Hand in Paw Newsletter - Summer 2018

SUMMER

Hand

Paw

2018

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

Petscription for the Classroom Expands Into 6 Schools in Need.

Hand in Paw was awarded the UAB Benevolent Fund’s Community Impact Grant in 2017, allowing Petscription for the Classroom to grow to 6 new schools! Petscription for the Classroom allows educators to work with Therapy Teams who motivate students in need.

Therapy animals change the atmosphere of a classroom and the culture of a school. They promote focus, improve speech, language, learning and cognition, decrease anxiety, foster compassion, encourage physical activity, strengthen social skills, lower truancy, and deliver comfort.

A pilot study was conducted during the 2017-2018 school year to evaluate program impact. With 10 teachers reporting from the 6 new schools, we identified 8 major impact areas in special education classrooms. The following figures were calculated using data from 53 reports.

29% Increase in Socialization 32% Increase in Communication 49% Increase in Attention 32% Increase in Behavior 38% Increase in Language & Concept Development 78% Increase in Creativity & Expression 43% Increase in Motor Skills 36% Increase in Initiative Thank you UAB for making a difference!

Avondale Elementary

The Burkett Center

Erwin Intermediate

Oliver Elementary

Tarrant Elementary

Tarrant Intermediate

New Volunteers

BOARD OF DIRECTORS President Idie Hastings Vice President Jennifer Buettner Treasurer S. Rachel Goodson Secretary Jimmy Johnson Member at Large John M. Harbert, II Members William Finney Alicia Haynes Marion Marx Cassie Moore Susan Nelms, DVM Deanna Pizitz Joshua K. Randolph Melea Sims Joan Stelling J. Scott Vowell Jim H. Wilson Kimberlea Wilson Danielle Yancey

ADVISORY COUNCIL Alvin Atlas, DVM T. C. Branch, DVM Kevin M. Burke Timothy L. Colbert, DVM, Elizabeth Harbert Cornay C. Merrimon Epps, III Cindy Grant, DVM Sheryl Kimerling Joshua Klapow, PhD. Matt Lackey James C. Lasker, MD Beth N. Leonard Debra Linton Sandy Logan Allen Montgomery Jeff Morrison Claire Peel, Ph.D. Joan Cain Pizitz Douglas R. Rohm John Saxon Lisa Thompson Smith Carol H. Stewart Pete Van Pelt Beverly Virciglio Jerome Williams, DVM Tins Willard, LPN Sheree York

HIP STAFF Director of Donor & Community Relations Beth Franklin Program Director Emily Cheatwood

AJ +

CH

KOD A

AMY +

EMIL

IE + O

CASEY + M

SPARTO

JULIA + STELLA

KATHY

N URE

PHY

MC + REMY

+ KA SEY SHELLEY

+ JAKE

TINA + LUCKY

NANCY +

GU

+S

CO

UT

LL

C IS +

LAR

INE

PHANTOM

ur ! o t u o Checkrapy Teams e h T w e n

Thank you to the following teams for your dedication to our organization: Retired: Elaine + Jesse, Margie Little + Simon , Beth Leonard + Bella, Shelley Shook + Lil Mac, Don Helton + Ryder, Bob Stafford , Carol Doty-Bennet + Hamilton Passed Away: Casey Schaeffer’s Mulligan, Don Helton’s Ryder, Pat Gober’s Alli, Margaret Davis’s Annie, Ruth Locklin’s Detail Moved: Casey + Ruby, Cody + Ruby, Terri Jones

Director of Volunteers Julia-Rae Hanson Director of Research Andie Thompkins Director of Events & Strategic Partnerships Ashley Foster Director of Communications Brittany Jennings Volunteer & Program Coordinator Stacey Roudebush Office Manager & Executive Assistant Lisa McNair Administrative Volunteer Carol Speed Administrative Volunteer Barbara Young

S

+ MAX

LUCK Y A + NA TALIE

E+

ULLIGAN

LA

MARIN

SARA

BETSIE + MARCEL

ZZIE

JOHN +

LES +

RIVER

YN ARL

Remembering Sandra Storm Sandra Ross Storm, former Hand in Paw board member, passed away on June 4, 2018 at age 72. Sandra was well-known in the Birmingham community for her work as a Jefferson Country Family Court judge who fought for children’s rights. In this role, she worked to get adjudicated youth in our Pawsitive Living Program, which is designed to foster discussions and encourage participants to identify and express emotions in healthy ways.

