4PawPrints | Dec/Jan - 4 Paws for Ability

Dec/Jan 2012-13

4PAWPRINTS

Photos by Jessica Noll-Korczyk/4 Paws

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From our Paws to yours, HAPPY

NEW

YEAR!

4PAWPRINTS Dec/Jan.2012-13


INSIDE 4PAWPRINTS | DEC-JAN.2012-13

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Cover .................. Happy New Year from 4 Paws for Ability! Page 3-4 .............. Ben’s Corner: Small dogs, big jobs Page 5-6 ............. Piper visits grandpups in prison Page 7-9 ............. Holiday Hounds | December Class Page 10 .............. ‘Twas a Paw Before Christmas Page 11-12 ......... Paw of the Class: Joel & Jubilee furever friends Page 13 ............... Make a Dream Come True: Meet Sabrina Page 14 .............. January Class Preview Page 15-16 ......... STAR Foster, Elly O. Page 17 .............. Welcome our newest paws! Page 18 .............. Breed All About It: Papillons, brains & beauty Page 19 ................ Miami Valley School visits 4 Paws Page 20 ................ Growing up fast @4 Paws Page 21 ................ Happy HOWLidays! Page 22 ............... Doggone Good News from development Page 23 ............... Sevenly draws BIG $$ for $ Paws Page 24 ............... Paws @work Page 25-27 ......... 4 Paws @BIG BLUE Page 28 ............... In the News Page 29 ................ Pink Girlz are back

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4 Paws

Page 30 Shop Page 31 ................ Round of Appaws


BEN’SCORNER

FROM THE DESK OF 4PAWS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR KAREN SHIRK SMALL DOGS, BIG JOBS I will never forget the day I realized what a great service dog a I will never forget the night I met her at the airport and Papillon could be. It was indeed a true revelation as prior to looked into that tiny, cat-sized crate to see this tiny, two-pound, Gracie or BG as I refer to it; I had no use for small, toy breed three-legged puppy looking out at me. “OMG” I thought to dogs. Let me start here with the Amazing Gracie who changed myself, “what am I going to do with you?” I really did think I the destiny of 4 Paws, who was placing only larger dogs, to an had made a terrible mistake. To think if I had sent her back then agency who used all sizes of dogs in their placement of service how different my life would be today. How much joy I would dogs. have missed out on not having this endearing breed in my life. Gracie was born on Dec. 1, 2004 in California. Truly a gift It certainly took Gracie no time at all to weasel herself into my from God was placed on earth that day and anyone who met heart. She was a cute little imp with three good legs and one her would agree. Gracie, like many I WILL NEVER FORGET THE NIGHT I MET little chicken wing but she certainly of the kids we service here at 4 Paws HER AT THE AIRPORT AND LOOKED INTO did not let that stop her. In fact at the was born with a host of disabilities. THAT TINY, CAT-SIZED CARTE TO SEE THIS time her favorite playmate was my Her breeder knew she was special TINY, TWO-POUND, THREE-LEGGED 150-pound Great Dane. and sought to find the perfect The week after Gracie arrived I was PUPPY LOOKING OUT AT ME. placement for her. “Perhaps” she going up to a training class and -Karen Shirk thought, “a therapist working with meeting a new family there who was disabled children could use her in considering a dog. Their concern their work.” As she searched the Internet she was led to 4 Paws was their daughter seemed afraid of them. As I stood there For Ability and called to see what we could do to help Gracie talking to them about Autism Assistance Dogs, Gracie began to find her destiny. Hearing her story, I agreed that perhaps a three work her magic, the magic that earned her the name 4 Paws legged dog would be a good match for a therapist and though Amazing Gracie. Before any of us realized it, Gracie and the that was not something we really had a hand in, I thought I small girl were sitting together and she just loved Gracie. It was could help find a placement and told her to send her on over a magical and special moment because in that moment I knew here to Ohio. Papillons belonged in the 4 Paws For Ability program. Now


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this little girl needed a big dog, so Gracie could not become her service dog but instead a stepping-stone into the world of dogs—a world where dogs are a good thing and not something to fear. She went on to be matched with a loving and kind Black Lab named Buddy and I went on to start planning the 4 Paws Papillon breeding program. Step one was to convince Gracie’s breeder that she needed to be the 4 Paws mascot not a therapy dog because I knew at that moment I could never part with her. That was easy and in fact, as I spoke with her and told her how we wanted to start breeding Papillons she offered to send us Gracie’s sister Piper to be the foundation of our breeding program and of course I accepted. This, it turned out, was one of the better decisions I ever made in my entire adult life! It’s hard to believe that was 8 years ago, as it seems Piper has always been with me. I always say my true life started the day I received Ben, my first service dog, and the reason I started 4 Paws For Ability. Though my life did not end when Ben earned his angel wings, I never thought there would be a dog who could fill his footprints… well that was until Piper came along! I think Piper was with me for about 6 months before I started to notice a strange behavior. For no reason she would be insistent that she be in my lap and would scratch at my chest frantically. I’m not sure how many times this happened before I started to put things together but at some point I realized this seemed to occur right before what is called a Myasthenic crisis. You see, I have Myasthenia Gravis, a neurological disorder that falls under the Muscular Dystrophy umbrella. With MG one has periods of calm where life is pretty normal aside from being in a weakened

state and needing to conserve energy. With MG one also suffers exacerbations,

periods in which one experiences severe weakness and in some cases, and this pertains to me, respiratory failure. Thankfully, there is medication, which can help with limiting the effects of Myasthenia and if taken in time, a fullblown crisis can be averted. I began to chart her behavior and it became clear right away that she was alerting. Today Piper has three kids and several grandkids who are working service dogs and doing alert work just like their Mom! As the foundation of the 4 Paws Papillon breeding program she has created a whole little army of mighty Papillon working dogs. Piper herself is retired from breeding but still works as my service dog. She loves to travel and attends many benefits on behalf of 4 Paws, sharing the word about how awesome the program really is. She has in fact, her own column in this newsletter! Her sister Gracie was and always will be loved by all who met her. Sadly Gracie was born not just with a crippled leg but also a seizure disorder, stomach problems, and finally failing kidneys, which bought her way into heaven. People always talk about how when one goes to heaven they become whole. I like to think Gracie was whole

