Gio Delivers Santa (and more) to Luther Acres

On our most recent visit to Luther Acres Gio wanted to take Santa along to cheer the residents. So we pulled out his wagon and harness, put some Christmas lights around Santa, sat him in the wagon, and hitched it up to Gio.

Gio pulled it very proudly – you can almost see him saying “look what I have here”. Bandit got in on the Christmas excitement by dressing up in his special Christmas collar. We walked the halls to greet the residents and wish them all Merry Christmas.  We saw many smiles and laughs as we made our rounds. Later Bandit wanted to try out sitting in the wagon so out came Santa and in went Bandit. (We did not try pulling it this way yet as this was the first time Bandit had seen the wagon!) Both dogs were very entertaining!

On our  regular visits to Luther Acres there are two teams Gio with Jolene Newcomer along with Bandit with Marilyn Mackey, The big dog and the little dog teams – everyone so enjoys seeing the two together and making comparisons.  

A Visit Full of Surprises!

A Visit Full of Surprises - Patti Jo Hibshman

The day and visit turned out to be much brighter then the skies outside! Suzy Q, my black Labrador Retriever/mix and I traveled to Camp Hill Golden Living on September 28.

The plan was to have KPETS teams come and walk outside with the residents. This was my first time, so we were glad to follow Kevin and Wanda Landis and Chip, dressed in a peace scarf, inside the front door. Chip is a black Labrador Retriever and fly ball champion. He is a regular visitor to Camp Hill Golden Living Center with his owners.

Suzy Q received warm greetings and lots of attention from residents in the hall. Since it was gray, cloudy and threatening showers outside, the walk was cancelled. Inside, the group was very sunny.
Click here for more . . .

The first surprise was seven KPETS Teams came for visits. Debbie Jackson, Physical Therapist, was cheerfully welcoming residents, staff, and dogs with owners as they arrived in the room. People arrived walking, or with motorized wheelchairs, and some using walkers and canes. The room was full with dogs and happy people.

The second surprise was Nancy Campbell and Holly, a Golden Retriever were honored by the residents with a generous check for KPETS. Nancy and Holly had earned the AKC Therapy Dog Award by providing Animal Assisted Therapy in the Physical Therapy Department at Camp Hill Golden Living for over 3 years and greater than 150 visits. Nancy explained the award and badge on Holly's vest to the room of attendees.

The third surprise was residents handed out handmade organic treats in gift bags for all of the dogs. We humans were served delicious cake and punch. The entire time, there was lots of visiting and hugs, petting, and short walks indoors. Sally Henry had Tryp, her golden Retriever all dressed up with a baseball cap, scarf, and pumpkin sunglasses. Christine Renninger was mingling with her black Labrador - Sammy. Catherine Zeigfield and Josie - a Shitzu-poodle, entertained everyone with cute spins and other tricks. A black, soft curly Newfoundland - Buoy, gently navigated around the room with Janelle and daughter Cheyenne Senft.

Nancy heard from Debbie Jackson, (physical therapist)  that this was one of the best attended activities the residents have had. I know Suzy Q and I enjoyed the visit and will return.

Medical Breakthrough :-) Cooling Lab Treatments

Billy and I took my father to radiation therapy one day a few weeks ago. When we left the house it was a nice, cool day for Billy to wait in the car. (He LOVES the car). By the time we arrived, however, I was not comfortable leaving him as the temperature had risen quickly. I suited him up and he came into the waiting room with us. Everyone was crazy for him, of course.

One young man who is receiving radiation for a brain tumor was petting Billy (big black lab) and commented on his tail wagging being like a fan! This young man shared that he gets very hot and quite claustrophobic during his treatment. He said that he was going to try and remember Billy's tail fanning him when his symptoms began.

We were still in the waiting room when the man returned and he said that he had never had a better treatment because he concentrated on Billy's tail fanning him! What a blessing for both of us!

Tammy and Nikki - Rescue to to S&R AND Therapy!

