KPETS - Keystone Pet Enhanced Therapy Services
February 2015     
Keynotes Newsletter 
Touching Lives * Warming Hearts
Since 2003
Look for KPETS' Teams at these upcoming events...
Bon Ton Community Days at Park City, Lancaster and Galleria Mall, York.

Read Across America at RR Museum of PA
March 7

York St. Patrick's Day Parade
March 14
Important Links

To visit our website www.kpets.org 

KPETS in Action
Karen Sheehe's Willie provides comfort to a student at Millersville University.


Batman showed up at the Hershey Ronald McDonald House.


 
Gillian and Gracie sharing their love at Millersville University

Thank You to Our Resource Sponsors 
Rent Sponsor for the Year
Printer Sponsor for February:   Kim Showalter with Molly
Phone Sponsor for February:   Helen Hurilla with Bud
Please consider filling any of the open spots on our Resource Page. Click here to go to our Resource Sponsor Page.

 


AmazonSmile is a simple and automatic way for you to donate to KPETS every time you shop, at no cost to you. When you shop at smile.amazon.com, you'll find the exact same low prices, vast selection, and convenient shopping experience as Amazon.com, with the added bonus that Amazon will donate a portion of the purchase price to KPETS.

Do ALL your on-line shopping through 
When you first sign in, be sure to choose KPETS and a portion of all your purchases will support KPETS. Thank you!

(You can still use the link on the Support Tab of our website too!)


Want to help KPETS at no extra cost to you? 

iGive.comallows you to support KPETS with a percentage 
 
of your online shopping. It's totally free for you!

Welcome New Registered Teams!

Doug Hopwood with Bernie
Becky Bailey with Sasha
Cecelia Ulrich with Scorch
Vivien Anderson with Emma
Linda Rohrbaugh with Zeke
Tina Harris with Clifford
Tina Isaacs with Lucas
Deb Flage with Whistle
"Volunteers don't just do the work - they make it work." 
Pet Safety, First Aid and Health Training

We are tentatively scheduling an interactive workshop for all dog and cat lovers who want to be prepared in case of a medical emergency for Saturday, March 7 in the Blair Room, 630 Janet Avenue, Lancaster PA .

The expert presenter for this workshop is Dr. Nan Hanshaw, DVM.

Look for confirmation email soon.

Celebration of Life
"Dogs leave their pawprints across our hearts, and we are forever changed"
With sadness Sue Downing and KPETS said goodbye to  
Macy 12/2005 - 12/2014
 

It is with a heavy heart that I must relay that we lost Macy on 12/4/14.  She was not sick for long - at least she didn't show that she was sick anyway.  Over Thanksgiving she wasn't quite as energetic as usual but still participated in all her normal activities.  We started diagnostics on Monday 12/1 and found out two days later through more extensive testing that she had cancer in several organs and it had already traveled to her lungs.  She was a very brave and stoic girl. 

We are so grateful that God provided his gift of such a perfect dog a little over three years ago at a time when we were grieving our previous Giant Schnauzer.  She helped us heal from that loss with her sweet, easy nature and ability to weasel her way into every aspect of our lives.  She rescued us just as much as we rescued her. I miss her terribly but remind myself constantly how lucky we were to have had her.   - Sue Downing

MU students get support from therapy dogs...
RYAN ROBINSON AND JENNIFER TODD  
(Click here for complete article from LNP Friday, February 13, 2015)

...But they also continue to struggle with their own grief, and that's where Emma comes in.
The 6-year-old Goldendoodle is no stranger to the campus - she has been known to doze off in the office of her owner, MU president John Anderson.

But this week, Emma has taken on a different role.

Registered by KPETS as a therapy dog just last week, Emma officially put her new skills to work in recent days. Along with Anderson's wife Vivien, Emma has spent every afternoon this week at the Student Memorial Center. She was one of 10 therapy dogs present on campus Tuesday.  Vivien Anderson said, if nothing else, Emma "lets them take their minds off of things for even just a few minutes.  She has a very gentle and sweet personaltity ... I'm happy to share her."

