NEWSLETTER  54                                                                                           November 2007
                                                                                                                          Published and edited by Doreen and Bev

 

 

 

 

 

 

Our 25^th year is now in full swing.  Our “Caring Canines Gone Country” benefit concert was a wonderful success.  Looking out over the hundreds and hundreds of people in the audience was heartwarming to say the least.  To think so many people came out to support our clients, dogs and program was truly amazing!

 

Our sincerest thanks to Brian, Doug, and everyone at Yme? Productions for doing a great job. Our special thanks to Scott Partridge, his excellent band, his wife Linda,  and  the many talented local  musicians  and  entertainers who made  the evening so enjoyable.  

 

Of course, the show could not have gone on without the dedication, hard work and energy of so many behind the scene people to ensure the show’s success.   Generous businesses lent their support through sponsorships and ads, or made monetary and raffle donations.  Our friends became patrons, bought tickets, donated prizes and shared  refreshments.  Our volunteers spent precious time and energy preparing for the special evening, as well as setting up the raffles, baking, manning the box office, ushering, and cleaning the theater afterwards .   Last but not least, our audience was fantastic!  

    

Thank you all for believing in Canine Helpers. 

We hope you enjoyed the evening as much as we did. 

 

Marry Christmas and God Bless,
Beverly

 

                                                            

 

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              Canine Helpers for the Handicapped, Inc.

                           Invites you to attend its annual

                                                                                    

            

 

 

         This is a great opportunity to meet our new graduates

                             and many of our experienced working teams.

                                                               

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Route 104: 2.4 miles west of Wrights Corners (Rt. 78)                                                

 or 1.9 miles east on Rt. 93 (Campbell Blvd.)    
716-433-4035

 

                                                                                                          

                                                           

                                                                    

               

 

 

 

A Message From Our Canine Helper Recipients

 

     As recipients of Assistance Dogs from Canine Helpers, we would like to extend our gratitude to you for helping support Canine Helpers’ mission of love.

 

     Our Assistance Dogs mean so much more to us than we could ever express.  They give us back our independence and dignity.  They take away the loneliness and isolation that some of us were once consumed in.  They give us back the freedom that so many people take for granted.  They help us overcome physical and emotional barriers that had taken away our ability to function in a normal environment.

 

     Having a Canine Helper helps build our confidence because we can do things without asking and waiting for help from family, friends and strangers.

 

     Our Canine Helpers provide constant unconditional love and do not judge us by our disabilities or differences.  They see us as their partners, who will care for them and give them the love and praise they so deserve.  We will be there for each other until the end.  Together we can take on any challenge!

 

     For all these things and more, we thank you.  Without your help and support, Canine Helpers could not give us back the gift of a fulfilling independent life.  We would also like to thank Canine Helpers’ staff:  the trainers who so carefully custom train the dogs for each of our specific needs and life styles; the kennel staff who provide the total care and affection to the dogs while they reside there; and the rest of the staff, board of directors, and dedicated volunteers who each play a very important role in the success of each working team.

 

 

Thank you Steve at LATKO PRINTING

    for doing a super nice job on our

    “Caring Canines Gone Country”

                 concert program

    and for printing them so quickly!

 

 

Thank you to our

talented performers!

 

Scott Partridge & Band

Dustin Knapp

Luke Herman

Sheryl Bates

Paula Adams

Alaina Reid

Kimberly Drew

Leo Smith

Lewie Cunningham

“Grandpa” Jim Cline

The Hot Country Liners

~ Dance Team

Brooke Yaiser
Rover Comer

 

 

 

 

Please support the many fine businesses & clubs that helped sponsor our show:

 

First Niagara

Sagemark Consulting

Drum Oil & Propane

Blackwinds Pet Supplies

Washington Mutual

Invisible Fence

Mayfair Studio

West Herr

Niagara’s Lazy Lakes

~ Camping Resort

Raymond James Financial Services

Bates, Wallace & Heath

~ Funeral Home

Latko Printing & Copies

The Chocolate House

Wheatfield Pediatrics

Manor Lanes II

Gordie Harper’s Bazaar

Graceful Elegance

Portville Lions Club

Newfane Family Dentistry

Heinrich Chevrolet

Howell Motors Ford Inc.

Amherst Boarding Kennel

Lions Club of Niagara Falls, NY

 

 

 

 

 

 A Loving Lasting Tribute to Courtney

 On March 3, 2002, our lives were shattered and changed forever by the untimely passing of our beautiful, loving and courageous daughter and sister due to a failed heart transplant.  Courtney Phelps was a 21 year old senior at Nazareth College in Rochester, New York pursuing a B.A. degree in Business Administration with a minor in Entrepreneurial Studies.  Her degree was bestowed upon her posthumously and was received at graduation in May of 2002 by her brother, Richard.