KPETS Volunteer Tammy Mankey wanted to let us all know of the link to the interview she did of BCTV in Berks County on Monday, August 15, 2011 at 6:30 pm. Tammy was interviewed along with Nikki, her search and rescue dog, for winning another award for saving another life!

They discussed how Nikki came from their shelter and how she has saved many people as a search dog. They also  point out how she uses her personality as a KPETS Therapy Dog to cheer up others in the hospital. Tammy and Nikki sometimes respond to fires and use the dogs to comfort family members and their children. The firefighters often come over as well - even though they should be doing their job :) 

Nikki has won an award from when there was the Church Street fires when ten homes went up in flames. They stayed overnight at the shelter to comfort the familys and children since they lost their own pets in a fire.

Tammy promoted KPETS and talked about Nikki's success as a working dog.  Now as Nikki moves into her later years in life, this is her way of still bringing people cheer and that she does!  Tammy states: "She does not give them a choice when she sits on their feet and holds them hostage".She also told us: "KPETS is such a vital part of the community and we are so proud to be part of a wonderful organization. Hope you all get a chance to view it clip" 

We hope you do too! Great job, Tammy. We're do proud of you and Nikki! 

Here is the clip http://www.bctv.org/bctv/watch_live/wl_bctv/#vmix_media_id=106793691

Good-bye sweet Maggie

It is sad news to inform you that another first original KPETS therapy dog has completed her journey her with us. Carol and Bill Hopwood asked that we set up a memorial page with a place where Maggie's friends can donate in her memory to KPETS. www.kpets.org/maggie.html.

Here is Maggie's story - in her 'own' words :) So many of us miss you, dear Maggie!

WORK AND THE BALL


Would you believe I was the 3rd choice? Mom (human) and Dad (human) selected one of my sisters but Marlene (breeder) said no due to an eye problem. Then they picked out another pup and took it home, thinking it was a girl. Later that night Marlene, very chagrined, called and said that she was a he. Marlene got in her car in Maryland and an hour later, I replaced #2- the "he" pup. Mom and Dad almost didn't want to part with #2 but Marlene insisted that she was sure that I was a girl. So that's how I began my life on Woodshead on February 24, 2001. I was one of 8 pups born to Sari and Jake on January 4, 2001.

I was 9lbs. when I got there but by November, I weighed 64lbs.. So this is my story. Those early months were filled with a lot of playtime and love from Mom and Dad and their friends. Somewhere in that time, I played with a lot of toys--bones and other things-- but the first time I saw a "tennis ball" roll my way, I was hooked. It was so much fun to chase it and bring it back, but I wouldn't release it without a tussle. So my obsession with the ball began and remained until the end.Early on, Mom recognized that I was smart and that I liked all kinds of humans (dogs were okay) so she began to take me to training classes. Then I advanced to therapy training and was approved by the Delta Society. It was a "piece of cake"(or biscuit). Mom said I was WORKING whenever I visited humans but it wasn't hard at all. Then Mom met Karen (who runs KPETS) and Mom thought I could be approved by them. I did and was then able to proudly wear a KPETS vest for visits to humans. I first visited Brethren Village residents--they loved me. Then Mom and I started to visit the clients at Acadia Rehab Center. We were the first team to start dog therapy there and did it weekly for four years. The clients would brush my fur and hide the ball but I always found it. They learned my name-Maggie; but couldn't remember the therapist's name. Guess what- it was Maggie too!

Since the time when I was a pup, Mom and Dad took me to the Senior Center to greet the seniors before we delivered the Meals on Wheels. The Center also had a ball! I even donated blood when I was young at the clinic at University of PA - it didn't hurt. We visited Oak Leaf Manor residents and even attended church services there. We visited Miss Dolly at Woodcrest Villa, then at Oak Leaf and then at St. Anne's. Miss Dolly said I was "pathetic", but she sure liked to pet me. After all, she is 103 years young.


