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Thanks to all of the Visiting Pet Program volunteers
that have renewed their membership for another year.
Once again, VPP volunteers (2 & 4 legged) will make
an extraordinary difference in the life of residents
in nursing homes and patients in hospitals. Despite
all of the post Katrina chaos, you have committed to
another year of ?Bringing Love and Leaving Smiles?.
At the center of your efforts is a generosity that
is boundless. Your service is a gift of your time,
a gift of your precious pet, and a gift of your
amazing commitment.
And a very heartfelt warm welcome to all of the new
members that just completed their evaluation in
September. You and your pet are just beginning your
journey in the rewarding field of pet therapy. As
a team you will be making a contribution. Even
something that may seem insignificant to you can
make a big impact on the person you are visiting.
For a nursing home or hospital patient, an attentive
dog or purring cat makes a big difference. By
offering your time, you and your pet can provide
support, encouragement and a fresh perspective to
everyone we meet. Through volunteering, all
members, new and old, can learn new skills, develop
new friendships and learn to be more understanding.
We all come from many different backgrounds but have
several things in common ? our love of animals, our
interest and enthusiasm, our dedication and
dependability and our compassion for people who no
longer have the company of their own furry friends.
Thank you to all VPP volunteers for the work you do.
Your efforts are appreciated by everyone you meet.
Claire Sommers
paws4visits@gmail.com
Quick Links
Visit
Schedule for Fall 2006
To Joyce for confirmation
corgigal311@bellsouth.net
To the web site
Visiting
Pet Program web site
| Meet The New Volunteers |
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Once again, our full day Pet/Handler Evaluation was
a huge success. The week following the evaluation,
the new volunteers also attended the Pet/Handler
Workshop to help them prepare for their probationary
visits. Please welcome these new volunteers as you
meet them on their probationary visits in the next
few months.
KATHY BARNETT and Truman, the
Collie. Kathy is
an Assistant Professor at Loyola University. She
enjoys reading and movies. Truman is a rescue. He
likes taking obedience class and playing with
Kathy's 4 year old nephew.
KIM BARRETT and Dixie, the
Catahoula/Aust.
Shepherd mix. Kim is a substitute teacher. She
has also been a Girl Scout leader for 13 years.
Dixie was adopted from the shelter. Dixie has taken
several obedience classes, and loves Rally and
Agility work. She adores children.
MUGUET BOLOTTE and CoCo, the
Cavalier King
Charles Spaniel. Muguet works from home in the field
of fiber optics. She volunteers with Kiwanis and
Jazz Fest. CoCo loves going for walks in the
neighborhood. She likes meeting people and children
along the way.
KIM CARLSON and Thor, the black
Greyhound. Kim
is an occupational therapist at Ochsner Hospital.
She enjoys taking Thor for walks on the levee and in
the parks. She also enjoys entertaining her 4 yr old
nephew. Thor lives with a cat. He enjoys playing
with Kim's sisters' dogs.
MELISSA GIBBS and Van Gogh, the
brown and white
longhaired cat. Melissa works for her family's
construction company. She was a Court Appointed
Special Advocate pre-Katrina. Van Gogh was taken in
by Melissa as a stray. He loves meeting people and
getting petted.
EDDIE and BLAYNE GOTHARD and
Phoebe, the Golden
Retriever. Eddie is an attorney. He enjoys fishing
and tennis. Blayne is a part-time paralegal for her
husband's law firm. She enjoys tennis and gardening.
Phoebe enjoys going for walks and fetching a ball.
JACKIE INNERARITY and Lucy, the
tan/black mixed
breed. Jackie is a self-employed computer
graphics/publication specialist. She is active with
dog rescue and is involved with senior citizens and
computers. Lucy has 3 legs. She is a Katrina
rescue. Lucy likes going to PetsMart and visiting
with friends.
RHONDA LILES and Charm, the black
Maine Coon
cat. Rhonda is a minister. She volunteers at Ochsner
Hospital as a baby rocker. Charm lives with another
cat. He enjoys being held.
LORI LYONS and Lollee, the cream
Standard
Poodle. Lori is a sports writer for The
Times-Picayune, covering high schools in the River
Parishes. She is an amateur geologist. Lollee likes
going to the ball park and playing with Lori's 5
year old. Lollee can sing.
MAGGIE MILLET and Tabasco, the
Golden Retriever. Maggie is a teacher and coach.
She enjoys needlework and gardening. Tabasco enjoys
meeting people in the neighborhood. She loves
children.
JAN MONTEGUT and Jeager, the
black mixed breed.
Jan is a substitute teacher. She enjoys reading,
gardening, and bicycling. Jeager loves children.
She likes going to the baseball park.
KAREN SMITH and Rocky, the
Rottweiler. Karen
works 4 weeks a year selling clothes. She is active
with her church's outreach ministry. Karen enjoys
knitting, reading, and playing bridge. Rocky was a
stray dog who found a good home with Karen. He
likes going for walks, and is fond of children.
JOY STURTEVANT and Oban, the
Boxer. Joy is a
professor of Microbiology at LSU Health Science
Center. She enjoys watching soccer games and
jogging. Oban enjoys taking obedience courses,
going to the dog park, and Barkus parade.
BONNIE UGULANO and Charlie, the
black Lab.
Bonnie is a flight attendant. She also works with
her husband in his plumbing business. Charlie was a
stray that Bonnie adopted. He likes going for walks
and meeting people and pets.
ASHELY UGULANO and Tober, the
Rottweiler mix.
Ashely works at Hickory Knoll Veterinary Hospital,
and is a full-time student. She volunteers with
Friends of the JPAS. Tober was found as a stray one
October, so he was named for the month. He loves to
make new friends. Tober can balance treats on his
nose.
