What's Happening

9th Annual Golf Classic Brought Golfers and Dog Lovers Together
Assistance Dogs made a hole-in-one with our 9th annual Golf Classic sponsored by AK Tube LLC! The fundraising event was held on May 19, 2008 at Stone Ridge Golf Club in Bowling Green, Ohio. Among the golfers were members of the Fraternal Order of Eagles of Bryan, Ohio, who followed up last year’s donation with another $15,000 to sponsor a dog!  Our Tournament Sponsor, AK Tube LLC, also joined the golf tournament, along with representatives from MWD Logistics, Yoder Machinery, Hylant Group and Signature Bank, N.A.  You couldn't miss the Laux family golf team, who wore their pride on their sleeve - literally!  The parents, grandparents and sister of recent graduate, Samantha, all wore shirts with a picture of her and her service dog, Dylan.  At the dinner following the golf tournament, guests welcomed graduate, Zac Zies, who spoke about the improvement his service dog, Zane, made on his life.  Thank you to all of the sponsors, donors, golfers, dinner guests and volunteers who supported this event!  We could not have made this event as successful without your help!
   
Thank you to the following sponsors and donors:
 
Sponsors
 
Owens Illinois, Inc.
Tom and Teddy Meyer
MWD Logistics
Charlie’s Dodge
Yoder Machinery
Hylant Group
Signature Bank, N.A.
Franklin Park Vision
Fort Dodge Animal Health
Ottawa Hills Travel Company
Northwest Ohio Congenital Heart Center
Nasreen and Samina Bhumbra
K9 Coaching by Dino
T&S Tool and Supply Co.
Wauseon Schools
  
Raffle and Silent Auction Donors
The Andersons, Inc.
Karen Bade
Birmingham Limousine Service
The Chocolate Shoppe
Copper Moon Studio
Eagle’s Landing Golf Club
Patti Jo Fantozz
Grant and Patty Gelb
Steve and Kim Hanson
Jamieson’s
Mi Hacienda
Leslie R. Osterhout
Perry Falls Mini Golf
Seal Rite/Therma-Tru
St. Luke’s Hospital
Stone Ridge Golf Club
T&S Tool and Supply Co.
Toledo Country Club
Toledo Mud Hens
The Yoder Family
Tyler Yoder and Tucker
 
 
Congratulations to our recent graduates!
Assistance Dogs hosted its Spring 2008 graduation on Thursday, April 10 at Parkway Plaza in Maumee, OH. After two years of training these dogs are prepared to be service and therapy dogs for individuals with disabilities.
 
Seana Beavers lives in Toledo, Ohio and enjoys watching TV and talking on the phone. She also loves to sing songs about her new service dog, Rosie. Rosie is the first standard poodle that we have placed as a service dog and Seana loves explaining just how special Rosie is. Seana is special too. She said that her condition, lumbosacral agenesis, is just a long word for no legs and part of a spine. She is looking forward to Rosie giving her company at her home and giving her a reason to smile in the morning.  Rosie is a two year old, standard apricot poodle who was donated by previous owner, Annette Coker in November 2007. Kim Hanson and son Jake Lenz of Toledo, Ohio fostered Rosie from July, 2006 to January, 2008 with temporary help from Jenny Jacobs and family in June to August of 2007.
 
Samantha Laux is an 18-year-old college student at Wright State University, where she is majoring in social work. She loves reading, making cards and participating in Quiet Love, a sign language ministry where the members sing in sign language. When she’s not at school, she lives with her mom and dad, Gail and Chris, and her sister, Sarah, in Bellville, Ohio. Samantha has experienced hearing loss, vision impairment and decreased balance due to Neurofibromatosis type 2.  Samantha was matched with Dylan and she says that she has become more fearful because of her loss of hearing and sight but having Dylan at her side makes her feel safer.  Dylan is a golden retriever, who was donated by a breeder, Shirley Feltt. Dylan was Deb Kelly’s first trainee and she is now fostering a yellow Labrador retriever named Sammy.
 
Jane Zbierajewski lives in Oregon, Ohio and though she lives alone, she has a large family with whom she loves spending time with. She retired from Toledo Public Schools five years ago and now helps with Sunday school at her church. She enjoys reading, knitting, water aerobics and playing practical jokes on the ADAI staff.  Jane has Cerebral Palsy. She was matched with her service dog, Carson, and said she is so happy because she has regained her independence. She could no longer go anywhere by herself because she could not lift her walker. Carson now makes it possible for her to go anywhere she wants.  Carson is a golden retriever, who was donated by Roy Hayes. His first year of training was spent in the Toledo Correctional Institute with inmate trainer, Joe Nabinger. Carson went on furlough with Judy Holdridge during his first year and he was fostered by Sue and Alicia Rakes in his second year.  Jane said, “Thank you from the bottom of my heart to all the people making the rest of Carson and my life together possible. Words can never describe the gratitude I have for each of you, My Angels is Disguise!”  
  
