|
|
Links of KPETS Importa=
nce!
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|
=
Gifts That Give Hope
You don't need to attend this Nov. 20 event to shop for their gif=
ts.
KPETS and approx 30 other non-profits will be offering Gifts That
Give Hope this holiday season. Shop for teachers, family, friends,
co-workers. More details from Jenny or click here:
Gifts T=
hat Give
Hope Link Just click on "Shopping" along the left s=
ide
to view KPETS' gifts as well as over 30 other non-profits'.
______________________________
Jewelry Sale, December 3rd: 25% of sales benefit K=
PETS
Erin Furman of www.thr=
eescoopsofvanilla.com
will be holding a ONE DAY ONLYfundraiser to benefit KPETS on Frid=
ay,
December 3rd.
Erin sells unique, handcrafted jewelry and on December 3rd, 25% of
sales from that day will be donated to KPETS. Please visit Erin's
website today to look at her beautiful items, many featuring love=
ly
paw print themes. But don't place that order until December 3rd! =
Erin
promises to have even more exciting pieces available when the KPE=
TS
December 3rd date rolls around. Stay tuned and we will remind you=
as
the date approaches for this ONE DAY ONLY fundraiser.
______________________
=
Third KPETS Mystery Series Book Now Available!
The third book of the New Oxford Library KPETS Mystery Series is =
now
on sale for $5. The cost for shipping is $1. This is
fantastically written by children using KPETS animals as
heroes. Please keep in mind that all proceeds benefit
KPETS! To order your copy, contact Margie Smith at 717-624-=
4742
or email her at margiesracking@earthlink.net
______________________________
Introducing our volunteer of the month ~ Donna Gom=
er
1. Where do you
visit? On A regular basis I visit Lutheran Village Utz Terr=
ace
in Hanover, The Brethern Home at Crosskeys Village in New Oxford,=
and
The New Oxford Library. Occasionally also visit at the
following locations: Abraxas South Mountain with Margie Smith and=
her
team, Edenwald in Towson Maryland, along with Bobbi Ruben,
Westminster Ridge in Westminster Maryland, Barbara J Egan R=
ehab
Center in Shrewsbury, Carroll
Indoor Sports Center with the spectators who come to watch agility
practice. Last year, I took Cullen who helped the kids write the
second
KPETS Mystery book.(KPETS and the Politician's Secret) I have also
manned the table at the Bon Ton in Hanover. I am also just starti=
ng
to visit at Golden Crest in Hampstead Maryland on a regular sched=
ule
in the last quarter of the year.
2. How many KP=
ETS
pets do you have? I have 5 dogs registered with KPETS<=
/o:p>
3. What are th=
eir
breeds/ages/names? =
;
Amanda, Yellow Labrador, aged 13. Amanda was adopted by us when s=
he
was 8 yrs old, after retiring from a breeding program.
Rachel, Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Black and Tan, aged 6. I h=
ave
had Rachel since she
was 5 months old.
Gwendolyn, Cavalier, Blenheim, aged 4 1/2. Gwendyl (to her friend=
s)
has lived at my house for the past 2 years. She was "on loan
from another collection" Her breeding career has just ended.
Gwendyl's owner transferred her into my name October 1st of this =
year.
Cullen, Male Cavalier, Black and Tan, aged 3 1/2. I got Cullen as=
a
puppy from the same breeder as Rachel and Gwendolyn.
Sailor, Male Cavalier, Ruby, aged 2. I bred Rachel and kept Sailor
from her litter of 4 puppies.
=
; &n=
bsp; =
; &n=
bsp;
I also have a Black Labrador, Tina, aged 13 1/2, and an Orange Ta=
bby
cat, Rusty, aged 7. They are not KPETS, but are great pets
nonetheless.
<=
br>
4. Special trick, talent or s=
kill
your KPETS pet has? Well, they are all brilliant! Ama=
nda
is great at retrieving (go figure), she is one of
those labs who is really laid back, and is always carrying someth=
ing
in her mouth. Amanda prefers to visit with kids, or at the
"special events"
like the Bon Ton Community Days. All the Cavaliers compete =
in
the sport of agility. I am an agility addict, I compete in three
different venues
of agility, and judge agility trials for two different registry of
the sport. Rachel is my serious dog. She is great with seniors,
especially
those affected by dementia. Gwendolyn is the poster child of
Cavaliers. She LOVES everyone and everything. Her registered name=
is
Langford Makes Me Happy, which she certainly does to every person=
she
meets. She enjoys any type of visiting I take her on. Gwendolyn is
just starting to take classes with me in the sport of Canine
Freestyle, which is dancing withyour dog. She knows several moves=
so
far. I hope to be able to share her talent with people in 2011.
