is rapidly
increasing and in order to continue giving puppies
great learning and socialization experiences, 4 Paws
needs more volunteers. Logan promptly volunteered
to be the first experiment. She said she missed the
program greatly and couldn’t get her name on the list
fast enough. She has the experiences 4 Paws was
Fiji and Havannah
looking for to ensure
the experiment
becomes a successful
foundation to a
growing foster hub
program. She's
already done the
admin work to start a
program. She
fostered 11 puppies
while in Ohio, so a
wonderful leader and
Logan with foster McCloud at
resource for others in
graduation
a newly develop
foster hub environment.
In order to start the hub, Logan had to find at
least four other families interested in fostering in or
near Round Rock, TX, where she resides with her
husband. The fostering program in Texas will be a
little different than the traditional program in Ohio.
In Ohio there is some flexibility in the length of
fostering, as fosters can select the youngest puppy
available or a puppy with a little bit of training
through the prison program, or a much older foster
who is just looking for a few weeks of socialization
experience. In Texas, due to the added expense of
getting dogs there and back, the fostering
requirement will be 10 complete
months and the puppies will be
around 8-12 weeks old when
they arrive. Logan is used to
having puppies just a little older
- as most college program pups
have spent some time in our
prison program getting a
foundation in obedience and
potty training. These pups are
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4PAWPRINTS July/Aug 2015
STARVOLUNTEER
Logan Fahey and 4 Paws in Texas
fresh and ready to be molded by positive
months of their time to foster, love on, care for and
reinforcement and lots of love. This is a really a big
socialize their puppy. The impact they are making is
commitment to ask of people, but Logan found
just amazing.” Yukon, Havannah and Beja’s new
exactly what she needed; 4 other families to foster
foster families will get to know this joy soon, but in
pups. Logan even connected with Melanie
the meantime they are in for some fun. As all of our
Richmond, a fellow 4 Paws UK campus program
fosters seem to find, the adventures are worth the
foster! With so many new and different things with
hardship of giving that cute, fluffy face back.
the geographically separated foster hub, it certainly is We look forward to following the adventures of
nice to have 2 sets of experienced hands on deck!
each and everyone of these pups. Logan has started
The goals of the 4 Paws
a Facebook page for their adventures so
Texas Foster Hub are the same
that we can all follow along:
as all of our foster programs.
https://www.facebook.com/
“I hope the foster
To provide the puppies with as
4PawsTexasHub Give back day will be
families
realize
what
many socialization experiences
sometime next July and before that we’ll
an
impact
they
are
as possible and to provide basic
be looking for more fosters for 4 Paws
having on a child’s
obedience training. Logan and
Texas round two. We hope that this
her husband, and their pup Fiji,
success will lead to more foster hubs
life.”
and Melanie and her pup Jett,
around the country too! If you’re
will be great resources for the
interested in knowing about new foster
other three. They already know the joyous feeling of hubs or being informed of when the Texas hub is
seeing that pup matched with their forever person.
accepting new application, you can email
“I hope the foster families here realize what an
media4paws@gmail.com to be put on the foster hub
impact they are having on a child’s life. A child will
information list. Until then good luck to our 5 new
be getting a service dog because they are taking 10
foster homes!
Thank you Logan, and 4 Paws in
Texas you are Star Volunteers!
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Beja, Jett, and Yukon
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4PAWPRINTS July/Aug 2015
4 Paws for Ability - Check This Out!
4 Paws Participates in Kroger Fan Zone Events
4 Paws was invited to set up tables at Kroger stores in
July as part of a community event campaign leading
up to the MLB All Star Game in Cincinnati, Ohio.
Churro and Boris, accompanied by fosters Nick and
Jaki Waggamon, engaged with Fan Zone
participants at Kroger stores in Lebanon and
Vandalia. In addition to chatting with lots of
interested folks, Churro and Boris got the
opportunity to meet a lot of new people, enjoy some
petting, and even watch a robot throw a ball (this
was indeed a fascinating training opportunity for
pups in training!). Thanks to Kroger for inviting us
to participate and giving us the opportunity to
engage with some of the communities near Xenia
that support us through Kroger Community
Rewards!
Thank you Kroger!
