winter 2012 news

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CANINE COURIER Winter 2012Dogs With Wings Assistance Dog Society

A recent local event has shown

how important it is for us to both

advocate and educate: Winners

unwittingly jumped from the frying

pan into the fire by twice refusing

access to a young girl and her dog.

The story quickly grew legs and

Winners received all the wrong kind

of media attention for a number of

days. The story illustrated that even

though the Service Dogs Act has

been in force in Alberta since 2009

to address this very issue, some

pretty big players are seemingly

unaware that it is an offence to bar

a service dog from premises open

to able-bodied people. While the

public has become accustomedto welcoming guide dogs, there

are many who are unaware that

trained service dogs can assist

with a wide variety of disabilities

and some, like Autism, are not as

self-evident as blindness. As an

Alberta-based provider of both

guide and service dogs, Dogs with

Wings did its best to assist when

the government was drafting the

Service Dogs Act and we continue

to assist our clients who deal with

difficulties being admitted to public

places. We must remain willing and

able to explain the legislation and

how it operates, calmly but firmly.

And while this story must have

been uncomfortable for Winners, it

broadcast to a wide audience that

Albertans who use service dogs are

protected. Hopefully, this teachable

moment will have helped to spread

the word so that somewhere

else, another child and another

merchant will not be embarrassed.

But there is another side to this

story which also needs telling

which is that not every dog in a

jacket is a service dog and not

every well-loved pet is entitled to

the protection of this legislation.

We are aware that obtaining a

service dog jacket is as easy as

accessing the internet these days.

But putting a jacket on dear Fido

and calling him a service dog will

devalue legitimate providers of

qualified service dogs. It will also

undermine the confidence of the

public if they see that service dogs

can really be just pets in a coat.

The public should be aware that

they must accommodate service

dogs, but that they are not required

to accommodate self-trained or

unqualified dogs. How does the

public know the difference? The

government of Alberta issues

photo identification to every

qualified service and guide dog

user in the province. While it is

not proper to ask what disability

is being catered to, it is perfectly

acceptable to ask to see this

identification and anyone with a

qualified guide or service dog will

be pleased to provide it. Likewise

with puppies and adult dogs in

training, our volunteer handlers can

provide identification showing they

are associated with an accredited

school and are working under

the direction of a certified trainer.

Dogs with Wings is proud to be

an accredited school, whose dogs

and clients are protected by law

and we will continue to do our part

to ensure the system continues to

work well for our clients and for the

public.

MESSAGE FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR PAST EVENTS AND LOOKING FORWARD

2012 BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Toby RamsdenPRESIDENT

Greg NorthcottVICE PRESIDENT

Wayne HerveTREASURER

Gail StanfordSECRETARY

Gay Andrews

DIRECTOR

Marie Gynane-WillisDIRECTOR

Norma RodenbergDIRECTOR

Paul McConnellDIRECTOR

STAFF

John WheelwrightEXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Ruth Ann ChafeADMINISTRATIVE COORDINATOR

Lindsay RudolphK9 PROGRAM COORDINATOR

Birgit HilsbosPUPPY SUPERVISOR

Elisa IrlamCLIENT SERVICES DIRECTOR

Maria IllesTRAINING DIRECTOR

Shannon NorthcottAPPRENTICE TRAINER

Moira WegnerAPPRENTICE TRAINER

Thomas IllesPEEP COORDINATOR

DOGSWITHWINGS

A S S I S T A N C E D O G S O C I E T Y

Our AGM was held in September,

and it saw the election of some

new members and the departure

of some others. Gene Klenke has

retired from the Board after many

years of dedicated service, as

did Cheryl Newton and Marsha

Johnston. We thank them for their

commitment to Dogs with Wings.

Joining the Board as Treasurer is

Wayne Herve who brings many

years experience as both a banker

and business advisor. Greg

Northcott, our previous Treasurer

has moved to Vice President, and

Gail Stanford has taken on the

position of Secretary.