Cullen, is an agility maniac! He is one of the best dogs I have e=
ver
worked with. (I have been running and judging agility since the
1980s) Cullen also performs freestyle routines with me and a grou=
p I
belong to called My Way K9 Freestylers. About half of the group a=
re
also KPETS members. We have put on a couple of demonstrations of =
freestyle
and agility at retirement facilities. According to our
instructor, Fay Fowler Gross (a KPETS member) Cullen is VERY musi=
cal.
No matter what type of music we put on, he will adjust his stride=
to
put himself onto the beat. Right now, he is working on a new rout=
ine
to the music from Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs called
"Whistle While You Work". Cullen seems to enjoy all
different types of visiting. When we visit with dementia resident=
s,
he will usually pick one person out, and just wants to be with th=
at
one individual during the visit. Sailor is what I consider =
the
Cruise Director of my therapy dogs. He is so
enthusiastic. He seems to say as he meets people, "I am Sail=
or,
I am a therapy dog. Do you need therapy today?" When he
has kids reading to him he usually will visit with their parents =
too.
Just sort of a Hi and how's it going. Then he goes and stands on =
the
page where the kids are reading.
5. What's your
favorite part of being a KPETS team? I love to share my best
friends with the people we visit. I know that my pets are a huge =
part
of my life. I hope never to be without a pet. I know that many of=
the
people I visit had to give up their pets when they moved into the=
ir
current location. When we visit, we are able to remember their pe=
ts.
I have heard great stories about each of them, and how special th=
ey
were to that person. If I am ever in a similar situation I know t=
hat
I will only live in a place that has therapy pets scheduled on a
regular basis!
6. If you could
trade places with your pet for a day, what would you enjoy most a=
bout
being him or her? I would love to trade places with Cullen =
at
an agility competition. I would love to see it through his eyes.<=
br>
_________________________
Happy
Birthday Pups!!!
<=
/span>
Amanda Gomer -9/1
Meggie Scherden - 9/1
Ginger Sarago -9/1
Dizzy Smart -9/1
Missy Winstead - 9/2
River Willner - 9/2
Bart Wimer - 9/4
Kirby Marshall - 9/6
John Chise Miller - 9/14
Liberty Spies - 9/14
Benjamin Showalter - 9/18
Lincoln Byers - 9/23
Freckles Vale - 9/24
Chloe Garner - 9/25
Cooper Widders - 9/28
Sadie Sellers - 10/1
Sophye McLaughlin - 10/1
Keira Hess - 10/1
Oscar Stewart - 10/1
Lilly Deyo - 10/3
Dodger Chaufant - 10/5
Bo Bo Hartwell - 10/7
Mati Ross - 10/8
Amber Van Schaik - 10/10
Gunar Ramos-Rothermel - 10/10
Max LoVecchio - 10/11
Hollie Belle McLaughlin - 10/11
Roxy McDaniel - l0/12
Tooksee Holck - 10/13
Mollie McLaughlin - 10/14
Tugger Lowe - 10/15
Rachel Gomer - 10/15
Jasmine Hanshaw - 10/17
Copper Hanshaw - 10/22
Maxwell Johnston - 10/24
Vivianne Cramer - 10/25
Bisuit Leonard - 10/26
Koda Brossman - 10/27
Millie Burke - 10/30
Millie Owsiak - 10/30
Puppy Cox - 10/31
Arlo Hines - 10/31
Kujo Rice - 11/1
Krissie Meitz - 11/1
Lucky Keffer - 11/1
Daisey Gerlach - 11/1
Spirit Gerlach - 11/1
Chrissy Beears - 11/1
Scout Krauss - 11/5
Gatsby Emenheiser - 11/11
Sammy Gerth - 11/12
Trey Swartzell - 11/14
MacGillycuddy Houston - 11/14
Diego Elser - 11/14
Cleo Ruggles - 11/17
Caper Sage - 11/18
Liberty Hoffman - 11/20
Dany Miller - 11/23
Moses Gerlach - 11/24
Luke Rulli - 11/25
Sarah Spies - 11/26
Holly Campbell - 11/27
Meeko Mitzel - 11/27
Roxy Winslow - 11/30
|
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|
KPETS Konnections Resource for Pet Therapy
|
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|
Coming Soon "KPETS Education 2011"
Be on the lookout! Our Safety/Quality Assurance Committee h=
as
been hard at work these last few months as you have heard. =
We
are excited to tell you that beginning in January our committee w=
ill
be bringing you monthly educational tips on pet and handler
safety. Keeping you, your pet and our clients safe is top
priority here at KPETS! Remember, there are lots of situati=
ons
that could be a potential for legal issues. As Karen commen=
ted
previously, "We can never be too careful. KPETS is big, sort=
of
- BUT very small. One legal matter would most likely be the end of
KPETS. We would sure hate that to happen. Just think of all the f=
olks
who would miss the visits of our 250 or so volunteer therapy
teams."