4 Paws Receives
Power Chair from
4 Paws Family
Photo Credit: Early Light Media
Pandora Visits 4 Paws
Pandora Jewelry named Jennifer Lutes, Senior Trainer, as one of their Hearts
of Today winners and donated $25,000 to 4 Paws in her name. In July,
Pandora visited with Early Light Media to tape a follow up which can be seen
here: http://bit.ly/PandoraHeartsJennifer . Pandora representatives were
able to see the July class get their dogs and interviewed the Hemingway family
who received their second 4 Paws dog during class. We are so grateful for
Pandora’s continued support and interest in what we do to assist children and
veterans with disabilities and are proud of Jennifer’s accomplishments!
4 Paws has an amazing training staff who
go out of their way to ensure that each pup
placed has the best set of experiences to
ready them for long term work with their
new partner. This means recreating sounds
and movements and life experiences so that
the pup doesn’t have any surprises when
they meet their new person. This is so
important to the success of a placement.
We are so grateful to Connor and his family
for donating his old power chair to 4 Paws.
This donation didn’t just help train his
service dog Dickens. This chair will
immensely help train future mobility
service dogs. The donation will give back
again and again for families in need.
Thank you Connor!
Thank you Pandora!
19
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Donate to our Building Fund!
4PAWPRINTS July/Aug 2015
4 Paws Puppy Program
Puppies are sprouting
Movie Dog
Litter
Dior x Sultan
Collies
07/06/2015
Dragon
Litter
Gavina x Graffiti
Golden Labs
07/11/2015
Fragrance
Litter
ChaCha x
Doodlebug
Goldendoodles
07/12/2015
Hanna
Barbera
Litter
Celie x Caepor
Golden Labs
07/20/2015
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DONATE NOW!
Donate to our Building Fund!
4PAWPRINTS July/Aug 2015
4 Paws Puppy Program
Puppies are sprouting
Hope & Change Litter
Calista x Bart
Newfoundland Retrievers
08/11/2015
Angel Litter
Aiyana x Raphael
German Retrievers
07/21/2015
HiFive Litter
Sophia x Bart
Labrador Retrievers
08/22/2015
Pop Litter
Nyx x Eilam
Golden Labs
08/25/2015
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4PAWPRINTS July/Aug 2015
4 Paws Puppy Program
2015 Puppy Count
Boys
lon
l
i
p
Pa
en r
d
l
e
Go triev
Re
en
d
l
Go b
La
le
nd
e
ld
d
oo
Go
or
d
a
br
er
La triev
Re
d
lan
d
n
ou r
f
w
e
Ne triev
Re
an r
m
r
e
Ge triev
Re
llie
Co
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Girls
4PAWPRINTS July/Aug 2015
Dayton Dragons Community All Star Award
On July 19, the Dayton Dragons baseball team invited 4 Paws for Ability to have a table on the
concourse during a game and meet with community members. Training and socialization staff along with Buffy,
Eduardo, and Oompa had a great time despite the rainy weather. The game was great, they talked with a lot of
people, the puppies showed off their amazing love for being petted, and 4 Paws even gathered a few donations
from the supportive baseball goers. Engagements like this are a wonderful way to introduce our work to our
local community - you never know where you will find the next donor, volunteer, or service dog applicant.
It was a wonderful and exciting surprise to be invited back to the Dayton Dragons just a month later, this
time for CEO, Karen Shirk, to accept the community all star award. Throughout the season, the Dragons
honored five local community All Stars who make a difference every day. Karen, her kids, and members of the
training staff, along with four pups in training attended the game on August 11. They shared a short video and
recognized all the 4 Paws people and pups in attendance during the third inning. Additionally, the community
all star award and 4 Paws for Ability were included in the program for eight home games!
Thank you Dayton Dragons!
CAPTION
MetLife Supports 4 Paws for Veterans
Our corporate partners at MetLife just donated $10,000 to our Veterans Program! We
are so honored and grateful. A special shout out to Dayton-area MetLife associates,
Mary Cline and Jennifer Thompson! Thank you!
Thank you MetLife!
23
Photography Credits:
Thank you to the 4 Paws
volunteers, staff, and friends
whose photos are in this
issue of 4PawPrints!
DONATE NOW!
Donate to our Building Fund!
4PAWPRINTS July/Aug 2015
4 Paws Staff Brian
Stars
Arney, Operations Director, graduated from Wright State in 2011 and was
July
&
st
u
g
Au
looking for a job that would best use his experience and education. 4 Paws had an
open opportunity and it instantly appealed to Brian that the organization worked with
kids with disabilities. He has 70% hearing loss in both ears, and knows how hard it is
for a child to learn to adapt to a world not fully built for their set of abilities. He also
knows how tough other kiddos can be on those who are different. He knows that the
work 4 Paws does gives each kiddo an opportunity that life has been preventing them
from living and he says the best part of his job is being a part of the quality of life
increase that happens when each kiddo heads back home with their new service dog.