I also worked at reading classes for kids at the Mountville Library. That was easy. Mom also took me to the Knit-Wit meetings. The ladies talked and knitted and talked and talked and I usually slept. Father Stephen usually said hello and he blessed me many times at church services. I also visited Dad's brother in New York; he loved dogs, so of course, I was welcome. I attended the United Day of Caring with Mom for many years usually at Conestoga View. I visited Moravian Manor and the Mennonite Home to see humans. Only Miss Dolly said I was "pathetic" but I knew it was a compliment.

My Mom sometimes dressed me in a costume especially at Halloween. I was a Dallas cowgirl but Dad and human brother Doug didn't like it so they insisted I dress as a Steelers. That KPETS human Karen even made me a "poster child" with other dogs on a brochure.
So my working life was not that hard. Mom called it work but I certainly liked it when the humans would pet me, especially when they scratched my nose or ears. And if they had a ball, that was the best.
Now I'd like to talk about my non-working life at Woodshead and the things and times I liked the best. I liked to sleep late in the morning on the rug at the foot of their bed. Dad would try to rouse me but I would "play tired" and make him stretch my legs before I would arise. Sometimes Mom would cover me with the edge of the bedspread but I wouldn't move until they told me that I had to pee and poop (outside). Then I insisted on a handful of cereal before I ate my kibble.

After breakfast, I was interested in the ball, always and forever. Dad seemed to have an endless supply of tennis balls. It's good that he did because they got a little slimy and dirty when I would retrieve them from the woods. I loved it when Dad or Doug would throw it far when I wasn't looking. Then I would do circles until I sniffed it and brought it back. Doug could throw it much further than Dad. Then I learned how to catch it off the garage roof. When I caught it (7 out of 10 times on a good day), I'd chew it for awhile before releasing it. They couldn't pull it from my mouth unless I let them. I could even bark with the ball in my mouth but it wasn't very impressive. I also liked to roll on my back and try to roll on the ball.


Boy, did I like it when it snowed! Chasing the ball in the snow was great fun. I sometimes needed directional signals to find it because it didn't make a big hole in the snow. When we got a big snow, I had a little trouble doing #1 or #2 because I wasn't that tall. After fun in the snow I loved to dry out in front of their woodstove.


Then there were the daily "Happy Hour" sessions at 5PM which Mom and Dad called "attitude adjustment". Mom and Dad got their scotch and SC and I got my Maggie-sized (small) ice cubes. After the cubes, I was treated to some cut-up vegetables. In good weather we had "Happy Hour" on the deck. If I was good (95% of the time), I got an extra treat- a scotch-flavored cube. One time they gave me a Hammond's pretzel and I was hooked. When Doug came over, he would tease me by placing a Hammond's just out of my reach; but he would eventually give in when I gave him my "pathetic" look. When on the deck, once in a while, I would lift my nose and smell the scent of a deer or turkey. Mom and Dad eventually caught on when my tail was straight up.
I loved that house and the woods-- I never once ran away. There was no need to do so- everything I wanted was there except the squirrels. I never caught one though I tried-didn't even come close. I was not a "happy camper" when the wind picked up before a storm. I could always tell when they were coming-something like a sixth dog sense. Thunder and lightning was the worst-- I couldn't stop shaking. That's when I received extra attention from Mom and Dad. They even bought me a "thunder shirt" to wear but it was no use. We "gutted it out" together in a corner. I also did not like to go to Terri, the groomer. I resisted but they insisted. I have to admit that I looked prettier after the four-hour ordeal.

As I got older, my joints started to hurt and I limped sometimes. Sometimes Mom would give me some medication to help. I also developed some lumps on my body and the fur on my nose turned almost all gray, just like Dad's hair. But my intelligence never faded and I learned to tolerate pain.
I really never wanted to be away from humans especially Mom, Dad, and Doug. I even liked to visit the neighbor lady and neighbor man when Mom and Dad were away for short periods of time. Mom and Dad even took me on their last vacation.