SUZIE WILSON and Trixie, the
Westie. Suzie is a
paralegal for a defense law firm. She is involved
with animal rescue organizations. She likes working
out and the outdoors. Trixie likes going to PetsMart
and Petco, going for walks. She was adopted by
Suzie when her previous owner became terminally
ill.
SANDY WOODS and Mollie, the
Maltese. Sandy
retired from Ochsner in Marketing and Public
Affairs. She enjoys family activities, shopping,
and outings with H2U Club. Mollie enjoys going to
Lafreniere Park and PetsMart.
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| Current Volunteers Add Pets |
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CONNIE BACK and Scotty, the fawn Boxer.
Connie has been a member of the Visiting Pet Program
since 1998. Connie's other Boxer, Dottie, is a
regular at Magnolia School.
CATHY BURCH and Rosie, the red Dachshund.
Cathy has been a VPP volunteer since 1998. Rosie
will join her sister Annabelle as a VPP pet
therapist.
BEA COTTINGHAM and Rhett, the black/white
mixed
breed. Bea has been visiting since 2003. Rhett will
join Bea's dogs Savannah and Logan as pet
therapists.
LEE and TOM GAFFNEY and Tallulah Marie, the
Gaffneyhound. Tallulah will be visiting just like
her sisters and brother Ginny Belle, Megan Claire,
and Scruffy. Lee and Tom have been visiting since
1991.
BARBARA HYLAND and Penny, the brindle and
white
Greyhound. Sadly, Barbara lost her beloved Regal
last year. We are so happy that she and Penny are a
new visiting team! Barbara has been a VPP member
since 2005.
PEGGY LAE and Chloe, the chocolate Lab.
Peggy has
been a VPP member since 1995. Chloe is Peggy's
first therapy dog.
JOYCE LASHLEY and Mills, the Golden
Retriever.
Joyce has been a VPP volunteer since 2002. Mills
is following in his brother Taco's footsteps. They
are regular visitors to westbank facilities
SHIRLEY LAUSSADE and Kelsie, the Boxer.
Shirley has been visiting since 1999. Kelsie joins
Shirley's other Boxers Bullet, Soundproof, Spice,
Dee Dee, Princess and Ginger as VPP pet therapists.
VICKIE SALTER and ELI, the black greyhound.
Vickie's Italian Greyhound, Mikey, retired last
year. Vickie became a VPP member in 1995. Vickie
and Eli will be visiting on the northshore.
CLAIRE SOMMERS and TBoy, the black Greyhound.
Claire has been a volunteer since 1999. Her beloved
Kansas passed away in March. Claire and T Boy will
be visiting at Covenant Home.
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| Guardian Angels |
Donations were received from:
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| About the Visiting Pet Program |
The Visiting Pet Program is an all volunteer 501
(C)(3) non-profit animal assisted therapy
organization serving Orleans, Jefferson and St.
Tammany parishes.
For the past 19 years, the volunteers of the VPP have
lived up to their motto of "Bringing Love and Leaving
Smiles" to the residents of nursing homes and
hospitals.
Our literacy project, Reading
to Rover,
offers young readers the opportunity to practice
their reading aloud skills to the gentle therapy
dogs.
If you would like to make a donation to
the Visiting Pet Program, please click on the button
below or mail your check to 5831 S. Johnson Street,
New Orleans, LA 70125. Please note if your donation
is in memory of a person or a pet. We will be happy
to send an acknowledgment of your donation to the
family. Please include the name and address to send
the acknowledgment. Because we are a 501(C)(3)
organization, your donation is tax deductible. We
are an all volunteer organization. Your donation
goes directly to the support of our mission.
Thank you
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| Dates To Remember |
New Volunteer Orientation
Friday evening,
October 13th
7:00pm
Harahan Senior Center
Pre-registration required
Call Joyce Kleinfeldt at 866-2532 to register.
New Pet/Handler Evaluation
Saturday,
January 6
Harahan Senior Center
New Pet/Handler Workshop
and Buddy Workshop
Saturday,
January 13th
Harahan Senior Center
2pm-5pm
All volunteers interested in becoming buddies must
attend.
Pre-registration required.
Contact Rebecca Breaud to register.
888-7716 or
labbies@cox.net
Annual Meeting and Family Picnic
Mark your calendars now!
Sunday, March 25th
2pm-4pm
Cenacle Retreat House
More details in the December newsletter
Reading To Rover
On the East Bank
Held on the third Thursday of each month
at the East Bank Regional Library
4747 W. Napoleon in Metairie
6:30pm-7:30pm
On the West Bank
Held on the second Sunday of each month
2751 Manhattan Blvd., Harvey
from 2:00pm-3:00pm
Contact Denise Mehurin
dmehurin@cox.net
or 504-491-9087
to confirm your slot at either of these
Reading To
Rover
events.
VPP Logo Apparel
We've restocked!
We can now
offer you both
short and
long sleeved t-shirts,
embroidered polo shirts,
fleece jackets,
and vests
for people and dogs.
We also have the popular
tote bags and
aprons.
Doggie
leashes
in 2, 4, and 6 foot lengths
in a variety
of widths
are
also available.
And of course,
our
favorite,
the
doggie scarf
with both the VPP
and RTR logos
is back in stock.
To purchase
contact
Claire Sommers at
bettyboopnola@yahoo.com
OUR DEEPEST SYMPATHIES
are extended to
Shirley Laussade
on the loss of
her dear Boxer,
Cookie.
Cookie had been a
visiting pet since 2003,
and was a
regular visitor at Ochsner Child Life
and Ville Ste
Marie.
Cookie will be missed
by all who
knew and
loved her.
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