Outside of work, he enjoys traveling, especially to beaches, working on his house, and
taking his own fur-babies to the park with his wife. They have two pups, Finn and
Oliver, and 2 cats Spooky and Jackson. Brian says he has gained so much from his
experience at 4 Paws and is grateful that he found the perfect place
to work, where he can also make a difference.
Jessa Kenworthy, Senior Trainer and University Program
Coordinator, answered an ad in the paper for kennel staff. It was
some time later that Jeremy asked her to join the training team, and
that was that. As part of the training team, Jessa says the best part
is getting to positively impact the lives of each 4 Paws pup and the
lives of their forever kiddo and family. Outside of 4 Paws Jessa
spends time with her husband Jake, sings in a professional choir,
teaches classes at Gem City Dog Club, and does lots of fun things
with her own dog Coda, including dock diving and freestyle (aka
dog dancing!). In addition to Coda, Jessa & Jake have 6 kitties that
call their house home and one cat TV (aka fishes!). When asked
about what she has gained, the answer is simple, but profound,
4 Paws has given me “a purpose in life”.
Congratulations!
Country Club of the North Helps 4 Paws for Veterans
For the third year in a row, the ladies from the Country Club of the North in Xenia held a golf outing
fundraiser for 4 Paws. Sadly, the rain cancelled the golfing, but they still had a luncheon, a split the pot, and a
hole in one contest. This year, they decided they wanted the money to help out an Ohio veteran in need of a
service dog. 4 Paws Socializers, Matt and Sarah, brought service dogs in training, Blaine and Baggins to visit with the
ladies, and development director, Kelly, spoke to them about what their donation means to 4 Paws and our
veterans program. The money will go to help train Andy Oldaker's dog. This service dog team will meet in
November. The August 6 event raised $640. Thank you, ladies, for your generosity. A special shout out to Suzee
Louis who organizes the event every year. We are so thrilled to be part of this!
Thank you Country Club of the North!
24
4PAWPRINTS July/Aug 2015
4 Paws for Ability - Additional Supporters
New Corporate Partner, Allied Van Lines
4 Paws is pleased to announce our new
corporate partner, Allied Van Lines. The company is
having its annual meeting in La Jolla, CA from Oct.
19 - 21 and during this meeting, they will be selling
raffle tickets for go carts that, in the past, have
generated thousands of dollars in donations to
nonprofits. The money raised from the sale of the
raffle tickets this year will go to sponsor children
fundraising for their 4 Paws service dogs in the La
Jolla area.
In addition, one of Allied's main offices is
outside Chicago. To kick off the relationship, a
Chicago-area family was invited to come and enjoy a
Chicago Cubs Game. Check out the Kotheras at the
game on August 9 - From the Class of October 2012
- Nate; Service Dog, Chevy; and parents, Ken and
Tania.
Thank you Allied Van Lines!
Ohio Governor’s Regional
Liaison Visits
Sandra Brasington, the Governor’s Regional
Liaison, and two interns, Kyleigh Mazer and David
Rohrer from Ball State University, visited 4 Paws on
July 16. The purpose of their visit was basically
to come and see us and say "THANK YOU" for the
good work we are doing, not only in Ohio, but all over
the globe.
Sandra is based out of the Dayton office and
handles 16 counties and is generally visiting
companies/agencies that need help with something.
She said we have been on her list for many years
because of all the times we have been featured in the
Dayton-area media and from what she hears from
others about us. She was very impressed and had lots
of questions. They also got a sneak peek tour of the
new building. The two students were excited to hear more
from Jessa Kenworthy about the College Foster
Program and are considering starting one at Ball State
(2.5 hours away from 4 Paws). A big shout out to Sandra, Kyleigh, and David for
taking time out of your busy schedule to visit us. Thank you!
25
Mitsubishi
Sponsors July
Class Grad
Mitsubishi
is a long time 4 Paws
supporter. One of
the many ways they
have supported us is
through dog
sponsorship. This
June, a Mitsubishi
sponsor pup,
Eduardo, was
matched with his
forever person!
Congratulations on a
great match to Eddie
& Bella.
Thank you
Mitsubishi for
your ongoing
support!
