Happy Spring:    

 "Sail beyond the horizon; fly higher than you ever thought possible; magnify your existence by helping others; be kind to people and animals of all shapes and sizes; be true to what you value most; shine your light on the world; and be the person you were born to be." Blake Beattie     

At Austin Dog Alliance, the love of dogs provides the foundation for some pretty amazing acts of giving.  This month, I'd like to share with you some of the behind-the-scenes joy of our Special Dogs program.  
 
The Special Dogs for Special Needs program started in 2010. Our theory was to train the friendliest dogs we found in the shelter and place them in homes with special-needs children. We just worked with one or two dogs at a time. The program showed great promise and the families that adopted our dogs often said that they didn't realize how much they needed the unconditional love of a dog in their home.   

Michele and Sylvia enjoy lunch at Mighty Fine Burgers in Cedar Park while Special Dogs Roxi and Misty practice proper restaurant behavior.

Earlier this year, we decided to train a group of six dogs at once. We 

asked six volunteers to commit to 8 - 12 weeks of training a dog for a minimum of 45 minutes each day. Some of the volunteers who were not experienced dog trainers agreed to meet for two classes with us each week as well. Last week, we progressed to the point of taking our Special Dogs out in public to generalize their skills. OMG - the dogs exceeded our expectations. After talking with some of the volunteers, it has become clear that they are not just working 45 minutes a day, they are training in their homes all day and taking the dogs everywhere. It's a lot of work. The amazing part in my mind is that they are all really happy. It is as if they are all empowered by the knowledge that they are doing something bigger than themselves. When they show me the skills that their dogs have mastered, they literally glow.  
 
They are doing something that will magnify their existence in this world. The other side of the program is working with the potential adopters. In an effort to better understand how our Special Dogs could be further trained to be PTSD Service Dogs, I've had the opportunity to meet with psychiatrists from the Veterans Administration and with Dr. Tania Glenn who specializes in working with veterans. A humbling experience for me to learn how combat changes the brains of our veterans and how they will continue to sacrifice long after battle. I've also had the humbling experience of working with some awe-inspiring parents of children with extensive medical issues. Realizing that others face challenges WAY bigger than any in my own life is a good way to keep the little annoyances in life in perspective.
 
My belief is that our Special Dogs and PTSD Service Dogs will change the lives of the six families that adopt them. Paying it forward and dogs - a powerful combination.
 
Please join me in thanking this Spring's Special Dog training team:  Susan Windham, Michele Cuteri, Steve Corona, Donna Fessler, Kathleen Majcher, Sylvia Troconis and Dawn Wasicek. Special thanks to Adoption Program Director Judy McCarthy for helping us find the dogs.  
 
Thank you for giving me the joy and pleasure of serving you and our community every day.   
 

Debi Krakar

Executive Director and Founder

Austin Dog Alliance

P.S. To learn more about PTSD, please join us for a special presentation by Tania Glenn and Associates on Tuesday, April 29th at 6 pm. The event is provided at no cost to you, but reservations are required as space is limited.  

To donate to the training of a Special Dog, please click here. 

To explore the opportunity to sponsor a dog, please contact me. 

To be a part of our Special Dogs Summer training team, contact me. 

Roxi is a loving, easygoing dog who has never met a stranger.  She has good dog socialization skills and should be easy to have around other dogs.  Roxi is in intensive training to learn the skills needed to be a PTSD Service Dog.  She has shown to be a quick learner, mastering basic manners skills within days and catching on quickly to new skills.