Dear fellow dog lovers,
Wow - we have an exciting schedule of events for October. I hope you will come out and enjoy the events and stop by our booths to say hello. Thank you to our events team for putting all these together. It takes a lot of team work to make these events successful.
We have lots of classes starting this month. Now is the time to train your dog so that by the Holidays, when your relatives visit, your dog is well mannered and well trained. Additionally, many of the events scheduled for this month allow dogs to attend. Does your dog have the skills to enjoy festivals with you? If not, sign up for a class and we will teach you and your dog the necessary skills.
After years of planning, the scientific study of our work with therapy dogs and children with autism will start this week. We are honored to be working with the Autism Project at the University of Texas at Austin to accomplish this project. Thank you to everyone who has donated their time and financial resources to help us achieve this goal. If your child has Asperger's Syndrome and is between the ages of 8 - 15 years and you are eligible for free and reduced lunch, please contact us. We have two scholarships available for the classes starting this week.
Enjoy the nice weather and all the festivities.
Sincerely,
Debi Krakar, CPDT
Executive Director, Austin Dog Alliance
|
| Volunteer Spotlight: Susan Windham |
 | |
Susan & Zoe, her therapy dog
|
If you've taken a class at the ADA Training Center or attended an ADA community event in the last few years, you've undoubtedly run into Susan Windham. She's always there to lend a hand when help is needed. Susan began volunteering with ADA in 2007, assisting Carolyn Honish with Paws for Alert. In 2009 Susan began assisting Debi Krakar in the evenings with six-week dog training classes such as Dog Manners and Pet Therapy, building her skills and experience in using positive training methods to help owners/handlers work effectively with their four-legged companions. Earlier this year, Susan shifted from assisting to teaching her own Puppy Manners and Dog Manners classes at the ADA Training Center. She finds it particularly rewarding to see dogs and owners/handlers bond, work through challenges, and reach the point where they're excited about class and enjoying the process of learning manners, tricks, and new behaviors. Susan also ran several K9 Kids Summer Camps this summer. Susan's involvement with ADA is a family affair - her daughter, Amber, volunteers for ADA and the Windham family regularly fosters dogs rescued by ADA. Their dog Zoe, whom the family fostered and later adopted, trained with both Susan and Amber to develop skills as a therapy dog. Zoe successfully completed two Delta pet therapy evaluations earlier this year - once with Susan and a separate evaluation with Amber - to become a registered Delta Pet Partner therapy dog with each of her handlers. Susan brings a creative energy to many of ADA's events, doing everything from advance planning to onsite volunteer duty painting kids' faces, all in an effort to ensure events like Paws in the Park and Bow Wow Express go smoothly and that everyone has fun. She's recently become the driving force behind ADA's newly-created Teen Council. Susan also volunteers and assists with most weekend Delta pet therapy evaluations. ADA is like family to Susan's family. "I love that ADA is family friendly, always a positive place to be. I truly believe in what ADA is doing for our community with the special needs dogs and the Autism Classes. I couldn't think of a better place to give my time to" she explains.  | |
Amber, Zoe, & Susan
|
Susan's household includes three dogs (Zoe, the Aussie therapy dog; Oscar, the "wiener dog"; and Wish, a Rat Terrier), two kids (Hunter, age two, and Amber, 13), and Scott, Susan's "loving, very understanding, and tolerant husband". When asked what she finds most rewarding about volunteering, Susan sums it succinctly: "Knowing we've made a difference in a dog's and a family's life". Susan is part of the "super glue" that makes ADA successful. Susan, we appreciate everything you do! |
|
Stop by the ADA Booth at Austin Pet Expo
|
Shorty Rossi and Hercules from Animal Planet's "Pit Boss" are scheduled to make an appearance at this year's Pet Expo!
Stop by the ADA booth and say hello. We'll have information about our rescue/adoption programs, upcoming events, training and seminars, pet therapy outreach, and volunteer opportunities.
Be sure to check the Pet Expo tips page to ensure a great experience for you and your pet.
Over 50 exhibitors/organizations are participating in this event, which includes a pet talent contest, pet costume contest, agility demonstrations, adoption opportunities, and much more.