  

  At the time of her death, we as a family needed to make a decision as to where we would like donations in Courtney’s memory to be made.  In a way, she made our decision relatively easy as her love of our two Golden Retrievers, Kaley and McKenzie was endless and Courtney always wanted to somehow help others.  She volunteered with Camp Open Arms, The Special Olympics and The Big Brother / Big Sister program throughout her high school years. 

 

     In September of 1996, when her brother   entered   college,   Courtney had  approached  us  with  the  idea of raising a puppy for  Upstate  Guide  Dogs.  While it was an admirable request, after discussing it as a family, we knew that we would have a very difficult time parting with the puppy when our training period was over, thus we decided against it. 
So, when   we needed to make a decision with regard to donations being made in Courtney’s   memory,   all of these memories resurfaced in our minds and thus Upstate

 

 Courtney

 

Guide  Dogs  was  chosen   as the recipient.  Our only request of Upstate Guide Dogs was that a pure bred puppy be purchased for training so that Courtney’s desire of helping others would truly come to fruition.  Upstate Guide Dogs contacted us when they purchased a black Labrador Retriever puppy that they named “Courtney” after our daughter.  At that time we met Sharon and Art Lagendyk and their grandson, T.C. who were selected to train puppy “Courtney”.  We were thrilled with the love and time commitment this family exhibited in the training process.

 

     It was in the Fall of 2005 that we learned that Upstate Guide Dogs was no longer a viable organization.  Needless to say we were devastated with the news but we were reassured by the Lagendyk family that they definitely wanted to keep puppy “Courtney” and that they had planned on breeding her with a very reputable breeder.  That was music to our ears.  They told us that they wanted us to have our pick of the litter when the puppies arrived.  In the back of our minds, we still had a mission to accomplish for our daughter which was to get a puppy into training so that it could help someone in need.

 

     Last Fall, while visiting my hair stylist, she shared with me that her nephew,  David Sprout,  was  in  need of  a Canine Helper.   It was through her  that  we  learned  of  Canine  Helpers  for  the  Handicapped, Inc.,  the cost and all of the fundraising that was required of the recipient of a Canine Helper.  It was at this point in time that a light bulb went off within my mind.  This was how we could accomplish our goal for our daughter, Courtney.  What a wonderful tribute to her it would be for us to donate our pick of the litter to Canine Helpers, in  memory   of Courtney, but also to help benefit  David’s  monetary  obligation for his dog, Levi.  Courtney  had   met   David  and  

 

 

his family after she had her first heart surgery in 1989, and as David was approaching his first spinal cord surgery.  This made our decision all the more bittersweet.

    

     On February 28, 2007, puppy “Courtney” delivered five puppies, three of whom survived.  Our family’s decision was then put into action as I contacted Beverly Underwood at Canine Helpers to discuss what we wanted to do.  She was very supportive and we set up a date in April for her to come to Rochester and evaluate the three surviving puppies.  Beverly selected little Laci, (she loved shoe laces) an adorable yellow lab who became part of the Canine Helper community on April 20, 2007.

 

     We have been following Laci’s progress from the beginning of her training program and we will continue to do so until she graduates and is placed with someone in need of a Canine Helper.  At that time, our family will have a sense of a mission accomplished and a loving, lasting tribute to our daughter and sister, Courtney.  There is no doubt in our minds that there is a very special angel who is extremely pleased and is guiding Laci in her training and who will make her “our little star.”

 

                                          *   *   *  Lynne, Richard & Rich Phelps

 

 

 

 

 

 

An Update from Tina & Francis

 Hello…

 

     I just wanted to let you know how well things are going with Francis and me.  As you know, Francis was able to come home with me in March, and as for his seizure work, he is doing great!  He is picking up on my seizures at least 70 to 80% of the time.  He has also started to warn me 1 to 3 minutes ahead of time before I have a seizure.  It gives me time to sit down so I don’t fall down or hurt myself; this is work in progress but going well  (not bad for being with me for just 7 months). 

 

     I have more and more freedom every day thanks to Francis.  I am able to go outside without someone right beside me as long as I am in eyes view.  I can go to the mailbox at our house without having to have someone walk me to it.  Francis likes checking the mail.  He also goes to my daughter’s Head Start class with me.  Before I received Francis I was afraid that I would not be able to go to school and help out while spending time with my daughter.  Francis loves going to school.  He has helped the kids understand more about what a working dog is and what they do. 