Until then, everyone have fun, While being attentive to all issues
related to our pets and our clients when visiting!
|
|
CHRISTMAS ALREADY! ! !=
|
|
|
T=
o make
your holiday to-do list easier....![3D"http://www.kpets.org/ccpics/santa5x7=](3D"http://www.kpets.org/ccpics/santa5x7tiny.jpg")
KPETS Christmas Cards!
I can't believe it's time to start thinking
"Christmas" already. But to make one of your 'to -do' i=
tems
easier again this year, KPETS is offering KPETS Christmas cards. =
Our
own Patty Rulli, actually drew the design for our cards this year=
. We
are taking orders now, the more we order,the less they will cost.=
If
you would like to order yours, contact Jenny at Kon=
nections@kpets.org
K=
PETS
Kalendars
A great gift for family, friends, teachers,
co-workers, etc. $12 if you can pick up, $15 if shipped.
G=
ifts
that Give Hope: - see side bar
Three Sc=
oops
of Vanilla Jewelry:- see side bar
|
|
Please Remember to LOG
YOUR HOURS
ONLINE
|
|
|
We are all=
out
there working like dogs, busy as ever, doing good deeds. We
know how busy you all are, but please remember to log your visit =
hours
online. We cannot stress how important this is. Logging your hour=
s is
so very important for us as an organization. Your logged ho=
urs
can help us get grants to improve and expand our services, help w=
ith
team education in so many areas, and so much more. So, plea=
se,
if you haven't already, go and log those hours!=
|
|
BowWow Brown Bag Bingo=
a Huge Success
|
|
|
This year's BWBBB was incredible and it's all beca=
use
of Adella, Circle M, Wendy McKelvy and our awesome KPETS voluntee=
rs who
joined together to make the Bow Wow Brown Bag Bingo the Biggest a=
nd
Best-est (yes, Best-est) EVER! What an evening though. I
couldn't believe how everything just flowed so smoothly and the f=
un
everyone was having! The pups held up well but were so exhausted =
by
the end of the evening- not that the volunteers weren't. But I do
think the pups all deserve a Frosty Paw. Everyone's enthusiasm was
contagious! Adella, YOU ROCK! It never ceases to amaze me the ene=
rgy
you have and how it flows into others! What a motivator!&nb=
sp;
The dollars raised - again - I'm speechless! We cannot thank you =
all
enough for the hard work everyone put into making this event a hu=
ge
success. And the funding couldn't have come at a better tim=
e!
Making ends meet has been a challenge for the past year, and
this was expected and saved up for. The funding from BWBBB =
is
such a key to KPETS future. And you all made it
happen! God bless everyone of you for all you did to make BWBBB 2=
010
the incredible event that it was. BUT also, thank you for y=
our
dedication in sharing your pets with those less fortunate. The sm=
iles
and warmth you bring to the 1000's we serve is invaluable! My most
sincere thanks to each of you. You are all my heros!
Karen Gerth
To everyone who made this year's Bow Wow Bingo suc=
h a
great success....THANKS !! Adella, you are the wheel that keeps us
all turning. And to all those newbie York KPETS
members.....You did a fantastic job!! Even tho' it was your first
experience, you pitched in and did not quit till the last chair w=
as
stacked and the last table was folded and put away. You all are a=
great
addition to KPETS. I am so glad to have the opportunity to meet a=
nd
work with you all. You are the reason KPETS is growing and will
continue to be successful.
Harriet
Hombach
I cannot thank you all enough for all you did!
What a great job you all did! "Thank You
Adella" for all her time and effort for co-ordinating all of=
us!
For the dogs who showed their faces, offered their paws, their ba=
cks,
their - well, you get the idea - there were some VERY pooped pups
last night! Pretty Girl (Patti Chamberlain's Greyhound) just drop=
ped
wherever she could - at anyone's feet, on the dance floor, in the
aisleway and slept (we thought we heard her snoring!), Lucky (Car=
ol
Keffer's Coton de Tulear) kept trying to be the alert perky pet he
usually is, however, his "pep" was missing just a bit of
his usual "peppiness"! Also, a HUGE thank you to
Donna Gomer and all her contacts - the gift baskets were great! T=
hank
you and thank you for all you ALL do for us!
