C.H.A.M.P. Assistance Dogs

Here is a copy of an e-mail that went out prior to a trip to NE to get pick up our newest puppies. It shows the planning that goes into this task and better yet the humor that goes with it!!! Enjoy.

Preparing for Puppies

[We thought you might enjoy reading an email conversation among staff regarding new puppies coming into CHAMP/]

Janet: alisha plz pull 4 baby crates out of the garage and disinfect them downstairs and let dry. i will plan on coming up friday to gather supplies for road trip. will need 4 puppy kits. ... i am trying to think of everything which might b needed.

paper towels
towels, flexis, leads
collars
bottled water
dishes
towels, puppy shampoo
puppy wipes
disinfectant
toys
stuffed animal snuggle toys
chlorox wipes
anything else?

Theresa:  poop bags and dog food

Janet:  poop bags, lol who can forget those with 4 pooping puppies. hoping breeder brings us food but will take some as back up.

Nola: would it make sense to take piddle pads and toss in an ex-pen for hotel bathroom floor. Might not be there long enough to worry about that.

Janet:  lol yes, but i am hoping she will keep them all night and we will get them in the a.m.

Nola:  Hmmm, at that age I'd have barely slowed down to toss them to you as we drove by...

Janet:  lmao, she [the breeder] sounds pretty balanced but says it is nuts at her house. she spoke to me last night n the garage. i asked her why it was so quiet. :))

Nola: It's a lovely experience until around 3-4 weeks of age and then you're wondering how in the heck you're going to keep up with 10 puppies all pooping at the same time nearly every time you turn around. of course, when you lean over the pen to pick it up they're SO excited they ALL come running over and jumping up, then they're all stepping in poop and smearing it all over themselves, each other, the rest of the pen, me, every nook and cranny,  <sigh> and then of course they all need baths and once they're clean it starts all over again. wish my back were up to it - I'd love to do it again.

Janet: ... she is not breeding again. lol i told her our story of the 8 pups in mom's diarrhea and how it took 5 people and 3 hours to clean it all up all the while they were still eating and pooping. yie, yie yie

Nola:  :))) Ah yes, that was something to remember...

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On March 5th, CHAMP Dogs hosted a volunteer appreciation party. Over 75 volunteers, friends and family attended. Delicious food, drink and conversation abounded during the event!! The certified therapy dogs, facility dogs and service dogs joined in the fun....and they were all well behaved!!!

Kerri, Twix and Faith

Faith is a loyal trainer that got back in touch with Magnum and Twix at the event. She had a big part in their training as service/facility dogs. Magnum is now placed with Carol at a Hospice facility and Twix is the loyal and capable assistant to Kerri. 

Carol, Magnum, and Faith

Great smiles, comraderie and reunions on a grand day!! Many thanks to the army of helpers who helped set-up and clean after the event. (Chris and Lena, Dianne, Rick and Liz, Hank and Janet, Harry and Kathleen, Theresa, Mark and Nola, Carolyn,  Alisha, Dolly and anyone I may have missed.)

(Click photos below for larger image.)

Thought you might enjoy some photos of the service dogs-in-training at the prison. Check back later this weekend for photos from our Valentine Parade!

Trainer Roxie with Ziggy (Golden Retriever) on the left and Shasta (Black Labrador Retriever) on the right. These extremely smart and active pups are a handful that would drive most people crazy, but Roxie enjoys the activity level and the challenge of shaping these two into stellar service dogs.

Several of our Therapy Dogs visited the Kirkwood Library In August. They participated in the "reading buddy" program!! It was really neat to see the children and their "buddy" read to the dogs. Our therpay dogs are much, much brighter now!!