 

     Two weeks ago I had another TIA (mini stroke).  Francis was there when I called him to pick up anything I dropped on the floor.  He has no problem with his “brace” command that I give so I can use him to help me get up off the floor.

 

     Say hi to all the staff.  We know the dogs are keeping them on their toes.  Also Francis says hi.  Talk to you all later and thank you again!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Photos With Santa

 

Our friends at Blackwinds Pet Supplies are once again hosting their annual “Photo with Santa Days”
to benefit Canine Helpers for the Handicapped. 
When you bring your   pet in for this cute Christmas photo op,
please know that you are also helping us make dreams of independence come true for some very special people!

 

Blackwinds Pet Supplies

2494 Military Road

Niagara Falls, NY

December 8 & 9:  noon to 4:oo pm

$6.00 – 1 photo

$20.00 – 4 photos

 

Phone 297-1751

 

 

  

 

 

                              ~  In Honor of Loved Ones  ~

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Thank you for thinking of Canine Helpers.  Your thoughtfulness is greatly appreciated.

 

                               ~  In Memory of Loved Ones  ~ 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Kids with a Cause

Lemonade for Canine Helpers!

 

   As you can see, Canine Helpers’ volunteers and supporters come in

   all ages and sizes!  Nine year old Amanda decided to put her spare

   time to good use this summer by selling fresh squeezed lemonade to

   help raise money for Canine Helpers. 

 

   How did you learn about selling lemonade for a worthy cause?

   We read in a magazine that Sunkist gives kids free lemonade stands

   to make money for charities.  I always wanted my own lemonade

   stand.

 

   Why did you choose Canine Helpers for the Handicapped?

   Canine Helpers is really nice and I like seeing the smart dogs.

 

  Where do you plan to sell your lemonade?

   Anywhere I can.  I am inviting all my friends to come buy some.  My

   family is helping me and I am very excited!

 

 Amanda, Jonathan & Thomas Klamut

                                                                                         How long do you plan on selling it?

                                                                                       As long as it takes to raise enough money to sponsor a puppy.
 

                                                                                        This is a wonderful idea Amanda.  Thank you for choosing Canine

                                                                                       Helpers.    We wish you much luck and hope you had a fantastic, fun-

                                                                                       filled summer!

 

 

 

 

Do you shop at Tops or Dash Markets? 

 

If so, would you please participate in their fundraising programs?

It will cost you nothing!

 

Dash’s Market

Tape Saver Program

 

Thank you for sending us your register tapes from Dash’s Market! 
Canine Helpers receives $5 for every $100 in Dash register receipts that we redeem at their store. 
PLEASE pass the word on to your friends.

 

Thank You!

 

 

Tops Gift Cards

 

     Since Tops Markets have discontinued their tape redemption program for non-profit organizations,
they are now offering Tops Gift Cards as a fundraiser. 
Gift cards may be purchased from Canine Helpers at face value ($20; $50; $100 and so on). 
Tops will donate 5% of our gift card sales to Canine Helpers.

 

     This program costs the customer nothing!  It simply means buying the cards from us. 
We can order any amount and get them in 5 days.  Please call our office for yours!

 

 

 

 

                               ~  In Honor of Pets  ~

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                            ~  In Memory of Pets  ~

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Pet Gifts

 

Each item will have your special dog or cat’s name embroidered on it, and include paw prints and milk bones.

Thermal blankets … $15

Bath towels … $10

Mini “wet paw” towels … $5

Neckerchiefs (set of 4) … $15

        

Phone Sharon at 685-1819
Proceeds benefit the Caring Canine Retirement Fund

 

Beware of Antifreeze!

 

It tastes sweet and even small amounts can be deadly to your pet. 
All kinds of chemicals and compounds are used to melt ice in the winter. 
Be sure to wipe your pets’ feet and any part of them that has come in contact with it.

 

 

Outstanding Support!
 

Winifred Foster

 

Niagara Harley Owners Group, Inc.

 

Craig & Michelle Winters

 

Dash’s Tape Saving Program

 

Erie Insurance Group

 

Walter Herr Bequest

 

Huntley NRGizers

 

Elizabeth Shaffer

Residuary Bequest

 

Puppy Sponsor

Dental Health Products

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                             Members and Contributors

                                                July  2007

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                                              August  2007

 

 

                                             

 

 

 

 

 

                                                                                                  September 2007