Newsletter Highlights

OTD Attends the Wiggle Waggle	Fall, September 2011
by Susan Roberts       Apparently this guy below is a regular attendee:       Sandra and Maya manning the OTD booth   Yes, that is a horse waiting to drink out of a toilet bowl!               “… a cute shot of that Rottie with the sunglasses.”   Tanya & Rocky (Lab) with Kathleen & Boomer (Rottie). Boomer was really rocking those shades! Thanks to everyone who helped out at the Ottawa Humane Society's (OHS) Wiggle Waggle Walkathon held on Sunday, September 11th: Bob Simpson with Kelty (poodle) Connie with Jordy (poodle) Sandra Luken with Maya (Lab) Dwight & Kathleen Taylor with Boomer (Rottie) Tanya Gadoury with Rocky (Lab) The weather was beautiful for a walk and the number of people who turned out with their dogs reflected that. We had a steady stream of visitors at our OTD booth who kept our volunteers busy answering questions and selling t-shirts. Lots of fun was had by all. Stephanie Gray, posted this neat pic of Boomer on OHS’s Facebook page/ Thanks to all OTD members who volunteered or helped at the OTD booth!
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Hockey Day at Lanark Lodge	Winter, February 2011
by Diane Herns     Hockey visiting at Lanark Lodge     Hockey and I really enjoy our visits at Lanark Lodge in Perth. One of our favourite experiences involves a resident we met 1-1/2 years ago, when we first started visiting. I introduced Hockey to a resident who started chatting with the dog, patting him and telling him what a good boy he was. Later, a nurse chased us down the hall to let us know that this resident had not spoken to anyone for a long time although he just couldn't stop talking to Hockey. This is what it's all about! I can't believe how excited Hockey gets when it's Wednesday. He knows that is when he gets to go and visit with his new friends. Staff and residents welcome Hockey by name and everyone has made it such a wonderful experience. Both Hockey and I want to thank OTD for allowing us to be so rewarded each time we visit.
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In Memorial - Bro	November 23, 2010
Kate and Bro by Julianne Labreche One of OTD's best canine goodwill ambassadors, Bro, a 7-1/2-year-old Golden Retriever, passed away suddenly this summer. Affectionate, gentle and social, he was, in many ways, a model therapy dog. Bro was the beloved family pet of Kate Miller, our OTD Administrator. Many OTD members will remember the large, red-haired dog from their first OTD orientation session. Wherever Kate went, Bro usually went too. He was an ideal dog for orientations, welcoming new members with a laid-back, relaxed attitude and a friendly, wagging tail. Bro contributed in many ways to this volunteer organization. First and foremost, he was a therapy dog that liked his job. For 4 years, staff and clients enjoyed his weekly visits at the "Centre de transition communautaire," a francophone day program for adults with developmental delays operated by OCAPDD. At first, some clients were a little afraid of the big dog but, "He always won them over," Kate recollects. Staff loved him too. "He had them literally eating out of their hands." There are framed photographs of Bro at the facility and even collages made of him by clients. Sometimes, clients could be challenging. Once, an autistic man grabbed Bro’s tail and wouldn't let go. "We had a few hairy moments," Kate remembers. Later, that same man learned to pat and walk the dog throughout the centre, although Kate always held a second leash for safety. Bro also worked for 2 years as a READ dog at an elementary public school in Carleton Place. Visits typically started in the classroom, Bro's favourite place. He and the children, in Grades 2 and 3, got along well. Each week, 4 or 5 students with reading difficulties were selected to read aloud individually to the dog. Usually, Bro’s big head would act as their pillow. Sometimes, Bro was lulled to sleep. Kate told the children that he liked their stories so much that it made him sleepy; the same way they felt at night when their parents read aloud to them. Bro was the unofficial, personal therapy dog of Kate and her family. Kate's father, who has dementia, always enjoyed his visits with Bro. Kate herself remembers those pleasant morning runs along the river with Bro, accompanied by her husband and their second dog, a little Boston Terrier named Clark. In his last years, Bro also visited new facilities with Kate, ensuring these places would pose minimal risk for visiting therapy dogs. Bro's all-too-short life ended tragically in a sudden attack of bloat after a fun-filled, family day at the cottage. They were celebrating Kate's birthday. His last day was filled with playing, swimming, running and being with his family. Bro died doing what he loved best, having fun and providing lots of love to everyone around him. OTD extends their deepest sympathy to Kate Miller and her family. We will all miss him.	Bloat in Dogs Even though it's not well known, bloat is a leading killer in dogs. It can happen quickly, killing a dog in less than an hour. Technically called Gastric Dilation-Volvulus or GDV, bloat occurs when a dog's stomach swells and twists, causing shock and damage to the internal organs. Often, it's related to swallowing air too quickly. Some breeds, such as retrievers, shepherds and hounds, are more prone than others. Here are the signs and symptoms of bloat: unusual behaviour in your dog, heavy or rapid panting, attempts to vomit, anxiety and restlessness, coughing, unproductive gagging, hunched up appearance, unproductive gagging, heavy drooling, unable to stand, weak pulse or accelerated heart beat. If your dog displays any of these signs, rush your dog to the nearest emergency 24-hour veterinarian right away! Call ahead and let your vet know that you have a suspected bloat case. For further information, check out: globalspan.net
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In early September we received an e-mail from Brenda, a Mom organizing a birthday party for her soon-to-be-8 year old daughter. She informed us that her daughter, Chloe, loves animals and had requested a special event for her birthday party – Reptiles Rock! To celebrate this spectacular and educational birthday event, Chloe wanted to share it with ALL her friends (= lots). Chloe's Mom and Dad discussed this wish with Chloe, noting that ALL her friends could encompass a mountain of gifts that she would find difficult to keep all to herself. They suggested that she could have all her friends come over IF their birthday gifts could be replaced by donations to a charity. She agreed!!