“Sandra was a true friend to animals and people. She gave support to Hand in Paw for over two decades touching thousands of lives, including mine,” said Hand in Paw Founder, Beth Franklin.

Sandra’s generous spirit and compassion made her a wonderful asset to Hand in Paw and those she served. She will be truly missed by her Hand in Paw family.

Teamwork HIGHLIGHTING A SPECIAL THERAPY TEAM

Steve & Janet Bedsole The spotlight is on Steve and Janet Bedsole, a stellar Hand in Paw Therapy Team! Steve and Janet met as students at Auburn University and married while he finished up his Geology degree at UAB. Steve just retired from Alabama Power Co. as a training developer and Janet is a registered dietitian who was retired, but “got bored” and went back to work part-time. Steve and Janet have a history of volunteering in their community. Janet has volunteered with her church, the Stephens Ministry program and Camp Noah.

Steve has volunteered with the Boy Scouts of America and with his children’s track and field program. When not volunteering, they enjoy traveling and walking Charlie around the lake in their neighborhood.

How long have you been a HIP volunteer?

We qualified as a family team in 2016.

Where/Why did you get Charlie?

After both kids were off in college, we lost both of our family dogs and were thinking of getting a new pet when our daughter came home raving about a new puppy her coach got. She was certain a German Short-haired Pointer would be the perfect dog for us! Laura insisted that she would come help us exercise the pup, so we found a breeder in Lebanon, TN with two pups left in a litter. We made a day trip to get the female, but Charlie picked us instead! Of course, Laura returned to school and we learned how to work with him to release his high energy demands.

Why did you think Charlie would be a good therapy dog?

We took Charlie to obedience school and he responded quickly.

We were impressed at his intelligence and his eagerness to please (he did better than a Doberman we had and thought we would never find another dog as smart). We really didn’t know for certain

whether Charlie would be successful, but just had a hunch and hoped for the best. He did well during the evaluation process for both of us, but we still didn’t know how he would react on a “real” therapy visit – so we were a bit apprehensive on his first visit which was at Shelby Ridge Nursing Home. One man with Cerebral Palsy type symptoms was in a semi-reclined bed unable to speak and lacking the motor control to be able to reach out to touch or pet the dogs. We asked if he would like to visit with the dog and you could see in his eyes and his attempts to move that he did. I wasn’t certain what to do next, but Charlie just walked up and laid his head on the man’s arm and the man’s face just lit up with joy! We looked at each other and knew right then, he had it! It still tears me up every time I think about it.

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

He is a great house dog – his only indoor transgression was when he destroyed a roll of toilet paper as a very young pup! As soon as he is outside though, he is all GO. Chasing birds, squirrels, lizards, chipmunks, bees…. He loves playing catch with balls and Frisbees, swimming, jumping through the hoops at the dog park, and running!

Funding Partners Anna’s Fund Charles T. Campbell Foundation Faraway Foundation The Hand in Paw Permanent Endowment Fund in Honor of Dr. James Lasker by the Good Shepherd Foundation Nelson and Charleen Kemp Foundation Killian Family Foundation John 3:16 Mac & Tosh Fund 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 Susan Mott Webb Charitable Trust Wood Family Fund

Hero Dog & Hero Vet Awards Voting for the 2018 American Humane Hero Dog Awards® semi-finalists is nearing an end, and we need your help to push our hero dog charity partner, Jeanie, to the finals! Jeanie is a three-legged therapy dog from Louisiana who visits hospitals, schools, nursing homes and veterans’ homes. Her owner has graciously selected Hand in Paw to be their charity partner for the competition, which means if Jeanie makes it to the finals, we will receive $2,500! If Jeanie then wins the final round, Hand in Paw will receive an additional $5,000 dollars! This is a great honor and opportunity for both Jeanie and Hand in Paw, so please help us reach the finals by voting once everyday until July 11th.

