Letter From the Executive Director

Dear Friends,

It has been an amazing journey.  What began as a wish and a dream has grown into sold out pet therapy classes, a huge community event with sponsors, and plans for a training center.  We have come a long way. 

In the beginning, all the supplies for events were borrowed from my home.  Today we have a team of ten planning an event so large we will have 10 porta potties and a blimp!  When we first offered our pet therapy seminars, we hoped and prayed someone would attend.  We had 5 participants at that first class and we were so thrilled.  Last weekend, we had to limit class size to 20 because the facility couldn’t hold more.  In launching the Bow Wow Reading Dog program, we worked for months to convince one school that reading with dogs was a solid concept and that their students would be safe. Now we have over 30 pet therapy sites and have started discussions with Center for Child Protection about having our dogs accompany children who may have been abused into the courtroom when they testify.

In this process, I have been blessed with the never ending support of my husband who contributes both financially and by fixing doors that dogs have chewed or cleaning up dog messes before his coffee in the morning. I’ve been blessed with board members and volunteers who continually go above and beyond with their enthusiasm and efforts. I’ve been blessed with the support of trainers, groomers, vets and shelter staff. I have met some pretty amazing people who have come to my home to adopt dogs.I’ve been blessed with a web designer who has donated many hours to create an amazing web site. I’ve been blessed with the support of my friends, neighbors and community members.

We have come a long way in the past three years towards our goal of opening a training center.  My dream and aspiration from the very beginning has been to open a training center that is a community gathering place for dog lovers.  It will be a place where kids can study for TAKS by working with teachers who utilize the power of dogs to teach.  Think about how much more enthusiastic a child will be to attend tutoring sessions if all the math story problems relate to dogs and he can play with the dogs when he finishes his problem.  Or if he’s having trouble and gets frustrated, he can pet the dog and relax.  My dream is to provide every adopter with basic training sessions that will set the stage for a lifetime commitment and successful relationship with their dog.  My dream is to welcome every rescue group into our facility because we all share the goal of finding wonderful homes for abandoned dogs.  My dream is provide more programs for kids and to train more adults to be pet therapy dog handlers.  My dream is to pay for office staff so that volunteers are not working 50 – 60 hours a week for free.  My dream is to provide a working environment where the staff is thrilled to have their jobs.

It’s an amazing feeling to realize that your vision and dreams are within your grasp.  That all the long hours are having results and that your ultimate goal is within your reach.  It’s humbling to realize that it will take many, many volunteer hours from many dedicated folks to make this happen.  It’s humbling and yet exciting to realize that it won’t happen if we don’t have community support and the support of all those who have already benefited from our work.

So please join me on this journey to the next stage of Austin Dog Alliance.  Contribute your time, your money or just your warm wishes.  As a group we have done so much already, the possibilities are limitless.

Sincerely,

Last Month's Events

Whew, the August Pet Therapy Seminar sold out fast!  We now have 20 new teams who are training for their Delta certification and probably twice that number of volunteer opportunities for them to fill.   If you were disappointed in not being able to get into this seminar, watch the calendar section of our website.  We will be offering another seminar soon.  Everyone,  whether certified or training to be certified, is welcome to attend the Pet Therapy Fair on September 13th to learn more about working with your dog in therapeutic environments.

First Annual Pet Therapy Volunteer Fair on September 13th

You’ve passed the Delta evaluation – now what?  Join us at Romp N Run Ranch on September 13th from 10 to 12 to increase your skills with a presentation by a R.E.A.D. specialist where you will learn new strategies to use with struggling readers.

You will also hear from local organizations located throughout the Austin area like Dell Children’s Medical Center, Communities in School representing the Austin ISD and the Cedar Park Regional Medical Center.  All of our pet therapy sites will have literature and volunteering information available.  These volunteer opportunities are located throughout the Austin area, probably near you.

Delta certified teams will be able to sign up for any of these opportunities that same day.  If you are currently training for pet therapy or simply interested in learning what it’s all about, you may attend as well.  Once you have passed your evaluation, you are welcome to sign up to volunteer.

To RSVP send an email to Carolyn@AustinDogAlliance.org.  For more information visit the calendar section of our web site and click on Pet Therapy Fair.

Paws in the Park - Sunday, October 5th 1-4

Austin Dog Alliance and the Cedar Park Regional Medical Center are hosting an Olympic style event of games, food, and fun for the entire family -- including the dog!  Join us on Sunday October 5th from 1 – 4 at the Cedar Park Regional Medical Center Campus (183A and 1431) along with Austin’s best in the dog world.

Start training today for the Dog Olympics where your dog can compete for the gold in the hurdle, speed races, hot dog eating, the relay, and best costume events.

Local trainers will be on hand for training mini-sessions.  Watch how the pros do it and see who learns faster, you or your dog.

Your kids will have a blast with face painting, the jumpy jump, and crafts designed to make the youngsters, and the oldsters, smile.

This is your chance to watch dog sports in person including Agility, Fly Ball, Carting, Frisbee, and Dancing.  Yes, you read it right, that’s dancing -- with a dog.

Don’t miss Meet the Breed where local rescue groups show off their dogs.  Never again will you be kept awake at night pondering, “Just what does a Hovawart look like?”  Austin Dog Alliance will be holding up our end by presenting the All-American Mixtel

Photographers, canine massage therapists, musicians and booths with everything dog related will be there to make the day memorable.

Booths are still available for non-profits organizations and dog related businesses.  If you want to be part of the behind the scenes action at Paws in the Park, volunteers are needed.  Sign up as an ADA volunteer on our website or email Carolyn@austindogalliance.org for more information.

Save the date!  Come out and celebrate with us on Sunday, October 5th.

K9 Kids Club

Now is the time to sign up your 4th or 5th grader for this spectacular after school activity. 

Beginning on Tuesday, September 30th and running for six consecutive Tuesdays at 3:30 and 5:00, your kids will have a blast in sessions like:

• Behind the Scenes at the Vet
• Dog Body Language
• Understanding How Breed Effects Dog Behavior
• K9 Police Dogs
• Hearing Alert Service Dogs
• and a Howleen Party with Your Dog!

Classes are held at Griffith Animal Hospital in Cedar Park.  Don’t let your kids, or your friends kids, miss out.  Spread the word! 

Register today.

Corporate Matching Programs

We’d like to thank AMD for matching a donation made to the Austin Dog Alliance by one of their employees!  Did you know that many companies in the Austin area offer charitable matching programs that match all or some of an employee’s contribution?  Because we are a non-profit 501c(3) organization, you can make your donation go even further by checking with your company about their charitable giving programs before you make a donation.  You can still claim your portion as a tax deduction when participating in a corporate matching program.  Thanks again, AMD!