the parents' reaction to the child's small- est touch, gesture, smile and sometimes
even words when interacting with the dog. They are instantly enthusiastic and.
Canine Courier Summer 2008
Canine Courier bringing you the news of the DOGS WITH WINGS ASSISTANCE DOG SOCIETY
All-Fab is Fabulous New Donor by Irene Fraleigh
Flash, sponsored by All-Fab Building Components
Update from Elisa by Elisa Irlam, Director of Training With our new name, I guess we can expect anything to fly. Since the gala celebration of our graduation, name change and the opening of our Autism Service Dog program, time definitely has flown. My side of the glass has been a hubbub of activity. Colby and Champion, our first autism service dog team, continue to do well. Champion has started attending school with Colby a few days a week. Inquiries about our autism program arrive steadily. In March, we attended an autism conference in Edmonton to spread the word about our program to parents and professionals working in the field. We’ve met with some wonderful families who eagerly anticipate receiving an autism service dog for their child. Maria Illes, our head trainer, is working closely with the families next in line.
Each time Maria meets with a family, she takes a number of dogs with her in order to assess the child and family for the most suitable match. She has been surprised and moved by the parents’ reaction to the child’s smallest touch, gesture, smile and sometimes even words when interacting with the dog. They are instantly enthusiastic and hopeful for the wonderful effect a dog will have on their child’s life. Training of dogs for persons with other disabilities continues as our hardworking staff labours to keep up. We send out 7 to 12 applications a month for all types of service dogs. Without the assistance of Dawn Leverenz who came on half-time to coordinate the puppy program, and Sherri Davidson who works part-time in the office, as well as volunteers like Marsha Johnston and
We are delighted to announce a new partner for Dogs with Wings. All-Fab Building Components manufactures engineered floor & roof systems for the residential and commercial market. There are six facilities in Western Canada employing over 350 people. General Manager Ken Goodman was introduced to DWW when he attended the graduation of his son’s close friend, Greg Carrier, and his assistance dog Chase. “The more we started to learn about the society and the selfless work of volunteers to assist in getting these dogs to their appropriate client, the more we realized that this would be a positive place to make a donation” stated Mr. Goodman when at Christmas he dropped off a large cheque from All-Fab. After a company-wide contest, their sponsored puppy was named Flash. Employees will follow her progress via a company newsletter. Flash and Dogs with Wings are fortunate to have the support of this great new sponsor. Debbie Csongradi, who treat DWW like a second career, things would be much tougher. Dogs with Wings is grateful for the support we receive from every one of over 100 active volunteers. With so many projects and fundraising activities going on we need every one of you and more!
Did you know... Our new Dogs With Wings website is up and running at www.dogswithwings.ca
2 Summer 2008
Greg & Super-dog, Chase, make Great Team by Greg Carrier with Wynne Edwards If you ask Greg Carrier how his dog Chase helps him, prepare for a lengthy answer. Since they became partners in 2007, Chase has assumed a list of tasks. She is invaluable for Greg’s mobility problems, particularly in the winter on ice. Wearing a harness designed for this purpose, she steadies him as he walks. Greg’s night vision “isn’t so great,” but now he can safely burn the midnight oil at U of A where he works on his Master’s degree. Chase guides him safely around the university, indicating curbs, stairs, and escalators. Chase is also a hearing dog. She pokes Greg with her nose to alert him when someone is calling or the doorbell is ringing. If he’s sitting down, she’ll use her head to lift and drop his arm a couple of times. - her way of saying “Someone’s at the door! Move it already!” When Greg drops something, Chase picks it up, a distinct help when Greg doesn’t hear the object hit the floor. A friend calls it “her party trick” when Chase retrieves a dime.
The Canine Courier is published by DOGS WITH WINGS. Editor and writer: Wynne Edwards Layout: Paula Wintink If you have comments or suggestions for future stories, please contact the Editor, Canine Courier care of
[email protected]
DOGS WITH WINGS Assistance Dog Society
14550 - 116 Avenue, Edmonton, AB. T5M 3E9 phone (780) 944-8011 fax: 944-9571 website: www.dogswithwings.ca
Chase also provides stress relief in their busy life by “telling me that it’s time to take a break from thesis-writing to go for a walk or play fetch. I can’t help but smile when I watch her happily chase after her beloved ball.” Greg says Chase is accepted everywhere they go. People often ask about
her. She is quite popular with kids on the bus and the LRT. “And before anyone asks, she’s not a chick magnet yet. We’re still working on that one!” When asked how Chase has changed his life, Greg chose these words: “The biggest thing she’s done in terms of my life is make me feel safe.”
DWW Puppies Take the Bus Who says our puppies are too young to learn about carbon emissions? On Friday April 11, our dogs took an ETS bus for the first time. A big thank you to the wonderful folks at Edmonton Transit for providing this opportunity. The puppies experienced the bus rising and falling and the wheelchair ramp unfolding. We s t o p p e d a t Westmount Transit Centre and practised a little obedience training.
Did you know that Dogs with Wings now has an endowment fund with Edmonton Community Foundation?