Local Veterinary Ophthalmologist, Dr. Susan Nelms, also needs your vote! She has been selected out of more than 200 nominations as one of the 5 finalists in the American Humane Hero Veterinarian Awards™, a country-wide competition. As many of you know, Dr. Nelms is a gifted surgeon, philanthropist, mentor and community servant. She has given her time, talents and treasures to help animal organizations, including Hand in Paw, and pets and the people who love them. If Dr. Nelms wins, she will be flown to Los Angeles to be honored as part of the American Humane Hero Dog Awards® which will be aired nationwide on the Hallmark Channel this fall! You may vote for her daily until August 2nd!

VOTE FOR JEANIE herodogawards.org/dog/jeanie/

VOTE FOR DR. NELMS herovetawards.org/vote/

MUTT STRUT

2018

This year’s 90’s themed Mutt Strut, presented by Veterinary Eye Care in Memory of Christopher Nelms, WAS ALL THAT AND A BAG OF CHIPS!

MANY THANKS TO OUR 2018 MUTT STRUT SPONSORS! Title Sponsor: Veterinary Eye Care UAB • Dog U • Creative Dog Training • The Whole Dog Market • Medical Properties Trust • Grants Mill Animal Hospital • The Union at Cooper Hill • We Talk Dogs • Dog Days of Birmingham • Red Mountain Park • ChickFil-A 5 Points • ABC 33/40 • The CW 21 • My 68 WABM • Coca-Cola • On Services • Alabama Magazine

First place human & dog!

A Hand in Paw Success Story

,

from Rebecca Glen Learning Specialist “I teach a self-contained special education class with mostly non-verbal students. One of my students fell in love with Bear. She carried his “business card” around with her for 3 days until it fell apart. We had taken some pictures of Bear with the students so I printed some out and laminated them so they would be more durable. My student will fall asleep holding Bear’s picture. This little girl has never said a word that I could clearly understand, but she will hold her picture of Bear and very clearly say “puppy!” Having Boyce and Bear come visit us has been so beneficial for my students!”

Capital Campaign Update Because of supporters like you, Hand in Paw’s Training Center Construction is underway. It is exciting to watch the progress and to know that our Therapy Teams will have a state-of-the-art training facility to sharpen skills and experience more advanced trainings.

They and the community deserve no less!

Construction on the extension is projected to be completed this fall.

Then the existing building, built in the 1970s, will be updated to sustain and grow our programs.

The Phase One $2,000,000 goal has been met through generous donors, like you. $126,005 of the $250,000 Phase II goal remains to be raised for capacity building and sustainability. You can contribute to the Campaign by contacting beth@handinpaw.org or calling 205-322-5144. You can also visit handinpaw.org and click the “Donate” button at the top of our site. When filling out the donation form, make sure to select “Capital Campaign” when it asks where you’d like your donation needs to be designated.

Thank you again for supporting Hand in Paw and our mission.

Check out the building progress!

617 38th Street South Birmingham, AL 35222 T: (205) 322.5144 F: (205) 322.7784 www.HandinPaw.org

Handle: @HandinPawAL

DONATE Make a difference.

Give at handinpaw.org

name:

Here is my gift of:

address:

*$50 *$100 *other $______

city, state:

Credit Card Information: credit card no.:

zip: email address:

Save The Date

expiration date:

cvv:

signature:

PICASSO PETS THE HARBERT CENTER

08.11.18 PICASSOPETS.COM

Purchase tickets online!

SILENT AUCTION • LIVE AUCTION • SEATED DINNER • POP ART THEME • COLORFUL COCKTAIL ATTIRE