Universal Access THE FREEDOM PRESS. FSD Board Member demonstrates the changing attitudes toward service dogs.

Transcription

1 THE FREEDOM PRESS News from Freedom Service Dogs of America SPRING 2013 Volume 20, No. 1 Universal Access FSD Board Member demonstrates the changing attitudes toward service dogs. Every service dog owner has experienced doggie discrimination in some form or another. While the Americans with Disabilities Act which has a section explicitly outlining access for these working animals has been in existence since 1990, there are still daily instances of intolerance that range from disapproving looks to refusal of service. But things are changing. Kathleen Fieselman, a longtime supporter and board member of Freedom Service Dogs, has had her own service dogs for close to 11 years from her first companion, Blu, to her current dog, Toby. While dealing with a recent medical emergency, she was comforted by what she describes as a huge difference in terms of knowledge and respect for service dogs and the relationship between service dogs and their partners. During numerous hospital visits, she says, Toby was never allowed to come with her. But just recently, she was taken to the hospital, followed by nearly a week in intensive care. The paramedics, at my request and with no argument, transported Toby with me, she says. Littleton Hospital allowed Toby to stay with her in the emergency room and for the rest of her stay. I was amazed he was allowed to stay the entire time in the hospital, let alone in intensive care. She tells us the staff took turns taking him for walks, argued over whose turn it was to feed him and settled him in a little bed made of blankets. Toby even made a new friend. During their stay, a woman approached Kathleen; her husband had developed a heart problem while they were vacationing in Colorado and was in intensive care indefinitely. The lady asked if she could take Toby to visit her husband to help alleviate some of his depression, and it became a daily visit. One day, the sliding glass door to the courtyard was left open. Toby picked up his leash, Kathleen says, opened the door the rest of the way with his nose, and trotted over to this man s room to see him. When he was done, he came back to his place by Kathleen s side. When I got Blu, this scenario was just a dream, Kathleen says. This speaks volumes about our mission and the fact that we are accomplishing our goals and changing lives for the better! INSIDE Executive Director Letter Free a Hero to Save a Hero Miracle Workers Success Stories Caring Companies, Kind Kids VIP Profiles

2 THE FREEDOM PRESS 2 As many of you know, the dogs that enter our program are rescued from shelters throughout Colorado and the West. Our staff evaluates animals every week to find dogs of the right size, shape and temperament to begin training. So we have a waiting list full of clients and shelters full of dogs. What s the problem? This is where the economics comes in. Executive Director Letter A message from the tall end of the leash. I remember learning about supply and demand in school, but I couldn t have realized then how much and in what way the concept would impact my life today. Taken literally, the economic tenet may relate to market fluctuations, but it has hit us here at Freedom Service Dogs hard and in a very different way. I m going to throw out a statistic here: We have 70+ people in the process of receiving a service dog. That represents more than 70 people who wake up every day and deal with a variety of physical and mental issues, relying on family members, friends and medical professionals to help them complete their daily activities: getting dressed, going to work or school, shopping for groceries, even simply answering the phone or walking outside. A service dog can enable these people to take on these tasks by themselves, giving them back a much-desired measure of independence. It costs approximately $25,000 to train each dog. This covers basics such as health care, shelter and food during the training process; expert education of each service dog, including obedience and good behavior; the further customization of each dog s learning program to meet the specific needs of the client with whom it is matched; and an annual recertification of each team to be sure it s working properly. And our clients never have to pay for a dog. With every donation, we are a step closer. However, we are still nowhere near able to afford to train dogs for everyone on our steadily growing waiting list. It s as simple as that. The demand never stops increasing, and the supply is only met by the generosity of your donations. We work hard to make every dollar count, so you can always know that your contribution is doing good and is specifically being used to help balance the scales of supply and demand, taking shelter dogs through training and getting them to the clients who need them, bettering two lives in the process. Thanks for your help in this process! Sharan Wilson Sharan Wilson, Executive Director ABOUT FREEDOM SERVICE DOGS OF AMERICA BOARD OF DIRECTORS Freedom Service Dogs of America is a charitable organization that relies on financial support to rescue, train and provide service dogs to those in need. Clients include children, veterans and active-duty soldiers, and other adults. Their disabilities include autism, traumatic brain injury (TBI), cerebral palsy, spinal cord injuries, muscular dystrophy, multiple sclerosis, and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). For more information, visit The Freedom Press is the newsletter of Freedom Service Dogs of America. It is distributed free of charge to all supporters West Union Avenue. Englewood, CO Phone: Fax: EIN ISSN: OFFICERS Chairman Paul Scott Northwestern Mutual Vice-Chairman A. Ralph Reed Community Volunteer, Retired from Tall Grass Energy Treasurer James O Brien Community Volunteer, Retired Business Executive BOARD MEMBERS Pamela Alford Aurora Animal Shelter Ann Carlsen Founder and CEO, Carlsen Resources BOARD MEMBERS (continued) Chuck Lontine Managing Director, Headwaters MB Kimberly Field Author Kathleen Fieselman Service Dog Partner Kathryn E. Ford VP of Legal Affairs, WOW! Internet, Cable & Phone Leslie Howard Community Volunteer, Retired Business Executive Jon Hughes Merrill Lynch Jerry Maglio Maglio and Associates, Inc. David Mann Retired, Goldman Sachs Lee Mickus Partner, Snell & Wilmer Lee Clayton Roper Community Volunteer, Retired Business Executive Margaux Trammell Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, LLP Sharan Wilson Executive Director Thank you to all of our supporters! State of Colorado Vocational Rehabilitation Vendor