               Please keep everyone at Millersville University in you're thoughts and prayers.

Westminster, MD Dogs in Action 
booKPETS
Read to a Dog Friend at Mt. Airy Library




Left: Elena reading to Star.   Center:Danica reading to Granger

 

KPETS Billboard 

 Now how cool is THIS ! ! This billboard is located in Westminster, MD on Rt 27 just north of Rt 140 - next to the entrance for the mall! A special thank you to Laurie and everyone who helped make this happen!

 

A Loyal Therapy Dog Lends an Ear to School Children Reading New eBook The Hungry Adventures of Riley

A KPETS therapy dog named BobDog listens to students practice their reading at Paradise Elementary every week. Author Arielle Davies collaborated with the school for their latest read, the author's new Read Aloud illustrated eBook series The Hungry Adventures of Riley: Hot Dog in the City starring BobDog's very own sister, Riley.

Picture at left: BobDog, Carol Carlson's registered KPETS therapy dog, with teacher Marie Johnston's students at Paradise Elementary. The lovable seven-year-old Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier loves visiting and listening to the kids read, and they love reading to him!

 

New Oxford Area Library

"Cullen is listening to a Skippyjon Jones story at the New Oxford Area Library.  KPETS Therapy dogs have been listening to readers at the New Oxford Area Library for over 4 Years. Many of our parents have mentioned that the enjoyment of reading to the dogs by their children has opened the door to improved reading skills and reading more types of books for school and at home.
Cullen is one of 5 different dogs we have at the library."


 
-Wilma Krepps 

Adams County Library System
New Oxford Area Library 

 

At right Cullen, owned by KPETS volunteer Donna Gomer, listens  to a story.

Manheim HCBurgard "Girls on the Run"


After having a KPETS presentation from Sheree and Solomon at Burgard Elementary schoolyard, the HCBurgard "Girls on the Run with their Assistant Coach Jennifer Fittery decided to raise money to donate to KPETS. They had Manheim Central dog scarves made to sell To the Manheim residents. 

At left:  Gabby Fittery is presenting Sheree Dietz and her registered KPETS therapy dog, Solomon, with a $150.00 check to KPETS.

 

Teams in Action Tuesdays on Facebook and Twitter

Guidelines

 

1. Be sure to let us know who, what, when, and where

2. A Photo Authorization Form of identifiable non-      KPETS people must be sent to the KPETS' office.  

 

Click here for the photo authorization form.     

Send your photos to info@kpets.org 

 

At right: Gilly visits with students at Franklin and Marshall College.

For Our Volunteers...
There are so many open requests and we need our teams  to fill them. 
Here's where you can find them:

   1.  Wednesday Kommunications Email
   2.  The KPETS Konnections Page 
        • On kpets.org, scroll over "Konnect w/KPETS" menu
        • Type in your email address and click "FOLLOW"


Info. for New Volunteers and VIPs (Volunteers in Process)
Registration required * Space may be limited * Dates subject to change
         
Upcoming Orientations:  Click here to register
  • York - Saturday, March 21 (3rd Sat of odd months) @ 9:00 am
  • Lancaster - Saturday, April 11 (2nd Sat of even months) @ 9:00 am
  • Westminster, MD - Thursday, April 2 @ 7:00 pm
Group Evaluation Workshops: Offered in two formats - choose what's best for you.

One-time Test Option:   

Click here to register. 

  • Lancaster - 2nd Tuesday and 4th Tuesday of every month @ 6:15 pm
  • York - 1st Monday of every month @ 6:00 pm
  • Westminster, MD -  Monday, April 13 @ 7:00 pm
Therapy Dog Training Classes:
Optional class offered for those who would like additional guidance
in York (Keystone Dog Training), Lancaster (Oscar's Pet Resort and Dog Sense), and Westminster, MD

Thank you all for making KPETS what it is and taking us to where we are today!

Let's continue Touching Lives * Warming Hearts in our local communities! ! !

 

Karen Gerth
KPETS - Keystone Pet Enhanced Therapy Services