just the way she was and I am sure she is running through heaven on 3 legs just as she ran on earth. When I meet her one day I just know she will be exactly as she was on earth minus any discomfort her illnesses brought her. Today here at 4 Paws we have a thriving and successful Papillon breeding program with our Papillons going out into the world as diabetic alert dogs, seizure alert dogs, hearing ear dogs, and in some cases companion dogs for those who just need a little friendship to make their life perfect. This month brought the program to the forefront of my mind because we graduated two Papillons. The first, little Joey, a pint-sized Papillon who is now a partner to Sophia, a pint sized girl! Sophia has high functioning Autism and needed a friend to help her socially, emotionally, and to bring a true friendship into her life. They bonded almost immediately and seemed as though they were meant for each other. Joey looked at Sophia with admiration and love and would listen to her every command! Also placed was a Piper granddaughter, Jubilee (4 Paws Golden Jubilee). Jubilee, fondly known as JuJuBean, is a seizure alert dog and is joining her new family, which included Ghost (A Piper son placed as a breeding dog). Ghost went into the home about 6 months before Jubilee and was alerting within days. However, Ghost is not a trained service dog so Jubilee will be the dog who belongs just to her boy, Joel and will go everywhere that he goes to alert to his seizures and help him stay safe. We have a new column in this newsletter where we will feature the different breeds used at 4 Paws. Take a moment to read about Papillons and learn of some of the Papillon placements made at 4 Paws to date.

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PIPER VISITS GRANDPUPS IN PRISON By Piper the Papillon

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o today I headed out to prison to visit my grandchildren who were staying at the Warren Correctional Institute. While our dogs are not usually sent to prison for acts of violence or breaking the law, I am sure in the case of these two kids, noncompliance played a huge part in their commitment. Throughout the years, many of the 4 Paws Papillons have entered the prison programs run by 4 Paws and I am sure they brought great joy to the inmates who worked with them. Today my column is about the 4 Paws prison program. It is really a great concept and my children and grandchildren always come out of prison so well behaved! Maybe humans should consider putting their children through this program because I have met some pretty disobedient human children who want to snatch me up, poke at me, or pull my ears. I bet these inmates could teach them a thing or two! So you may be wondering what the heck I am talking about. I know occasionally when Karen tells people that their dog was in prison they would look at her in a funny manner and ask, “Is that what you call the dog shelter?” Karen always laughs and says no, they were in a REAL prison with inmates who committed crimes! Okay, so sometimes that is a bit of a shock to these people to think of the “criminals” with their dog. I have been to prison several times and my kids, grandkids and friends have been in there as well. These inmates are the good guys. Let me take some time to explain how it works! Long before my life began (and when Karen must have been quite lonely and sad since I was not yet with

her) she was visiting her horse at East Fork Stables in Eastgate. Let me digress here for a moment. I have yet to figure out the human draw to horses. They are so big and kind of stupid if you ask me. They just stand around eating grass. You see that proves my point. The only reason to eat grass is to get something out of your stomach, the dog remedy for nausea. Either these guys need a medical Internist or they are really stupid to eat grass all the time. Okay well anyway, at that time Micah, the horse, did not live at her home as he does now and she would go every day to visit him. On one such visit she met a Priest who was walking a small fluffy dog. He was telling everyone how they met. It seems that he was visiting the inmates at a local prison and he saw this small dog walking across grounds. This prison had a program where they worked with shelter dogs to make them more adoptable. Karen listened quite intently to this conversation and when he was done she had so many questions to ask. Once she learned that the prison was Warren Correctional she went home to find their contact information so she

could tell them about 4 Paws For Ability and seek a partnership. So there you have it, the beginning of 4 Paws Mission Pawsible, where inmates work with and train the 4 Paws dogs for service dog work. Warren Correctional, where the wee dog mentioned earlier was found, became the first 4 Paws Mission Pawsible program with 2 dogs and today there are up to 15 dogs there on any given day. Since that time 4 Paws has added 4 new prisons as well! We have programs at Warren Correctional Institute, Lebanon Correctional Institute, Warren County “Camp” for short-term offenders, London Correctional Institute, and Pickaway Correctional Institute. Many people ask about the safety of our dogs in prison and the best testament to their safety is the fact that Karen allows my children and grandchildren to be in the program. The inmates in the program have done some very bad things in their past. In fact, one of our best inmate trainers who has been with the 4 Paws program from day one is in on a life sentence. As a young man he was involved in a very bad murder and is not eligible to leave prison until he is an old man. Once he said to Karen that when he entered prison the big thing was the eight-track player, whatever that is. He is fascinated by her iPod, which holds hundreds of pictures in a hand size device. Eddie has worked with

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PIPERS CHECKS ON MISSIONPAWSIBLE


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MANY of the 4 Paws Papillons because Eddie loves Papillons. It is clear to see that Eddie is certainly rehabilitated because he is a true Papillon lover and must be a good guy! Actually we know Eddie is a good guy because he worked very hard to get into the program. To even apply inmates must be “ticket” free for a year. This means they must meet honor roll status and maintain it for a solid year just to apply. Once accepted they must continue to maintain this status to stay in the program. If one does not and is sent to some place called the “hole” they are out of the program and have to start all over again to get back in. Personally I would think the idea of being thrown down in a hole would be enough deterrent. I once fell into a small hole out in our field and that was scary enough! At our prisons each dog stays with his or her inmate in the cell. They are with the inmates 24/7 unless they need a short break and then a babysitter watches the puppy for a while. Our Training Director, Jeremy Dulebohn goes to each prison every other week to teach them how to work with the dogs and help them with any issues the dogs are having while they are in the program. Some of our trainers who have been in the program from the beginning are truly service dog trainers and can take a puppy from start through finishing the tasks needed by the child. The majority of

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the inmates though work with the puppies to teach them house manners and basic obedience.

Mission Pawsible is a win-winwin situation. The dogs get to stay with a human on a one on one relationship and receive lots of love from their inmate. This inmate gets to have someone to care for and some of them for the first time ever are able to give something good to society by helping to train the dogs, and finally the kids and veterans who receive the dogs benefit from the hard work the inmates put into their furry friends. To learn more about the Mission Pawsible program take a moment to read about it on our website at http://4pawsforability.org/ mission-pawsible/ I want to share a portion of a letter once written to Karen about the prison program: My name is Clayton and I am serving a six-year sentence for

aggravated robbery. In the beginning I joined the 4 Paws program just because of my love for dogs. I thought having a pet in prison would be alright! But all of that and a lot more changed once I began to understand the true meaning of the program. When I realized how important the dogs I trained were to other people something inside me changed suddenly. It was as if I were able to see everything clearly for the first time in my life. This program has done so much for me. I am sincerely a better person because of it. Before this program I never understood what real responsibility meant and I never had any direction in my life. Because of this program I now understand the meaning of a lot of things including the importance of my own life. And I have found my way through the darkness, which I have lived in for so long. Some people do not see the impact of this program. Let me be the first to say that without this program I know in my heart I would not have been able to change my life. I have been incarcerated most of my life and nothing has ever been able to help me change like this program. I can’t speak on behalf of everyone here but it has saved my life and I am forever grateful.

