North Star News by Patty Dobbs Gross
March 2004
Spring came early for us this year, and April will bring us more than
simple showers, for this is the month that two litters of North Star
puppies will
arrive. These puppies will have North Star Suzy and Juliet as mothers,
and Canine Companions for Independence dog Kitteridge as their father.
Kitteridge
was specifically selected to sire these puppies due to his extraordinary
calm and intelligent temperament, and we greatly appreciate CCI for granting
us this donation. We are also grateful to Dr. Ann Huntington of Suffield
Vet Hospital, who has been a long time generous supporter of North Star’s
work. Dr. Huntington helped to create both these litters surgically,
and for a song.
The generosity that has already gone into these puppies-to-be will soon
be matched by a dedicated group of volunteer puppy raisers, who will
be taking
these golden pups under their wing this summer to begin the process of
training them for a life of assistance work with children. It is not
too late to join
these puppy raisers, and if you have the desire to nurture one of the
pups this summer please contact me at northstarfoundation@charter.net.
We will
be very happy to sign you up for “work” that is simple and fun.
These puppies will be going to live with some great kids in the fall: approximately
half the puppies will be placed with families that have adopted children
with special challenges. Some of these kids have spent time in foster
care, some have been abused or neglected in their earlier days, and all are
greatly looking forward to having a North Star dog to love as they move forward
with their new lives. The other puppies will be placed with children
on the autism spectrum or with serious medical conditions.
North Star puppy Robbie with his puppy raiser Jake go to the barbershop
for some socialization fun and a cool looking haircut!
We have made great progress recently in developing a technique to teach
North Star dogs to block children who take flight when out in public. Nancy
Lyon and Dee Ganley, two talented trainers in New Hampshire, originated
this technique, and North Star mom Kathy Vranos has been perfecting it with
the help of Massachuetts based trainer Pam Murphy. You can
learn about this groundbreaking technique on my newest video, “Home
Before Dark,” which is now available on our Tape & Library page
on our website. My next tape, “Facing the North Wind,” will
focus on training the adolescent dog for assistance work with children, as
well as highlighting techniques to help a child cope with loss with the help
of an Assistance Dog.
We are currently hard at work seeking donations to finance our upcoming
placements. Please consider making a tax deductible donation to support
our work; information
on making a tax deductible donation to our 501 © 3 (nonprofit) organization
can be found on our website at www.NorthStarDogs.com.
Thank you in advance for your generosity…we could not be helping the
children we serve without your continued support...
Warm regards,
Patty Dobbs
Gross
Executive Director
North Star Foundation
"We help
children find their way"