Free parking, free admission. Complete details, schedule, and directions are available at the Austin Pet Expo website.
|
|
We'll be at Equibloom's Fall Festival
|
Equibloom Therapeutic Riding located in Manor, Texas is a private horseback riding program. Therapeutic equine programs (also known as hippotherapy) have been shown to benefit those with cognitive, emotional, physical, and social challenges. The horse, as a therapy animal, is used to help facilitate independence through the riding experience. ADA will be in attendance at Equibloom's Fall Festival, to support and discuss the power of animal therapy programs.
|
|
October Classes & After-School Programs
Sign up now!
| |
 We have a new round of classes starting in October! Multiple sessions of Dog Manners 1 and 2, K9 Kids Programs, and much more. We offer classes during the day, evenings, and on weekends, to fit even the most challenging schedule.
- Dog training classes (six weeks) beginning in October include:
- Dog Manners 1
- Dog Manners 2
- Pet Therapy
- Puppy Manners
- Introduction to Rally
- Barking & Growling
- Dog Manners for Deaf Dogs
- K9 Kids Programs
- K9 Club Dog Manners, Typically Developing Students Grades 5-9 (six weeks)
- K9 Club Asperger's/Autism Social Communication Enrichment After-School Program Ages 8 - 15 years (eight weeks). See the K9 Club link for more information on this innovative program involving kids and therapy dogs. Sessions start October 4 and 5.
For additional class details, dates, and online registration, visit the Dog Training or K9 Kids Programs sections of our website. Online registration is open now.
Your class fees help fund our Autism/Asperger's programs, K9 Kids clubs, summer camps, and pet therapy programs throughout central Texas. Thank you for training with ADA!
Questions? Call our Training Center at 512-335-7100 for special circumstances or to schedule one-on-one instruction.
|
|
Celebrate Books & Reading - Texas Book Festival (October 22-23)
|
 We'll be at the 2011 Texas Book Festival again this year, held on the beautiful Texas State Capitol grounds. 
Our Bow Wow Reading program is offered in schools throughout central Texas. Studies have shown that the use of therapy dogs in focused one-on-one reading programs can help children improve their reading skills and test scores.
Stop by our booth and meet some of our Bow Wow Reading dogs all day Saturday and Sunday. We will also be at the Children's Activity Tent on Saturday from 10 - 10:30 and 1:45 - 2:30. On Sunday, we will be at the Activity Tent from 2 - 3. The kids can read to the dogs and make books to read to their dog at home.
Complete details are available at the Texas Book Festival website.
|
|
Join us at Dogadillo's Spooktacular (October 23)
|
Stop by our booth at Dogadillo's Howl'oween Spooktacular at the Hill Country Galleria Mall. We'll have volunteers there to support the event and share information on our rescue, adoption, training, K9 Kids, K9 Autism/Asperger's Club, and pet therapy programs.
|
|
Pet Therapy
|
 Congratulations to the new and renewing pet therapy teams that successfully completed the Delta Society Pet Partner evaluation in September. Registration is open for future evaluation dates. Sign up before they fill up! See our Delta Evaluations page for information and online registration. Please note - you must attend a pet therapy seminar or pet therapy 6 week class and have instructor approval BEFORE signing up for an evaluation time slot. Join us and see how rewarding it is to volunteer as a pet therapy team! |
|
Looking Ahead ...
|
 Mark your calendar now - our Bow Wow Express Holiday Festival will be held December 18 (1-4pm) at Milburn Park in Cedar Park.
We'll have carnival games, train rides, photos with Santa, a holiday market, holiday cookie decorating, dog biscuit decorating, hot chocolate, and lots of fun planned for the day. Stay up to date by visiting the Bow Wow Express page.
Be a sponsor! If you are interested in being one of our much-appreciated sponsors, or are a vendor interested in participating, you can find more information here.
Visit our Events Calendar or follow us on Facebook to stay up to date on all upcoming Austin Dog Alliance events! |
|
|
********************************************************************************************
Austin Dog Alliance is a non-profit 501(c)3 organization, with the mission of improving the health and well being of individuals and families through programs incorporating the powerful connection between dogs and humans.
To achieve our mission we
- Provide professional and positive dog training classes
- Find dogs for families
- Provide programs for children and their families who are affected by Autism Spectrum Disorder
- Promote the valuable role of pet therapy in our community
- Implement animal assisted programs in nursing homes, hospitals and rehabilitation centers
- Enhance student reading skills by utilizing Bow Wow Reading Dog pet therapy teams at schools and libraries
- Provide a variety of fun and educational programs designed to build self esteem and teach children to love and respect dogs
Austin Dog Alliance is funded by the revenue generated from our training classes and donations by individuals and corporations. All donations are tax deductible. Please donate .
|
|
|
| Contact Us | Board of Directors
Leadership Team
Adoption Program Manager
Pet Therapy Volunteer Coordinator
Pet Therapy
Training Manager |
|
|
