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Upcoming Events
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27
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Newark Methodist Preschool Spring Social
27 - Star Hill Elementary Health Fair
28 -
DeStress Event - Discover
New Castle, DE
28 - DeStress Event - Lassonde-Pappas
Carneys Point, NJ
28 -
Girl Scout PAWS for Reading
Stratford, NJ
29 -
Mental Health Week, Widener University Law School
Wilmington, DE
31 -
Pet Wants Event
Rehoboth Beach, DE
3 - DeStress Event - Delaware County Community College
Sharon Hill, PA
4 - DeStress Event - Delaware State U
Dover, DE
4 -
DeStress Event - Delaware County Community College
Exton, PA
5 -
DeStress Event - Delaware County Community College
Downingtown, PA
9 - Kindness is Contagious (UD)
Newark, DE
9 - DeStress Event - UD
Newark, DE
10 - Wilson Elementary Reading, Math & Science Night
Newark, DE
12 - Girls Trauma Education & Empowerment Group
Elkton, MD
14 - Animal-Assisted Social for Children with Special Needs
West Chester, PA
14 - Heart in the Game
Seaford, DE
17 - Brick Mill Elementary Book Fair
Middletown, DE
18 - Century Engineering Wellness Fair
Dover, DE
18 - Christina School District EL Family Night
Newark, DE
18 - Avon Grove High Animal Aid Club
West Grove, PA
19 - Claymont Elementary Family Night
Claymont, DE
20 - Red Bank Elementary School
West Deptford, NJ
21 - Yellow Ribbon Event
New Castle County, DE
21 & 22 - Pooch Palooza
Berlin, MD
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Act Before March 31!
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3x your impact!
Through March 31, Amazon is tripling the donation rate on your first smile.amazon.com purchase! Go to
smile.amazon.com/ch/76-0780197 and Amazon will donate to PAWS for People.
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Interested in joining PAWS? Here are the upcoming Orientation (O) and Training (T) sessions:
Mondays, 5:00 PM
O & T: April 2 & 16
Hockessin/Wilmington, DE
Saturdays, 8:30 AM
O & T: April 7 & 21
Newark, DE
Wednesdays, 6:00 PM
O & T: April 11 & 25
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Whether you are just getting started or you need to work on specific behaviors, we have the perfect class for you!
All courses are held at the PAWS for People Office in Newark.
Puppy 1
Tuesdays at 6:30 PM
First Class:
May 15
(5 weeks)
Puppy 2
Tuesdays at 6:30 PM
First Class:
April 3 (5 weeks)
Target Training
Tuesdays at 7:30 PM
First Class:
April 3
(5 weeks)
May 15
(5 weeks)
Attention & Focus
Thursdays at 6:30 PM
First Class:
April 5 (5 weeks)
May 17 (5 weeks
Therapy Dog Prep
Thursdays at 7:30 PM
First Class:
April 5 (5 weeks)
May 17 (5 weeks
Tricks of the Trade
Sundays at 11:30 AM
April 8 (1 session)
May 6 (1 session)
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PAWS University is open to members of PAWS for People. It offers courses to not only help strengthen your visiting skills but also to strengthen your bond with your therapy companion. Some courses are mandatory for participation in specific PAWS programs; other courses are designed as informational and fun.
April
Grand PAWS
Wednesday, April 4, 5:30 PM
Kennett Square, PA
Trauma Support
Saturday, April 14, 9:45 AM
PAWS office - Newark, DE
PAWS for Reading
TBD - Sussex County, DE
May
PATHS
Friday, May 11, 10:00 AM
PAWS office - Newark, DE
PAWS for Reading
Wednesday, May 16, 6:30 PM
PAWS office - Newark, DE
PATHS &
Dog Body Language
Thursday, May 24, TBD
TBD - Kent or Sussex County, DE
Anytime - On-Line Courses
Register on-line and we will send you the link to the Open Learning course
PS PAWS
First Visit Assistant -
No Fee
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PAWS Members
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There is a special page on our website just for you with links to blank forms, member benefits, and the site for logging your hours.
From the main web page, you can find the "For Members" link on the bottom menu.
www.pawsforpeople.org/members/ |
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T
hank You to Our Sponsors
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Feedback Welcome!
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Please e-mail Wendy
with suggestions and stories
registration@PAWSforPeople.org |
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A Heart-felt Reason for PAWS for Reading
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Recently, as I was setting up for our PAWS for Reading session, a family who has been among our faithful readers came in with more family members than usual. T
he aunt, who hadn't been in for more than a year, and her new husband came along.
The aunt came up to me and said: "Would it be all right if my husband read to the dogs tonight? He has a TBI (traumatic brain injury) from his time as a Marine in Afghanistan. His self-esteem is low because his speech is halting and he often struggles for words, and reads slowly. I thought this might help him." She also mentioned that he is often called "stupid."
"Of course," I said. "This is exactly one of PAWS' missions."
When her husband came over, I reassured him that the dogs would love to have him read to them, he could read with as many teams as there was time for, and his wife or nieces could join him. His smile was wonderful!
Well, he and his wife came in together and he read a book of opposites that he had brought with him, as he was comfortable with it. At the end of their session, as their nieces were happily reading to other dogs, he came out to the lobby with an even greater smile!
I asked him what he thought and he said, "That was fun!" I then asked if he would like to come back and without hesitation he said, "Yes, may I sign up for every session?"
