THSD’s new monthly online newsletter
In this Issue:
Your Vote for her Tote could win THSD $1,000!
Austin Highland Mall is having a Summer Fashion’s in the Bag Event. Local TV and radio personalities decorated tote bags that will be displayed June 3 through June 11. Customers can vote for their favorite design. Highland Mall will donate $1,000 to the charity chosen by the winning designer.
The winner will be announced at 5pm on June 11th during Highland Mall’s Summer Fashion’s in the Bag Event.
Quita Culpepper of KVUE chose Texas Hearing & Service Dogs as her charity! Please visit Highland Mall and vote for her design so THSD could win the $1,000 donation. Along with Quita’s bag, Highland Mall will display Texas Hearing and Service Dog’s mission statement and information about making donations.
Dripping Springs On May 18, 2005, THSD trainers moved our dogs into our new Kennel Building. The first of three 10-run kennel buildings, Kennel 1 features indoor / outdoor runs, central A/C and heating, a food prep and grooming area, a five foot sidewalk around the entire building and a beautiful Hill Country view.
Eight of the dog runs have a 5 x 5 interior and 5 x 10 interior. Two extra large suites have a 10 x 17.5 exterior. The extra large sidewalk, which exceeds ADA specs by two feet, is large enough for a person in a wheelchair, a dog and a walking person to share. We wanted to allow for clients, visitors and future staff who use wheelchairs to have plenty of room.
The dogs took instantly to their new home. Thanks to THSD’s all positive training, they trusted us and reacted to their new kennels with curiosity, trust and calm. After exploring their runs, most stretched out on the cool concrete floor inside and enjoyed the Hill Country breezes blowing through the building’s screened windows.
As the photos show, they’re quite content. You also can see Senior Trainer Susan Ramsbottom rewarding Hearing Dog “Hilton” for “stationing”. “Stationing” means the dog goes to a preassigned spot. In the runs, we have plastic platforms. The dogs lie or sit on them when asked to by the Trainers. This keeps them calm and under control when a Trainer is opening the door to their run. We reward them for stationing, so they station a lot – that way, they are not throwing themselves at the door and potentially escaping or causing injury.
Visitors will also notice the dogs are very quiet in the kennel – even when there are a lot of them. 
How did we do this? Simple! We always ignore them when they bark. We reward them when they are quiet. With treats, with attention, with praise, with petting, with toys. They quickly learn that when they are quiet, good things happen, so they are quiet a lot!
The kennel was built by Krumm Enterprises of Dripping Springs. Randy Krumm was on site almost every day of the three months of construction, rain or shine. He made sure we avoided first timer mistakes. He helped negotiate prices for materials, even inviting suppliers to the property to get them enthusiastic about helping THSD. Randy is also helping us get involved with the Dripping Springs community. We are delighted he and his crew have become part of the THSD family.
Three of the suites have sponsors: The Frederick M. Baron Suite, The Blue Cross Blue Shield Texas Suite and the ABMA Suite (Animal Behavior Management Alliance). Suite sponsorships are $5,000. Sponsors are honored with a plaque on their suite.
For photos and more click here
Dripping Springs On April 11, 2005 Joanna Cordry joined THSD’s Staff as an Apprentice Trainer. Joanna volunteered for THSD for seven years prior to being hired. She left a position as Project Director for the Texas Council for Developmental Disabilities, a federally funded grant making organization for creating systems change to improve the lives of people with disabilities to work for THSD.
Ms. Cordry earned her Masters Degree in Educational Psychology from the University of Texas at Austin and has 14 years of experience working with people with multiple disabilities.
Texas Hearing & Service Dogs is in our largest growth spurt in 17 years of serving Texas. We have just purchased our first real property, built the first of three 10-run kennels and hired a new full time Apprentice Trainer. This will result in more dogs being rescued and trained and a shorter wait time for dogs.
What it also is resulting in is a serious need for donor support.
There are lots of ways to help Texas Hearing & Service Dogs:
* Donate online click here
* Contribute something from our Wish List click here
* Volunteer click here
Saturday, July 2 Independence Day Open House, Dripping Springs
Sunday, July 17 Volunteer Orientation, Dripping Springs
Th – Sun, July 21 – 24 Reliant Series of Dog Shows, Houston
Click here for Calendar details