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HOLIDAY HOUNDS CLASS OF DECEMBER 2012

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By Jessica Noll-Korczyk

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XENIA, Ohio – Just like Christmas play and as Abigail sat on morning, 10 children sat, smiling, the floor with her, bright-eyed and anxiously awaiting hugging the yellow their gifts. But these weren’t like any Labrador Retriever, her presents—no unwrapping or excited tail wagged in batteries needed, just tender loving Abigail’s face, pushing care… and maybe a treat or two her bob-cut of shiny along the way. It was time for them black hair from side to to meet their new best friends, their side, and nearly knocking service dogs, who would change off her small glasses. She their lives instantly from the laughed as Joska kissed moment they met. her face. Their hearts seemed to melt, as “[It’s been] a long, each child first touched the top of but great two weeks. I will “We would’ve never guessed their dog’s soft, furry head. And as miss seeing dogs romp around how much we’d grow to love this tails wagged and treats were given together. We just love our dog,” said dog so fast. The friendship and in abundance, the bond began to Abigail and Joska’s mom, Jeanne at bond is amazing. I know beyond a grow between child and service graduation about the connection shadow of a doubt, this is what we dog. between the dogs in class. needed to do,” said Alexa and Joel was the first to meet his Asha, a Golden Retriever Kizzy’s mom, Christy. Jubilee, a Papillon. Tiny and full of wasn’t just met by her new boy Nathan, a shy little boy, was energy, Jubilee, known as JuJu William, but also by his two very cautious about meeting such a Bean, jumped right into her boy’s younger, equally eager sisters. But big animal that was Sprint, a lap. A smile took over his face and Asha was happy to share the Golden Retriever. He sat next to his her tail wagging took over her attention with all three children as mom, with his tiny hands folded whole body. It was an immediate up close to his face watching as I KNOW BEYOND A SHADOW OF A DOUBT, connection. his mom petted his new service THIS IS WHAT WE NEEDED TO DO.” Just before Andrew met

-Christy, Alexa and Kizzy’s mom dog. His fear subsided throughout Victory, a Golden Retriever he the next 11 days. said to his mom, “I've been they petted her soft, golden fur, Alex, 25, met Chantay waiting for her my whole life!” His which was reciprocated by loads of aka Zuzu, another Golden Retriever mom, Michelle smiled, simply wet laps to their faces. with a nervous smile. He sat in his looking to her son sitting next to her “It’s been a life-changing chair, legs crossed as his new dog and saying, “So has she.” experience—$13,000 was nothing was ushered to him. His parents on By the end of introductions for what you gave us,” said William either side of him gave Chantay Andrew was sitting on the floor and Ashas’s mom, Lori. treats and encouraged their son to rubbing Victory’s belly—Victory Big, furry, black and gray, curly do the same. Once he did, he smiling through her thick fur. haired Boss, a Goldendoodle, was laughed, as the slobbery tongue of “This has been amazing—she’s more than ready to meet his girl his new best friend tickled his treatwonderful. She did exactly what I Danielle and his whole new family. filled hand. needed which was to connect with They immediately fell in love and CJ rolled into 4 Paws in his him,” said Michelle about Victory Boss was more than happy to lie wheelchair, pushed by his mom. after 11 days of training with their down, roll over and receive belly Once inside, his smile was new dog. rub after belly rub for the remainder luminous and contagious. And that Sophia, a quiet blonde girl sat of the morning. was before he even set his sights on patiently. Her piercing blue eyes Alexa, with a head full of curly Dudley, a black Labrador Retriever. stared off into the distance, trying to hair and glasses mounted on her His smile moved from his mouth catch a glimpse of her own little face, just above the smile that and took over not only his face, but Papillon pal, Joey. Once they met, situated from ear to ear, sat also his entire body, as he jumped in she held him, hugged him and bouncing, waiting, not so patiently his seat, excited to pet his new dog kissed his soft fur. She carried him for her BFF Kizzy, a black Labrador for the first time ever. around like a living doll that she Retriever. She giggled as the large After 11 days of training, the could finally call her own best dog kissed her hands for more day had finally come for 10 kids friend. treats, as she sat upon the wicker and 10 dogs to take their From the moment that Abigail couch with her mom by her side. relationship to the next level, as an met Joska, it was a bouncy road! She could not erase the smile from official child/service dog team. Joska wanted nothing more than to her face the entire morning.

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DECEMBER 2012 CLASS


DECEMBER CLASS CONTINUED... Graduation day commenced with some peanut butter kisses as teams, William and Asha and Alex and Chantay, shared peanut butter from cheek and finger to dog tongue. It was a packed house, including foster families, volunteers, family and friends of those in class and all 4 Paws for Ability staff. All who cared for the dogs who were graduating shared in the joy and

Miami University students, Kristin McNamara and Kristy Lind came bearing Christmas gifts for each child. As they received their graduation certificate, they received a wrapped present, full of candy and other goodies, from the two students who fostered Champagne, a Golden Retriever during the fall semester. “I didn't foster anyone from the December class. Our group just wanted to do something for the kiddos,” said

solace knowing that they played a part in making a child’s life better.

McNamara, a special education major, who helped start up the 4

Paws for Ability’s Campus Program at Miami. McNamara witnessed the emotion and gratitude exuded by the parents. “Graduation day is really a day of pure happiness. When you look around the room there is not one person who doesn't have a smile on their face. Although there is some sadness, graduation day is the day you always dream of as fosters. You see your dog up there with their kid getting their diploma, and your dream finally starts to become true,” she said. So many dreams came true. It was a magical day at 4 Paws for Ability. The holiday spirit was inhouse that day. “Merry Christmas! This is the best Christmas ever... priceless gift to our family,” said Danielle and Boss’s mom, Kim. She said that knowing that there are other dogs and families like us, they don’t feel alone anymore. 4 Paws dogs gave them a sense of belonging and security… maybe that is the greatest gift of all. As the story goes, “Merry Christmas to all, and to all a goodnight.”


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help place

dogs like our December

*To more graduates

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‘TWAS A PAW BEFORE CHRISTMAS ‘Twas a paw before Christmas, when all through the facility, not a dog was stirring, not even Dudley or Kizzy. In 4 Paws for Ability, the crates were closed with care, in hopes that their children would soon be there. Meanwhile in their homes, the children were snuggled into bed, while visions of furry service dogs scurried in their heads.

