Too often we underestimate the power of a touch,

a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around.

-Leo Buscaglia

Thank you Integer Denver!

By Nancy Svoboda on Monday, 06 July 2009

As an agency, we have agreed to support a non -profit organization called Paws & Effect™. One of the most important segments of this business is the raising, training, and placement of service dogs locally. Service dogs need real-world experience to learn to help those with special needs. This is where we have agreed to help out. Beginning the week of July 6, Steve Hirsch will be bringing a service dog to the agency for training 2 or 3 times per week. The yellow lab will be wearing a vest indicating not to pet him because he is working. He will be at Steve’s side wherever he goes. Obviously, this is a new experience for the agency, and we hope it will be successful. However, we recognize that some employees may be allergic to dogs. If you have any questions, concerns, etc., please contact Nancy Svoboda so we can work together to make this a great experience for everyone. From Paws and Effect: We're excited to introduce you to "Tag," whose full name, Partager, means "to share" in French. Tag, a yellow lab, will be a year old on July 1. In the true spirit of the word, we appreciate your willingness to share in the experience of training a service dog. Tag has learned to open handicapped accessible doors by touching the associated pressure plate; open and close interior doors by tugging on the handle (when a tugging object is available) or by pushing it shut with his nose; retrieve large and small items and placing them back in a person's hand. Consistent with the minimum standards of Assistance Dogs International, Tag has learned at least three tasks to offset the limitations a person may experience if they were mobility impaired. You'll find that Tag is very quiet and gentle as well as hardworking and diligent. For now, he has demonstrated some fabulous work in public, although he still has some resistance to going up and down stairs. With that, there may be times when you see Steve actually training Tag and we hope that you'll acknowledge them with a quick greeting and continue on. Of course, every once in a while, Tag's age will shine through and he'll demonstrate that he can be a silly, adolescent dog. We are seeing that less and less, but know that there will be times that it is just too plain hard to work, and an effort to engage others to play will be offered. Again, ignoring the behavior when it happens will provide Steve the opportunity to redirect Tag into more appropriate public behavior. We know it is challenging to resist petting a dog while it is working, but refraining from doing so allows the dog to keep his focus on the person for whom it is working. This dog has been trained to avert eye contact with other humans as well as making the effort to keep the tail wagging to a minimum. In doing so, the dog discourages further interactions because he appears aloof. Mistakes happen, sometimes it is just too much to ask and we end up speaking with the dog or reaching for them. Recognize this is a good training opportunity for the dog, no apologies are required. However, we hope to see spontaneous interactions decrease as people get used to seeing Steve with Tag. Once things settle in, we'll try to set up an opportunity where people can play with Tag when his vest is off. Tag enjoys water, retrieving, tugging, general fun and games and, of course, being a lab, food. Know how much your efforts are appreciated and how valuable this experience is for Tag. He will be placed shortly after his stay with Steve and we'll be happy to share all the details of his placement as they become available

Books have gone to the dogs at Norwalk Public Library

We're happy to share that our newest literacy program has started! Read more about it:

http://indianolarecordherald.desmoinesregister.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090617/INDIANOLA01/90617023/1138

Whats could be better than getting a new puppy?

See the answer for yourself.

Easy Come, Not-So-Easy Go....

It is a big week in the Angel's home with Seneca preparing for placement and Keeper just starting his puppy-raising adventures. It won't be often that the service dogs cross paths, but look at what happens when they do!

A big welcome to Keeper and huge thanks to Seneca for making his transition a little bit easier.

A Theater Lovin' Dog.

Back no more then a week in Des Moines and Tag had a hankerin' for the theater. So, we took him to the Des Moines Social Club's performance of The Twelfth Labor at the Side Show Lounge!

Tag, with his regular theater behavior of "I'm-not-so-sure-this-could-be-coconuts," got a bit animated - if only a moment - when the mother of this turn of century household was takin' care of the cat! Yes, the cat killed one of the chickens and had to be takin' care of (the cat in this part was a stuffed toy animal that looked like a cat). Tag perked up during this scene but quickly recovered and went back to his "Don't Pet Me - Sleepin' " position.

Tag really does enjoy the theater shows. If you don't believe, just ask him.

Mssr. ParTAGer

Tag has gotten many more miles and lot of experiences under his collar. The dog swap happened in Louisville, Kentucky. A beautiful town on the Ohio river basin and home to the start of Lewis and Clark's cross country expedition. When we left he was just a puppy; now he's grown into a young adult. He gained a ton of skills while on the road. He can open and close doors! He can fetch/retrieve the phone (things change when it rings!). He can pick objects off the floor and hand them back to the handler. He can chase the tennis ball till your arm falls off from chucking it into the fields. A HUGE thanks to the Reed-Ceveris family for all the time, effort, energy, training and love they've invested in Tag.

Tag got to go swimming in the Louisville City Park fountain. Apparently this spot is a heavenly treat for dogs and kids! Shortly after the swim, Tag got to visit a really cool veterinarian (Downtown Animal Hospital) so he could get looked at and get some more of that heart and tick stuff. Nobody likes the creepy crawlies!

Tag is already preparing for his next adventure. He will be traveling to Denver, Colorado! We are all jealous and living vicariously through Tag's Excellent Adventures.

Thank you Heidi and Meredith Corporation!

Volunteer Heidi Parcel has gone far beyond volunteering in the agility program at ChildServe.  Through her employer, Meredith Corporation, she was able to secure funding to offset some of the expenses related to the programs we offer.  Thanks, again, for supporting us with both your time, commitment and energy.

Bow WOWing in Missouri

Heddie Leger is a Paws & Effect volunteer in Missouri who participates in a R.E.A.D. program with her two dogs.  Heddie has graciously shared photos from their end of the school year celebration in which each child received a medal for their efforts and improvement.  Paws & Effect was able to provide a free book for each of the 30 children involved in this year's program.

More Tag Video