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ails F R O M M I N N E S O T A For Friends of Hearing and Service Dogs of Minnesota Fall 2006 Vol. 19 Issue 4 In 1988, Lucky, pictured above, was the first dog HSDM adopted from an animal shelter. She was homeless and was scheduled to be euthanized that day. Lucky served as our demonstration dog for 11 yearsT. She is symbolic of our commitment to save homeless dogs while fulfilling our mission to serve people with disabilities. Magic in Starbuck Neil Klimek and Merlin by Brenda Hilburn Neil Klimek of Starbuck, Minn., says Mae, are part of the household. he was waiting for a little magic in his life. It arrived on August 8, in the form Friends and family say that Neil is of a Golden Retriever mix named friendly and outgoing, and he doesn’t Merlin. let anything stop him. Recently, Neil told a friend, “I don’t see myself as Neil, 22, was diagnosed with cerebral disabled. I just find a new way to do palsy when he was 4. He applied for a things.” Service Dog through Hearing and Service Dogs of Minnesota (HSDM) Neil says the hardest part of training after being on a waiting list with was “remembering everything I had another organization for more than to do—I had to retrain my brain to four years. On his HSDM application, remember all the commands for my Neil said a dog could “help bridge the dog.” Sarah adds, “It was amazing gap between the disabled community when the two of them clicked. It was and the non-disabled community.” like a light bulb came on for both of them. Neil started getting the Although Neil is independent, he’s commands right, and Merlin was quite involved with his church and happy and pleased to do things for community. “Neil knows everybody in him.” this town, and everybody comes up Neil and Merlin and wants to hear all about Merlin,” Neil answers everyone’s questions.” Neil adds that he appreciates says field trainer Sarah Granger, who Neil adds, “We’re going to answer everyone who helped him get Merlin. worked with the team. “They will be questions for people who don’t know “Keep on doing what you’re doing,” good ambassadors for HSDM because there are organizations that train and he says to HSDM supporters. “There provide Service Dogs.” are so many people who benefit from Inside This Issue these dogs—it’s unbelievable.” From the Executive Director ........... 2 Sarah and Neil did some training at a Annie Kraft & Cody .......................... 3 local nursing home. “People were Julius Coffman & Archie ................. 3 amazed at what Merlin could do for THOSE WHO MADE THIS David Lee & Noel ............................. 4 Neil,” she says. “We even showed off PLACEMENT POSSIBLE Volunteer Spotlight ......................... 4 a little. Now that we’re done with Dog Source Tim Liddy & Honor .......................... 5 training, Neil looks forward to going Minneapolis Animal Control New Board Member ......................... 5 back to the nursing home just to visit.” Veterinary Services Development News .......................... 8 Inver Grove Heights New Staff .......... ............................... 8 Neil also works as a returns restocker Animal Hospital Pat Browne & Solstice .................... 9 at Wal-Mart. He shares a home with Foster Amy Burke........................................10 his mother, Laurie, his stepfather, The Turner Family Financial Report ............................. 10 Jim, and his brother, Jordan. In Heel & Wheel Results ..................... 11 Trainer addition, two 15-year-old German Sarah Grainger Financial Report...............................12 Shorthaired Pointers, Sid and Ellie From the Executive Director Volume 19 Issue 4 Al Peters & Demonstration Dog Beau A Holiday Prayer Tails From Minnesota I recently heard a Franciscan benedic- Published quarterly for friends and supporters of tion that stopped me in my tracks. At Hearing and Service Dogs of Minnesota first, I found it abrasive—almost Editor/Layout/Design Unique Fundraisers negative. Then it made me think of the Alan M. Peters Sue Schuster Paige Kite One of our most treasured friends, blessings in my life and why I do the work I do. I believe it will inspire you, Hearing and Service Dogs of Minnesota Barbara “Babs” Koch, sponsored is dedicated to enhancing the quality of life three fund-raising events for Hearing too. for people who are deaf, hard of hearing or and Service Dogs of Minnesota over disabled by creating mutually beneficial the summer. The events took place in May God bless you with discomfort— partnerships with specially trained dogs. beautiful surroundings—the Minne- at easy answers, half-truths, and Hearing Dogs are adopted from local animal apolis Club, the Women’s Club and superficial relationships, shelters, placed with deaf or hard-of-hearing clients the Minikahda Club. Each had so that you may live deep within and specially trained to alert clients to important sounds in