Ordinary dogs these are certainly not, They are magical and wondrous and accomplished on every spot.

With Karen at her desk and Piper in her vest, they began sending out letters to 4 Paws’ boys and girls, quite frankly, they’re the best.

They can track and nuzzle and open doors, and that’s because these dogs are trained by Jeremy and Jessa and Jennifer.

One by one, the children received their longawaited email and to their delight, a brand new tail-wagging friend was in their sight. It was time to come to Xenia and meet their match, their new friends who like to romp and run and play catch.

Smiles on faces cannot be ignored, these dogs are perfect for each child that is for sure. Whatever they want, whatever they need their new best friend will lend a paw indeed.

They’ll play and lick and eat,

So with their new dogs on leash,

but first things first, they want their treat.

parents are so touched they cannot speak.

The day had arrived just as it may, and Karen whistled, and shouted, and called them all by name!

It’s a Christmas season like no other, they shed a tear and then another. A gift of this dog provides more than a friend,

"Now Asha! now, Joey! now, Victory and Boss! On, Sprint! On, Joska! on, Chantay and Jubliee!

but rather a bond that will forever transcend. Cute puppies are born day and night,

To the training room floor!

but only a select few can be as grand as a service

Meet your boy!

dog, yep, that’s right.

Meet your girl!

Try as you may and try as you might, we want to

With a lick to the face,

wish,

One thing’s for sure…

"Happy Howl-idays to all, and to all a goodnight!"

through thick and thin, these pairs will surely endure.

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PAW OF THE CLASS | DECEMBER JOEL & JUBILEE, FUREVER FRIENDS By Jessica Noll-Korczyk

basketball, started having what Amy calls “zone-out” spells, staring off into space. The first time he zoned out, Amy said she thought he was just ignoring her. He walked inside the house with mud on his shoes after she had just cleaned the kitchen floor and she said something to him and he just stared straight ahead.

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Paws for Ability service dog was on Hannah’s bed, never leaving her side while she was in the hospital, said Amy. Within 15 minutes, she said she knew everything that she needed to know about 4 Paws for Ability and knew this was something she wanted to do for her son. Within a month and a half, the Wilcox family raised $13,000. Joel, who used to play football and

“What are you doing?” she asked him. But he stared off, smiling and walked in circles. Those staring spells started turning into more intense seizures. He started having tonic-ionic compulsing-type seizures nearly every half hour —between 25-40 every day. They spent numerous days and nights in the hospital and tried about 20 different medications. Their last stint was in August when he was in a Memphis, Tenn., hospital for eight days. His mom said that seizure medications turned into panic attacks at school from the anxiety that another seizure may occur. His anxiety came home with him as well. On more times than one, he ran out of his room at night terrified because the medicine that he was on made him feel like someone was after him, his mom recalled. At one point, he had a seizure on the stairs in a hotel. Luckily Amy was there to catch him. As a result, he has been homeschooled since the 6th grade and wears a helmet to play outside. “It’s just that one fall… that’s all it would take,” she said fearing what could happen to her son if she hadn’t been there to catch him during his seizure. “I want him to be independent, to be 13 again,” said Amy, who said that Joel and his 14-year-old brother Alex, who used to be close, have drifted apart because of his seizures. The medications “tore them apart,” she remembered. When they were little, the two brothers would do everything together, go everywhere together while

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when they were at a Cincinnati hospital and met Hannah and Blitzen. Blitzen, a 4

XENIA, Ohio – It was love at first sight as Founder, Executive Director and Papillon-lover, Karen Shirk made her way to then 12-year-old Joel Wilcox with his new furry, four-legged best friend Jubilee, better known as JuJu Bean, his new seizure-alert dog, on the first day of the December’s Holiday Hounds class. The tiny dog’s tail wagged. She knew instantly that Joel’s arms would be her fur-ever home. And so did his mom Amy Wilcox. “When he leaned down and kissed her little nose, I knew.” And what happened next, truly sealed the deal for this mother of three. After their joyous introduction, Amy, Joel and JuJu Bean were standing in the middle of the training room floor talking to Karen. Keeping an eye on Joel out of the corner of her eye, Amy said that she saw him stumble. She moved swiftly toward him and caught him from falling. JuJu Bean got right in there, she said, licking his face. In that moment, she said it was just “awesome, just awesome. It’s what we came for.” Over the next 11 days while at 4 Paws for Ability, training with JuJu Bean, she said that the tiny little dog with a powerful nose has alerted her nearly 22 hours ahead of time of a oncoming seizure, 3-4 times. That brought tears to her eyes. “I know how much that means to us. It give us control over something that is out of control,” she said. The Wilcox family, of Blacklick, Ohio, is currently fostering JuJu Bean’s uncle Ghost, another Papillon. They started looking into obtaining a service dog for Joel, who has had seizures from epilepsy since he was 7 years old,


holding hands. They are just 19 months apart and were “best buds.” But when one of them drools for 14 hours a day on certain medications, it just drove a wedge between them, she said. “I just want him to be ‘Joel.’” For the last six weeks, he’s been on new medication that seems to have improved his paranoia and seizures. And with the addition of little JuJu Bean, Amy said that she hopes even more improvement will be on the horizon. “[She] will give us peace of mind,” said Amy, especially at night while he is sleeping. And she hopes that finally, it will bring her family closer again, including her youngest, Ava, 11, who has received less attention from her parents due to Joel’s medical condition. Amy said that she wants to plan things they can all do together outdoors, traveling, camping—things that up until now she hasn’t felt comfortable even thinking about. “If we can all relax again, maybe it will build the relationships back up.”

JuJu Bean will go to school with Joel once he returns to mainstream school. And since stress is a big trigger for his seizures, Amy said that she hopes that having JuJu Bean by his side will calm him and help him make friends again, give him the confidence that he needs. “[It will] open a lot of doors for him.” Doors like playing the sports he loves again, as well as allowing Amy the security to “let go” a little bit more. Joel became a teenager while at 4 Paws and that, his mom said, was the best birthday present ever. “4 Paws more than met my expectations. It’s just incredible.”

