NEWSLETTER 39 NOVEMBER
2003
1983 TWENTY
YEARS! CAN YOU BELIEVE IT? 2003
Canine
Helpers has been savings dogs’ lives and helping people for twenty years! Strange how it seems like an eternity
sometimes, but only yesterday at other times…
We
are proud to have successfully matched over 450 Assistance Dog teams during
this time. We have also rescued over 150
unwanted dogs that needed physical and emotional attention as well as behavior
modifications. They have since gone on
to become loving, devoted companion dogs.
Three
Canine Helper “Lifers” have been instrumental in the founding and running of
Canine Helpers since its humble beginning:
Beverly Underwood, Marion Underwood, and Doreen Kish.
As
most of you know,
Marion
(Bev’s Mom) has served as Canine Helpers’ treasurer for 20 years. Since dream became reality,
Doreen
(Bev’s sister) has been volunteer secretary for Canine Helpers since our
beginning. In addition to preparing
Board minutes, newsletters, mailing lists and other paperwork, she also has
baked, cleaned, painted and dreamed…for 20 years.
~OUR GRADITUDE AND SPECIAL THANKS
TO THESE THREE~
from
Canine Helpers, our Clients, our Dogs
and all
those whose lives you have touched in a major way!
* * * *
Congratulations Graduate!
Graduation ceremonies at
My
name is Kate Rodgers. I’m 19 and my
Service Dog “Piper” is a Black Lab mix.
Although “Piper” and I have only been together since July, thanks to Bev
and Rich, “Piper” was a special guest at
In
only three months we already have such a strong bond. I can’t begin to explain what “Piper” has
done for my outlook on life. I have Friedreich’s
Ataxia, I’m visually impaired, in a wheelchair and
have very limited hand co-ordination.
“Piper”
picks up the things I drop, opens the doors if need be, and speaks only on
command if I need help. Together we
watch movies, listen to audio books and take walks. We love to go out for dinner! “Piper” is my best friend and so much
more. Ever time I look at him, I could
cry happy tears.
Thank you Bev, Rich, Janna and everyone at Canine
Helpers. No matter where life leads me, “Piper” will
be at my side.
My
name is Cindy White, I am married and have 2 children,
Heather (14) and William (12). I was
diagnosed with Sharke Marie Toothe ( a form of M.D.)
in 1994. I currently wear Bi-Lateral AFOs
on my feet to support me. I find it
difficult to be mobile for long periods of time and distances can be difficult
for me. I use wheel chairs when going to
highly populated places, events, or when walking long distances.
“Joe”
has been with us since he was four weeks old.
He was tested and accepted into Canine Helpers’ training program. He now enables me to be more stable, move
around better, and function easier. He
wears a handle harness that I hold onto in order for me to keep my
balance. He can also pull my wheelchair
for long distances. He picks up objects
that I drop such as a pen, paper, keys, books or coins, and he can bring me the
telephone. He can open and close doors,
and he goes to work with me every day. Thanks
to everyone at Canine Helpers for training “Joe” to help me!
I
started out college as a punk kid thinking that I could do everything by
myself. I didn’t need, nor want help for
anything. Winter came, and I soon
realized that I wasn’t as invincible as I would have liked to think. In the Spring, I was
matched with “Topper”. He’s an amazing
Black Lab that has a personality that would be considered weird by most, but is
perfectly normal to me! Together as a
new team, we’ve already faced more challenges than most teams ever world. It’s been hard on “Topper” having to adjust
to living in two places, but he has overcome every obstacle that I’ve put in
front of him. He has helped me so much
on campus. He does everything from
opening doors to picking up papers that I’ve dropped. My favorite thing that he does is opening the
door to Starbuck’s coffee shop. OI could
only go there when it was too busy to enjoy.
But now with “Topper’ by my side, I sip near
It
would take more time and space than “m allotted to thank Bev, Rich, and the
rest of the Canine Helpers for giving me back my independence. Thou can’t put those feelings into words… The
best I can do is say, “Thank you to everyone at Canine Helpers for
finding me my new best friend, “Topper”!
Molly’s
story…My name is “Molly”. I am a 12 lb.
silver and black Shih Tzu. A
well-wishing person bought me for a friend as a gift; their dog did not
approve, and at 7 weeks old I was adopted at the Humane Society. Canine Helpers recognized my willingness too
work with humans, and trained me to be a support dog. My new best friend was involved in an awful
auto accident that left her in chronic back pain. Medications slowed her down, and that led to
depression and more medication. We got
together and now I help her with the little and not so little things. We go everywhere together. She takes me out even when she wants to stay
in on rainy days. I have learned to be
quiet traveling, to be helpful, and as my friend’s first dog, she is learning
how good dogs can behave. I am still
learning how to help retrieve fallen objects, as bending hurts my friend’s
back.
I am
delighted that chance put Canine Helpers, Maryrose
and me together! Thank you from “Molly”
and Maryrose.
* * * *
PET
GIFTS
All proceeds benefit the
CARING CANINE RETIREMENT FUND
Each item will have your special
dog or cat’s name embroidered on it, and includes
paw prints and milk bones. Great Christmas, birthday or new puppy gifts!
Thermal dog or
cat blanket $15.00
Mini “wet paws” towel $5.00
All items are wrapped and ready to give. Call 685-1819 and ask for
Remember
your pet, who gives you love 24-7!
* * * *
Canine Helpers really appreciates all those envelopes
of Tops’ tapes in our mailbox each day.
If you’re driving by the Center, you can just drop them off.
Thanks again!
Beware of Antifreeze!
·
It tastes sweet and even in small amounts can be
deadly to you
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 part of
them that may
have come in contact with it.
* * * *
Attention Tape & Label Savers!
Please send your TOPS’ tapes and
Canine Helpers for the Handicapped
We thank Hilde Henricks
of
* * * *
Thank You
Twenty Fold
Thank you to all of
Canine Helpers’ contributors, donors, volunteers, supporters, Board members and
employees. I know I thank you in every newsletter, but
without you support, we wouldn’t be here to help others. So truly, from the bottom of my heart, “Thank
You and God Bless”.
Have a Wonderful
Beverly and
“Kids”
* * * *
Where
did those lucky dogs come from?
Topper is a Texan, lovingly donated by
Dana Rose in
* * * *
Have a Blessed
* * * *
CORRECTIONS to our MAILING LIST
Please let us know if we need to correct your name or
address on our mailing list…OR if you
are receiving more than one newsletter…OR
if you no longer wish to receive a copy.
Due to the ever-rising cost of printing and postage, we need to be sure
our records are accurate.
Thanks!
* * * *