Thank you, thank you for all that PAWS does!
- Elisabeth Simmons, Youth Services Librarian, Kirkwood Library
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 Sunday, April 15th, 1:00 - 4:00 PM
RSVP by April 2nd
Hockessin Memorial Hall
610 Yorklyn Road
Hockessin, DE 19707
Tickets
Tickets $45 per person
PAWS Members $40 per person
Table Sponsor $350
(Table for Eight & Special Recognition)
Auction items include
2 Firefly Passes (4-day)
4 NASCAR Premium Tickets and Pit Passes
Time Share Weekend: Christmas in Williamsburg
Wine & Gourmet Treat Basket
Golf for 4, Hartefeld National Golf Club
100 Gallons of Heating Oil, Hillside Oil
Brandywine Valley Attraction Basket
Death by Chocolate Basket
Evening Under the Stars complete with Fire Pit
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Save the Date
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All members and friends are invited to attend
PAWS for People's Volunteer Appreciation Celebration & 13th Anniversary Party.
If you are in the south:
Saturday, May 5, 2-4 PM
Bethany Beach, DE
If you are in the north:
Sunday, May 6, 2-4 PM
Wilmington, DE
Please save the date so we can celebrate you and your therapy companion!
More information coming soon.
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Thank You, All 4 Paws!
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A huge thank you to our friends at ALL 4 PAWS for donating the proceeds from their Grand Reopening to PAWS for People. It was beautiful Saturday afternoon at their brand new location and many folks came out to see their new facility and participate in fun family activities. The event raised over $300 for PAWS and reached many new potential therapy teams.
Thanks to Marilyn Huebner & Molly Bear and Tawanda Harbison & Mr. Gibbs (pictured with the Easter Bunny) for representing PAWS for People at the event.
This is the 4th
event that ALL 4 PAWS has held to benefit PAWS for People and we look forward to the next one this Fall.
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American Humane Hero Dog Awards - Please Vote (Daily)
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PAWS for People is an official Charity Partner this year. That means that
American Humane will donate $2,500 to the charity partner of the winning finalist in each category, and the 2018 American Hero Dog will win an additional $5,000 for their charity partner.
In this first round, you can vote once each day for each category until 12 pm Pacific Time on April 25th.
Check out all of the nominees who have selected PAWS for People as their Charity Partner.
Please support our members (pictured) by voting daily!
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Some Social Media Words of Wisdom by Amy
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Amy Celona's presentation about Social Media at our conference last month was highly reviewed. We thought those who were not able to attend the presentation should also have the opportunity to benefit from her social media know-how!
TIP:
While people are visiting with your therapy companion, offer to take a photo for them with THEIR phone and then encourage them to upload it to PAWS Facebook page! If they upload it to the public page, you don't need to get approval paperwork - they are putting it in public domain.
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| Robbie, Becky Cronin's Therapy Companion, at a UD DeStress Event |
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Shining Stars
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Janet and John Sfaelos
& Lucy
Janet and John joined PAWS in September of 2016. They visit with their sweet Border Collie, Lucy. Having previous experience sharing their dog Morgan Mae, they knew Lucy would be a perfect therapy companion. As an Advanced team, the Sfaelos' have visited with local schools and visit regularly at Cardinal Village and the United Methodist Communities at Pitman. Janet and John are also PAWS First Visit Assistants. What at great team!
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Mary and Fred Giordano & Luigi
 Fred and Mary joined PAWS with their handsome, friendly yellow labrador retriever, Luigi, in June of 2016. Although Luigi is a senior dog, his inner pup takes over whenever he is representing PAWS. Fred and Mary do a good job trying to keep up with him in his quest to give as much love as possible in every visit he makes. This threesome visited at the Friends Home in Kennett and they represent PAWS at community events. In addition to visiting, Mary recently served on the Annual Conference Committee. This team is fantastic!
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Celebration of Life
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Stella
We celebrate the life of Stella, a sweet black lab and therapy companion of Nancy Frey. Stella joined PAWS with Nancy when she was a one-year-old pup in October of 2005. Nancy found PAWS after her sister shared with her how pleased she had been with a pet therapy visit when she was in the hospital. Nancy knew that her Stella could also bring joy to many. Their first visit was to Somerford and Stella made an entrance with a happy bark which everyone interpreted as her way of saying hello! Thank you, Nancy, for sharing your pup with those who needed her love.
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Tully
We celebrate the life of Tully,
Edward Martin
's sweet golden retriever. Ed joined PAWS in June of 2011 with Chase and the team was a huge hit at
A.I. duPont Hospital for Children/Nemours
and the
Helen Graham Cancer Center
. When Chase passed away, Ed wondered if Tully would enjoy visiting with him. She didn't know her commands, but she LOVED people. After a little work, the team achieved Advanced STEX, and Ed was back in action at Nemours. This curious and friendly girl gave her love to all she met. She especially enjoyed events at
Barnes & Noble
and helped us open the
Barnes & Noble site in Exton, PA
this past December. We will miss Tully but Ed assured us that Chase was waiting for her at the Rainbow Bridge.
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Pictures Needed
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Do you like to take pictures of your therapy companion while you are visiting? Would you be willing to take some pictures for PAWS to use (e.g., in the e-news!)? If you are interested in a challenge, please e-mail Wendy (
registration@PAWSforPeople.org ) for more details.
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