The Board and core staff also metto renew the strategic direction of

the organization and quickly got

to work developing an updated

plan for Dogs with Wings over the

next 3 years. Plans of this type are

useful tools for groups like ours

as it gives everyone a road map

of where we should be at the end

of it and hence makes it easier

to plot successes and continuin

challenges. A Strategic Plan al

assists an organization in puttin

the right resources in place so

the plan is achievable. Lots of h

work, but a n ecessary exercise

we continue to grow to meet th

demand for our wonderful dog

As we prepare for our 2011

Christmas potluck, the memories

of last years event are still fresh.

This is a time for the whole DWW

family volunteers, staff, board

members - to join together at the

Training Centre for seasonal fun

and food and of course the dogs

always figure prominently. Were

all waiting to see what exquisite

treat Maria will bake for the dogs

this year.

Spring Graduation was a wonderful

event this year. With the support

of Ed & Paige Stahl, grad was held

at the Edmonton Petroleum Club.

Prior to the ceremony, the Stahls

hosted a lunch for the graduates

and their families, the puppy

and adult raisers for the dogs

graduating. This was a perfect

opportunity for our clients to hear

some war stories about their

dogs while in training, and for our

volunteers to learn more about

the clients. Those attending the

grad saw 10 of our dogs earn their

wings and all reports are that these

dogs are doing wonderful jobs for

their clients.

With the support of Chilis Texas

Bar & Grill, our summer volunteer

picnic was a huge hit and we look

forward to 2012s event. Chilis laid

on a real feast of gourmet burgers,

salads and all the fixings. In past

years, this event has been held

in Devon, but the opportunity to

hold it in the big field behind the

Centre was one we couldnt pass

up and a new DWW tradition is

born. Thanks go to Chilis for their

ongoing support of this event.

We did a couple of fun events atlocal outdoor farmers markets

this summer as both Collingwood

Farmers Market and the Downtown

Farmers Market played host to

us. We ran a puppy class at each

market, and our training staff

provided commentary and also

demonstrated some more senior

dogs. At DWW, the notion of

outreach is pretty large and were

looking forward to returning to the

markets again in 2012.

Another regular event for us ar

our monthly demonstrations at

West Edmonton Mall, who have

graciously agreed to give us

free space each month to hold

a demonstration class and mee

with members of the public wh

express an interest in us. Not ju

for kids, it takes a village to rais

pup!

Blatchford Hangar, Fort Edmon

Park was host for the 2011 Annu

Dogs with a Cause Charity Dinn

& Auction. This years crowd w

the largest yet and the event ra

$40,000. Proceeds of the Gala

to support all programs offered

by Dogs with Wings. Next yea

Gala will see us move to the br

new Enjoy Centre just south of

St. Albert. Developed by the Ho

Family as part of their gardenin

business, the Enjoy Centre will

wonderful home for our event,

Saturday, October 20th, 2012. M

your calendars now!

New Faces and an Updated Strategic Plan


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Dogs With Wings Assistance Dog Society CANINE COURIER Winter 2012

Recent Gifts Ensure our Success

Dogs with Wings has been exceedingly fortunate lately to have received some remarkable gifts. The

Stollery Charitable Foundation that has done so much for health in our province made a gift of $30,000

to fund the purchase of a new training van. The Realtors Community Foundation added $5,000 in order to

outfit the van for use. Presidents Choice Childrens Charity also made a significant gift of $20,000 to pay

for team training for our next Autism Service Dog class. Dogs with Wings Assistance Dog Society wishes

to acknowledge these groups and all who support us in our work.

Whos got a puppy?

Anyone who is familiar with u s knows

how we feel about our volunteers.

For lots of organizations volunteers

are important; for Dogs with Wings,

we literally could not operate without

the more than 200 people who help

us in our work.

The following people are our most

recent group of puppy raisers whove

agreed to take on the responsibility

of guiding an animal through those

first stages of oh-so-important

training. We salute you!

