Hearing and Service Dogs of Minnesota ß F ailsR O M M I N N E S O T A For Friends of Hearing and Service Dogs of Minnesota Fall 2008 Vol. 19 Issue 4 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. SheT is symbolic of our commitment to save homeless dogs while fulfilling our mission to serve people with disabilities. Independence! by Amy Sperry HUGE benefit to us,” he adds. “Thank you for making this as easy as possible for our family.” Brianna Albers of Rosemount, Minn., is Brianna says. “Plus, people talk to me a spirited 13-year-old who has a form of more because they are curious about Brianna expressed her appreciation to the muscular dystrophy. (Muscular dystrophy my dog. I’m meeting more people. I’m contributors at Hearing and Service Dogs of is an inherited muscle disease that causes getting out more and being more active.” Minnesota who have raised funds to train these muscles to weaken progressively.) The super dogs. She adds, “Thank you for Lexi!”❤ symptoms of muscular dystrophy limit Brianna’s dad, Rick added, “Having Lexi movement and coordination, making it has brought us closer as a family. Now tough on an energetic we go out to the back yard teenager. and play catch. We didn’t do that before having Brianna says that, since Lexi. People talk to us as she was a little girl, she a family and ask about To make more dogs available for children like wanted a Service Dog Lexi. Not only is Brianna Brianna, visit us at www.hsdm,.org. to help her with day-to- becoming more outgoing— day activities. Brianna we all are!” THOSE WHO MADE THIS and her parents, Rick PLACEMENT POSSIBLE and Heidi, did some Brianna says that having Dog Source Julie Mach research online, which a Service Dog is a lot of convinced them of work. “You can’t just sit Veterinary Services the benefits of having and do nothing,” she says. Mounds View Animal Hospital a Service Dog. They “You have to really want it contacted Hearing and work at it.” Puppy Raiser The Schwartz Family and Service Dogs of Brianna Albers and Lexi Trainer Staff Minnesota and were Rick says the family came matched with Lexi, a chocolate Labrador across other organizations that train Foster Home Inmates at Retriever with the temperament and strong Service Dogs. “But Hearing and Service Faribault Correctional Facility body build suited to helping Brianna Dogs of Minnesota was able to send the with her daily tasks. Lexi can open doors trainer right to our house. That was a for Brianna (Brianna uses a motorized Bring It On! by Dianne Astry wheelchair), pick up dropped items, and alert family members when Brianna needs Nathan Gottschalk is an eighth grader who teases help. his sisters, plays soccer and cracks jokes. Anyone who meets him would agree that he’s a typical “Having Lexi has helped me to be more teenager—who happens to have been born with independent.Inside I now This can do Issuethings by myself From the Executive Director ............ 2 Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). And now because she is there to help me out,” that he has Myster, his Golden Retriever Service Zachary Lowe & Lincoln .................. 3 Dog, this 13-year-old says DMD has less of an Chandra Dickinson & Conner .......... 4 effect his life. Sherrilyn Klaasen & Hogan ............. 4 Holly Zellmer & Gibson .................... 4 The Gottschalk family was considering a family Development News ........................... 8 pet when the idea of a Service Dog came into play. Why not have a family pet that could Alyson May & Stewart ...................... 9 provide more independence and self-confidence Volunteer Spotlight ........................... 9 for Nathan, who uses a power wheelchair? Heel and Wheel Results ................. 10 John Maurer & Ruby ...................... 11 The family contacted several programs and were told that children could not receive assistance Nathan Gottschalk and Myster (continued on page 8) WWW.HSDM.ORG From the Executive Director Volume 19 Issue 3 Al Peters & Rosie Graduation Tails From Minnesota Sixteen Hearing and Service Dog Published quarterly for friends and supporters of candidates will join us on stage for our fall Hearing and Service Dogs of Minnesota graduation at Anne Sullivan School, 3100 Editor/Layout/Design th East 28 Street, in Minneapolis on Saturday, Alan M. Peters Sue Schuster Youth Nov. 1. The graduation ceremony lasts for Hearing and Service Dogs of Minnesota As you page through this issue, you’ll about an hour and will begin at 1:00 p.m. is dedicated to enhancing the quality of notice how many of our graduates life for people who are deaf, hard of hearing Refreshments and photo opportunities will or disabled by creating mutually beneficial are young people. Our staff worked follow the ceremony. partnerships with specially trained dogs. extra hard to get dogs placed during Graduation is my favorite event of the year. We envision a