Hearing and Service Dogs of Minnesota ails F R O M M I N N E S O T A TFor Friends of Hearing and Service Dogs of Minnesota Winter 2009 Vol. 20 Issue 1 In 1988, Lucky, pictured above, was the first dog we adopted from an animal shelter. She was homeless and was scheduled to be euthanized that day. Lucky served as our demonstration dog for 11 years. She is symbolic of our commitment to save homeless dogs while fulfilling our mission to serve people with disabilities. A New Beginning Emily Cox and Mason by Laurie Carlson Emily Cox of Minnetonka, Minn., Mason had many tasks to learn to help is a young adult determined to be Emily. He retrieves her shoes when independent and to move forward she’s preparing to leave the house, into a promising future. Emily was and he picks up dropped items. In an born with ataxia and neuropathy. emergency, he’s trained to get help She also has a mitochondrial or a phone. He braces himself to help metabolic disorder. The conditions Emily go from sitting to standing up. are progressive; by fifth grade, Emily Mason also learned the command ‘tug’ was using a wheelchair. Her balance to pull off clothing such as socks and is unsteady, she tires easily, and she gloves. He also tugs the door shut has chronic pain. Nevertheless, friends when they leave the house. and family describe her as upbeat and highly motivated. Now that training is done, Emily encourages others to get a Service During high school, Emily wanted to Dog. “You get so much more than prepare herself to live independently. you expect,” she says. “A dog gives A friend saw a working team so much love back to you. I wouldn’t from Hearing and Service Dogs trade the experience for anything. It’s of Minnesota at a mall. The friend really worthwhile.” She says the most Emily and Mason suggested that Emily contact the important part of having Mason is organization about getting a dog of Rookie was retired in 2008 due to “the companionship and independence her own. a behavior problem. Despite the he gives me. I feel secure with him disappointment of having to retire around.”Y In 2007, she was paired with Service Rookie, Emily knew she wanted Dog, Rookie, but unfortunately another Service Dog to help her Hearing and Service Dogs of Minnesota remain independent. She was quickly uses a variety of mixed breed and paired with Mason, a yellow Labrador purebred dogs in our training. We retriever. The two dogs have very have had great success with donated From the Executive Director .......... 2 different temperaments, and Emily labs, like Mason, and are thankful for Celebrating 20 Years ..................... 3 had to relearn how to work as a team breeders like the Mosers who support Jeanne Wiger & Baffin ................... 3 with a new dog. Rookie was quick our work. To learn more about donating Alex Cracraft & Windy .................... 4 and excitable; Mason has a calmer and a dog or puppy, visit our website at Wanda Viellieux & Redford ............. 4 more easygoing temperament. www.hsdm.org. Legacy Club .................................. 5 “I like Mason. He’s fun and goofy THOSE WHO MADE THIS In The News ................................... 5 because he’s still young,” Emily says. PLACEMENT POSSIBLE Development News ........................ 8 “He’s calm and takes his time. He’s Dog Source Steve Sletten & Rhett ..................... 9 a thinker.” Emily says she enjoyed Charlene and Jerome Moser New Staff Member ......................... 9 her new beginning with Mason as a Charm Labradors Cindy Murphy & Marley .................10 teammate. “I like encouraging him and Veterinary Services Volunteer Spotlight .......................10 giving him lots of praise,” she says. Valley View Pet Hospital Lindsey Hjerpe & Rosco ................11 “Mason is a typical Labrador, who is a big fan of food and lots of attention!” Puppy Raisers Go Green! .....................................12 The Scott Family www.hsdm.org Freedom Independence Peace of Mind Our Dogs Fetch Amazing Things From the Executive Director Volume 20 Issue 1 Al Peters & Rosie permanent home for the organization, Tails From Minnesota and I believe we have finally found it. Published quarterly for friends and supporters of Although the T’s are not crossed, and Hearing and Service Dogs of Minnesota the I’s are not dotted, I am certain that we will move into our own permanent Editor/Layout/Design Alan M. Peters Sue Schuster Looking Back: Our 20th Year! facility during 2009! Hearing and Service Dogs of Minnesota I am proud to announce that, during is dedicated to enhancing the quality of life 2009, we at Hearing and Service Dogs This decision is a bold move and it for people who are deaf, hard of hearing th or disabled by creating mutually beneficial of Minnesota are celebrating our 20 has not been made lightly. In fact, our partnerships with specially trained dogs. year of service to the