3 3 SPRING 2013 Free a Hero to Save a Hero The story behind Freedom Service Dogs latest awareness campaign. Any dog lover is sure to have noticed the billboards and bus shelter signs that have sprung up around town and statewide, each featuring a dog behind a chain-link fence and a poignant tag line that gets at the heart of FSD s unique operations model while tugging at your heartstrings. The campaign the result of a $75,000 grant awarded to FSD by Pure Brand Communications emphasizes the multiple positive outcomes that can result from the work we do here and that this work cannot continue without increasing donations. A Clear, Concise Message The message is delivered quickly and specifically: From life sentence to life saver. Break me out. I have work to do. The only thing between a hero and his calling. Your dog gets to play. I just want to work. Unlike many service dog organizations throughout the country, all of FSD s dogs come from rescue groups or shelters. Some have been neglected or abandoned; some come from dangerous situations; some have health issues; some are on a path to spend what is left of their lives in a cage. Yet as long as funds continue to be available dogs are taken in by FSD, cared for, loved and trained to become dependable, working service dogs over the course of six months to a year. Upon graduation, they go on to enrich the lives of the FSD client with whom they are matched, through their service, devotion and companionship in addition to their assistance with household tasks and public errands. This is the reason we say that each donation saves two lives. A One-Click Donation Response The website has launched with the purpose of making it quick and easy to donate to Freedom Service Dogs. With the click of a button, you can donate $5, $10 $20 or an amount of your choosing. The response has been phenomenal, including a 700% 900% increase in web traffic to the FSD website and in Facebook likes. If you haven t already been prompted to do so, visit the website, like us on Facebook, and make a donation to free a hero to save a hero. FreeAHero.org

