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 December 2014 
Keynotes Newsletter
Touching Lives * Warming Hearts
Since 2003
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Merry Christmas from Karen
and the KPETS staff: Ellen, Patti and Rich
May your furry friends and family have a
happy, healthy new year!
The photo above of Karen's 'kids' Zeke, Max, Kylee and Kody
was taken by
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Thank You to Our Resource Sponsors
Rent Sponsor for the Year: 
Phone Sponsor for December: Kim Showalter with Molly
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$10 each plus shipping
Pick one up at the Pancake Farm in Ephrata for $10!
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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!)
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Welcome New Registered Teams!
Peg Tansey with Myles
Stanley Saul with Rudy
Kim Weaver with Charlie Brown
Melissa Moore with Flynn
Larie Wilson with Huey
Nancy Matarese with Maggie
Amy Sonski with Asa
Sharon Schwemmer with Finch
Madeleine Mason with Pippa Bethany Pote with Ozzy
Karen Sheehe with Willie
Rowena Lerch with Mini Mae Wigglesworth
"Volunteers don't just do the work - they make it work."
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Celebration of Life
 "Dogs leave their pawprints across our hearts, and we are forever changed."
With sadness, we say goodbye to
David Farmer's beloved Doberman, Diesel
"In September, we lost Diesel, our five-year-old Doberman, suddenly and unexpectedly from a heart defect he had developed. Diesel was with KPETS for four years and enjoyed the visits--so long as it did not involve any sort of shiny floors. He especially enjoyed tracking and became quite adept at it, able to differentiate several tracks. Everyone who met Diesel loved him, even people who don't like dogs. We were amazed at the number of sympathy cards we received. He was a good will ambassador for all Doberman Pinschers. We will miss him."
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 Thank you for your service! 
Diane Klos
Donna Gomer
Wendi Mitzel
We will greatly miss Diane Klos in our office. She handled all aspects of KPETS' membership processing and accounts receivable and payable. Although Diane has retired from working in our office, we're hoping to have her and her new chocolate lab, Oscar, visiting us soon.
We want to thank Donna Gomer (left above) and Wendi Mitzel (right above), who led the Orientation training in Hanover and started the Westminster group as well as conducted group and on site evauations for their many years of service! Over the years they coordinated many visits and special events, and they both served on our Quality Assurance Committee and helped to formulate many of the guidelines we use today. We are thankful that they will continue to visit with their registered KPETS therapy dogs. Thank you all so much for your time and dedication to KPETS. Your many hours of service have helped KPETS become what it is today!
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Thank You for an Extraordinary Day!!
Extra Ordinary Give 2014 was a huge success for KPETS, and we are so grateful to all who contributed! Close to $15,000 in donations was raised for KPETS from our very generous supporters!!!
A special thank you to all the KPETS volunteers and That Fish Place employees who helped with our event that day.
At left, KPETS volunteer, Janie Jeskey paints a volunteer's face.
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Thank You Miss Joann and Kappy
 "Thank you for bringing Kappy. I liked it a lot. What you said about Kappy and how he got rejected from seeing eye. I don't know why that happened to him when he's really a nice dog and if he went away we wouldn't get to read to him. So thank you very much for binging him to school. From, Your reading buddy"
This is just one of the many thank you notes Joann Kline receives from her fourth grade students in the Donegal School District in Mt. Joy. Joann says that struggling students take comfort from the fact that Kappy didn't pass the "Seeing Eye" dog requirements but has now found his special gift - listening to them read!
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A Special Thank You to our teams in Westminster, MD
from Laurie Walters
"I would like to let all of you know how thankful I am that you are part of our KPETS family. Our little "Maryland" group is absolutely fantastic! You and your pups bring so much joy and happiness to so many. It is amazing to think that our local group was nonexistent four years ago. At this point, the membership for this area is just under 50 teams. My unofficial count of facilities served is 20 (I know many of you visit sites that I might not know about). You DO make a difference. On a much smaller scale, but just as important, are the friendships we have developed with one another. Puck and I feel very fortunate to have met so many wonderful teams as a result of our KPETS experience." |
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KPETS dogs, Aili and Kody, in Annie
Two of our therapy dogs have taken on the role of Sandy in the Ephrata Performing Arts holiday presentation of Annie. These two KPETS pups take turns being Sandy throughout the three week run. Aili, is owned by Bonnie Daisy and Kody is owned by Karen Gerth. No opening night jitters from Kody, Karen reports, "He ran right into the audience to greet everyone, but they laughed. The kids still love him!"
At left, Kody poses with two of the orphans.
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Reading to dogs improves Lancaster County children's literacy skills
K. SCOTT KREIDER | LNP Correspondent
Third-grader Abigal Horst didn't always like to read, especially when she had to read aloud.
But when she started reading to Widget every week at the Milanof-Schock Library in Mount Joy, that all started to change.
Widget is a good listener who doesn't judge when Abigal struggles with the difficult words.
Or maybe it's the fact that Widget is a black-and-white border collie and a registered therapy dog that sets Abigal at ease.
Click here to finish reading this article.
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Pet Therapy: Man's Best Friend as Healer
Animal-assisted therapy can help healing and lessen depression and fatigue.
By Mayo Clinic Staff
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Get Konnected / Stay Konnected
For all Registered KPETS' Teams
Harrisburg area: will be a breakfast meeting, January 24th with a "ice and snow" delay on January 31st.. We will meet at Abrahams in Linglestown at 9 am
Westminster area: Thursday, January 29th at 6pm at the Carroll County Ag Extension Office
Registered Teams: Stay Konnected Weekly with the Wednesday Kommunications Email
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 * a story about a recent or memorable KPETS visit
* a photo
* a fabulous treat or toy that your KPETS partner loves
* a great pet related book you'd like to recommend
* a memorial to a beloved KPETS partner who has recently passed
If you have something you'd like to share with our Newsletter readers, please send details and any photos to us at info@kpets.org
At left, Edison Rittenhouse giving Santa Claus kisses at the Posh Bridal Santa Paws Event. |
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 richr@kpets.org
At right, April High's Harper at work Touching Lives Warming Hearts.
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Visit Requests
There are so many open requests and we need our teams to fill them.
Here's where you can find them:
1. Wednesd  ay Kommunications Email
- On kpets.org, scroll over "Konnect w/KPETS" menu
- Type in your email address and click "FOLLOW"
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Info. for New Volunteers and VIPs (Volunteers in Process)
Registration required * Space may be limited * Dates subject to change
- York - Saturday, January 17 (3rd Sat of odd months) @ 9:00 am
- Lancaster - Saturday, December 13 @ 9:00 am
- Westminster, MD - TBD 2015
- Hanover, PA - TBD 2015
Group Evaluation Workshops: Offered in two formats - choose what's best for you.
 One-time Test Option:
Click here to register.
- Lancaster - 2nd Tuesday (4th Tuesday as needed) of every month @ 6:15 pm
- York - 1st Monday of every month @ 6:00 pm
- Hanover, PA - TBD 2015
- Westminster, MD - TBD 2015
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
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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 |
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Solomon spreading Christmas cheer at Juniper Village.
