| Recent Additions, Updates or Photos (in alphabetical order) |
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Certification Abbreviations: SD is Service Dog, ThD is Therapy Dog, and CGC is an AKC Canine Good Citizen
View the complete list of success stories >>
| Dog Name | Breed | Certifications |
| Ada | Newfoundland | Advanced ThD |
| Blue* | Sheltie mix | SD |
| Carmella | Terrier mix | SD, ThD pending |
| Storm* | Husky | SD |
| Teddy* | Labrador Retriever | ThD |
| Winston* | Labrador Retriever | SD |
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An asterik(*) denotes PUPT rescue/adoption program dogs |
Ada, Advanced ThD
Dear Liz and Friends,
Stuart Davidson with Kosair Children Hospital communications department took some wonderful pictures of Ada's visit on Tuesday with a little boy who had suffered a brain injury.
It was a special visit also, because Ada earned her Advanced Therapy title, with 100 hours of service work with children. I'm so proud of her.
The children especially loved the sleigh bell collar my saddlery guy made especially for her Christmas visit. I gave them all of Pawsibilities Unleashed info, so hopefully we'll be published in the Kosair magazine which had a pretty broad reach here in Louisville.
Thanks and Love,
Teri & Ada
Blue*, SD
Support for a special needs child
Make a Wish Foundation
Blue's story:
When I met 4 year old Jackson for the first time, Aunt Liz placed me up in his wheelchair on his lap. I snuggled right in and didn't move an inch for about 30 minutes. Jackson snuggled with me too and we had an instant friendship.
I'm going to be living with Jackson in Indiana as his Service Dog.
Signed,
Blue
Note from Liz, the Master Trainer:
Congratulations PUPT team members and leaders.....you have helped make a successful difference in this child's life. All of the fundraising and hard work lead to this...a picture is worth more than any words I can say. Thank you for all your continued support and help. Without it we could not do this.
Liz
Carmella, SD, ThD pending
Autism Support
Hi, I'm Carmella and I am Tyler's BFF ("best friend forever"). I am also his Service Dog.
Tyler is 12 years old and is a very intelligent young boy. At 15 months old, Tyler was diagnosed with Autism. Throughout his life, Tyler struggled with socialization and communication. Now, his favorite things to do are to work with dogs (like me!) and to read wikipedia on the computer.
After one week of being Tyler's Service Dog, he took a walk outside without Mom and Dad for the first time in his life! When Tyler went on that walk, there was a young girl who asked about me. He told her about me being his Service Dog and he made a new friend. That's just one example of how I have helped Tyler with his challenges! Mom and Dad are thrilled!
That's all for now. You can read more about me soon on Tyler's very own new website www.tylerhagan.com
Woof, woof,
Carmella
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As a Service Dog, Carmella is trained to:
1. Come to Tyler's side when he has anxiety attacks and comfort him
2. Find Tyler if he get separated from his mother
3. Break Tyler out of his continuous loop cycles, such as repetitive behaviors
Storm*, SD
Mobility assistance
Storm knows no fear. His confidence is his abilities and his friendliness really drew Liz in to test Storm for service work.
Huskies are intelligent and free spirited dogs, so finding one that met the Pawsibilities Unleashed criteria for stable temperament, friendliness, and willingness to serve people was a challenge. Storm passed the test!
He was placed with Ray in early 2008 to assist him with mobility. Ray is in a wheelchair, and thanks to a new motorized wheelchair, he and Storm can log many miles of travel/exercise every day. For fun, Ray, never goes the same way twice when they go out for a walk. That gives Storm new things to see everyday.
A Husky is not for everyone because they are not dogs for beginners and they need a strong leader. Ray was a perfect match for Storm. He's a take charge guy that is consistent with giving Storm commands and rewards.
Storm is early in his training and Ray is working hard. Currently, Ray is working with Storm to pick up things he drops.
Most of all, Ray loves Storm for his perpetually happy attitude and for his confidence.
What a great team!
Teddy*, ThD
Dear Liz,
I just wanted to give you a quick update on Teddy. I just got a call from Southeast Christian Church's newspaper, the Outlook. They want to do a story on Teddy and his work at the counseling center. I am both excited and proud that he's created such a buzz and done such a great job at work.
He continues to be a blessing to our family!
-Shannon Smith
Read the news story >>
Teddy's Story:
Teddy was a lab on death row. Lori Woodward found him and tested him out and he was awesome. We brought him into PUPT and placed him with a lady to do therapy work with her job. He now goes to school with her everyday. His job is to be the K-9 Co-Therapist to his mom's role as Primary Therapist and he rocks! Kudos to Teddy and Shannon who gave him the job and home he deserved.
Winston*, SD
Mobility assistance and diabetic alert
I'm so lucky to have found my new mom, Barbara, and she's just as lucky to have me. You see, Barbara is a senior citizen in a wheelchair. Her legs were amputated at the hip and she has been wheelchair bound since she was five years old. She also suffers from diabetes.
I was homeless before Pawsibilities Unleashed found me. "Aunt Liz" said I had the talent, friendly personality and willingness that she looks for in a Service Dog. Liz matched me with Barbara in March 2008 and I went to work immediately, although I still had a lot of training to go.
Within the first week, I noticed that Barbara wasn't looking right and she was starting to slip out of her wheelchair. I went to her side and leaned on her and made a big fuss. Barbara is a smart lady and realized that I was trying to tell her something so she checked her blood sugar levels, and sure enough, the levels had fallen just below normal. I'm so cool!
Since I'm a Lab, I really need a job or I just go bananas with excess energy. It's perfect that I'm matched up with Barbara because she loves to go places and she just totes me around in her van. All the activity just wears me out!
Hey, for all of you people out there who don't think you have the energy or time to train your Service Dog, I have to say, look at Barbara! She a senior citizen with diabetes and no legs. She took charge from day one and I've progressed so quickly. She completed the training course with Liz and is doing great. I'm a lot of work, but I'm worth it! I really love my new home.
Woof, woof,
Winston
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