Summer 2016

ANIMAL ASSISTED

Paw THERAPY

SUMMER

Hand

2016

THE GOLDEN NEWS

The official newsletter for Birmingham’s nonprofit organization improving lives through Animal-Assisted Therapy

SIT, STAY, READ! AT GRESHAM ELEMENTARY Hand in Paw was excited to expand our literacy program, Sit, Stay, Read!, to Gresham Elementary School for the 20152016 school year. Below are testimonies from teachers about why the program makes such an impact on their students.

“As a result of the Sit, Stay, Read! Program, one of my students has become more confident in reading and speaking in front of the class.

He raises his hand often to respond to questions and is able to explain his thinking more clearly. My other student who participated in the program has become more open when talking to his peers. He is more likely to approach a new friend and engage in conversation. Thank you for providing this opportunity for our students. It has been amazing to watch them grow and become more confident in their learning.”

-Erin Reid, Third Grade Teacher

“I am so appreciative to the staff at Hand in Paw for bringing out the best in my student. Before taking part in the Sit, Stay, Read! Program, he was quite reserved and did not particularly enjoy reading independently. After a few weeks in the program, he was able to find his love for reading, and now I cannot get him to put down a book. He spoke highly of reading to the dog and hopes to be given the chance again. It is these types of experiences that have the most impact in a young learner’s development as a a student.”

-Pam Scarbrough, Third Grade Teacher

“One of my students who participated in Sit, Stay, Read! has grown tremendously since visiting with our Hand in Paw visitors. She is more willing to read and answer questions aloud in class. In small group she speaks more confidently when sharing her opinions. My other student who participated in the program is now more willing to read material that is above her reading level. She has been more confident in answering questions that are higher level thinking. Both students enjoyed this program very much. These two students were able to form a closer friendship with each other because of the love they shared for the program.”

-Kristy Phillips, Third Grade Teacher

Thank you to The Thompson Foundation for funding this program expension.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS President Jim H. Wilson Vice President Idie Hastings Treasurer S. Rachel Goodson Secretary Joan Stelling Members Jennifer Buettner Charles W. Callans, III Edward Arthur Day Carrie Doescher Denise Hoyle Donna Johnson Jimmy Johnson Phyllis McCombs John D. Saxon Melea Sims Hon. Sandra Storm Lisa Thompson Danielle Yancey

ADVISORY COUNCIL Members Alvin Atlas, DVM Kevin M. Burke Timothy L. Colbert, DVM Elizabeth Harbert Cornay C. Merrimon Epps, III Beth A. Franklin Cindy Grant, DVM Sheryl Kimerling Joshua Klapow, PhD Matt Lackey James C. Lasker, MD Beth N. Leonard Debra Linton, CPA Sandy Logan Allen Montgomery Jeff Morrison Susan Nelms, DVM Kate Nicholson Joy O’Neal Claire Peel, PhD, PT Joan Cain Pizitz, MD Douglas R. Rohm Lisa Thompson Smith Carol H. Stewart Pete Van Pelt Beverly Virciglio, CPA Jerome Williams, DVM Tina Willard, LPN Sheree York

VOLUNTEERS IT’S

WHO

WE

ARE

WELCOME OUR NEW VOLUNTEERS Carolyn Adkins with Barney Allie Albea Christy Albea with Ranger Kate Brink with Brady Elaine Broussard with Jesse Laura Davis Margaret Davis with Annie Carol Doty-Bennett with Hamilton Carol Doty-Bennett with Fritzi Laura Falone with Wallace Cammie Hallmark with Zoee Cailin Kerch with Ellie Lynn LaRussa with Honey Hannah Layne with Rob Helen Macher with Lucy Mary Macher with Lucy Casey May with Ruby Cody May with Ruby Holly Miller with Champ Roxanne Robidoux with Jane Ann Smith with Jasper Haley Staton with Deuce Jennifer Williams with Buddy

Thank you to the following teams for your dedication to our organization.

Moved: Melissa Brinley & Lilli, Martha Bryant, Dava Sue Clevend with Bella & Prince, Jim & Janice Clifford with Buddy, and Britton Lynn & Rudy Retired: Louise Abroms & Brewster, Clare Clifford & Sipsey, Terri Jones & Abby, Vicki Shay & Buddy, Kim Traylor & Macie, and Liz Young & Millie Passed Away: Tiffany Bolton’s Flicka, Jim & Janice Clifford’s Dusty, Ed Day’s Ruben, Judi Morris’s Rosie, Ed Plautz, Jan Rowe’s Stella, and Trudy & Lee Stricklin’s Glory

FOUNDER Beth Franklin EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Laura Cardwell ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR Liz Wilson EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT Lisa McNair DIRECTOR OF MARKETING & COMMUNITY RELATIONS Paige Staylor DIRECTOR OF VOLUNTEERS Terri Jones PROGRAM COORDINATOR Emily Cheatwood PROJECT COORDINATOR Julia-Rae Hanson RECORDS MANAGER Vicki Shay ADMINISTRATIVE VOLUNTEERS Carol Speed Barbara Young

Mutt Strut Title Sponsor Veterinary Eye Care

We are so thankful we were able to work and serve our community with Ed Plautz. His memory will always live on at Hand in Paw.