“I JUST WANT HIM TO BE JOEL. [JUBLIEE] WILL GIVE US PEACE OF MIND. -Amy Wilcox


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us place

like Jubilee *To help seizure dogs

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MAKE A DREAM COME TRUE Meet Sabrina By Esther Medellin

Sabrina Michelle Medellin is 15 years old and loves sports, especially basketball. And while she doesn’t understand the rules that apply to the game, she does know what she has to do when she’s got the ball. But life has always been about more than laughter and playing ball for Sabrina. We discovered prior to age 2, when Sabrina was not crawling, turning over/ walking, etc., that she had hypotonia, which she then had throughout her toddler years. She underwent physical, occupational and speech therapy. Currently, she still has very limited speech and currently knows approximately 30-35 words, however, she cannot put words together to make sentences. She has a rare unbalanced chromosome deletion. She has a partial deletion of her #22 and a duplication of her #2 chromosomes. Sabrina walks with an unusual gait, and is currently wearing DAFOs (Dynamic Foot Ankle Orthosis) for corrective support for both feet. The challenges my husband and I have faced are primarily sadness and frustration, simply because there is basically no cure for her condition, and not many cases with her condition that we can relate to or compare. Sabrina has always been happy, but the older she has gotten, the more challenges arise. Her inability to express herself has caused her more frustration. We have had a difficult time going to stores/restaurants without some sort of episode or meltdown.

She is unaware of potentially dangerous situations, i.e. crossing the street, going with a stranger, etc. She’s got a great personality. She has always been a happy child and is still happy, but more frustrated at times. For

having such limited speech, Sabrina is what I like to call a social butterfly! She is very interactive and will initiate conversation (i.e. saying, “Hi!”) with anyone. Sabrina is in a self-contained classroom, but her class is mainstreamed throughout the day. Her favorite class is gym and she just loves to stay active! She absolutely loves school and is very popular with her peers. A lot of the kids, both in mainstream and special education just love her and will protect her while she’s at school. While I am aware that she is the one that is facing such great challenges, it is not only hard for us parents to boost her spirits, but physically draining. I know that Sabrina can feel alone at times, but I am certain that a behavior disruption and sensory therapy service dog would provide her with not only

physical, but also emotional support. I am hoping this dog will also help to ease her daily frustrations and provide comfort to minimize with her emotional meltdowns. My husband and I feel truly blessed to have Sabrina in our lives, and have always wanted to give her something that will make a difference in her life. She doesn’t seem to be phased by material things, nor has she ever. I believe that this dog will make a huge impact and difference in her little world and we cannot wait for the opportunity! So far, we have raised close to $200, but we have just started our fundraising. We are certain we will accomplish this for Sabrina! It will cost 4 Paws $22,000 to place a dog with Sabrina, and her family is committed to raising $13,000 in support of the 4 Paws mission and can reach our goal with your help. If you can help us with a tax-deductible donation, please visit 4 Paws Donation Page (http://www.4PawsForAbility.org/ donate-now) or mail a check with her name on the memo line to: 4 Paws for Ability, In Honor of Sabrina Medellin, 253 Dayton Ave., Xenia, Ohio 45385.

You can make a Dream Come True... check out all our dreamers: http://4pawsforability.org/make-a-dream-come-true/

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JANUARYCLASS PREVIEW BALDO Labrador Retriever Gypsy litter Partner: Jonah and Shawn

CALYPSO Goldendoodle Pirates of the Caribbean Partner: William

CHAMPAGNE Golden Retriever New Years Litter Partner: Jacob

CHILI Labrador Retriever Superbowl Litter Partner: Sam

NAVIN Golden Retriever New Years Litter Partner: Ryan

NEO Golden Retriever New Years Litter Partner: Kaden

PARFAIT Labrador Retriever Superbowl Litter Partner: Joseph

POPPERS Labrador Retriever Superbowl Litter Partner: Gabe

CHIP Labrador Retriever Superbowl Litter Partner: Cole

SLIDER Labrador Retriever Superbowl Litter Partner: Arielle and Israel

DALMA Goldendoodle Pirates of the Caribbean Partner: Anna

SPARKLER Golden Retriever New Years Litter Partner: Alyssa

GABRIEL German Shepherd Dog Angels Litter Partner: David

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In the back of her head, she said that she always thought how cool it would be to puppy raise a GED puppy. However, after looking into it, she realized that having a dog for two years would be too Above, Elly and Rue, a Papillon in training. Below, Pirate, her last much for her foster Papillon. family to take on at that time. Ability, she said those “After my foster dogs have taught her a thing or two as well. dad passed “They have taught me away in 2005, the thoughts patience!” And she remembers each kept dancing in and every one of them. my head, and our family -Monkey, the yellow came to a time Labrador Retriever, was so laid back and calm, but in our lives when it would be possible to follow this look out if a dog walked into the room dream of mine.” BAM! out the door play, play, play. We worked really hard on doggie That’s when she said she Googled distractions but it was just him he service dog agencies and came across 4 Paws for Ability. It was a pawfect believes all dogs should love him and still does. If there were no dogs around match! you would have to look for a heart beat. “I was intrigued with their shortterm fostering. I read all about Karen. I -Desi, beautiful Desi. She was my watched her video, [watched] her longhaired GSD. She was glued to me and service dog work was just too struggles [and it] reminded me so much of my dad and how much he fought for stressful for her. She just wanted to be position in life,” she said. “He was one your loyal girl and be with you and because of this she ended up in of the first blind college students to wonderful pet home that loves her graduate from John Carroll in 1955. In a nutshell, it was something I could do dearly. to give back.” -Tye, the golden boy of the clan Now, having fostered several service dogs in-training for 4 Paws for melted my whole family and he was on

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Photos by Jessica Noll-Korczyk/

NORTH ROYALTON, Ohio – For Elly Organiscak, it all started with a Google search. “You will read it and hear it that 4 Paws is magical. It really is…” After researching service dog agencies, she found her home with 4 Paws for Ability. That’s when she and her family decided to open their home and took in their first foster dog April 25, 2009. He was 5-month-old, yellow Labrador Retriever, Monkey of the Ben and Jerry’s Litter. Over the next 2 ½ years, 42-year-old Organiscak would foster six puppies from Labs to Papillons. Beyond that, the Organiscak household includes two of their own rescue dogs, Cabela, a miniature pinscher, rescued from a puppy mill and Sonny, a German shepherd, pulled from a high-kill shelter. But she calls her family, ‘typical.’ “My husband Tim is very supportive of my passion [for dogs] and loves to joke around. He is the ‘social part’ of the relationship I like to say,” said Organiscak. Aaron is Elly’s oldest at 14 years old, but does not share his mom’s passion for dogs. That bond is with her 12-year-old daughter Hailey. Her lifelong inspiration has always been her dad, she said, who was born with low vision, losing his sight completely at 3 years old. “He was a dog lover, but my mom had allergies so we could never have a dog. I always loved dogs and I loved watching the seeing-eye dogs, and always wished my dad could have one,” said Elly.

Elly started fostering 4 Paws dogs in 2009.


