March 2023

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HRI's Sunshine Lady

It's a pleasure to introduce Barbie Barak


Barbie has sent 176 Sympathy cards, 76 Thinking of You cards, and one Congrats card in her tenure as HRI's Sunshine Lady.


Barbie has a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature with a minor in Studio Art. I also have a Master’s Degree in Education.

          

Barbie has had a few stints as Sunshine Lady with other organizations. My first experience as a Sunshine lady was as a docent at GLAZA, the LA Zoo. A little note of sunshine went a long way in bringing cheer and making new friends. I became a docent at LACMA, the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, and once again became the Sunshine Lady. I was there for 25 years, and it was pure joy teaching children how to appreciate the art of all genres and learning how to draw. 


When I first joined HRI in 2011, it was as a processor. I soon took on the role of Lady Sunshine, and between that, processing applicants and doing reference checks, I made many friends.


We have one Havanese, Ryder, who is 13 years old. He is black and white with silky hair and huge brown eyes resembling chocolate M&M’s. Ryder is very smart. I started training him when he was six months old. He was alert, trustful, and responsive to my commands. We took agility classes together, and I could barely keep up with him! 


I love my work as Sunshine Lady! Getting to know our HRI friends and their fur kids is so nice!

Here's what some recipients had to say about Barbie's hard work.


  • I've received three sympathy cards in the last three years from Barbie. First Boomer 2020, Rockie 2021(adopted HRI), and Bebe (2022) adopted HRI. It's nice to know that someone recognizes your love for your dog when they pass because they are family. They always take a piece of your heart. A card is very comforting. It's like sending a hug through the mail.


  • The sympathy and get-well notes from HRI's Barbie Barak during my times of loss and challenging recovery after surgeries were like a warm hug from my fellow HRI members. 


  • Thanks so much for the card. I can't tell you how much I appreciate it. I have good and bad days, but overall I'm doing ok. We had to say goodbye to Martini in September, one day shy of her 15th birthday. Anyway, thanks again, and please tell the rest of the crew that I said hello. 


  • Over the years, I've received several notes from her wishing me well from my HRI friends. Those notes have always meant a lot to me. They're very encouraging.


  • I remember receiving Barbie's heartfelt, handwritten card after my husband had passed. It was like receiving a hug from my HRI family!


  • I have received several sunshine cards from Barbie, and each was personal, like we had the same experience, sharing the burden. It was very comforting. 


  • Barbie sent a heartfelt card to me when my husband passed. She made me feel like I had caring friends who wanted to let me know I was thought of. She is truly a Sunshine Lady showing our members that HRI remembers them.


  • Barbie is the glue that pulls us back together as a community. People smile when they receive a card from Barbie, but it is not something they talk about or advertise. It is something we do as a community for our human members.

Join Us at

The Havanese National Dog Show

June 26th-28th

Wilmington, Ohio

"Greatest Show on Earth"


This is a great opportunity to meet fellow Havanese lovers and breeders and see tons of cute dogs! Have questions about Havanese? This is the place to ask. Havanese Rescue is in attendance and will be raffling off the beautiful Havanese quilt. Please consider attending and joining in the fun. Questions about the event? Check out the links below-

Havanese Club of America

and on Facebook at

HCA Specialty Facebook Page

FYI

Marty Tounsley of Grief Healing Groups says: 

Another way to help ease the griever’s pain is by writing a sympathy card to let them know you’re thinking of them. Recipients can reread a card, note, or letter expressing sympathy or sorrow over the loss of a pet many times, and it can bring great comfort for weeks, months, or even years afterward.

 

Not surprisingly, a 1988 study in the Journal of Mental Health Counseling found that dog owners placed their dog as close as their closest family member and the most intimate of all in 38 percent of cases, Joe Yonan reported in The Washington Post.


CONTACT INFORMATION LINKS
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Newsletter Staff
Editor - Joan Ambrose, Past President
Production - Jen Jablonski, President
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