Canine Helpers makes a lifetime commitment to all of our dogs and clients. Dogs, like humans, grow old and often develop physical problems that unfortunately slow them down. Faithful working dogs are no exception.

Some of our dogs are able to enjoy a special working relationship with their masters for most all of their lives. Others may develop problems associated with old age, such as arthritis, deafness or blindness, or they just slow down and need to retire. It is our responsibility to provide a safe loving home environment for their retirement. They have taken such good care of their masters and now it is our turn to pamper them. There are four options for working dogs when they reach retirement age:

1. They can retire and continue to live with their master, who can then get another compatible working dog.
2. They can be adopted by a family member of friend that is willing to provide them with a good loving retirement.
3. They can be returned to Canine Helpers where the original foster home or some other special person may like to adopt them.
4. They can be returned to Canine Helpers where they can live out their lives bopping around the center and office or going home to live with Beverly.

Keeping a life-long commitment to a senior dog can be rather expensive. It is important that they have as pain free and comfortable a life as possible. They receive conventional and alternative veterinary care. We are fortunate to have Dr. Cindy Lankenau to treat our dogs with alternative medicine such as chiropractic adjustments, acupuncture and homeopathic and herbal therapy. She has done some amazing things for some of our dogs, like treating severely arthritic dogs so they can run around and play again pain free! Some of our dogs require special diets: some may be purchased, others have to be special home cooked meals.

It is a lot of work caring for, exercising and grooming our retired dogs, but it is a labor of love. Each dog must have all of its physical and emotional needs met. They get lots of love and affection from the staff, as well as from our very caring volunteers. This is just one of the many important things our volunteers do for our dogs and us. Each volunteer makes a big difference in our dogs’ lives.

Caring for our retired dogs also requires more area, as we try to keep them in a home setting with comfortable couches and beds to lounge on. We don’t want them to have to live in kennels…they deserve better than that.

After being in business 16 years, we are caring for more retired dogs than ever before. This can be very expensive and time consuming, but it is a very important and necessary part of our program’s life long commitment to our dogs and clients. As such, we are starting a special Caring Canine Retirement Fund. Our current goal is $10,000. We feel this would be a safe amount to ensure proper treatment for all of our retired dogs, and would like to try to maintain or exceed this balance when our goal has been met.

If you are interested in helping to care for our special retirees, a donation of any amount would be greatly appreciated. A plaque will be mounted in our training room to honor any donors who give $250 or more to this special fund.

Our sincerest thanks to all those who help us financially, and for those homes and volunteers who help supply the love and care to our special devoted canines.

BEWARE OF CAR ANTIFREEZE: it tastes sweet and even small amounts can be deadly to your pets. All kinds of chemicals and compounds are used to melt ice in the winter. Make sure to wipe your pet’s feet and any other part of them that may have sat or laid in it.

1000 mg of Vitamin C (per day) on your dog’s food is excellent for them year round. The powdered form such as sodium ascorbate is very convenient for mixing in their food. 200 iu of Vitamin E is another plus for a healthy dog.

Your guess is as good as mine! But better to be safe than sorry. It is a good idea to have an extra bag of food, vitamins, treats, some jugs of water, and any special medicines or herbs your dog may need on hand. (Don’t forget to prepare for yourself too!) If the new year comes in without any Y2K problems, you’ll be prepared for any winter blizzards or other weather surprises! Happy New Year!

I’d like to thank Canine Helpers for "Harry". He is an answer to my prayers. He is my best companion, and helps me to function better in this world. Harry brings me love, joy and laughter. I am so blessed to have a unique therapy dog named "Crafty Harry".

"Kiwi", a spaniel-mix, has found a new home as a Therapy Dog. He had been a Hearing Ear Dog in a loving home for years. Since his owner was no longer in a position to keep him, she decided to return "Kiwi" to Canine Helpers. He was fortunate to continue as a working dog in another deserving home. "Kiwi" provides a lot of love, companionship and security for his new owner. Kathy states, " ‘Kiwi’ is better than I ever imagined a working dog could be!"

"Hello" again from all of us at Canine Helpers to our many collectors of grocery tapes and Campbell product labels. Thanks to each one of you who take part in this worthwhile fund raiser. Month after month new names are being added to our long list of "Old Faithful" tape and label senders, helping to make this a successful project.

We turn in 3" to 4" of the bottoms of Tops tapes and receive $1.00 for each $600 in tapes. Quality tapes are turned in whole at $1.00 for each $400 in tapes. We use the front panel from Campbell products including soups, Swanson and Franco American, as well as any other brand made by the Campbell Co.

Please keep up the good work and pass along the "collection word" to your friends. Some of you put boxes for fellow workers, too. Tapes and labels can be mailed to our special collector, Hilde Henricks in the Falls or sent directly to the Canine Helper Center in Lockport. If you’re passing by, you’ll find a container by our front door waiting for your tapes. And don’t forget our December 4^th Open House is almost here. We’ll be happy to meet you there in person, so please stop in and enjoy the afternoon!

Thanks again,

Marion U.

P.S. Thanks to Campbell label savers and the Campbell Company, this year we were able to get a digital camera, TV/VCR, cordless vacuum cleaner, a set of two-way radios, a paper cutter, power stapler and microscope. That’s a lot of mmm…mmm good things!

May the wonders and joys of this special Holiday Season