Margie Smith
|
|
Important Remind=
er
from Safety and Quality Assurance Committee!
|
|
|
Important Reminder to All KPETS Members Who H=
ave
More Than One Pet Registered With Us
KPETS insurance=
covers
accidental injury while you are on a visit with your pet. The
insurance does NOT cover any acts of aggression by your pet. In
addition, KPETS guidelines allows you to handle only one pet while
you are visiting. If you were to handle multiple pets at a visit,=
you
are putting yourself at risk, and perhaps the facility where=
you
are visiting in a serious position as well. Our insurance coverag=
e is
very specific. We need to protect ourselves and the organiza=
tion
as a whole by adhering to the KPETS guidelines. If you have=
any
questions, you can contact KPETS member Donna Gomer, who is=
the
newly appointed chairman of the KPETS Safety and Quality
Assurance Committee at d=
onnag@kpets.org .
|
|
Meadows Pet Res=
ort
Expo by Harrient Hombach
|
|
|
Just a huge THA=
NKS
to Wendi Mitzel, her daughter Abby, Wendi's furry kids, Bristol &=
amp;
Meeko, and Andrea Hughes, for helping set up the KPETS booth=
at
9am for Meadows Pet Resort Dog Fair on Saturday Oct, 25th. T=
hey
were there the whole day and helped pack up at the end of the day=
at
4pm. Also, thanks to MaryAnne Housseal and her furry kid, Imari, =
who
joined us for the afternoon and also helped pack up. Unfort=
unately,
so many animal events were taking place thru out York area on the
same day and time, that the attendance at Meadows was very sparse.
However, we were able to talk to several people about KPETS.=
The highlight of
the day was the contests held for the dogs. Wendi entered Bristol
into the "cutest dog". Bristol, of course, came aw=
ay
with FIRST place. Wendi also entered Bristol into the "Best
tricks". After the judges saw how Bristol jumped over Wendi's
outstretched leg, first the right, then the left, jump thru the
"hoop" formed by Wendi's arms, beg on his hind legs, wa=
lk
under Wendi's legs,,,,,,,well you get the picture. No other dog h=
ad a
chance. Bristol was a resounding FIRST place winner again. Through
"encouragement" from Andrea and Wendi, I entered Mattoo=
n in
"best behaved". He won a 3rd place ribbon. When the rib=
bon
was placed on his neck, he walked with his head held proudly
high. Rubin, my 10 month old Seeing Eye pup, took FIRST plac=
e in
the "most affectionate". He literally "washed"
the face of the one judge... such a suck up!!!
|
|
Thank You from
Lebanon Valley College
|
|
|
I just wanted to drop you a note and tell you what=
a
great time the students (and some staff!) had on Wednesday with a=
ll of
the dogs. It was another beautiful night with a fantastic turnout=
. I
have gotten rave reviews from students both times and
requests/demands that we have them on campus every week! I can't
thank KPETS enough for taking the time to visit LVC and play with=
our
students. I am so impressed by the "humans" who chauffe=
ur
these sweet animals from spot to spot. We had a great time chatti=
ng
with the owners and hearing the stories of their pets and why they
love to volunteer. Please let the group know how happy we were to
have their company!
Best,
Leah Mauro
Area Coordinator
Office of Residential Life
Lebanon Valley College
|
|
Old Frien=
ds
Reunited by Karen Gerth
|
|
|
Cinda made a fr=
iend
at Brethren Village ten years ago when she would go with me to wo=
rk each
day as an assistance dog in training. Upon her failing that calli=
ng,
she became my pet and then started to come to work with me in ano=
ther
capacity. Cinda would sleep under my desk, BUT then midway through
the days, her friend Grace, a resident at BV would come get
her and take her visiting in the health care center while I worke=
d.
They had a very special bond.
Fast forward to now, ten years later. And I am no longer employed
there. Grace contacted me about doing presentation for her
church group on Saturday, Aug 21. Grace still remembers Cinda but=
she
also remembers Sammy who had done a dance routine in a talent show
for the residents at Brethren Village. Diane Rima and Chest=
er
assisted me with the presentation. We showed our KPETS DVD, then =
explained
who we are and what we do. Diane shared a bit about her experienc=
es
with her first therapy dog, and some of her experiences with Ches=
ter.
I shared a bit more about KPETS and experiences and testimonies of
other volunteers and myself. Lots of great questions were asked, =
too.
But then, per Grace's request, Sammy and I did our old dance rout=
ine.