The 2016 Mutt Strut, presented by Veterinary Eye Care in Memory of Christopher Nelms, was a day that truly went to the dogs!

With more than 800 people and 500 dogs participating in the dog-friendly 5K and 1-Mile Fun Run, the event put on by Hand in Paw’s Junior Board raised more than $25,000. Runners enjoyed a course that highlighted our great city. Along the route they ran past Railroad Park, Regions Field, Good People Brewing Company, 5 Points South, and finished on the UAB Campus Green.

Thank you to Team Magic for managing our race.

Gold Sponsors HealthSouth PetCo Foundation Chick-Fil-A Cahaba Brewery Coke

lululemon athletica CW21/my68 Silver Sponsors Animal Advocates of AL Creative Dog Training

Dog Days of B’ham Medical Properties Trust NuTech Medical UAB Medicine Warren Averett We Talk Dog

TEAMWORK

Meet The Hamiltons!

A SPOTLIGHT ON A THERAPY TEAM

(Brent, Amy, Cole, and Buddy)

Brent Hamilton is originally from Canada where he graduated from York University with a degree in economics. He moved to Alabama in 1997 when he married Amy, a Birmingham native. When not volunteering for HIP, Brent works for CSX Transportation. Amy attended Auburn University then graduated from UAB with a degree in elementary education. After teaching for many years, she now spends her days taking care of their family and volunteering. They have two teenage sons, Cole and Matt. Cole is 16 years old and attends Mountain Brook High School where he is on the soccer team. The 4-legged member of the Hamilton family, Buddy, is a 6-year-old Havanese that they adopted as a puppy.

Where/why did you get Buddy? After serious consideration about adding a dog to our family, we began looking for one that would not irritate Cole’s allergies. We had looked into many non-shedding breeds when a family friend, who also happens to be a veterinarian, recommended that we find a Havanese. Our search led us to a breeder near Pell City where we adopted Buddy and he quickly became the baby of our family.

Why did you think Buddy would be a good therapy dog? After going through puppy training and basic obedience classes, it was evident that Buddy would be a good candidate to participate in pet therapy. Buddy’s sweet temperament, love of attention, and tolerance of being handled by different people all lend him to being a good therapy dog. In addition, Buddy learns very quickly and exhibits that special perception as to what different clients need, whether it be a soothing snuggle or a frisky smile.

In the spring of 2013, Brent, Amy and Buddy began volunteering for HIP and in 2015, Cole completed the process to become a Visit Assistant with HIP and began volunteering also.

How long have you three been HIP volunteers? For three years Brent, Amy and Buddy have made weekly visits to the Outpatient Hematology/Oncology Clinic at Children’s of Alabama as well as the High Risk OB Department at UAB’s Women’s Center. In addition they have participated in the Sit, Stay, Read! program for InPatient Oncology, as well as the Intensive Feeding Program both at Children’s. The three of them also visited the Burn and Trauma ICU at UAB as part of a research project to document the effects of pet therapy in this part of the hospital. Cole, Brent and Buddy were part of the Pawsitive Living group that visited Glenwood last fall and plan to do it again in the coming year.

When Buddy isn’t doing therapy work, what’s his favorite thing to do?

Buddy enjoys lounging in a sunny window, taking short walks in the neighborhood and loving on his family members.

Have you had a visit that has been particularly memorable? One memorable moment was when a child with special needs had to have his port accessed at Clinic 8. The nurses, with the help of his parents, would lie the child down on the exam table and restrain him to access his port. This particular day was different. He sat on the exam table with his mother on one side and Buddy on the other. He held his mother’s hand and Buddy’s paw while the nurse accessed his port. The nurse and his mother were both shocked at how easy it was this time. The simple act of Buddy being there made a significant difference in this family’s day and many appointments after that. Bringing a smile to a patient or helping to ease a stressful moment makes our work with HIP priceless to us.

FUNDING PARTNER S

Charles

T.

Campbell

Faraway Hill

Crest

Foundation

Foundation

Foundation

Pete M. Hanna Charitble Foundation

Nelson and Charleen Kemp Foundation Matthews

Family

Foundation

Mountain Brook Art Association Remy Fund for Pets and Animal Services Henry G. and Henry U. Sims Memorial Fund

Virginia Stockham Ladd Family Fund Mark & Jennifer Styslinger Charitable Foundation

Thompson Foundation Wo o d

Fa m i l y

F u n d

Help H

GO G

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IP

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