Helen Hodges & Reagan
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CONGRATULATIONS! to Helen Hodges! Helen was nominated by her library to be our Volunteer in the Spotlight! Here's what the library says: Helen has been volunteering for years at the Milton Library as a part of our Books with Pups program. We love working with CAREing Paws volunteers, and Helen is amazing! She's always happy to get here and work with the kids. I can't thank her enough for all that she's done to support the Milton library.
All paws up to Helen Hodges and Reagan! |
CONGRATULATIONS to CAROL HALASZ!
Carol is dedicated to enriching the lives of others and she lives her life as a true testimony to this each and every day. Even when the weeks seem endless, most of her and her husband's weekends are dedicated to their visits, because they both know that sometimes we (dog/handler teams) are the high point in our "customers" week. "Carol is a leader in our effort," says Stephan, "and everyone sees it and follows suit." What a fitting tribute to Carol from Stephan and the rest of the Halasz pack/clan/tribe/family! Carol, THANK YOU for all that you do to enrich the lives of others by embracing the power of the human-animal bond! |
How does Carol Halasz do it all?
Carol has 5 registered therapy dogs; Ginger, Rip, Joey, Ruby, & Pablo and visits at 6+ venues each month. She is a committed volunteer that can be counted on to “be there” for both her fellow volunteers and her clients. She really tunes in to taking the right dog to the right situation in order to reach them. Carol also fosters numerous dogs and cats for the community. She previously had 2 registered therapy cats that were a hit at the venues! But her advocacy goes beyond domestic animals – she rehabilitates wildlife. Nurturing squirrels, raccoons, rabbits, opossum, deer, and fox are second nature to Carol. The vets know who to call when a mother animal is not able to take care of her young, or an injured wild animal needs special care. They also know that Carol knows how and when to release them back to the wild. As if all of that is not enough, Carol has successfully competed in AKC Obedience and Rally-O with her therapy dog, Joey, and she is gearing up for Canine freestyle and Agility! And oh, Carol also holds a full-time job!!! We believe it is her passion for animals and desire to help that gets her through it all. Thank you, Carol, for your willingness to share your passion with others. You are quite an asset to our community! |
Sue Burnett and Josie have been actively volunteering in CAREing Paws from the moment they joined! Sue and Josie currently participate in the reading program at two libraries and a school in addition to participating in many other special visits and events. Sue is always there when you need her, eagerly filling in whenever someone else is unavailable. In addition to volunteering with Josie, she has also written – and WON! - grants for CAREing Paws. ALSO, Sue recently discovered how CAREing Paws can receive books from Scholastic at a significant discount through a program called FACE (Family and Community Engagement). The goal of the program is to send every child home with a book and avoid the Summer Reading Slide while also taking advantage of up to 80% off the list prices.
Sue is always joyful and delightful going above and beyond, thinking of others and furthering the mission of our organization. A teacher at heart, Sue loves children and especially loves helping them learn. We are extraordinarily lucky to have her as a valued member of CAREing Paws. THANK YOU from the bottom of our hearts for all that you do!!! |
Kathy Fowler and her fabulous greyhounds, Silver and Tigger, routinely volunteer at many CAREing Paws events, including the reading program at Mountain View Regional Library and soon also to be reading at the East Marietta Library. All in all, they have participated in SEVEN College Spring Stress Relief visits going to locations in Dahlonega, Cumming, Watkinsville, and Atlanta (GT and Mercer) as well as a new gig at GT’s Relaxation Fest - and they did this all in just three weeks - while working full time!
The photos taken at these events show students petting Tigger’s silky ears and Tigger completely enjoying belly rubs and full body massages from students. Kathy reports that after the college visits, Tigger takes a nice long nap! CAREing Paws deeply appreciates Kathy and Tigger’s contribution to the success of the semi-annual college visits! Thank you for all that you do! |
Kathy Rakestraw and her greyhound, Cori, read at the Canton Library.
Kathy and Blaze visit at an assisted living facility and the airport. He has also done many special stand alone therapy visits such as Sidekicks and CHOA - Egleston. In addition, Blaze attends Pope High School football games as a mascot. Kathy is very active in South Eastern Greyhound Adoption (SEGA), organizing everything for the GaGives Day, participating in and organizing Meet and Greets, parades and other fund raising activities. Kathy promotes the greyhound as a pet wherever she goes. She has fostered many greyhounds in the past and keeps tabs on all her former fosters. She also fosters kittens (and the occasional puppy) for Road Trip Home. Kathy does all of this and still finds time to participate in all kinds of dog sports with her SIX dogs! (OH, and she works full time, too!) Our hats are off to you, Kathy! THANK YOU from the bottom of our hearts for all that you do!!! |
Debbie and her therapy dog Elliott spread so much cheer and happiness, even when both were still recovering from surgeries last year! They do the READ program AND visit nursing homes, as well as help with special event pet therapy as their busy schedules allow for it.
Debbie and her husband, Tony, foster for Atlanta Dog Squad. They have helped many dogs find their forever homes, By their fostering, they help prepare their fosters for life as a well behaved member of their new family. Debbie & Tony keep in touch with the families that have adopted their fosters. Debbie has also helped Kathy Rakestraw with special situations for a group she fosters for, Road Trip Home. Debbie is always ready and willing to help anyone in anyway she can. The world is a much better place because Debbie is in it! Thanks for all you do, Debbie and Elliott! |
Commitment, reliability, compassion. These are traits that Anne Converse displays routinely in her pet therapy work. Anne has been doing pet therapy work since 2009 - initially with PETS in Action in Dahlonega, Georgia, where she also held both the Vice President and Secretary positions. Since 2013 she has been a valued member of CAREing Paws.
Anne visits with her two registered dogs, Frankie and Bear in the READ program, at Gold City retirement home, the Lumpkin county jail, the women’s shelter, University of North Georgia stress relief and pediatric physical therapy. Anne is one of the first to volunteer for a job and the last to expect praise. Anne competes her dog Bear in agility and does Rally-O with Frankie. She also is Secretary for the Daughters of the American Revolution, Dahlonega chapter. Thank you Anne for being a bright spot in CAREing Paws! |
Going above and beyond, consistently. Creativity. Innovation. This is Rhonda Weisberg. Many of you know Rhonda because she volunteers her time not only for therapy and reading visits, but in making signs for your R.E.A.D. programs, customizing bookmarks for your dog, and most recently, creating forms to help you track the progress of your readers.
In addition, Rhonda designed the artwork for our billboards that are now running in Middle and North GA and has offered marketing and PR advice anytime we’ve needed it. She sees enhancements to make our programs even better and she offers to do them without expecting anything in return. Rhonda shares her ideas, talents and creativity with all of us so that everyone in CAREing Paws can benefit. We are so thankful and grateful to Rhonda for all she has done to make us better and to help us achieve our goal of becoming the premier animal therapy group in middle/north Georgia. Your professionalism and your creative talents mean so much to us! |
© 2013, CAREing Paws, Inc.
All Rights Reserved. Protected by US and International Copyright Laws. |
Enriching the lives of others by embracing the power of the human-animal bond.
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