Boy, has the age caught up with both of us. Can you say
"rusty". But as usual, you can't go wrong (or get=
it
right) when you are performing with a dog. We did so bad, but they
loved us anyway. What a great group! We mingled a bit afterwards =
and
enjoyed talking one on one as the petted the pups. We were told
"It was delightful".
|
|
Breast Cancer E=
vent
at Clipper Stadium <=
o:p>
|
|
|
By Car=
ol
Johnston
What a wonderful day for KPETS to hang out at the Clipper Stadium=
and
help support a good cause! The
dog teams were a hit during the event and received much attention
from all ages. Max and Coda started out the morning with
several young fans that frequently returned to give out hugs and =
lots
of belly rubs. Coda was really into the belly
rubs! Max was into cruising around the stadium
looking and sniffing for any stray popcorn kernels left from the
night before. I, on the other hand, had to check out the ba=
ked
goods and auction items. Kip did a great =
job
circulating around the event and giving out "high fives"=
; to
the little ones! We left for the day, making several new
friends, both young and old AND getting an opportunity to finally
meet another family that had an Eskipoo of their very own named
Champ!
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|
Do Pets Go To
Heaven? <=
o:p>
|
|
|
If you have ever suffered the loss of a beloved pe=
t,
you might have wondered at some point if you would ever meet up w=
ith your
close friend again. You are not alone with such thoughts. One of =
the
most frequently asked questions online is, "Do pets go to
heaven?" Heaven and the afterlife are primarily religious
concepts, and many of the world's religions do provide answers.&n=
bsp;
|
Christianity holds that every living being, =
from
the tiniest insect to the largest whale, has a chance at enteri=
ng
the pearly gates. Psalm 145:-9-10,13,15-21 reads, "God
loves all His creation and has made plans for all His children =
and
the lesser creatures to enjoy His eternal Kingdom." Don't
expect to see your favorite individual plant in heaven, however.
That's because the Book of Genesis suggests all animals have so=
uls,
but plants do not. Genesis 1:30: "To every animal of the
earth, and to every bird of the heavens and to every creeping t=
hing
on the earth, in which is a living soul, every green plant is g=
iven
for food."
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|
|
Palmyra Parade =
by
Patty Jo Hibshman<=
o:p>
|
|
|
![3D"https://imgssl.constantcontact.com/letters/images/v8_your_=](3D"https://imgssl.constantcontact.com/letters/images/v8_your_=) A group of KPETS
Therapy Teams and Supporters represented the organization to the
public on September 25th at the longest parade ever he=
ld
in Palmyra, Lebanon County. Palmyra was celebrating its 250=
th
birthday with a 13 division 2-1/2 hour parade. Our loyal gr=
oup
was in the 6th division. Volunteers included Sue=
and
Rich Schreffler with their Bichon Frise - Sully and their rescued
Maltese - Millie, Nan Handshaw with her Boxer - Copper, Nan's Nie=
ce
Morgan with Jazzy, and Troy Connor with his Golden Retriever - Br=
ody,
and Patti Jo and Dave Hibshman with Labrador Retriever mix - Suzy
Q. The sunny Saturday proved to be a challenge with wind and
heat. We smiled as we shared our pets with the community.&n=
bsp;
Our group followed the Ronald McDonald Float with young children =
on
board. They had a chance to get to know the dogs as we wait=
ed
for our turn to walk. Baton twirlers, musicians, antique car
drivers, and neighbors got to know what pet therapy is all
about. And we were proud to be part of our community's
celebration!
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|
KPETS in National News=
|
|
|
Moose was
featured in a National Humane Society Magazine article about pit
bulls and how people ca![3D"http://www.kpets.org/ccpics/moosetherapypitbull.jpg"](3D"http://www.kpets.org/ccpics/moosetherapypitbull.jpg") n get involved in stopping breed-specific legislat=
ion.
"The true hero of the day, however, was Moose, a pit bull
adopted from our shelter who is a certified therapy dog at domest=
ic
violence shelters and hospices."
Abby was featured in USA Today as a crisis response dog!
![3D"Abby](3D"http://www.kpets.org/ccpics/abbyhessusatoday.jpg")
Way to go Moose and Abby!
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![3D"http://www.kpets.org/ccpics/logobannerpodsmall.jpg"](3D"http://www.kpets.org/ccpics/logobannerpodsmall.jpg")
<=
/p>
![3D"Safe](3D"http://img.constantcontact.com/letters/images/safe_unsubscribe_l=)
![3D"http://img.constantcontact.com/letters/images/cc-logo-color-sm.g=](3D"http://img.constantcontact.com/letters/images/cc-logo-color-sm.g=){kind=logo}