Chloe and her Mom considered many different charities, but Chloe's love of animals (especially dogs) led the debate. Brenda reminded her about a newspaper article they had seen in the Ottawa Citizen earlier that spring where dogs were going into Ottawa schools to be read to by students. They did some research and found that Ottawa Therapy Dogs (OTD) were behind that program, as well as many other activities that help people around the Ottawa-Gatineau area. So Chloe chose OTD as her charity for donations from all her birthday party guests.

As stars are sometimes want to align, the family and occasion were located close to the recipient of OTD's Volunteer of the Year Award for 2005, our fundraising committee chair, Barbara White (Barb).

Barb made the primary contact and asked if an OTD team could come to the Birthday Party to say 'Thank You'. The family agreed and Sharon and Caffrey; who visit the Perley-Rideau Veterans Health Centre, accompanied Barb to the party; Oct. 15, 2006.

What an experience! The partygoers embraced Caffrey; a huge, goofy, affable dog; noting in appreciation for his being a volunteer 'worker'. The party-goers were also juggling attention with the Reptiles Rock exhibit encompassing some serious snakes, lizards and frogs. The Mammal-Reptile phyla came together for a remarkable photo shoot captured by Chloe's dad Phil and including Chloe's brother Craig. What an amazing array of grins for a birthday souvenir album!

This was a very special birthday experience for OTD as well as (I am sure) for the parents picking up their children!!! We hope that the smiles and memories will capture a new appreciation for Chloe's special event for OTD work in the Ottawa-Gatineau region. Likewise, OTD has received an invaluable boost to our volunteer efforts to bring a smile to hospital patients; long term care facilities; rehabilitation units and junior/senior grade schools; thanks to Chloe's enthusiasm.

Funds raised, thanks to this family's charitable spirit, are still incoming but will undoubtedly top $300. We salute the family and hope their spirit is embraced by others for volunteer organizations whose work is appreciated in our community.

In closing – Chloe's Mom made a notable follow-up observation: Her daughter, Chloe, has received 10 times more joy from:

(i) having Caffrey visit her party;

(ii) walks with Barb and her dog, Shadow; and

(iii) the positive OTD feedback,

than she would ever have received from the presents she could have been given for her birthday party!!!

OTD Team Receives Award	November 6, 2009
Claire and Tobie walking back from receiving the Ontario Volunteer Service Award from the Ministry of Citizenship and Immigration for volunteering five years with OCAPDD. This therapy dog team provided animal-assisted therapy at the Loeb Centre. Claire was named OTD's Volunteer of the Year for 2008.
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Ann Lambert was honoured as the Volunteer of the Year for Ottawa Therapy Dogs at our Annual General Meeting, April 17, 2007.

Ann goes the extra mile every time she leaves her home to do therapy dog volunteering with one of her three OTD therapy dogs.

She has been visiting for many years and joined OTD in 2003. She visits at CHEO, Forest Hills Long Term Care in Kanata and is a member of the R.E.A.D.^® program. On many occasions she mentors new members, helps at Orientation doing grooming demos, is very active at Public Events to represent OTD whether at the Sportsman's Show, National Gallery, Libraries, and speaking at the faculty of Education to aspiring teachers about the benefits of the READ Program. She has even written two books for the children in her READ program to assist the children to become keen readers. Additionally she is now a member of the Evaluation team. She is always a cheerful and knowledgeable representative for OTD.

Unless she is busy with her grandchildren, whelping a litter of her Goldens in her kennel or attending to the special birth of her new passion, breeding horses!... seahorses that is, she is as accommodating as she can be to help OTD in all these myriad ways.

Congratulations to Ann with our profound gratitude for your many contributions, knowledge and expertise you share with OTD and the community in the National Capital region!

Many happy shoppers at St. Laurent Plaza stopped to visit our OTD display and unexpectedly received on the spot 'dog therapy'. The purpose of the volunteer fair was to advertise and promote local charities and our dogs (and OTD volunteer members) stole the show.

A team of 11 OTD handlers and their dogs rotated during the day on two-hour shifts. Our table was extremely busy, particularly at noon hour, and we talked to more than 250 people over the course of the day. People were very interested in OTD and the work we do. Our members handed out brochures, flyers and our new bookmark which was really popular with kids and their families. The OTD donation box collected over $50.