Summer 2012
The Golden News The official newsletter for Birmingham’s non-profit organization motivating people towards brighter days
Vote for Mike, Hand in Paw’s Very Own Therapy Dog! With the help of the Layne family, today, Mike recognizes and responds with gusto to more than one hundred signs. His talents are put to good use as a registered therapy dog with Hand in Paw. While all therapy dogs serve human beings by lowering blood pressure and reducing pain and anxiety levels, Mike communicates with deaf children and adults in a unique way: their language is his language. Hearing people, too, form a special bond with Mike, whose steely blue eyes gaze intensely as he reads their body language or, with help from Mike or Melannie - their signs.
If you saw Mike, you’d say to yourself, “What a pretty dog!” and move on. But once you know him, it’s his inner beauty that stands out. Mike’s story began when he was a tiny puppy whose breeders planned to euthanize him because he was deaf. Luckily, those plans were interrupted by Melannie Layne, who decided to adopt the playful blue merle puppy.
Although Mike hears nothing, he gives everything, understands everything, and radiates love and acceptance to everyone he meets.
BOYDE OL SSON
The American Humane Association has chosen Hand in Paw to be a charity partner for the 2012 Hero Dog Awards. The Hero Dog Awards were created to celebrate the powerful relationships between dogs and people and to serve as a catalyst to advance society’s understanding of the humananimal bond. Dogs are an invaluable part of our lives every day as companion animals, service and therapy animals, animal soldiers, police officers and first responders and emerging heroes. Vote for Hand in Paw’s very own Therapy Dog, Mike, and Hand in Paw could win up to $10,000!
To vote for Mike and to support Hand in Paw, visit www.HeroDogAwards.org. You can vote daily through June 30, 2012.
Boyde and I had been working with a Pawsitive LivingTM group at IN THIS ISSUE Glenwood Autism and Behavioral Health Center this past spring. On the first night, the boys came in and one boy physically did a big step *Letter from the ED back when he walked in the room and saw all the dogs. He was *Mutt Strut Highlights afraid of dogs and later told us that night the only reason he came was to help overcome his fear of dogs. He quickly bonded with Boy*Teamwork de who was so laid back, sweet and non-threatening whatsoever! *HIP Academy Helps From then on, when this boy would come, he would seek Boyde out Students Read and come over and love on him. He later told us that in the past he *Changes at HIP had a problem dealing with anger, but that now he thinks about Boyde when he gets upset and remembers how calm Boyde was and that it reminds him to stay calm and think before he *Ronald McDonald House speaks and not act out in anger. Wow. We were all so happy to hear that and it was great *Volunteer Information to see how he now trusted dogs and understood how they could be such good companions. *12th Annual Picasso Pets *Paint with a Purpose Boyde recently passed away, and I was so worried what it would do to this particular boy as *Carol & Hannah so many of the people in his life had abandoned him. But it was a good teaching experience *No More Bullies about how we have to handle loss throughout our lives and even though Boyde was gone, I was not and would still be coming for him. He is a great boy and Pawsitive LivingTM has definite- *Monthly Giving Program ly helped him experience the special bond humans and dogs can have. I feel very privileged *Thanks to Our Grantors to have been able to be a part of this boy’s life and all the boy’s lives at Glenwood through *Contributions the Pawsitive LivingTM program. I really do think we are making a difference, one life at a time. *Important Dates - Cynthia Olsson *Wish List Hand in Paw Volunteer