4 THE FREEDOM PRESS 4 Miracle Workers In her newest book, The Divinity of Dogs, author Jennifer Skiff has gathered tales (no pun intended) of pets that have changed and sometimes saved their owners lives, from sensing impending danger to comforting them in times of sadness or stress. Included among the more than 70 stories is that of Mazie, a Freedom Service Dog who now lives with twin boys who have autism and their mom, who is deaf. Mazie was an unwanted dog that came to FSD through the Prison-Trained K-9 Companion Program. The story of Mazie and her family will bring tears to your eyes. Mazie with the twin boys she serves. Learn more about how service dogs impact lives in The Divinity of Dogs. FSD Keeps on Giving to Our Community FSD Provides Comfort When Friends and Family Lose a Pet Losing a companion animal can be devastating, whether it s a relied-upon service dog or simply a furry friend. When someone in your life loses a pet, you can make a donation in their family s name. The family will receive a beautiful card that lets them know you were thinking of them and have made a gift that will help to enrich the lives of other dogs dogs that may once have been mistreated or discarded and who will now be well trained and well treated. You can also make donations in memory of people, and in honor of both pets and people. To make a memorial or honorary contribution, include the following with your donation: The name of the pet or person to honor or remember The name and address of who to notify Your name and address so we can send you a tax receipt FSD Alumnus Sierra Saves 17 Lives through Blood Donations Many Freedom Service Dogs supporters are familiar with the story of Artie and Sierra, a team that graduated in Spring Artie is a tireless veterans activist and recipient of the 2010 Civil Rights Award from the Anti-Defamation League s Mountain States Office. He is in a wheelchair living with multiple sclerosis. Sierra not only serves as Artie s arms and legs, but she demonstrates the role of a service dog when Artie lobbies at the State Capitol and in Washington, D.C. Now, Artie has found a way for Sierra to impact even more lives. Sierra regularly gives blood at Wheat Ridge Animal Hospital, which ships blood all over the country. According to Artie, dogs are like people in that they tend to get sick and need blood more during holidays. Recently, Artie and Sierra even had the chance to meet one of the dogs Sierra is helping save: a miniature greyhound with a blood disease. To date, Sierra has donated enough blood to save 17 dogs! Wheat Ridge Animal Hospital Blood Bank is the only 24-hour veterinary blood bank in the Denver metro area. It provides life-saving blood products to hospitals around the country. For information about the Blood Bank, visit

5 5 SPRING 2013 Success Stories Recent graduates settle into new lives with calm and confidence. Thanks to donations from our supporters, efforts from our volunteers and hours of work from our dedicated staff we are able to change lives at no cost to our clients. Here, our grateful clients show and tell how their lives have changed with the support of a service dog. Michael and Fender Become a Team Michael and Fender have truly become a team. He has become my best friend and given me-self confidence. He is also helping my walking, Michael says. People no longer stare at me because I walk differently. They now look at me and my dog and smile. The Great Gatsby Becomes Part of the Family If has been just about a year since Cameo and Gatsby graduated, and what a year it has been! Gatsby enjoys outings and all the interesting smells that come with them, but he never fails to make sure Cameo knows a stranger is approaching. Gatsby is enamored with Cameo s new baby, and even mom is getting comfortable with doggie kisses on her newborn. When Gatsby first went home with Cameo, they both had been through months of rigorous training, but even Cameo was surprised and pleased to watch Gatsby develop his service skills beyond what he was taught at FSD. Cameo s flashbacks frighten Gatsby, but he is a professional first, licking Cameo s face until he comes out of it, getting his medication, and then waiting for some happy bonding time when everything is all right again. If anyone acts aggressively or otherwise upsets Cameo, Gatsby will very calmly put some distance between the stranger and his owner. When they arrive home, Gatsby searches the whole house and turns on commonly used lights. Cameo says, We have never practiced any of these things. He is really doing them naturally. It is truly amazing! Future Success Stories! FSD s April 1 placement class consisted of six client-dog teams, including Lori and Lola shown here with Lori s husband Bill. Lola will help Lori with doors, lights, item retrieval, dressing and emergency calls. They are looking forward to graduation on June 22. Lola was generously sponsored by Cowboy Moving & Storage. See page 7 to find out how you, too, can sponsor a service dog and change two lives.

6 THE FREEDOM PRESS 6 Thank You! We appreciate every act of generosity, big and small. Caring Companies Generous companies provide services, raise donations and complete service projects throughout the year. A few recent and remarkable supporters are shown here. Thank you for everything you do! Colorado Gives Day a Success On Dec. 4, 2012, we received nearly $58,000 in donations as part of the Colorado Gives Day celebration. Look for it to happen again Dec. 10, 2013, and don t forget that you can donate any time or request donations to FSD instead of gifts for an upcoming event at Thank you! Kind Kids Charitable inclinations are hardly restricted to grownups. These kind kids know that sometimes the best gifts aren t wrapped in paper or tied with a bow. Dear Freedom Service Dogs Organization, Thank you for the important work that you are doing by providing service dogs to people who need them. Please accept this donation of $25.18 to help you continuing doing great work. Sincerely, Jodi, Menlo Park, California To Whom It May Concern, We are pleased to enclose a donation of $72.27 for Freedom Service Dogs of America! Our son (Finley) had his 5th birthday and asked friends to bring donations for your organization in lieu of gifts. Thank you for the services your organization provides to our community, and we are proud that our kids wanted to help Freedom Service Dogs of America this year. Jessica & Chris, Fairfax, Virginia Dear Freedom Service Dogs Staff, To me, you seem like a good company to donate to. It s a good thing you care for all the disabled people (mostly veterans) and for all the dogs. Without this company, lots of veterans would be in big trouble in my opinion. My father is giving me $500 to donate to you. Sincerely, Tristan, Age 10

