The Monthly Scoop: Mobility Service Dog West Coast Project

Solutions for FUNctional Independence

START WITH YOU!

Our Service Dog Teams are grateful, having their Service Dogs at their side. They all are living a fuller more vibrant and happy life! Brilliant Poodles.

Greetings!

We are stepping into our third year, the first few months haved wiggled and wagged differently than ever imagined, woof woof!! We are now sheltering in place as we move forward with video conferencing, texts, emails, and phone calls, building our foundation as we are creating howling successes!

As we head into the uncharted waters of the COVID-19 pandemic, I want to pause and reach out. It is a disconcerting time for all of us. Our thoughts are with those who have been impacted directly, and we appreciate all the healthcare workers, officials, and scientists who are on the frontlines to fight this virus. We are monitoring developments and making adjustments in the community and to our programs. We are here to support y’all as we seek different solutions for consistency in training and educating for FUNctional Independence! We highly recommend this read regarding your canine's health during these uncertain times.

Deep bows of gratitude for the joy filled tail wagging as we have a new Service Dog in Training, Yogi. Welcome Yogi! Both Monty and Papi are adding to their basics and taskings while sheltering in place in Venice, Florida and Boulder, Colorado until it is 'safe' to move to our Service Dog Trainers for one month of in house one- on-one training to prepare them to meet their forever handlers. Staying well. Staying home. Our online video calls have increased from 12 hours each week to 29ish hours weekly to address training needs, adapting during shelter in place, and increase conversations amongst our community at large. This online platform is truly a gift for all of us! Be sure to subscribe to our YouTube Channel today!

I was honored to partake in An Artist Disability Presentation honoring one of my favorite artists, Frida Kahlo. Learning about the implications of ignoring Frida Kahlo's disabilities when we discuss her life and work. The discussion was focused on why disabled people are systematically excluded and how important it is to realize that without understanding them as a whole person, we cannot understand their work. Frida's experiences as a person with disabilities directly impacted every aspect of her life, including being an artist. It is important for us all to understand that the history of disabled people have been on the walls of museums since they first opened, but are hidden in the postscripts of the artist's life. It was a beautiful presentation by Joan Corbett O'Toole , thank you!

Beckett and I are excited to be part of Storytime Yoga with Two Trees Wellness! ( twotreeswellness.org ) We are continuing the work we were doing in the classroom by participating in the new online format where we read stories and share wagging tails with children who are led through yoga poses by Founder and Director, Mei Tang. Following this format, MSD-WCP has begun recording our Reading Circles to share with students online. Please watch for us in the next two weeks to enjoy Paws that Empower as we continue our educational outreach creating understanding and FUNctional independence on YouTube. Subscribe to our channel today so that you don't miss out!

From all of us at Mobility Service Dog-West Coast Project, thank you for your support in kindness, funds, and time, grateful hearts.

In closing, we want to thank each and everyone of you for your generous support since our beginning. In order to continue, due to the COVID-19 shut down, we turn to you for support. Unfortunately, we have lost many of our corporate sponsors and individual donors due to the uncertain times and lack of funding sources, as companies turn inward to support their employees and continue day to day operations. During this time many of the grants and funding opportunities have, understandably, halted and are shifting their focus. For those of you who are able to donate, your continued support will be greatly appreciated so that we can come out on the other side stronger and ready to do business to support the mobility impaired community.

We understand that everyone is juggling a lot to figure out new routines, and it's probably not the most convenient time for these challenges, but remember to breathe, and look for the silver linings in the moment. Please take care of yourself and your family. If you have elderly neighbors, check in with them and make sure they have what they need. If you have kids, ease them into the new routine with lots of love, art project, reading, and tangerines. We will all get through this together. Wishing you and your family safety, wellness, laughter, and kindness.

In gratitude,

Janie Heinrich

Executive Director and Co-Founder

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Service Dog Team Spotlight

Dani & Hampton 'Gus'

Hampton 'Gus' is working as a Service Dog in Arkansas. This past month he has learned about Tornados and extreme wind conditions, while spending time in a safe, small space.

Thanks to the gift of mobility, presented to Dani through working with Gus as a Service Dog Team, they were able to fly to spend time with her son and family. Traveling was not something that was easy for Dani to do before Gus came to be her working dog.

Together, there are very few things that this Service Dog Team cannot accomplish. Our MSD-WCP Service Dog Trainer, Michelle, spends time bi-weekly keeping him sharp and adding tasks that make Dani's life easier.

Our Service Dogs are such a gift that can grow to assist their handler as their disease progresses adding tasks that will allow for continued FUNctional independence in action and life.

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Shout out to our newest SDiT TEAM YOGI & Reyna. They are learning how to train via online video calls and socialize from at least 6-10 feet apart! Exposing our dogs to all of life, while not compromising health and wellness during COVID-19 is challenging, but we are taking it on with success. SDiT TEAM PAPI & Pam and SDiT TEAM MONTY & Berta are staying together longer than expected due to the Shelter in Place/Stay Home mandate. Our SDiT are happy. During Shelter in Place, all our SDiT Teams continue to prepare for Canine Good Citizenship (CGC), CGCUrban, CGC Advance, and The Public Access Test, which are the gold standards for working Service Dogs!

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SILENT AUCTION ITEMS BEING ACCEPTED FOR OUR 2nd ANNUAL POODLE PALOOZA

Ruff! Ruff!

A bark-out to our fun games!

Mobility Service Dogs-West Coast Project's Volunteer Raisers, and Handlers are having so much fun adding new games to make task training more playful! MSD-WCP dogs are learning to gather clothes and put them into the washing machine as well as open up doors, support with counterbalance, brace falls and movement, and assist with getting dressed. So many dreams are beginning to piece together as the skills are consistently displayed and added to creating SD Teams that can embrace all of life vibrantly.

Learn more about MSD-WCP!

GREAT OPPORTUNITIES:

PUPPY RAISERS SUCCESSES

Looking for a BLOGGER to write and share about the raising of our SDiT and SD Team life.

WE ARE FUN

FUNdraising

FUNctional Independence

multiFUNctional thinkers

COME & VOLUNTEER!

INTERN POSITIONS HERE! RECEIVE VOLUNTEER HOURS ON YOUR APPLICATIONS

Social Media Intern

Movie/Video Intern

Public Relations Intern

write: janie@mobilitydog.org

Even though everyone is sheltered in place, we still have expenses as we raise our Service Dogs! We must keep their vaccines current, spay/neuter at appropriate time, feed all dogs, and continue service dog training. Your generous donations and matches are welcome.We are forever grateful!Thank you!