Elly Organiscak: Foster mom teaches, learns

4 Paws

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STARFOSTER


Foster mom teaches, learns, continued


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*To help us place seizure dogs like Jubilee

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track for service dog work. He loved easier after you have fostered so pictures and tears of happiness kids and attracted a crowd. He was many, but each of them leave a stream down my face.” diagnosed with hip dysplasia and so permanent mark in your heart and On the other hand, it’s also hard it was decided that he was to be ‘goodbyes’ are very hard.” when she finds out one of her foster placed in a pet home. He is a However, when Elly sits among pups didn’t make the cut as a service Certified Therapy Dog. other families and foster homes and dog. -I was honored to foster Ezekiel, volunteers at 4 Paws for Ability “When I get that e-mail I just Karen's own personally bred GSD. during class graduation, it makes all cry, it breaks my heart. Jennifer has He was such an amazing dog. He those tears turn from sadness to told me every dog is a success, but was confident, calm, obedient and a sheer joy. when you foster you have that goal handsome boy. He is a service dog in “[It’s] totally serine, but it in your mind, you dream of your Arizona. makes me feel complete inside,” said foster dog kissing their partner. You -Jubilee lived up to her name. If Elly, who just recently watched dream of who they could be with you have never had a Papillon or Jubilee aka JuJu Bean, a seizureand what they will do you never you thought, ‘I don't like little dogs,’ alert Papillon, graduate in December dream they won't make it as a all you had to do is meet her and she with her boy Joel. service dog.” would warm you right up. She Knowing that she has given a These dogs who Elly fosters, absolutely loved my husband (who is home to a dog who will be such an training them to be more social and not a little dog person) and had a amazing animal is like no other comfortable around people and huge personality to boot. She was feeling, she said. It’s the best part of public spaces, have essentially taken saucy, bossy and demanding. Social fostering. her out of her own shell. A once selfbutterfly = Jubilee. “I don't think it is something proclaimed anti-social person now -My last foster was Pirate and I you can explain. It is something you joins other dog-friends on Facebook thought I had challenges before. He have to experience for and is constantly planning her next is keeping me on my toes. While he yourself. When I see pictures of my social outing with her foster dog. didn’t make the cut as a service dog, foster dogs in their homes with their Fostering for Elly has helped he has found his furever home. families my heart just beams with her just as much as she helps these -My present foster is Clank, a pride, sometimes I just stare at their dogs. Golden Retriever puppy. Each personality is unique and precious to her. But with as many dogs that she has fostered, giving them back to 4 Paws for Ability so that they can receive their training to ultimately become a much-needed service dog, never gets any easier for her. “I miss them and I would be lying if I said I don't cry. I always cry,” she said. “I cry because I will miss them. I cry because I know they are going on. My family just shakes their head and says, ‘Oh mom.’” Elly with December graduates, Joel and Jubliee, along with his mother, left, and her son and daughter, right. “You think it will be


WELCOME OUR NEWEST PAWS! Enya+Zeke - Aerocraft Litter | 9.22.12 Delilah+Caepor | Dr. Seuss Litter | 10.3.12 Jude+Caepor | Turning Point Litter | 10.26.12 Treo+CJ | Kids Movie Stars Litter | 9.29.12 Oba+Caepor | Snow White Litter | 11.3.12 LX+CJ | Thanksgiving Litter | 11.22.12 Sophia+Caepor | Friendship Litter-12.5.12 Lyric+Caepor | Winter Holiday Litter | 12.20.12


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Want more puppy pix? Go to 4PawsForAbility.org or check out our 4 Paws Dogs Facebook page!

Papillons: Brains & beauty By Karen Shirk

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environment makes them excellent for the purpose of hearing ear dog training. However alert and active they are, Papillons are still extremely small, and need to be protected from rambunctious children and dogs. Since he has no idea

he's as small as he is, he's likely to approach much bigger dogs, as well as leap tall buildings in a single bound – potentially with broken bones as a result. Other than that, he believes in "the more, the merrier," and he likes to live in multi-pet homes. Many Papillons and cats have become fast friends. While the dogs are named for their distinctive ears like a butterfly wing – "papillon" is French for "butterfly" – they can have hanging ears as well. Although these dogs are usually referred to as "Phalenes" rather than "Papillons," the dogs are otherwise identical and in the United States are registered, bred, and shown as a single breed. The 4 Paws Papillons are either specially bred at 4 Paws for seizure, diabetic, and medical alert, as well as other jobs like hearing ear work, and assisting with a higher functioning child with disabilities like Autism who prefers a smaller breed dog; or purchased/donated by responsible breeders well-known to 4 Paws for their ethical breeding practices and the quality of the dog they produce. The 4 Paws Papillons in the breeding program here are the only breed at 4 Paws who has their own job within the agency. You can read about them here www.4pawsdogs.org


wing ears, silky coat and dark eyes -- his grace and his expressiveness. But packed inside that pretty purse-sized body is one of the smartest of all dogs, a clever, active little guy who excels at almost anything dogs do, from organized sports like canine agility to long walks in the park -- and of course, companionship. When searching the internet for the top 10 most trainable dog and the top 10 smartest dogs the Papillon is found on both lists. This is why the Papillon excels in service dog work! The Papillon is not a good choice if you want a restful dog who doesn’t need much exercise. He is highly intelligent and needs the stimulation of activity and training. He needs time to run around safely and play with other small dogs or his human partner, as well as long walks

on leash every day. Daily activity is a good rule of thumb if you want to keep the Papillon from entertaining himself in ways you won’t like. He’s a natural at many dog sports, including agility, carting, flyball, freestyle, obedience, rally, and tracking. Of course the dog of choice when selecting a small breed for service dog training. The Papillons bred at 4 Paws, like many Papillons, are very in tune with their humans and will spend hours just gazing at them with loving adoration. It is their intense bonding and attention to their owners which makes them the perfect medical alert dogs. Their keen sense of knowing everything that is going on in their

Like a supermodel with a Ph.D in nuclear physics, the Papillon first catches your eye with his looks -- trademark butterfly-


BREEDALL ABOUT IT

Shout Outs: www.petstreet.com

For more about our breeds, go to 4PawsDogs.org, or check out our 4 Paws Dogs Facebook page!


MIAMIVALLEY SCHOOL VISITS 4 PAWS


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GROWING UP FAST@4PAWS •Juno+CJ | Anna's Sunlight Litter •Sug+CJ | Color Purple Litter •Oydessy+Aero | Sea Litter •Razi+Luka/Phoebe+Luka | Hunger Games Litter


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HAPPY HOWLIDAYS!

Sensitive Santa event @The Mall at Fairfield Commons on Dec. 2, raised $1,000 supporting 4 Paws.

