March 2, 2012 [9]
www.kirklandreporter.com
Kirkland woman founds pet therapy program at Camp Korey BY RACHAEL HARRIS Special to the Reporter
On a hot summer’s afternoon in the shade, four dogs wait as a young boy is lifted out of his wheelchair and camp counselors carry him over to where the dogs stand calmly. The boy watches the animals silently as he is gently set down on a blanket beside them. With eyes wide open, he allows the dog’s handler to place his hand onto one of the dogs, all of which are now lying still beside him. For hours they rest next to each other, and when the counselors finally lift him back into his chair, his nurse notes that he has gone longer than ever without a seizure. Stories such as this are commonplace every summer at Camp Korey in Carnation, Wash., thanks to the pet therapy program established five years ago by Kirkland native Diane Rich. Currently, Rich is seeking additional pet therapy teams for the camp program. Pet therapy works around the human-animal connection, primarily the simple, non-judgmental love given by animals. A “team,” in pet therapy jargon, is an owner and an animal that is certified by one of the three approved national pet therapy organizations: Therapy Dogs International, Delta Society, and Therapy Dogs Inc. At camp, dogs of all breeds, including mixed breeds, are the most common animals, but the program also includes
a llama and a mini-horse. “I will consider species outside of the canine species that are registered therapy pets,” Rich added. Camp Korey is a summer camp for children with serious and life-altering medical conditions, and is free of charge. The camp also offers therapeutic recreational activities year-round. Founder Tim Rose hosts the camp on the historic Carnation Farms. After speaking with Rich, he agreed to add the pet therapy program to the extensive catalog of activities, which include a swimming pool, sports court, climbing wall, zip-line, and teepee village. Two days a week from the end of June through August, campers are welcome to daytime animal visits. Rich has been a dog trainer and behavior expert for 25 years. Her involvement with pet therapy began after testing her pet Doberman Pincher for certification. “I thought he’d be a wonderful therapy dog in any service settings,” she said. Rich’s dog visited nursing homes, retirement homes, and hospitals in the Seattle area before she founded the pet therapy program at Overlake Hospital in 2005. The environment at Camp Korey is very different from that at Overlake. “Camp Korey is a little more sensitive than other programs,” Rich said. “The camp program is outdoors, and pets are within close
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proximity to other pets and people.” In other words, animals must be “bomb-proof,” especially around a lot of stimulation and unfamiliarity. One way to discern if a pet has therapy potential is to observe whether or not the animal responds in a calm and friendly manner around strangers. If so, the animal may have the right temperament for therapy work. Rich is available to assess a team’s strengths and weaknesses. While one animal may be appropriate for a nursing home, the same animal may not fare well around children. “Pet owners find a program that suites both ends of the leash,” Rich said. Rich also offers training for individual animals or groups, and can recommend evaluators for therapy certification testing. While there is no guarantee an animal will pass the test, the opportunity to share a pet’s love with others is worth a try. Diane remembers another day at camp, during which a wary young girl inched her way over to the dogs. The approach took nearly 30 minutes, but once she reached the dog, the two were nearly inseparable for the rest of the evening. “They were best friends,” Rich said. “That’s why we do this.” To ask questions about the pet therapy program, or to schedule a team interview with Diane Rich, email askdiane@aol.com or visit spokesdog.com.
RE CY CL E
A pet therapy dog lays next to a camper at Camp Korey in Carnation, Wash. The pet therapy program was established five years ago by Kirkland resident Diane Rich. CONTRIBUTED
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[10] March 2, 2012
www.kirklandreporter.com
...today’s parent teacher and a Kirkland teenager. When death happens to someone close to us, the feelings can be difficult for
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death, it’s best to explain it in their terms. Up to kindergarten or first grade, be very concrete. For example, Mary was hurt so bad that her body stopped working, and doctors couldn’t fix her. Avoid using words like “lost” or “went to sleep.” This will provide expectations that the person can be found or will wake up — or, even worse, make a child fearful of going to sleep. Between the ages of 6 and 10, kids begin to grasp the finality of death.
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March 2, 2012 [11]
www.kirklandreporter.com
...today’s parent
Single mom starts nonprofit to boost low-income families BY AARON GORDON UW News Lab
While the state government offers aid to lowincome families, it can be challenging for those who want to transition off it. Redmond resident Katie Walsh, president of A Step Up wants to change that. The Kirkland-based nonprofit organization is designed to help low-income families achieve self-sufficiency. “We want to help those who want to help themselves. This is not a handout, but a step up,” says Walsh. Walsh is a single mother who used to depend on government-subsidized child care services. After taking a pay raise at work, she was no longer eligible for such assistance. However, her pay raise wasn’t enough to make up for the lost child care money. She went from having to pay $200 a month on childcare to $800 a month. “After talking to friends in similar situations, I real-
ized that many people were purposefully not taking pay raises because they needed state benefits to stay afloat,” says Walsh. A Step Up is designed to help parents who earn too much to be eligible for state-run child care subsidy programs, yet are still struggling to make enough money to support their family. The organization aims to help the “working poor” through offering child care assistance and income budget counseling. It will also offer enrollment in Financial Peace University, a 13-week class on how to become and remain debt-free. While A Step Up has a clear direction and set of values, it lacks one vital component: money. Since the organization has yet to get off the ground, it has no track record. Without any history of success, it is difficult to persuade grant donors to offer money. Wayne Ottum, president of Ottum Enterprises and Walsh’s business mentor, be-
LWSD school year extended one day due to snow days Lake Washington School District will make up two of three snow days by changing a teacher professional development day (LEAP day) to a regular school day and by extending the school year one day. The LEAP day planned for Friday, May 4, will now be a regular school day. The last day of school, a half day, will move from Friday, June 22, to Monday, June 25. June 22 will be a full school day and June 25 will be a half day. The three snow days took place on January 18-20. The district is required to hold school on 180 days and students must get 1000 hours of instruction on average.
lieves that she can overcome this hurdle by creating a board of directors with strong community connections. “She needs to find people who already have credibility within the community who can go out and raise funds,” says Ottum. “Without history, you need quality people in your corner.” Miki Hillyer, vice president of A Step Up, plans to use the connections she’s gained through previous advocacy positions to fund raise. She believes her military background gives her the persistence and organizational skills to jump-start the organization. Walsh and Hillyer met at a single mothers’ support group. “My politics have changed a lot since becoming a single mom. What I like about Katie’s program is that it’s about getting off state programs, which should be the ultimate goal anyways,” says Hillyer. Both Ottum and Hillyer agree that Walsh’s persistence sets her apart from other entrepreneurs. “I’ve seen a lot
of would-be business owners run through my office, but Katie stuck out for her passion to move her ideas forward,” says Ottum. Both also agree that Walsh’s approach to helping low-income families is the “right way.” While many private and public nonprofits support those in extreme poverty, A Step Up aims to help what Walsh calls the “working poor.” “These are folks who have their degree or are going to school but they’re working on getting something more so they can support their families,” says
Katie Walsh and her two sons, Jeremy, 6 and Joshua, 1, at her Redmond home. CARRIE WOOD, Kirkland Reporter Walsh. For information, visit astepup-nonprofit.org.
AARON GORDON is a student in the UW Depart. of Communications News Lab.
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