As an individual whom has worked

with children and adults with

special needs for the last ten years,

I am well aware of the various

challenges they face. I work

as a teacher in a special needs

classroom, as well as co-ordinate

a summer program for the Alberta

Association for the Dependently

Handicapped. I am constantly

looking for new ways to improve

the overall independence and

quality of life for my students/

campers. Each of these individuals

has amazing gifts and it is my job

to find out how we can best utilize

them.

I found out about Dogs With

Wings through a teaching

colleague, who had recently heard

that there was a service dog

working in a neighboring school.

I immediately contacted the

school to set up a visit and this is

where the journey to receiving our

classroom/summer-camp service

dog began.

After seeing in person, the

numerous successes this service

dog had made happen, I knew

immediately that I needed a Dogs

With Wings dog to work with my

students and summer program.

I received Ivory in the spring of

2011 and the success stories have

been accumulating ever since.

Ivory works in my classroom daily,

performing a variety of jobs with

each student. He also works

throughout the summer, with up to

25 different children with special

needs. Some days he works as

a comforting friend calming a

child who not one of the numerous

adults in the room could console.

Some days he works as a safety

patro allowing our children to

walk safely in the community,

while keeping them safe from

bolting onto the road. And some

days he works as a motivator

encouraging a child, who often

refuses to leave their wheelchair, to

take a few steps in their walker so

they can make it over to Ivory to

give him a pet.

In the school setting, Ivory is not

only utilized by my classroom, but

a variety of other children in the

school as well. Children from the

Specialized Therapy Educational

Play Program (a program designed

for children with autism spectrum

disorder), have daily interactions

with Ivory on their school days.

Other students around the

school (with a variety of medical,

emotional and behavior needs)

come to visit Ivory on a regular

basis. I recently had a colleagu

tell me that a student, who refu

to ever write more than their

name, wrote three full sentence

about how much they love Ivor

There is continual affirmation t

Ivory has not only touched the

lives of students in my classroo

and summer camp, but of the

whole school community. The

benefits and success stories are

non-stop and I cant wait to see

what Ivory helps another indivi

accomplish next.

Sincerely,

Keri-Ann Kozmak

Husky Community Rebate Program

You need gas we need cash! Since Husky introduced its Community Rebate Program, they have given

nearly $700,000 to community groups and Dogs with Wings is part of the program. Make a purchase at

Husky or Mohawk gas stations, or a Husky House Restaurant, swipe your free magnetic card and Husky will

give us 2% of the purchase. Husky keeps track of the purchases and automatically sends us a cheque every

3 months. Theres no cost to you, the cards are free and available at our office. Call Ruth Ann to reserve

yours today!

THE DOG PILE IVORY HELPS KIDS AT SUMMER CAMP AND SCHOOL

Dog Colour Volunteer Sponsor

Merlot Female/Yellow Pam M.

Monroe Female/Yellow Corinne S.

Mickey Female/Black Baylea W. Rintoul

Murdoch Male/Black Brenda A. UA488

Merlin Male/Yellow Desiree L.

Ramsay Male/Yellow Griffin K. Oilman

Major Male/Yellow Christine S. Rintoul

Max Male/Yellow Paula W. & Carolyn C. Rintoul

Molly Female/Yellow Wendy C. Cessco

Maverick Male/Yellow 4-H Club, Grande Prairie

Mac Male/Black 4-H Club, Grande Prairie Grande Prairie Firefighters


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Did You Know?

You dont need a Facebook account to visit our page anyone can look at the pictures and news items we post

there regularly simply by entering the page address like any other internet web page.

Go to: www.facebook.com/DogswithWings

Please return all Canadian undeliverable to:

11343 - 174 Street NW

Edmonton, Alberta T5S 0B7

Toll free: 877-252-9433

Email: [email protected]

Web: www.dogswithwings.ca

If you do not wish to receive this newsletter, please call us at 780-944-8011 or email [email protected]

PN# 40024266

DOGSWITHWINGS

A S S I S T A N C E D O G S O C I E T Y

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