future in which every the summer months, while our young I take great pride in seeing the hard work person who needs and wants an students were more available for of our staff and volunteers come together to assistance dog can have one. training. Summer training also meant meet the special needs of our graduates and Hearing Dogs are adopted from local animal the dogs would be ready to go to school take advantage of the talent and dedication shelters, placed with deaf or hard-of-hearing clients in the fall. Our staff’s efforts were and specially trained to alert clients to important sounds in their environment. Service Dogs are successful, and these lucky children trained to help people with physical disabilities by and teens will lead more independent pulling their wheelchairs, picking up or carrying objects, opening doors, flipping light switches and lives as a result. It’s exciting for me to performing other daily tasks. Dogs, training and see young people benefiting from our supplies are provided to each client free of charge. services and having their lives changed Hearing and Service Dogs of Minnesota in so many ways. We can all be proud 2537 25th Avenue South of these accomplishments. Minneapolis MN 55406 612-729-5986, 612-729-5914 tty/fax e-mail [email protected] But youth is present at Hearing and Some May 2008 Graduates website www.hsdm.org Service Dogs of Minnesota in more Board of Directors ways than one. During the first 20 days of our assistance dogs. You’ll feel proud too, Mary Quist President of September, we had 21 new puppies Carlos Villalpando Vice President knowing that your volunteer or financial Lisa Knazan Secretary arrive at our facility! Puppies came contribution helped make these dreams come Monique Morton Treasurer by van, car, and airplane, from Illinois, true. Please join me for this year’s graduation! Sara Braziller Kara Fairbairn Lisa Knazan MarySue Krueger Iowa, North Carolina and Minnesota. John Parzych We received Australian Labradoodles, Another Reason to be Proud! Maureen Pranghofer Labrador Retrievers, Golden You’ll also feel proud when you see the John Stockman Len Washko Retrievers, and Standard Poodles Hearing and Service Dogs of Minnesota 2007 Staff during this brief period of time. All of Annual Report! Our first published annual To reach a staff member via phone, dial them needed report is a stunning compilation of interesting 612-729-5986. When you hear the greeting, press the extension number. puppy-raiser facts and heartwarming photos that commu- Mary Budge Director of Operations homes. nicates our outstanding year of achievement. [email protected] ext. 158 The 2007 Annual Report is now available as Laurie Carlson Event & Volunteer Coordinator [email protected] ext. 113 Our already a download from out website at www. Rob Carrick Puppy Program Coordinator crowded hsdm.org or through the mail [email protected] ext. 111 Janet Cobus Development Director facility by calling our office. Enjoy! [email protected] ext. 153 has been Mona Elder Graduate Services Coordinator overflowing [email protected] ext. 155 Join In Our Work Kim Hyde Director of Training One of our new ar- with puppies Many of you will soon [email protected] ext. 154 rivals tries out the while our receive our holiday appeal Rita Jesse Graduate Presenter overworked Julianne Larsen Special Programs Coordinator captain’s chair after mailing requesting your [email protected] ext. 117 a successful flight to staff struggled financial support. Please Jessica Nadeau Development Assistant Minneapolis to find homes [email protected] ext. 152 become our partner in Angela Olson Kennel Manager for them providing these wonderful helpers to [email protected] ext. 156 all. We are still looking for people to more special individuals, just like those Lee Perish Account Assistant raise some of these cute pups, and I [email protected] 612-729-5914 tty you read about in this issue of Tails From Al Peters Executive Director implore you to consider taking on this Minnesota. Together we will provide the gifts [email protected] ext. 116 rewarding volunteer effort. Please of freedom, independence and peace of mind Thomas Rehbein Administrative Assistant consider becoming a puppy raiser or a ❤ [email protected] ext. 151 to all those on our waiting list. Thank you! Jason Stebner Administrative Assistant foster home. Contact Laurie Carlson [email protected] ext. 157 at 612-729-5986 ext. 113 or lcarlson@ Maria Dunn, Jenna Nikodym, Aubrey Prigge, hsdm.org for further information. Caitlin Weiss Kennel Assistants 2 Hearing and Service Dogs of Minnesota WWW.HSDM.ORG 3 Our Story Zachary Lowe and Lincoln by Janet Lowe, Zachary’s mom When our son, Zachary, was during his Applied Behavioral Analysis diagnosed with autism spectrum sessions, and Zach’s learning rate has disorder in March 2006, my husband shot through the roof! Lincoln also and I were devastated.