September 2011 Newsletter from Helping Paws

PAW PRINTS E-NEWSLETTER ISSUE 10

NOVEMBER 2011

THANK YOU TO ALL WHO PARTICIPATED, VOLUNTEERED AND SPONSORED OUR PANTING FOR PAWS 5K!!!

It was a great success and we could not do it without your support! Race results and event photos are posted at www.pantingforpaws.com.

We hope to see you all back next year!!!

WINTER GARAGE SALE!!!

Come by and shop for great holiday decor and gifts at great prices.

We will be located at the former Walter E Smithe store in Crystal Lake (Corner of Rte 14 and Rte 31)

Rose Plaza next to Outback Steakhouse

Thursday, Dec 1st 9:00am-5:00pm
Friday, Dec 2nd 9:00am-5:00pm

Saturday, Dec 3rd 9:00am-1:00pm (50% off day!)

A Dear Friend Missed

By Debbie Rose, Helping Paws Volunteer

Once in awhile, if we're fortunate, someone truly special passes through our lives. For Helping Paws, that person was Roland Jeske, who passed away in September at the age of 75.

For over 20 years, Roland was a familiar face around the shelter rarely missing a day, regardless of the weather, to visit with the dogs and cats patiently waiting for someone to take them home.

Although Roland loved all the animals, he was especially attentive to those who had been passed over for adoption again and again. Many times he could be found after hours in the special needs cat room, sitting in a chair with a cat on his lap, giving each one a moment of undivided attention. Or stopping by each dog's kennel or cage to say hi, give a pat, and have a conversation. Roland was a loner, preferring the honesty and company of God's furry creatures to those of his own kind.

Roland's unassuming generosity was legendary at the shelter, although he neither sought nor wanted gratitude. If an animal was taken in and needed surgery, which wasn't in the budget, Roland would somehow hear about it and a check mysteriously appeared on a desk. He often paid the adoption fee if he heard someone had fallen in love with an animal but couldn't afford the fee. He personally selected and paid for every leash and collar for every dog who came through our doors. And he was also the voice many of us heard on the phone after adopting a pet, just checking in to see how things were going.

As one volunteer put it so well, "Roland lived for the animals."

Those lucky enough to have met Roland feel that they, along with all of Roland's animal friends at Helping Paws, have lost a unique and irreplaceable friend. He will be missed.

Untitled

by Roland Jeske

The time must come, my walks will end.
The question is, who then shall tend?
Who'll take the time to come each eve?
Who'll be the one, the last to leave?
Who'll love them all, both young and old?
Who'll take them out in heat and cold?
Who'll walk in dark and snow and rain?
Who'll give a pill to ease the pain?
Who'll scratch the ears and rub the backs?
Who'll change the water and feed the snacks?
Who this will be I have no clue.
And so, dear God, it's up to you.

For the Love of Cara...

By Steve Arnold, Helping Paws volunteer

They had gotten together every year for eight years, all seven sisters. They came from Illinois, Wisconsin and Virginia for a weekend together. All seven, that is, until this year. This ninth year would be different. This year there would be only six.

They got the news last September that Cara had Lou Gehrig's disease. After a short but debilitating illness, she passed away in January. The six surviving sisters and one sister-in-law who had joined them in recent years gathered this year at Kim Nagle's home. Since each year's hostess plans the activities, Kim proposed that they should spend their weekend together doing something in memory of Cara. Cara was an animal lover who had for years volunteered at a shelter in Milwaukee. What better way, Kim suggested, to honor Cara but to work at an animal shelter. Kim had had prior contact with Helping Paws because some years ago she had found a stray dog and brought it to us. She connected with Ravelle Schwab at the shelter and offered their help.

There is a large area on the outside of the shelter that over time had become overgrown with weeds and grass and needed a thorough cleanup. The seven women came with their gloves and trimmers and set to work removing the unsightly growth. By the end of the weekend, the outside of the shelter had been transformed and, as the attached picture shows, the outside is now weed-free.

They could have done anything over that weekend, but they chose instead to volunteer their time helping others in a way that Cara would have appreciated. We deeply appreciate their efforts in her memory.

Helping Paws Monthly Recycling

By Ravelle Schwab and Steve Arnold, Helping Paws volunteer

We are pleased to announce another way for our generous community to support the work of the shelter. Starting in November, Helping Paws will be accepting donated aluminum cans on the first weekend of each month. We will have a recycling trailer at the shelter and you can simply place your used aluminum cans in the trailer. Our goal is to fill the trailer each month and all money will go towards veterinarian expenses for the animals. As a nonprofit organization, we are eligible for a premium rate Depending on how many cans we can get into this trailer, we can earn anywhere from $300 to $700 for a full trailer, so we ask that you crush the cans if possible.

We will be accepting cans starting:

November 4, 5, and 6 (Friday through Sunday)

December 2, 3, and 4 (Friday through Sunday)

Cans can be dropped off at any time, starting at 1 PM on Friday through the weekend.

Collections will continue the first weekend of each month in 2012.

Thank you for your continuing generosity in helping the animals.

In This Issue

-A Dear Friend Missed

-For the Love of Cara

Quick Links

Adoptable Cats
Volunteer
Donate

Join Our Mailing List

Upcoming Events

Dec 7th- Fundraising Meeting

7p.m., Location TBD

For location, please call

Sherry Gelasi at

847-658-6634

2nd Thursday of each Month-

Board Meeting - 7p.m.

at Helping Paws Shelter

Training Settings

Training your dog in the proper setting is important regardless of the training method you choose (treat training v. remote collar v. balanced). The most common training settings are group classes, private lessons or board and train, each having it's advantages and disadvantages.

Board-and-Train:

A one-on-one setting where the dog stays with a professional trainer for a number of days after which the owner receives instruction on the handling of commands trained. The advantage is the training is more intensive and highly effective for the dog. This is how professional trainers train their personal dogs. Upfront cost may be more but results are immediate and long lasting. A disadvantage is the dog's performance may be more reliable for the trainer until the owner completes their handling lessons.

Private Lessons:

Another one-on-one setting where the trainer instructs the owner how to train their dog. They rely on the owner to perform the majority of work with the dog between sessions. Private lessons are preferred when owners desire training themselves or want to be directly involved in the training of their dog. The advantages are dedicated personal attention and time with the trainer; training is geared towards specific issues of the individual dog and goals of the owner; for a motivated owner they can be more flexible and affordable. The disadvantage is that for many reasons the owner may fail to accomplish the work between sessions indicating board-and-train as a better choice.

Group classes:

Similar to private lessons, the owner is instructed on how to train their own dog and they rely on the owner to perform the work between sessions. While typically more affordable, group classes can be an advantage or disadvantage depending on the needs of the individual dog and owner. Dogs need to learn how to function in a social environment, however a disadvantage of groups is that some dogs/owners may be too distracted to learn effectively. Classes offer an affordable setting that can be great fun for you and your dog but may not be the best setting for novice handlers learning basic obedience.

In our opinion, the best approach is to use a combination of all three settings. Start with board-and-train to train the dog, utilize private lessons to develop handling skills for the owner, and attend a group class to proof training around distractions.

PAULINE HOULIARAS, CPT

IS A RESIDENT OF CANTON, CERTIFIED PROFESSIONAL TRAINER AND CO-OWNER OF DOGHOUSE GIRLS, A LOCAL DOG WALKING, TRAINING AND PET SITTING SERVICE. WWW.DOGHOUSEGIRLS.COM

CO-AUTHOR,

KIRK HALMA,CPT

WWW.K-9MOTIVATION.COM