Greetings from the Desk of the Executive Director |
Dear fellow dog lovers: I'm feeling rather sentimental this month. Not only did I turn the big 5 - 0 yesterday, but we are also going to celebrate 1 year at our Cedar Park ranch on March 8th at 3:05 pm. It's been quite the journey and we have affected so many lives with our programs that incorporate the powerful bond we have with dogs. It's such a simple concept, yet it has such amazing impact on the families we serve. Children learning to read, students practicing their social skills so they can overcome some of the challenges of autism, young adults learning about dog care so they can get rewarding jobs, bringing joy to residents of nursing homes, dogs being trained to provide inner strength to veterans with PTSD, teens working together to build dog beds for local shelters. Simple concept, powerful impact. One of my favorite aspects of running Austin Dog Alliance, is having the opportunity to witness so many people giving everyday. I need help learning about veterans, multiple organizations offer to coach me. We need a driveway, Aaron Concrete and Ramming Paving step up to build it. Our agility field gets damaged in a storm, Forever Lawn Austin jumps in to repair it. Our special dogs need to be trained, 6 wonderful volunteers offer to dedicate two months or more to a rather intense training program for a dog they will give away. Everyday I am blessed with the opportunity to not only witness how the dogs change lives, but how people are so inherently generous and giving.
On March 20 -21, our entire City will participate in Amplify Austin. The goal of the initiative is to help over 400 non-profits raise over $4 Million in 24 hours. Our goal is to raise $15,000 to support our programs. Your generosity helps Austin Dog Alliance and all the non-profits in our community thrive.
Thank you for giving me the joy and pleasure of serving you and our community everyday.
Debi Krakar
Executive Director and Founder
Austin Dog Alliance
PS - Summer camp registration is now open. Summer camps are held in Cedar Park for ages 5 - 15.
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Special Dogs for Special Needs
Providing highly trained companion & emotional support dogs
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Lia joined SDSN through our partnership with HOTLab Rescue
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Our Special Dogs for Special Needs (SDSN) program was launched in 2010 after receiving numerous requests from families to find and train dogs for placement in their home with a special need child or an adult with PTSD or anxiety.
Based on years of training classes and selecting dogs for our adoption program, we estimate the number of shelter dogs that have the temperament suited for this environment to be about 2 - 5%.
To assist us in finding these special dogs, we've partnered with several area shelters and rescue groups.
We've selected our first group of "special dogs" for 2014, and their training has begun!
THANK YOU to our partners and trainers, including Heart of Texas Lab, Anderson Mill Animal Clinic, Rescue, Lockhart Animal Shelter, Bastrop Animal Shelter, Doggy Day Out in Pflugerville, Steve Corona, Kathleen Majcher, Sylvia Troconis, Donna Fessler, Michele Cuteri, Dawn Wasicek and Susan Windham!
We're thrilled to be able to provide this program for our community.
For more information, see our Special Dogs for Special Needs page here. To meet our dogs, Lia, Angel, Misty, Roxie, Beau and Rocky, click here. Proof of diagnosis required to adopt.
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Bow Wow Birthday Parties
Encouraging love and respect for animals, and a whole lot of fun!
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 | | Waiting for a turn to play pin the tail on the puppy. |
The parties include:
- 1.5 hours of party fun
- Helpful staff that will run the party and help in whatever way they can (serving food, loading gifts into the car, recording gifts and more)
- Very cute, dog themed plates and napkins. We will also provide cups, forks, spoons, serving utensils
- Dog themed decorations
- Agility demo
- Discussion on dog safety or other age appropriate "dog" learning topic
- One or two therapy dogs
- Age appropriate dog-themed craft or treat making
- Age appropriate dog-themed games
- Lemonade or fruit punch
- Special gift for birthday child
Contact us for more information! (Editor note: we can only host a couple of these a month, so please call a couple months in advance of your party date.)
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Amplify Austin! March 20-21
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This year Austin Dog Alliance is participating in Amplify Austin, a 24-hour online giving festival, hosted by I Live Here I Give Here, where nonprofits can "amplify" donations received online by winning cash prizes provided by corporate sponsors.
Prizes are awarded for categories such as highest number of individual donations and highest dollar amounts in a given time period. Visit our Austin Dog Alliance donation page and you can help "amplify" our funds with a donation.