their environment. Service Dogs are delicious meals and the best hostess your heart. trained to help people with physical disabilities by anyone could hope for in Babs. pulling their wheelchairs, picking up or carrying Nearly 90 people attended the events, May God bless you with anger— objects, opening doors, flipping light switches and performing other daily tasks. Dogs, training and making pledges and contributions of at injustice, oppression, and exploita- supplies are provided to each client free of charge. more than $21,000 for our annual tion of people, so that you may work fund. Thanks, Babs, for your gener- for justice, freedom, and peace. osity and dedication to our mission! Hearing and Service Dogs of Minnesota May God bless you with tears— 2537 25th Avenue South Buddy gives Babs Minneapolis MN 55406 a proper to shed for those who suffer from pain, 612-729-5986, 612-729-5914 tty/fax thank-you on rejection, starvation, and war, e-mail [email protected] website www.hsdm.org behalf of Hearing So that you may reach out your hand and Service Dogs to comfort them and to turn their Board of Directors pain into joy. Dawn Kessler President of Minnesota. Jill Brant Secretary Mary Quist Treasurer And may God bless you with enough Monique Durda John Parzych foolishness— Carlos Villalpando to believe that you can make a differ- Len Washko James Willems ence in this world, so that you can do Staff what others claim cannot be done. To reach a staff member via phone, dial 612-729-5986. When you hear the greeting, press Amen. the extension number, then the pound (#) key. Laurie Carlson Event & Volunteer Coordinator. [email protected] ext. 4 # As the holidays approach, I wish you Janet Cobus Development Director [email protected] ext. 8 # these unusual blessings—discomfort, Mona Elder Canine Program Assistant anger and tears—with this benediction [email protected] ext. 7 # Babs and David Koch visited with Audrey Galm Administrative Assistant in mind. [email protected] ext. 1 # Al Peters and Graduate team Chris Kim Hyde Director of Training Reichel and Service Dog, Odie. [email protected] ext. 5 # And I especially wish you the Julianne Larsen Hearing Dog Coordinator foolishness necessary to believe— [email protected] ext. 2 # Shelly O’Brien Administrative Assistant Graduation and know— that the good you do in [email protected] ext. 0 # Twelve Hearing Dog and Service supporting our work here at HSDM Lee Perish Account Assistant does make a difference in the world— [email protected] 612-729-5914 tty Dog graduates will join us on stage Al Peters Executive Director for our Fall Graduation event at Anne turning pain into joy and doing what [email protected] ext. 6 # Sullivan School. The graduation many people thought couldn’t be Rita Jesse Graduate Presenter Dawn Carlson, Mike Galm, Birdie Murphy, ceremony lasts about an hour and done. Angela Olson Kennel Assistants will take place at 1 pm on November 4, 2006.The event is open to all our readers so please join us for this fl‹ heart-warming presentation. 2 Touched by Cody Annie Kraft and Cody by Julianne Larsen Annie Kraft of St. Paul, Minn., was born time. Cody hesitated for just a second, with mild cerebral palsy, which affects then took it all in stride. He brought her hearing. Although she has additional Annie to the phone first, then took her to physical challenges, she decided that a the door. “Cody takes his job very Hearing Dog would benefit her most. seriously,” Annie says. “Even when Hearing and Service Dogs of Minnesota we’re visiting family, Cody follows me (HSDM) matched Annie with a Labrador everywhere, ready to work should the mix named Cody. need arise.” From day one, Cody appeared happy to Annie thanks the people who helped her have a permanent home and a job to do. practice sounds with Cody: her parents, The team made incredible progress and Annie and Cody Richard and Suzanne Kraft; her friend, couldn’t wait for new sounds to be Teri; and her neighbors, Deb and Linda. introduced. Annie says that Cody’s She also thanks HSDM and their discovered that trait, training got back on favorite part of training was the “touch supporters for bringing Cody into her life. course. Annie says that introducing the for treat,” where he learned to touch “HSDM is a great organization,” she smoke-detector sound, the final sound in Annie to alert her to sounds. “That was says. “I’m amazed at how hard everyone the training process, was one of the best his favorite, because he loves food,” works to accommodate the dog’s needs moments of training. “The first time the Annie shared. The toughest part, she says, and the people’s needs.” was the door knock. “Cody didn’t want to smoke detector was set off, Cody jumped leave the door and come back to touch me up and was very excited to work on a new THOSE WHO MADE THIS because he knew there was someone sound,” she says.

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