Send us YOUR 4 Paws’ pix to [email protected]

Photos by Jessica Noll/4 Paws


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DOGGONE GOOD NEWS from development By Kelly Camm, Development Director Welcome to my new column! In every newsletter, I will attempt to update you on the latest funding happenings. Warriors Breakfast Foundation In November, we were honored by a foundation called the Warriors Breakfast Foundation to be chosen for a donation, benefiting our 4 Paws Veterans program. It was held on Sunday, Nov. 11 (Veterans Day) at the Quaker Steak & Lube Restaurant on Lyra Drive in Columbus. Here's the background: The two founders are both Marine Veterans, and they wanted to create a way to give back to the military family they have grown to love. The Warriors Breakfast is a play on a Marine Corps tradition of a "warriors breakfast" at the end of the Marine Corps Recruit Training. They decided to pair this experience with helping local organizations like 4 Paws as a way to help to give back. This event raised more than $2,200. Thanks to founders, Pete Marlin and Anderson Friedline, for choosing 4 Paws. Also, thanks to Jennifer and demo dog, Conner, and Jessa and demo dog, Coda, for representing 4 Paws that day. Sevenly Cause Marketing Campaign - $31,434 in One Week Regular readers of 4PawPrints read about our one-week tshirt/sweatshirt/tote bag sale conducted by Sevenly the week of November 12. I had no idea it would be so successful! As a matter of fact, it has been the most successful cause marketing relationship we have had to date! With the $10,000 anonymous donor match, we earned $31,434! In addition, it looks like we may have another opportunity to do this again with them in 2013. And, we added more than 600 likes to our Facebook page! Here’s the background: Sevenly found out about us through our Classy Award of Midwest Charity of the Year. Their CEO, Dale Partridge, was one of the speakers at the Classy Awards. A big THANK YOU to Erin Blocksidge (August 2012 class) for nominating us for the Classy Award. Your kind gesture ultimately resulted in a $31,434 donation. Eisai

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Email Kelly at [email protected].

If you frequent our website, you may have seen the Eisai logo on our home page. Eisai is a corporate sponsor who will be fundraising over the next year and providing 4 Paws with enough funding for five Seizure Alert Dogs. On December 4, I flew out to Eisai’s headquarters in Woodcliff Lake, N.J., and Maureen Long and service dog, Jethro (October 2012 class)

drove over to meet me. Maureen fascinated the “Snack and Learn” audience with her son, Patrick’s story. She also surprised me by demonstrating a seizure, and Jethro alerted. It takes a lot of guts to demonstrate a seizure in front of people you don’t know so I can’t thank Maureen enough for going out of her comfort zone and taking the time out of her busy schedule to represent 4 Paws. On Dec. 11, Roberta Polak and service dog, Bo (May 2010 class) drove to the Eisai headquarters and represented 4 Paws by meeting with Eisai employees from both NJ offices. Roberta reported, “The employees loved meeting Bo, and I was amazed at all of their hard work in making a multitude of items to sell for the 4 Paws cause. Diane even asked if we'd be willing to come back again. Thanks for letting us represent 4 Paws!” Roberta, no need to thank us…we thank you for taking the time to do this. Roberta is a pro at representing 4 Paws at CFC events in the Newark area and now at Eisai. Look at Bo in the “down” command. We have the most amazing 4 Paws families and dogs! 4 Paws is delighted and thrilled to have been chosen by Eisai as a partner. Thank you, Eisai, for making so many dreams come true!

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SEVENLY CAMPAIGN DRAWS MORE THAN $30K Thanks to your shirt purchases! The Sevenly campaign closed out raising $31,434. Sevenly Donation: $21,434 Match Donation: $10,000 Total Donation: $31,434

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Paws @work... Stories from our families about their 4 Paws in action! Mason & Pippi“Mason broke his elbow over the weekend and of course I took Pippi to the ER with us. She did really well, until the doctor came to put the cast on. She was pawing at me because she couldn’t get to him. As soon as she was done, this is what Pippi did. I thought I would share the picture. (See photo to right.) -Amy Ohler

Noah & Twizzler"Once again this am at 5 am the wonderful Twizzler woke me and Noah was in a seizure. We spent the next 6 hours in the er getting it under controll and she was by his side... Thank You 4 paws for a dog that is beyond compare and so perfect for my little boy…" (See photos to left.) -Christine Bernard

Will & Max"I thought that I would be less emotional and better able to put thanks into words this morning. That is not the case. Last night we had a scare.... Will wondered off. He was found by his Max, on an island in the middle of a huge creek. He was having fun throwing rocks into it. Thank you so much to the 4 Paws staff, the donators that make this possible, and the prisoner that helped train Max." -Meredith Moore Redfern Logan & JukeLogan woke up after sleeping all day. He begged and begged to go to school and kept saying "Quinn!" (his teacher). I explained to him that he slept the day away and school was over. He cried and begged. Meanwhile two ladies came to visit me. While we were visiting I forgot about Logan and felt a cool breeze and felt alarmed. Logan had run away! I immediately gave Juke the command he was trained to do: "Track! Where is Logan? Track Juke!", to our amazement we watched Juke jump into action and run out the door. While I was scrambling to get my parka and boots on, Juke barked outside and ran up the steps, he then brought me to where Logan was. Behind the house by the old truck. I almost cried! Good job Juke! It is twenty below outside. I had to immediately give Juke a treat, good job tracking Juke! Saved me time and worry and searching! Share your story with us! Send your short story and photos to [email protected].

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UK students give back their foster pups, shed tears knowing they are doing good By Jessica Noll-Korczyk

them the chance to socialize and continue their performance training

after their stint in the 4 Paws prison program, Mission Pawsible™. At college, they go everywhere with their foster student, from class to the store, to the dorm room and everywhere in between. The students understand exactly what they’re providing to the children of 4 Paws. “The program as a whole provides such a good service to those who need the dogs. I think there is no better way to have a dog while at school because one day they'll make a child as happy as they made me and offer them so much more,” said Quinn Bragg, another UK foster student to Fantasy, a Golden Retriever. After they leave campus, they’ll return to 4 Paws for more training and some will return to prison for


her fellow students. But this isn’t her first time. Little, 21, who heads up the UK Paws on Campus Program for 4 Paws for Ability, has fostered five dogs throughout her collegiate career. It never gets easier to say goodbye though. As they have a moment before leaving each other, 9-month-old Pretzel, who dons a pink collar, lays on her back with her legs up as Little rubs her belly. She knows it’s her last day as a college pup. Knowing that she is helping children with disabilities have the life they deserve makes this bittersweet moment a little more palatable for Little. “It’s for a great cause. I’m obsessed with dogs,” said Little, who has about five more years of school before becoming a veterinarian. “Its most rewarding part is watching them graduate— seeing what a big difference they make.” “I love seeing pictures, to see how they’ve progressed, and how the child and dog are connecting. It makes me happy.” But it’s been a busy semester for dogs like Pretzel. The Campus Program, Paws on Campus gives