Canine Courier
Freedom
Finnegan
Fab
101 Dalmations.... or 16 Labrador/Goldens!!! by Dawn Leverenz, Puppy Coordinator Wow! We have been as busy as Cruella trying to find puppies - not for their fur but for their wings. We searched all over the country trying to find the right dogs! Fortunately, on a small island in Nova Scotia, we came across a breeder that had an available puppy. Arrangements were made to bring Caper out West. Though he was a bit older, Caper adjusted quickly to life in Edmonton. In no time at all, he was meeting our expectations as an assistance dog in training. With the success of Caper, plans were made to accept a litter of puppies from the same breeder who breeds and donates labs only for service dog schools. As we were waiting for the arrival of the Nova Scotia puppies, we were given another opportunity for an older puppy from there. Welcome Chester II! April showered us with puppies! Once they were 8 weeks old, 6 Nova Scotia puppies (born Feb 11) began a huge
Flash
plane journey to come out West. It was a long day but the whole crew did really well. Once in Edmonton, they met with CTV News and came to the office to meet some new friends. A great big thank you to our new puppy raiser (Andrew) and the “holding tanks” (Alison, Jim, Lynda, Rob, Shannon) who helped Clipper, Digby, Rigger, Sable, Schooner, and Sydney adjust to life in the big city! Back at home, puppy Breton missed her litter mates so much, she flew out to join them a few weeks later. Once all of the Nova Scotia puppies were settled, it all started again with our F-litter! Born March 24 to Libby, a black lab, and Wally, a golden retriever, these puppies were placed with their new raisers at the end of May. Den mother Sherry, was able to give insider information on each puppy since she had spent the last eight weeks feeding, cleaning, and chasing this crew.
Fabian
Grandma Debbie did a wonderful job of following the pups’ progress with pictures and videos on the blog. We are ecstatic that all but one of the F-litter puppies has been sponsored. A big thank you to the following sponsors: • • • •
Boilermakers Local 146 - Rigger DDB - Freedom Stahl Peterbilt - Finnegan Cessco Fabrication & Engineering - Fab • All-Fab Building Components Flash • Alberta Building Trades - Fergus Fortunately, the explosion of puppies did not have Cruella running to Edmonton. The puppies have found protection in loving homes with handlers who have made a tremendous commitment to help teach and socialize them for the next 12 months! A big welcome goes out to all of our new and previous raisers that have stepped up to help these puppies earn their wings.
Fergus
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4 Summer 2008
Dogs with Wings Thanks Marsha Johnston Featured Volunteer
In this newsletter we are highlighting a remarkable DWW volunteer, Marsha Johnston. This year, Marsha assumed management of the 2008 Westmount Safeway We Care fundraising program. During a three-month period, reduced from the usual ten months, she recruited, scheduled, and supervised volunteers for numerous Safeway shifts. When recruitment for the frequent Saturdays became difficult, she promised that this really was the last one, resorted to cookie bribes, and enlisted her friends and family including her 86-year-old mother. Marsha was always there herself to set up the display, work at the DWW table, tally the money, and disassemble everything. With her at the helm, Dogs with Wings and Safeway Westmount raised an astounding $10,400 in the three months.
Mark Your Calendars By the time you read this, the event Dollars for Dogs in support of children with Autism, will be a happy memory, but the associated raffle draw date is not until August 31 unless tickets sell out earlier. You have a chance to win three great prizes but supporting a fantastic cause is a sure thing! • 1 st Prize - 12’x8’ Furnished Designer Playhouse ($3500 value) OR $2000.00 Cash. Donated by Stony Plain Lumber, Ram Aluminum, RPS Construction, and Urban Advance. Delivery within 100 km radius. • 2nd Prize - $500 Cash - donated by Christine Nunro • 3rd Prize - $250 Cash - donated by Ansel Painting Tickets $5.00 each - only 2000 printed. Available at the DWW office (9448011), Stony Plain Lumber (963-9909), from volunteer Jackie Gogowich (963-9912), or from any DWW board member. Bingo We need volunteers for every bingo. All are at Fort Road Bingo which has paid staff to work as runners on the floor. Our positions are in the back in the “cage.” It’s fun and a great way to help Dogs with Wings.
Upcoming Bingo Dates: Friday, July 25 Monday, Sept 8 Monday, Sept 22 Please call the office (944-8011) to book your time.
Marsha worked diligently with volunteer Catherine Brooker and Karen Baxter, former Volunteer Coordinator, to put on a Christmas Craft Fair in late November, 2007. That event raised $1,840 in just one afternoon.
Volunteer Appreciation Picnic Tuesday, July 15, 4 – 8 pm Devon Lions’ Park at the Gazebo All DWW Volunteers Welcome!
Marsha attends nearly every DWW fundraising event. You will find her working quietly in the background with her faithful friends and family, spreading the word about Dogs with Wings.
Thom Goetz Charity Golf Tournament Fun charity golf Tournament for all skill levels - all net proceeds go to Dogs with Wings. Saturday July 26, 2008, 1 – 7 pm Silver Creek Golf Course, Camrose (New Norway), AB $90 entry fee 18 holes of golf Dinner after tournament Lots of prizes Don’t miss this great day! Register at Dogs with Wings. DWW Annual General Meeting Sept 24th – details to follow Graduation Celebration Saturday, November 8. Watch for more details.
In her day job, Marsha is a systems analyst/web administrator for Alberta Education Learning Resources Centre. She used her talents with the computer to design and build our new Dogs with Wings webpage. Now that the weather is warmer, Marsha spends her lunch breaks taking the dogs outside for a “busy busy” break. You can see the dogs waiting patiently for their one-onone time with “Auntie Marsha.” Marsha is unable to board a dog herself, but is a shining example of what a DWW volunteer can achieve without caring for a specific dog. We are grateful to her for always being here when we need her, for her willingness to help out anytime, and for always doing it with a smile on her face.
Dogs’ eyes have large pupils and a wide field of vision, making them excellent at following moving objects.