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4PAWPRINTS July/Aug 2015
The Rusty Ball
Get your tickets supporting 4 Paws at: http://bit.ly/4PawsRustyBall
Y
o
u
r
4
P
a
w
s
summer
fun!
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4PAWPRINTS July/Aug 2015
Y
o
u
r
4
P
a
w
s
summer
fun!
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4PAWPRINTS July/Aug 2015
Y
o
u
r
4
P
a
w
s
summer
fun!
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4PAWPRINTS July/Aug 2015
Y
o
u
r
4
P
a
w
s
summer
fun!
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4PAWPRINTS July/Aug 2015
Y
o
u
r
4
P
a
w
s
summer
fun!
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4PAWPRINTS July/Aug 2015
4PAWPRINTS July/Aug 2015
4 Paws for Ability - People We Love
Wittenberg 2015 Senior Class
We are positively honored to share with you that 4 Paws for Ability was selected
as a recipient of a portion of the Wittenberg Class of 2015’s baccalaureate service
offering. A donation of more than $775 was received as part of this honor. As stated in
the offering letter “Wittenberg students are enthusiastic supporters of your work, and the
senior class in particular - with members such as Anna Jackson ’15 have enjoyed having your dogs on campus. They were so pleased to
be able to support you in this practical, tangible way, and it is
consistent with a Wittenberg education, which encourages students
to discover their callings, become global citizens, and live personal,
profession, and civic lives of integrity, compassion, creativity and
service.” We are so thankful to be included in this gift. It was
thoughtful of the senior class and the donation will ensure that pups
like the ones seen on Wittenberg’s campus are cared for and trained
to the highest level for their future forever person.
Thank you Wittenberg Class of 2015!
Kristin McNamara
Kristin first came in contact with 4 Paws for Ability while
she was working with our very own Anna and her service dog
Cadi. Ms. Anna’s time here was shorter than most, but she
taught everyone around her to love deeply and to do good things
for others to make the world a better place. Kristin didn’t waste
those lessons. She began the Miami University 4 Paws campus
program in Anna’s memory. Many pups have walked Miami’s
campus and many college handlers have helped others selflessly
by loving, teaching, and caring for a pup that will go on to
greatness.
Kristin continued fostering after graduation, even taking
care of some very special pups of ours. Rana was born with only
3 legs, and Kristin helped her learn to navigate the world both
with and without her prosthetic. Samwise was a teeny tiny lad,
but Kristin ensure that he thrived. All of her pups were better off
for having been with her. And so was 4 Paws. We’re super
grateful for Kristin and all that she invested in her time here!
Thank you Kristin and Best Wishes in Massachusetts!
32
DONATE NOW!
Donate to our Building Fund!
4PAWPRINTS July/Aug 2015
HELP US WIN $10,000!
4 Paws for Ability is a top 10 finalist in the Jump START Your Nonprofit
contest from Modern Office Methods. The winning organization will
receive new office equipment valued at $10,000.
This is a great opportunity for us, as you know firsthand the time it takes to
raise this amount of money. This makeover would allow us to be more
efficient in providing services for those who need it most. And, typically,
money raised tends to support our mission, rather than offset business
technology costs.
We need your vote! The more votes, the better chance we have to
Go to www.momnet.com and vote for 4 Paws for Ability once a
beginning Monday, October 5 at 8 a.m. through Friday, October 16
p.m. We need this makeover to help us run better and serve
communities better!
win.
day
at 5
our
Please forward this message to any friends or colleagues who you feel
would be willing to vote for us.
Happy voting and thank you for your support!
33
DONATE
Donate to our Building
4PAWPRINTS July/Aug 2015
Thanks to all our donors! (Over $5,000, July-August 2015)
Round of Appaws!
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
PetSmart - $23,326
Shelia Papez - $5,000
MetLife - $10,000
Vital Projects Fund, Inc - $20,000
VCA Charities - $7,055.87
Anonymous - $10,000
Emergency Restoration - $5,000
Rebekah Assembly of Illinois IOOF - $7933
Dave & Peggy Meador - $5,000
4PAWPRINTS
4 Paws For Ability
253 Dayton Ave.
Xenia, OH 45385
DO YOU HAVE A STORY OR PHOTOS TO SHARE WITH 4PAWPRINTS?
SEND IT TO JAKI WAGGAMON AT MEDIA4PAWS@GMAIL.COM!
Did you know
that you
can help our
kiddos
fundraise with
a donation on
our website?
Find out
more here:
http://www.
4pawsforability
.org/dream