7 7 SPRING 2013 GET TO KNOW OUR LOYAL VOLUNTEERS Susan Imming started out stuffing envelops for FSD nearly 20 years ago. Since retiring from her job five years ago, she has been helping out the training staff a couple times a week, doing service dog demonstrations and assisting at festivals and other fun events. The dogs fascinate me, and I m thrilled to learn and observe more about what they can be taught to do, she says. I love everything the dogs, the clients, the staff, other volunteers, the fulfilling sense of helping so many have better lives. Judith (Judy) Braun enjoys being part of the dog training sessions and doing demos of the service dogs in addition to assisting Patty Howe with getting good portraits of the dogs for the website. A lifelong dog lover, she says she still didn t realize how attached she would get to the dogs (each of her daughters has adopted a dog through FSD programs). And it s good for her, too. When I leave for the day, she says, I realize how much of a stress reliever it is to work with the dogs. You can leave problems behind for at least a short time. I can t imagine a more fulfilling way of giving back to the community and feeling good that you have contributed. Harold (Hal) Chantker has been working with FSD for less than a year, but he has made an impact. He can be counted on to work at adoption or charity events and is a master T-shirt folder. One of the things that really impresses me is how much the advanced dogs will keep their eyes on me while I am involved in the training, he says. The dogs seem to say, No sweat, I have you covered, and if you stress out, I m here for you. Hal also has a warning for anyone thinking of volunteering: Be very cautious; you can become very addicted to this organization. Find out when FSD has a graduation ceremony, bring tissues (tear alert), and after that, you re hooked. How Cowboy Moving & Storage Changed Two Lives Through Freedom Service Dogs Mike and Sheri Folsom of Cowboy Moving & Storage with Lola, the service dog they sponsored. Lola was matched with her client, Lori, in April and the team will graduate on June 22. To find out how you can sponsor a service dog and help change two lives, contact Jan Kelley at Freedom Service Dogs supporters Mike and Sheri Folsom have long believed in our mission. Dogs and animals in general are very dear to our hearts. We like what they re doing and how they re doing it, says Sheri. For years, their company, Cowboy Moving & Storage ( has donated a dollar amount from each move to FSD. Recently, they expanded their commitment and sponsored a dog from arrival at FSD through placement with a client. In this case, the cost went above the usual $25,000 because the dog, Lola, required extensive surgery and rehabilitation. The Folsoms not only funded the entire cost of Lola s placement, but they came out of the sponsorship with a new dog as well. The original dog they sponsored, Barley, did not make it through the service program and got a new home with the Folsoms.

8 Mark Your Calendars! Spring Graduation Ceremony Saturday, June 22, Englewood Civic Center Diamonds in the Ruff II Saturday, Aug. 10, Mercedes-Benz of Littleton Faces of Freedom Sporting Clay Event Friday, Sept. 6, Quail Run Sports, Kiowa Freedom Festival & Doggie Plunge Saturday, Sept. 7, Pirates Cove & Belleview Park Visit for details: Make a Wish Come True FSD is in need of a selection of larger items to help us maintain our facility and better serve our clients and dogs. Vacuums and carpet cleaners Snow blower Flat-screen TV Coffee grinder (for vitamins) You can check out our full wish list and current priorities at There you ll find a link to our Amazon.com wish list page, which makes it easy to find and ship items directly to us (remember to include a gift note, so we can thank you and send a donation receipt for your tax records) West Union Avenue Englewood, CO Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage PAID Denver, CO Permit No. 400