2022 SUMMER NEWSLETTER
GOLDEN
A summer of
Smiles
FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Made Possible by...YOU! It is amazing what a therapy animal can do! From easing the effects of Alzheimer’s Disease, to lowering your heart rate and blood pressure - our Therapy Teams are out in the community every single day providing empathy, nurturing, comfort, motivation, socialization, and acceptance to those who need it most!
Medical Services Spring Fling
As more requests for visits are coming in this Summer, we need your help to recruit, train, and place more hope-giving Therapy Teams! When you give to Hand in Paw, you give to many! Your donations provide comfort to children, people suffering from chronic-illness, children with learning disabilities, adults experiencing a mental health crisis, and seniors that feel isolated and need the love only a therapy animal can bring. I hope that as you read this newsletter, you are inspired by the difference your donations are making in the community. Our mission to improve human health and well-being through Animal-Assisted Therapy truly would not be possible without you! I am continuously amazed and humbled by your generosity which helps so many.
Girl’s Inc.
Summer comes and we face it with joy. I invite you to come by and see the incredible gardens on campus, join us for Picasso Pets in August, and tell a friend with a well-behaved pet to consider Therapy Team Training! I cannot even begin to tell you what a joy it is to watch generous people bring their amazing animals into the building to be trained, mentored, and supported as they give their time, talent, compassion and hope to our community. It is truly a wonderful time to join the Hand in Paw family.
The Exceptional Foundation
Margaret Stinnett Executive Director
If you are interested in becoming a Hand in Paw Therapy Team, please visit our website at handinpaw.org/volunteer
Your donations make it possible for HIP Therapy Teams to visit people in need every day!
Leave a Legacy “I wanted to take care of my needs while living and still support Hand in Paw in a significant way. The best way for me to do this was by leaving a set amount or percentage of my estate to Hand in Paw in my will. To keep from having to completely redo my will, I had my attorney write a codicil to modify it. I am happy to have this vehicle to make a direct impact on a cause so dear to me.” - Anonymous
er Event Black Minds Matt
To leave a bequest or gift of insurance, contact Beth Franklin beth@handinpaw.org
This little girl stood up for the first time after surgery because of you!
A True buddy How one small pup motivated one little girl during her hospital stay – thanks to you!
It was a Thursday. Brent Hamilton was making his weekly visit at Children’s of Alabama with his therapy dog Buddy when he was stopped by a mother holding her child. The 12-month-old had undergone heart surgery just two days ago and was in the midst of recovery. A nurse helped the mother and child sit on the floor and visit with Buddy.
“One of my personal favorite things to witness is watching the heart rate of an anxious or agitated patient lower while petting the Hand in Paw dog. We are so thankful to be able to utilize Hand in Paw to promote coping during hospitalization.”
The little girl was sitting in her mother’s lap when she suddenly stood up to get closer to Buddy. This was the very first time since her surgery that the child had stood up on her own! After some pets and cuddles, Brent and Buddy walked alongside the little girl to her hospital room with the help of a nurse and occupational therapist. This was a HUGE step in the little girl’s progress and the mother was very appreciative that Buddy was there to help motivate and comfort her child.
Mary Haddow, Child Life Specialist for Dearth Tower also notes, “Hand in Paw not only brightens our patients’ days, but also our staff’s! The dogs can tell what each patient and family needs, and they provide a calming presence during a time in a family’s life that is stressful.”
Amazing mission moments like these are happening every week at Children’s of Alabama thanks to you. Your donations support our 25-year-long partnership with the hospital by helping recruit and train Therapy Teams to brighten the days of children and parents going through difficult times. Melissa Johnson, Child Life Specialist for the Special Care Unit sees the impact of your support first-hand;
Because of you, 7 Therapy Teams are currently visiting across 12 units at Children’s of Alabama! We are so grateful to our donors and volunteers who make it possible to provide moments of peace and healing to people who need it most.
Here’s another reason to smile! VP Funds recently gave Hand in Paw a grant to illustrate and produce custom Activity Books to give to children after a HIP visit has ended! These books are almost finished and will soon be given to Program Partners like Children’s of Alabama. Here is a sneak peek!
Furry Friends Word Search I’m on the hunt for these hidden words words! Can you help me find them?
P T A C Y P A R E H T W O L
Help Hand in Paw train more Therapy Teams to visit at Children’s of Alabama by donating using the envelope provided or visit handinpaw.org/donate.
N E D N O O W P P T S G T D
I S W O E O O D I M N A H G
E G A I F C O R W N A T E Y
S O P T E N F P S N O Y R A
N L N A Y D T T C N A N A N
E D I R K I N D N E S S P N
S E D E Y D R O G O F E Y P
N N N D R S O N D O P I D T
O F A I T R O F M O C N O A
M E H S O E H S S I S O G Y
M W P N E N W O E O C R O R
O A O O W O T K N N C J J N
Words to Find: Hand in Paw
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Therapy Dog
Therapy Cat Comfort Joy
Kindness Consideration Common Sense
Golden Woof
C F J C N S M E T D N G A S
Making School Cool! Once a month, Starla Castle’s exceptional education class goes to the dogs – in a positive way! Therapy Team Lanette and Ginger have visited Mrs. Castle’s students for over 5 years. During their School’s Best Friend visits, Ginger the therapy dog wears a special activity vest that has pockets, Velcro patches, and zippers sewn on its sides. Mrs. Castle utilizes Ginger and her activity vest to create interactive lessons that motivate her students and teach life skills, social skills, and occupational therapy.
“Ginger continues to be a great motivator for my students. They get excited when they know it is a “Ginger Dog Day.” A recent memorable visit involved the kids answering questions about our class while Ginger dressed in different items depending on the answers. Ginger is the most patient dog I’ve every met. She let Lanette dress her in a hat and goggles, socks, a scarf and more! The kids had a great time and learned a lot,” says Starla.
Each week the lessons vary, but the impact stays the same thanks to your support.
Each week the lessons may vary, but the impact of Lanette and Ginger’s visits stays the same because of you. Your donations of time and money help hundreds of students in local schools achieve academic and educational goals every single day. Thank you!
You can help fund our Animal-Assisted Education programs by donating online at handinpaw.org/donate or using the envelope provided.
See Spot Run! We want to give a huge thank you to every runner, sponsor, and volunteer who made Mutt Strut 2022 possible! Thanks to your support, over $45,000 was raised for Hand in Paw! Mutt Strut was held in-person for the very first time at Homewood Central Park following a two-year hiatus due to COVID-19. It was so great to see over 500 supporters and their pups “run wild” at our dog-friendly 5k and fun run sponsored by Blue Pearl Specialty + Emergency Pet Hospital and Veterinary Eye Care in Memory of Christopher Nelms!
Thanks to Our Mutt Strut Sponsors: Blue Pearl Specialty + Emergency Pet Hospital & Veterinary Eye Care In Memory of Christopher Nelms, Creative Dog Training, ABC 33/40, UAB Medicine, Long-Lewis Foundation, Steel City Emergency Vets, Dog Days of Birmingham, Bham Now, Over the Mountain Journal, Birmingham Coca-Cola Bottling Company, Adams and Reese LLP, Pet Suites Hoover, Hollywood Feed, Dog U, Kristen McGee - ARC Realty, Aspen Lewis, Bham Family, Brasfield & Gorrie