All donations, regardless of size, help us reach our goals of supporting our community through pet therapy programs, job skills training, animal-assisted autism programs teaching social skills, our "Special Dogs for Special Needs", and rescue/adoption of dogs that deserve a second chance at a loving forever home.
Your donation can be prescheduled for Amplify Austin day on the website. You can "set it and forget it". Thank you for considering a donation to support Austin Dog Alliance. |
Training: Focus on Agility!
Enjoy five levels of classes - for pure fun, or to prepare for competition
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 The Austin Dog Alliance Agility Program is in full swing! Instructors Dawn Wasicek, L. Joy Mercier and Danielle Madrid have been involved in training and the sport of dog agility for many years and have titled multiple dogs in NADAC, AKC, USDAA and UKI. The goal of the agility program is to provide a safe, fun environment for dogs and handlers. The program focuses on building a sound foundation which is critical for those who wish to play agility with their dog for fun or for competition. The program is broken into five levels, from beginner to competition, and is designed to accommodate the dog and handler's individual level as they grow as a team. Dogs and handlers new to agility start with Introduction to Agility. Upon completion of that class, teams can move into a beginner level class. Beginner and Advanced Beginner classes are split into two themes: 1. Handling - Handling classes help develop proper jumping form and help you and your dog learn to communicate and run agility as a team. Handling classes offered are: Beginner: Jumps and Tunnels; Advanced Beginner: Handing Skills 2. Equipment training - Equipment classes teach your dog to perform the contact obstacles, including weaves and teeter, safely and with confidence. Equipment classes are: Beginner: Contacts and Weaves; Advanced Beginner: Skills and Drills  Intermediate and Advanced Level Classes include: Power and Proficiency (blends handling with contact equipment), Novice Course Work, Masters Handling, Agility Games and more. Control Unleashed and Control Unleashed for Agility are classes offered for dogs who are having a difficult time focusing in the excitement of a group class. These classes build focus and off leash skills which are required for agility. The Austin Dog Alliance agility field features 10,500 square feet of fully fenced artificial turf designed specifically for use with dog sports. All equipment complies to AKC regulation. All agility students are eligible for unlimited practice sessions during open field times over the course of their 6-week class. If you have any questions regarding agility and what level is right for you and your dog, please email Dawn. We hope to see you on the field! - Dawn, Joy, & Danielle
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Dog-Dog Group Dynamics
Sue Sternberg Seminar in Austin, March 29-30
Last day for early bird rates: March 7
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Register via Puppyworks for one or both days - early bird and group discounts are available, as well as professional CECs/CEUs. (Last day for early bird discount is March 7, so act now!). Get all the details here. |
| New (Expanded!) Parking | |
Through the efforts of some generous companies and contractors, we now have more space for parking!
Huge thanks to Aaron Cabaza of Aaron Concrete and Chuck Fuller with Ramming Paving for expanding our parking area, while ensuring all trees and shaded areas were preserved. Thank you to Tom & Jan Byrum and Kurt Cleveland for developing the plans, getting City approval and coordinating our generous contractors.
No need to worry about finding a parking spot on nights and weekends any longer - we've got space!
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Wishing You a Happy St. Patrick's Day
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Parents Night Out - coming April 26
An evening of fun, games, crafts, and movies for children of all abilities |
 Our spring Parents Night Out is set for Saturday, April 26th (6-9pm). Kids have a fun evening of crafts, games, snacks, and movies while parents can enjoy an evening out knowing their child is having fun in a safe environment.
Kids ages 5-11 of all abilities are welcome! (The cost is $25/child. Additional children from the same family $10/each for the entire evening).
Questions? Email Susan Windham.
Note: If your child will need an adult supervisor experienced in working with children with special needs, please contact us. Get all the details and reserve your child's spot here. |
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| Mission | |
Austin Dog Alliance is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.
Our mission:
To provide children and young adults of all abilities with canine-assisted programs that improve their ability to learn and reach their full potential.
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| Contact Us | Board of Directors
Board Chair
Founder and
Executive Director
Adoption Program
Pet Therapy Director
Pet Therapy Volunteer Coordinator
Foster/Adoption, PR
PR, Marketing
Youth Association
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Canine expert Sue Sternberg is coming to Austin in March! 