To please my parents, I walked their treadmill whenever they insisted. One time, I did it for 26 minutes non-stop. They had a big issue over my "bathroom" habits. They expected me to do #2 at least 3-4 times a day so sometimes I just faked it. I know Dad was jealous of my abilities in this area. I always knew my commands-sit, down, stay, come, etc. but sometimes I would make them repeat it two or three times before I obeyed. Mom even thought I could shake my right or left paw on command, but I would keep doing either one until she smiled. I would even let Mom brush my teeth once a week. I could even run through Mom's flower beds with minimum damage. I did have trouble sliding down the driveway when it was icy. I used to sit under the counter next to their stools when they ate for two reasons: sometimes a crumb would fall, and to reassure them I was close. I could produce a low growl when something was amiss and I barked at all cars coming up the drive way.


My second favorite toy after the ball was the "sock" which was really a rubber pull. Dad and I played with it until he got tired. Dad always said I had a soft bite-- I really didn't want to hurt him.


So that pretty much covers my personal life. Nighttime was good because I got five Milk bones before retiring. Then I would settle down and give them a big sigh and they knew I was ready to sleep. Once in a while, my dreams became active and noisy - I was just hunting for my ball.
I lived a good life and enjoyed myself. I think I helped a lot of those humans I met along the way. I know that I helped my Mom, Dad and brother Doug. They sometimes got mad at me but when I blinked my long eye lashes and raised my paw to them, they forgave me.


My last day, I played with my ball a lot. I even carried it into the room at the Vet's and I didn't release it until the end.
Love, Maggie August 8, 2011

Cruise for a Cause / Hanover, PA

Fun, food and cool cars were packing the parking lot at Brother's Pizza in Hanover, PA on June 25 to generate interest and raise funds for KPETS.

View this slide show to see the fun. Looking forward to another event like this next year!
_______________________________________

Thank you to everyone who generously donated their time to support the first ever Cruise for a Cause Event on June 25th.

It was with your help that we were able to raise over $400 for KPETS! That is equal to $100 per hour!! I appreciate all your help and talents given to support this wonderful cause. Everyone had a great time!

We had 15 cars register. This was fantastic considering we were working against many other happenings in the area. We had great music to dance to provided by Larry Appel from Burning Spear Entertainment, good food and snowballs! Not to mention the cars were pretty awesome too!  

Again, many thanks to all of you for helping make this first ever event for KPETS a success! I couldn't have done it without the efforts of such wonderful volunteers.

With Heartfelt Thanks!
Wendi Mitzel

KPETS Stroll 'n Roll and Pet Expo

Click here for pics provided by We Heart Dogs.

The weather sure was better than last year's and the timing could not have been better by waiting till after we were all packed up to issue a tornado warning for our area. So Sunday, June 12 was a great day for

Keystone Pet Enhanced Therapy Services (KPETS) to declare a day for barking in the park - Ephrata's Grater Memorial Park!

That was the site of the KPETS Pet Expo and Stroll N' Walk. Scores of dogs and their humans stopped by the mid-day event to visit with vendors, munch on burgers and fries (and puppy treats) and enjoy pet-themed demos and presentations. A highlight of the day was a demonstration by Flyball Dogs Anonymus. Visitors could attend sessions to receive expert advice from Dr Leslie Osborne, local veterinarian; Sheree Dietz, pet groomer and Bonnie Hess, trainer during their "Ask the Vet, Groomer, and Trainer " sessions. There were over 30 vendors participating with goods ranging from doggie snacks to vacuums. Other non-profits attending and promoting their causes and looking for volunteers were several doggie rescues organizations (Brookline Lab and SAY - Save a Yorkie), CART (County Animal Rescue Team), two Search and Rescue groups (Middle Creek SAR and Cumberland County SAR). Some of the other features were presenations by United Disablity Services Service Dogs, Guaridan Angels for Soldiers Pets.

There was also a blessing of the animals by Pastor Deborah Miley to send the pups and people off on the Stroll 'n Roll Walk. Many attendees participated in the walk through the park to raise much-needed funds for KPETS

The Expo and Stroll N' Walk raised more than $2,000 for KPETS, and raised awareness of the good work KPETS does throughout 10+ counties in Pennsylvania, Maryland and beyond. 

Thanks to all who attended, volunteered and walked. We hope to do it bigger and even better next year!