Linda Zehner lives in Akron, Ohio with her husband, Tom, her retired service dog, Tucker, and two cats. She enjoys sewing, painting and looks forward to gardening now that she has been matched with her successor service dog, Jay.  Jay is a yellow Labrador retriever, who was donated by a breeder, Laura McNeilan. Jay’s first year of training was spent in ToCI with inmate trainer, Timothy Riley. He went on furlough with Ann Studer and family during his first year. Karen, Kevin, Michael and Ethan Edwards fostered Jay his second year.   Linda suffered a spinal cord and neck injury that has left her with impaired balance. She knows from experience that she will have much more freedom now. Linda said, “ Thank you so much for Jay. He will be my best friend and companion from now on.”
 
Facility therapy dog, Lily, was matched with the Sunset Retirement House. Lily is a black Labrador retriever mix, who was donated by the Ohio Wags prison program in Cleveland, Ohio in February 2007. Nathalie and Clyde Givens of Perrysburg, Ohio fostered until January 2008.  Lily has taken up residence with plenty of people to visit every day. Lynda Brune, Resident Services Director, said Lily will help combat loneliness by providing companionship to the residents at Sunset House. Lily will also offer the opportunity for residents to care for her in various ways, decreasing their feelings of helplessness and boredom. After spending time with Lily, some memory impaired residents have begun to communicate better. Much joy is seen on their faces, bringing back memories of the dogs they loved and took care of many years ago. Attending the training from Sunset House were Lynda Brune, Cheryl Goldberg, Sara Wunderlin and Irina Eisenmann.
 
Jewels, the school therapy dog from Jefferson Elementary and Chamberlin Hill Intermediate Schools in Findlay, Ohio returned with Karlene Weiss and Ginger O’Connell for continued training. Assistance Dogs require all staff members who want to work with a therapy dog to complete team training. Now Jewels can do her good work in Karlene’s preschool class and Ginger’s MH classes.  Jewels is a two and a half year old, yellow Labrador retriever, who was donated by breeder, Susan Seitz of Rockville, Indiana in December 2005. Chris and Dave Diefenthaler were Jewels’ puppy raisers. Karen and Greg Bade, with the help of Arlington Elementary students, fostered Jewels until August 2007.  
 
Asher Nikolajevs lives in Berlin Heights, Ohio with his parents, Vic and Leisa, and his brother, Sam. Asher is a student at Berlin Heights Elementary and loves trains, animals, butterflies and listening to stories. His family lovingly refers to him as “nature boy” because he loves the outdoors. Asher has a condition that has caused him to become visually impaired and due to his blindness he likes a lot of companionship. After team training in March, Asher received therapy dog Gracie. His parents hope that Gracie can provide that companionship for him. They also hope Gracie will provide him with continued comfort and security.
Gracie is a two and a half year old, Labrador and golden retriever mix, who was donated by Jennifer Micham of Sylvania, Ohio in September 2005.  The Griffeth family, Darien, Shilah, Paige and Nadia, of Columbus, Ohio were Gracie’s puppy raisers until October 2006.  Gracie was fostered by Helen Guilford of Wauseon, Ohio for her second year of training.
  
Pledge birdies for ADAI at Jamie Farr Owens Corning Classic
The Jamie Farr Owens Corning Classic presented by Kroger announced Assistance Dogs of America, Inc. as one of the 15 benefiting charities for the 2008 tournament.  Since 1984, the JFOCC has donated a total of $5.75M to local nonprofit organizations.  To raise more money for the charities, the JFOCC has launched “Birdies for Charity,” a new program that cashes in on the birdies made during the tournament rounds.
 
The tournament charities obtain pledges of one cent or more for every birdie made during the tournament rounds, Thursday through Sunday.  Birdies for Charity will donate 100 percent of the money received to the designated tournament charities.  The tournament office will invoice those who filled out pledge forms following the 2008 JFOCC and collect all monies. 
 
To make your pledge please click here to download the pledge form and submit it to JFOCC Birdies for Charity Program, 4405 Dorr St., Toledo, OH  43607 or fax 419-535-6412.  Be sure to write “Assistance Dogs of America, Inc.” as the designated charity! To make your pledge online or for more information visit http://www.jamiefarrowenscorning.com/birdies/
 
Assistance Dogs of America, Inc. is a registered 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization.  We receive no federal or state government funding.  Our major sources of funding are donations from individuals and supporters, grants and fundraising events.