Susan Frederickson and Lita , the Chihuahua. Susan is a homemaker. She takes care of her granddaughter while her daughter works and goes to school. She enjoys photography, scrapbooking, games with friends and family, and movies. Lita enjoys being with the family, and sharing her home with 2 cats. She loves meeting people and her tail never stops wagging!
Malay Ghose-Hajra and Mita, the Golden Retreiver. Malay is an engineer. He is active with Gulf South Golden Retriever Rescue. He enjoys the outdoors and taking Mita to parks. Mita loves to play with the other Golden Retrievers that Malay fosters. She likes to go to PetsMart and Petco.
Jerri Hanemann with Lily, the Jack Russell Terrier and Trixie, the Boxer. Jerri is a home care physical therapist with Ochsner Home Care. Her hobbies are yoga and gardening. Lily and Trixie like going for walks and playing with Jerri's grandchildren.
Sterling Millet and Tabasco, the Golden Retriever. Sterling is active with St Clement Church. He helps with Meals on Wheels and is a CASA volunteer. He enjoys gardening. Tabasco enjoys meeting people and going places.
Wilma Nuss and Buddy, the Maltese. Wilma is a speech pathologist working with young children at Westbank Head Start. She is a registrar at St. Catherine of Siena School in Metairie. She sews as a hobby. Buddy loves to be carried and held. He is very fond of children.
Lucie Tredennick and Osso, the black Boxer mix. Lucie is a law student at Tulane University. She sings in her church choir. She has volunteered at the LA/SPCA, and Audubon Zoo in their summer camps. She was formerly an elementary school teacher. Osso is an LA/SPCA shelter adoptee. He can give "hugs".
Donna West and Ellie, the Shepherd-Husky mix. Donna is an administrative technician with Folgers Coffee. Her hobbies are swimming, walking, exercise, and gardening. Ellie has been a visiting pet since 2003 on the Northshore with Donna's husband, Greg West.

Current Volunteers Add Pets

Doug Lapara and Sophie, the Weimaraner. Doug and his other Weimaraner, Kaiser, have been visiting East Jefferson General Hospital since 2000.
Shirley Laussade and Star, the Boxer. Star joins Shirley's other Boxers, Soundproof, Princess, Spice, Dee Dee and Kelsie who have been visiting various facilities in Jefferson since 1999.
Ginger Morvant and Bassy, the Basset Hound. Since 2001, Ginger and her dog Woody have been regular visitors at Magnolia School. Bassy wants to be a visiting pet, just like her big brother.
Fay Schultz and Mozart, the Shih Tzu. Fay and her poodle, JJ, have visited regularly since 2003 at Covenant Home and Lambeth House. Mozart is looking forward to bringing smiles to the residents.
Greg West and Sassy, the Chihuahua/Terrier mix. Greg and his other dog, Ellie, have been regular visitors since 2003 on the Northshore. Sassy wants to join her big sister as a visiting pet.

Celebrating 20 years of the
Visiting Pet Program!

Come on out and join the fun and help VPP celebrate 20 wonderful years. Due to a scheduling conflict with another area dog event, we have changed the date and location of our annual picnic. Soniat Playground in Harahan will be the new site for the VPP Annual Meeting and Family Picnic on Sunday, April 1, 2007 from 2pm-4pm. Please note the new date and location. A map to Soniat Playground is linked below.

All VPP volunteers, certified and probationary, and their family and guests are invited. VPP dogs that have completed certification are invited to attend. Unfortunately, we cannot invite dogs that are not certified through our program. All dogs must remain on leash throughout the entire event and, just like on visits, only one dog per handler. As always, flexi-leashes are not permitted. Certified volunteers are asked to wear their green VPP shirt.

Bring the kids and your own chairs or a blanket to sit on and enjoy an afternoon of fun. VPP will provide sandwiches, snacks and soft drinks. We will have access to two covered shelters and a great play gym for the kids.

Please confirm your attendance (note how many family members will attend) by email to paws4visit@gmail.com. To be sure there is enough food for everyone, we need an accurate head count no later than March 23rd.

We look forward to seeing everyone!

Map to Soniat Playground, Harahan

I would like to take this opportunity to remind all members of the protocol for becoming a member of the VPP. Some of you have been members for a very long time and we have changed some policies over the years.

This reminder is due to recurring phone calls from the general public interested in becoming members. These individuals begin by telling us they saw VPP members visiting at a local hospital or nursing home. All of us are ambassadors of the VPP wherever we are visiting. Visiting with our furry friends is our best publicity. If people do ask you how to become a member, the simplest thing is ask them to call Joyce Kleinfeldt. Always remember, Joyce?s phone number is on the back of your VPP photo ID... 504 866 2532. You can also direct them to the VPP website www.visitingpetprogram.org.

If someone approaches you and wants specific information about becoming a member, here are some highlights to give them.

• Attend a Mandatory Orientation. There is a $10.00 charge to attend an orientation and advanced reservations are required.
• Following attendance at an orientation, they must pass the Pet/Handler evaluation. There is a $10.00 per animal charge to have a pet evaluated and advanced reservations are required to participate.
• Must complete a 4 visit probationary training period.
• Must be willing to attend a minimum of 1 visit each month.
• Must be at least 18 years of age.
• After successful completion of the 4 probationary visits, new volunteers must pay an initation fee and annual membership dues.

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