Greetings from the Desk of the Executive Director |
Greetings:  | | The bond begins to form |
Success!!!! - Last weekend, our first official PTSD Service Dog, Piper, flew home with her adopter, veteran Allen Grice.
When we first started talking with Allen about a service dog adoption, the plan was for him to drive to Austin for the 'go home' training week. However, it soon became clear that flying, and thus reducing his time away from college, would be the better option.  YIKES - we now had to make sure our service dog was solid enough to handle crowds, enter, ride and exit buses, cabs, trains and mono-rails, curl up and sit quietly under a seat in an airplane, and walk side by side with a new handler that is carrying a suitcase and checking in for a flight. I have long considered the airport the ultimate test for a service dog. If the dog and handler can flawlessly take a trip on an airplane, they are a team - ready for anything!
 I'm very proud to report that our team was very successful. In fact, they passed a drug detection dog that got all excited about Piper being there. Our star, Piper, just ignored the other dog, a skill we spent months training. We also spent many hours working with Allen to make sure he could give Piper the support she needed in this situation. Mid-week, Allen called to report that they were doing really well and that he is happy. He shared that since Piper has joined him, he has not needed a sleeping pill. I consider that a success! Thank you to everyone who supports Austin Dog Alliance. Your support makes it possible for us to provide service dogs for veterans who have sacrificed so much to protect our freedoms.
Sincerely,
Debi Krakar
Founder and Executive Director
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Hounds for Heroes Benefit
Join us Saturday, October 25
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Buy your tickets online here!
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Job Training and Placement
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 Our two-level Job Skills Training program, provided with funding from the Texas Department of Assistive and Rehabilitative Services (DARS), includes 86 hours of hands-on training, including working field trips to dog-related businesses in the Austin area, and instruction on workplace conduct.
This program offers an innovative curriculum that is unlike anything else we've seen for this segment of the population. Adults with high functioning autism spectrum disorder or other mental/physical challenges, have the opportunity to obtain rewarding and meaningful employment through practical training and skill development. 
This term, our students have benefited from training onsite at Austin Dog Alliance and offsite at a number of area animal-related business, governmental, and nonprofit organization partners.
THANK YOU to these organizations and businesses that support this unique program: Our first Level 2 class will be completing their course work in October and thus starting their job search. We are confident they will find the opportunities they are looking for. |
Blue Corn Harvest Restaurant - Thank you!
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Thank You! Our goal of $1,000 was reached!
Blue Corn Harvest Bar & Grill (700 E. Whitestone Blvd in Cedar Park) donated $1 to the Austin Dog Alliance Hounds For Heroes program for each item sold from their Green Chili Harvest Fest menu in September.
If you haven't visited Blue Corn Harvest yet, stop by and enjoy one of their many fresh farm-to-table concept entrees, salads, or appetizers. (We've already been four times and we'll be back for more).
Thanks to Blue Corn Harvest and to EVERYONE who visited the restaurant to make this fundraiser a success!
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State of Texas 2014 Employee Giving Campaign - thru October 31
Thank you for supporting Austin Dog Alliance programs
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 It's that time of year - The State Employee Charitable Campaign (SECC) for Texas runs September 1 through October 31, 2014. State of Texas employees can support Austin Dog Alliance through payroll deduction. Our charity code is 228204, listed in the Capital Area directory of charities. Your donations support our therapeutic programs for kids on the autism spectrum, job skills training for young adults, Bow Wow Reading programs in schools/libraries, pet therapy outreach to hospitals, nursing homes, and rehab centers, PTSD service dog training, and MUCH more. Not a state employee? You can still support our programs by making a tax deductible contribution here. Thank you for making a difference!
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King Florist - Bloom of Hope for October
Purchase of arrangement supports Austin Dog Alliance
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In October, King Florist is featuring Austin Dog Alliance in their Bloom of Hope donation program. King Florist will donate 20% of the retail price of their Petite Field Gathering arrangement (available in several sizes and prices). They'll also include a therapy dog trading card in those arrangements! Thank you, King Florist!  |
October Group Classes
Attend a group training class or seminar - reserve your spot today! |
 Classes, classes, and more classes!
In October we have sessions beginning for:
- Dog Manners 1 and 2 - Agility - Train Your Own Service Dog - Reactive Dog Rehabilitation - K9 Nose Work (Vehicles) - K9 Nose Work (Mock Odor Recognition Test - Anise) - K9 Nose Work (Mock Odor Recognition Test - Birch) - Tricks - Pet Therapy Six-Week Training - Pet Therapy Team Evaluations
Some classes have prerequisites, see our online course listing for details on these and all classes. We offer group training classes weekdays and weekends. There's a time that will fit your schedule!
Revenues from training classes supports pet therapy outreach. Thank you for training with Austin Dog Alliance! |
Amazon Smile
Support Austin Dog Alliance when you shop at Amazon.com | 
You shop. Amazon gives.
Amazon donates 0.5% of eligible purchases to Austin Dog Alliance when you shop at AmazonSmile. It's super easy to sign up, and there's no additional cost. Visit smile.amazon.com and choose Austin Dog Alliance as your preferred charitable organization.
Thank you for your support! |
| Where we'll be in October.... | |
(ages 13-19), at New Hope Ranch
meet our BowWow Reading dogs!
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Help Us Remain a Top-Rated Nonprofit
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GreatNonprofits is a place to find trustworthy nonprofit s. Founded in 2007, GreatNonprofits has grown into a leading provider of reviews and ratings of nonprofit organizations operating in the US. Thanks to your online reviews in 2013, we earned a Top-Rated designation.
Please help us maintain our top-rated designation by taking a minute or two to give us a review for 2014. Volunteers, partners, and clients are all eligible to provide a review.
You can review Austin Dog Alliance here. Thank you for helping us remain top-rated in 2014!
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| Mission | |
Austin Dog Alliance is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.
Our mission:
To improve the health and wellbeing of individuals and families through programs incorporating the powerful connection between dogs and humans.
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| Contact Us | Board of Directors
Board Chair
Founder and
Executive Director
Adoption Program
Pet Therapy Director
Volunteer Coordinator
Pet Therapy Volunteer Coordinator
Foster/Adoption, PR
PR, Marketing
Youth Association
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Oct 10 Youth Association Meeting - For 
