Table of Contents:

• Asleep at the Wheel Benefit Concert
• THSD Accepts 6 New Applicants for Service Dogs!
• A New Partnership Begins
• Help THSD Get to Hollywood!
• Adopt a True Star!

Asleep at the Wheel Benefit Concert
by Sheri Soltes, President

Asleep at the Wheel benefit concert will play a benefit for THSD, Sunday, September 26, 7:00 PM at Antone's in Austin.

Nine time Grammy Winning Kings of Texas Swing bring stellar musicianship to one of Austin's favorite venues - all for YOU!

Stay tuned for details on ticket sales.

THSD Accepts 6 New Applicants for Service Dogs!
by Sheri Soltes, President

On August 12, we welcomed six new applicants, their friends and families to our Training Center for Applicant Orientation Day. We accepted ALL of them for Service Dogs!

Applicant Orientation Day is for applicants for dogs who have completed their paperwork. We present information on living with a Hearing or Service Dog and conduct training exercises, discussion groups and individual interviews to learn more about the applicants' needs, lifestyles, preferences and goals.

I'm proud to introduce you to the latest of your fellow Texans who will receive Service Dogs. You may see some of them at a THSD booth in your town!

Greg Casper meets Service Dog Intrepid with Trainer Ginny Stover. Greg volunteers at the V.A. hospital and plans to bring his future Service Dog with him.

Patricia Gibson describes herself as tenacious and a lifetime dog lover. She recently lost her right leg and a new Service Dog will help bring her back some welcome independence. Here she gets a nice "sit" from intrepid.

Gloria Smith writes, "I can picture my dog's strength and my drawing from her. We will have that partnership that will change both our lives for the better."

A tornado picked up Blandina Dominguez's car and tossed it, seriously injuring her. Doctors thought she wouldn't live. Now, Blandina runs her own bookkeeping business and is sending her daughter to college. Here, Trainer Tanya Taubert "sits" in the role of the dog in a practice training session.

Amy Dojahn teaches psychology at two community colleges. She has lived with Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis since age 3. Managing students for years makes her a natural at getting the best from Excalibur.

Ray Taylor works with Trainer Tanya Taubert on "sits" in preparation to work with Service Dog Intrepid. Ray, a retired construction superintendent, has led a life full of adventure and going the extra mile including climbing onto a malfunctioning crane 41 stories high to operate it by manipulating the wires and riding out Hurricane Alicia in a 34-story office building still under construction to protect it from storm damage.

We need your donations to provide Hearing and Service Dogs for all of the wonderful Texans on our waiting list!

A New Partnership Begins
by Sheri Soltes, President

In July, we introduced Gary Shelton to Service Dog Isis to see if they would be a good match. We are proud to share with you that indeed they were!

Gary was the Assistant Director of Operations at the University of Texas Student Union for many years. He directed the two year renovation of the Student Union that took place from 1975 to 1977. We adopted Isis, a female Great Dane from San Antonio Great Dane Rescue where she resided with literally 80 other Great Danes.

Isis will assist Gary, who suffers from Parkinson's disease, by helping him maintain his balance, get up from chairs and pick up things he drops or can't reach. In the next few weeks, we will train Isis to meet Gary's customized needs, in addition to the behaviors she's already learned. Their Team Training will take place here the week of September 27, after which we will move Isis into Gary's home and conduct their 13 weeks of In-home training.

Gary and Isis' training is sponsored by a $10,000 gift from the Melcher Charitable Foundation, a $5,000 grant from the Reinhart Foundation and your gifts.

Help THSD Get to Hollywood!
By Sheri Soltes, President

Smitty, an adopted stray, teaches a family life lessons about friendship, family and responsibility in this shelter pet-friendly movie starring Mira Sorvino and Peter Fonda.

If THSD wins enough votes, we'll be featured on a poster appearing in the shelter scene of the movie. Good news: you only vote once in this contest, unlike so many others on the social networking bandwagon these days. They even show you who is leading, so now we have a goal.

Please help us get some face time in theaters across the country. Who better to join Smitty's message: Strays Turned into Stars! 

Adopt a True Star!
By Ginny Stover, Trainer

Star is a sweet, beautiful, female black tri-color, 2 year old Australian Shepherd mix. She weighs about 55 pounds.

Star wants to shine for you!

We have begun Star's basic obedience training, and being a smart Aussie, she's naturally picked it up quickly. She's already learned touch, sit, down, come and wait. She's even crate trained! She is now getting the hang of going to her place - meaning going to lay on a special mat when asked.

Being a lady, she is housebroken and patiently waits to be let outside. She also walks well with a gentle leader.

Star is affectionate and would do well with someone who likes to lavish attention on her. She likes to sit with her front paws in your lap and be petted. She often nudges a hand to get your attention. She is content to lie by your side as long as you are sitting, so she'd be a good companion for someone who works on a computer or likes to watch T.V.

On the active side, Star loves to learn and is extremely smart. She's an absolute joy to work with! She rides great in the car and is good with children.

Being a Star, she would probably do best in a single dog home. She does not enjoy the company of large dogs and will bark at them. Small dogs don't seem to be as big a challenge but again, this diva likes to be the only pooch in the spotlight. She has not been tested with cats.

Star has had her hips x-rayed and one of her hips is slightly dysplastic. She doesn't appear to be in pain and the vet has told us that surgery is not required at this time. It may, however, be required in the future.

Otherwise she is healthy, heartworm negative, spayed, microchipped and is up to date on her shots. If you'd like to add a new, loving member to your family please contact Texas Hearing and Service Dogs at (512) 858-1495 or email at ginny@servicedogs.org.