LEXINGTON, Ky. – As the brightly colored autumn leaves wisp passed the busy, bustling students on their way across campus to their next lecture, some students at the University of Kentucky are taking a moment to say ‘goodbye’ to those who became best friends to them throughout the fall semester. Smiles and tears cannot be contained as these young co-eds’ hearts are breaking for the better good of their recently made furry best friends. They kneel down and wrap their arms around them, squeeze them tight, pet the top of their heads, look them in the eye and kiss their nose. One student tells her dog, “Be a good service dog for your boy or girl, OK?” with a tear rushing down her face, quickly followed by a few more, as she lifts her Golden Retriever foster up and into the van that 4 Paws for Ability trainer Jessa Brown has brought to retrieve the dogs for further training in Xenia. Seventeen UK students spent their first semester in the 2012-13 school year, fostering 12 4 Paws for Ability service dogs in training, but now the semester was coming to an end, as was their newly found companionship. Caitie Little, a senior animal science/pre-veterinarian major, says goodbye to Pretzel, a chocolate Labrador Retriever among

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4 Paws @Big Blue

FOR MORE INFO, CLICK ON: PAWS ON CAMPUS

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4 Paws @Big Blue, continued...

further training. Some, however, will be ready for an upcoming class after extensive oneon-one training with the trainers at 4 Paws for Ability. Trainers like Brown, who is the director of the Campus Program and has seen many tears shed by foster students in her time at 4 Paws. “It’s not only awesome for the dogs to have so much intense socialization, confidence, but just as equally is so awesome for the students,” she said about the program that got its start at Wittenberg University near

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Dayton, Ohio, in 2008. Logan Bright attended Wittenberg, then transferred to UK and started the program in Lexington in 2009. “[These students] donate their time, effort and love” to the dogs, said Brown. For the students, it gives them not only a good resume booster, but teaches them responsibility while living on their own for the first time as well as social skills and confidence of their own. Students like Bragg, a 20-year-old double major in business analytics and management and a dog lover, learned a lot, especially about the hardship of saying goodbye. A photo of her hugging Fantasy can be seen on the 4 Paws for Ability Facebook page’s cover photo. It was a moment that she won’t soon forget. “Giving them back was the most difficult part of the whole experience because over the course of the semester it is very difficult not to get attached.” “[It was] more emotional than I anticipated! It was extremely difficult not to get attached over the course of the semester, and I wish I could keep Fantasy, but we all know going into it that that is not the case, so to an extent we prepare ourselves beforehand.”

That struggle for her was worth the tears shed, realizing the end result for Fantasy. “Knowing that I helped train a dog that will one day help a little kid with everyday tasks and love them unconditionally is the most rewarding. It's hard knowing you'll have to give the dogs up but with this reminder in the back of my head, it made it OK,” said Bragg. Being a foster student to Fantasy has changed Bragg for the better. Not only did her fostering help Fantasy learn the tools of responsibility, but it also allowed Bragg to pick up a few new tricks as well. “I've always thought of myself as a responsible person but training and taking care of a puppy on your own 100 percent of the time is definitely a test of that and made me a more responsible person because I wasn't just taking care of myself anymore.” “I've also learned to be more patient, the puppy won't always do what you ask and what you expect of him/her so patience is key because they're smart and eventually they do get it. I also thought more about who this is benefitting and it definitely made me more appreciative of what I have, the life I live, and the fact that I get to train the dog to help someone else rather it being the other way around.” The option to stay in touch with whomever the family is who ends up Fantasy is what she hopes will happen, said Bragg. “It is nice because I feel we put a lot of time, hard work, and devotion towards these puppies and it's very hard giving them up so the reassurance that they’re doing their job well and are happy makes up for the loss we feel giving them back.”

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4 Paws @Big Blue


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*To help support our campus program

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EXTRA! EXTRA!

Have a media inquiry? Call us! 937.768.9096 Email us! [email protected]

4PAWPRINTS ARCHIVES

Turning Point’s 4 Paws for Ability Documentary to air: Feb. 6 @8:30 & 11:30 p.m. on BYUtv.org. Here’s the link to watch live: http:// byutv.org/watch/livetv We will embed the video on our website once it airs so that you can watch it whenever you like!

Thank you to all the media for coming out and telling our story and the stories of our families.


In the News...

WOOF’S BLOG

Boy’s book helps epileptic kids get service dogs- The Today Show, NBC News

Family raising money for guide dog to assist 4-year-old blind, autistic sonLansing State Journal

Edmonton-area family wants seizure dog for child with epilepsy -CTV News

Service dog for Tyler- ABC 57 News

Dog could help Goshen boy with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder- The Elkhart Truth

Mother gives her autistic son the gift of 4 Paws- Life with Dogs

New leash on life: Servie dog could change a lot for a 12-year-old autistic Stanford boy- The Interior Journal

Four Paws for Autism: Finding a dog for Levi- WTHI-TV Teen creates website to honor his brother, ‘Noody’- The Daily Times ...More ‘In the News’ at http://4pawsforability.org/in-the-news/

Twitter@4PawsForAbility--

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Right now...

Relax on a 4 Paws Cruise http://bit.ly/V5OZhk #cruise #4paws#servicedogs Furever friends http://bit.ly/RKCdCg #servicedogs #4paws #papillon


PINKGIRLZ ARE BACK!


...and better than ever!!

1/7/13

4 Paws Dogs | News from the Pink Girlz

Dogs In Training

The Pink Girlz

Breeds We Use

Puppies

Piper’s News

Official 4 Paws for Ability Site

Meet the Dogs in Training All

Black Lab

Lab Mix

Bloodhound

Labradoodle

Chocolate Lab

Lagotto Romagnolo

Collie Papillon

Coton De Tulear

German Shepherd

Golden Lab

Golden Retriever

Goldendoodle

Great Dane

Yellow Lab

V i di a

Tango

Sl i der

Si l vermi st

P i kac hu

Romy

P i c asso

P eri wi nkl e

N avi n

Meryl

Lexus

Iredessa

Moxi e

Fanta

Fawn

Gol di e

D ari a

H arpo

Ervi ng

D el mar

D el fi na

Bl i gh

C l ank

A pri l

C hampagne

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