community! In Board of Directors and staff have We envision a future in which every February 1989 we certified Annie, our listened to our clients, carefully person who needs and wants an first fully trained Hearing Dog, for planned and considered every possibil- assistance dog can have one. graduate Marcy Bury. Annie was a ity. We have determined together that Hearing Dogs are adopted from local animal terrier mix that I adopted from Min- it is time for us to take this next step. shelters, placed with deaf or hard-of-hearing clients and specially trained to alert clients to neapolis Animal Control (sometimes important sounds in their environment. Service called “the pound.”) That was the Part of the process of making the new Dogs are trained to help people with physical disabilities by pulling their wheelchairs, picking beginning of a long, exciting process facility a reality involves embark- up or carrying objects, opening doors, flipping of building the organization and of light switches and performing other daily tasks. ing on a capital campaign to raise the Dogs, training and supplies are provided to each training and placing more and more money to pay for the property and client free of charge. assistance dogs each year. make the many improvements neces- Hearing and Service Dogs of Minnesota sary to turn it into a state-of-the-art 2537 25th Avenue South More than 270 assistance dog teams training and kennel facility. Without Minneapolis MN 55406 612-729-5986, 612-729-5914 tty/fax have graduated since our beginnings, the support of our volunteers and con- e-mail [email protected] and the organization has grown from tributors, we never could have come website www.hsdm.org only me, working part-time out of the so far these first 20 years. I am Board of Directors spare bedroom in my home, to our confident that with your continued Mary Quist President Carlos Villalpando Vice President current staff of 16 squeezed into our help, we will complete the capital Lisa Knazan Secretary 7,000-square-foot training and kennel campaign and provide the infrastruc- Len Washko Treasurer facility in Minneapolis. Throughout ture necessary to train more--and even Sara Braziller Kara Fairbairn Lisa Knazan MarySue Krueger this year, we will have numerous better--assistance dogs for people who John Parzych opportunities for you to join in the have disabilities. Maureen Pranghofer th celebration of our 20 year. Watch for Staff updates on our Web site and in future I will need the help of many people to To reach a staff member via phone, dial issues of Tails from Minnesota. complete this process, and I hope you 612-729-5986. When you hear the greeting, press the extension number. will help us in any way you can. Feel Mary Budge Director of Operations free to contact me with your thoughts [email protected] ext. 158 Laurie Carlson Event & Volunteer Coordinator and ideas. [email protected] ext. 113 Rob Carrick Puppy Program Coordinator 2009—An Uncertain New Year [email protected] ext. 111 Janet Cobus Development Director In the December 2008 publication, [email protected] ext. 153 Nonprofit Current Conditions Report, Mona Elder Graduate Services Coordinator [email protected] ext. 155 the Minnesota Council of Nonprofits Shelly Hiemer Marketing & Communications Specialist revealed that, of 660 nonprofit organi- [email protected] ext. 115 zations surveyed in December, more Rita Jesse Graduate Presenter Julianne Larsen Special Programs Coordinator than half experienced a decline in rev- [email protected] ext. 117 enue during 2008 and 47 percent noted Jessica Nadeau Development Assistant a reduction in individual contributions. [email protected] ext. 152 Angela Olson Kennel Manager Consequently, many organizations are [email protected] ext. 156 putting expansion plans on hold or Lee Perish Account Assistant [email protected] 612-729-5914 tty Marcy and Annie eliminating staff positions precisely at Al Peters Executive Director a time when more services are needed [email protected] ext. 116 Planning for the Future in the community. Thomas Rehbein Administrative Assistant [email protected] ext. 151 We have seen many changes during Dylan Evans Administrative Assistant these last 19 years, so it is appropri- At Hearing and Service Dogs of Min- [email protected] ext. 157 th Maria Dunn, Jenna Nikodym, ate that, as we enter our 20 year of nesota, we have seen some of the ef- Caitlin Weiss Kennel Assistants service, we prepare for even more fects of the downturn in the economy, changes in the organization. For some as well as higher postage and gasoline time, we have been searching for a (continued on page 8) 2 Hearing and Service Dogs of Minnesota www.hsdm.org 3 Freedom Independence Peace of Mind Our Dogs Fetch Amazing Things You’re Never Too Old Jeanne Wiger by Jessi Hiemer People who meet Jeanne Wiger of dropped items, helps Jeanne balance West St.