Summit Featured in UWeek

Nov. 10, 2010
Good dogs! Summit Assistance Dogs is a heart-warming CFD choice

By Peter Kelley University Week

Mary Levin Representatives of Summit Assistance Dogs visit the annual kickoff of the Combined Fund Drive in October. From left, they are Andrea Crispin, Lynda Ardern (with her lab Logan), Michelle Munro, board president (with her "Labrdoodle," Hayden) and Wendy Hardman, with puppy Crickett.     Mary Levin Crickett the puppy and Logan the lab share an unguarded moment of affection.

Editor's note: Through the 2010 Combined Fund Drive campaign, University Week will spotlight agencies that receive CFD funds and members of the UW community who volunteer for such organizations. The theme of this year's drive is "Imagine the Difference We Can Make."
Michelle Munro is not only president of the board of Summit Assistance Dogs of Anacortes -- one of 2,800-some agencies that get support from the Combined Fund Drive -- she's also a contented client whose own assistance dog helped her rejoin the world after illness.
"He changed my life," Munro said of Hayden, the shaggy "Labradoodle" who came her way through Summit after being donated by a dog breeder in Idaho. Hayden helps Munro with balance and mobility, coping with the effects of a rare autoimmune disease that struck her several years ago, and its after-effects.Read More

Happy Halloween!

 Shiloh and I had a great time as Little Red Riding Hood and The Big Bad Wolf as "Grandma".My roommate and I created and made these costumes ourselves and that was half the fun!

New Faces at Summit Headquarters

Melissa's roommate, Leslie, cuddles with Benson.Benson is a little (okay not so little 23lbs!) ball of Golden retriever puppy fluff.

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Isabelle is a happy go lucky golden girl who thought nothing of running up to us and rolling on her back for a belly rub. We were only too happy to oblige her!

Friday, is a smoke gray kitty with four white feet and a white blaze on her chest. She is curious and unflappable thing nothing of the two large dogs on either side of her while she investigated my shoes.

Shiloh and I got to go to the Summit Headquarters this week. This was a big deal for both of us, since we live a full day's drive away. Shiloh know where were going we we got within 20miles of the Summit Office and could barely contain her excitement! I can't say I blame her I was also very excited to see Wendy, Sue, and another members of the Summit family four-legged or otherwise who might be in the office when Shiloh and I came for our two year follow-up visit. I was please and surprised to be greeted by two new puppies, Benson and Isabelle joining the Summit family all the way from Florida, and Friday a kitten picked as an office kitty by Wendy from a local shelter.

Meet our 2010 Teams!

Dana and Marley

Dana, who lives in East Wenatchee, Washington, was matched with professional therapy dog Marley in April of 2010.  Dana is pursuing a career in Long-Term Care Administration and recently earned his Nursing Home Administrator’s License and his Assisted Living Administrator’s License.  He wanted a professional therapy dog to brighten the lives of people living in long-term care facilities.  Marley rises to the occasion every day when she accompanies Dana to work and brings sunshine and smiles to the residents at his facility.

Louise and Cloud

Louise, who lives in Seattle, had to have one of her legs amputated above the knee due to a post-surgery infection.  She uses a manual wheelchair, and cloud is able to help her with tasks like opening and closing doors and retrieving dropped items.  Louise works at the University of Washington’s Cascadia campus two days a week and uses public transportation to get to work, with Cloud at her side and always eager to help.  She was paired with Cloud, a lovely Yellow Lab, in April of 2010 after a three-year wait as an applicant.  They bonded very quickly and have become a wonderful partnership.

Sherry and Luc

Sherry, of Orcas Island, Washington, was paired with service dog Luc during our spring team training back in April, and her life has changed dramatically since Luc came into her life.   She says he has brought incredible joy to her life and helped make her more approachable.  Sherry has primary lateral sclerosis, a progressive disorder that affects her speech and mobility.  Luc helps her with a variety of tasks, including picking up items that she drops, opening doors, and transferring laundry from the dryer to the clothes basket. He also braces her if she starts to fall.  Luc knows many other commands, but it’s obvious there is much more to their relationship.

Graduation October 17th!

Join us in celebrating our newest teams and meet establish teams!
Graduation
Sunday, October 17, 2010
2 p.m.
Highland Community Center
14224 NE Bel Red Rd.
Bellevue, WA

Summit Assistance Dogs Day of Caring: September 24th, 2010

You can make a difference in the lives of people living with disabilities, while enjoying the company of our wonderful dogs and puppies on the Day of Caring with Summit Assistance Dogs, September 24th, 2010!

 

Summit Assistance Dogs is a registered non-profit organization based in Anacortes, WA., that provides highly-skilled mobility, hearing and therapy dogs for people with disabilities. Today Microsoft has many employees volunteering with Summit through puppy raising and a myriad of other activities.

 

Because of Summit’s home location, we are unable to register our project with the United Way of King County but we are every bit as desirous of your generosity of time and spirit that day and all year round.  More info about us and additional opportunities at www.summitdogs.org. 

 

On September 24^th, we promise a fun day for all, but especially our four-legged “volunteers” who will be the focus of your attention that day. 

 

As in previous years we will have 2 locations:

 

Issaquah, 98027  -  10422- 240th Place SE, approx 4 miles south of Sammamish campus.

• Activities to include:  Play, exercise, then bathe our dogs; clean the Summit van.
• 10:00 AM – 3:30 PM approx
• Lunch provided
• Up to 30 people needed

 

Anacortes, 98221 - 12549 Christianson Rd.

• Activities to include:  Play, exercise, then bathe our dogs; clean the Summit van.
• 10:00 AM – 3:30 PM approx
• Lunch provided
• Up to 20 people needed

 

To register, or if you have any questions, contact me (DonnellB) directly via email or office phone (425) 707-2098.  Maps and further details will be sent with registration.

 

Inmates, dogs team up-Herald.Net

Monroe prisoners train the animals to see if they have what it takes to serve those with disabilities.

By Andy Rathbun
Herald Writer

MONROE — Wayne Anderson didn’t mind cramming a dog crate into his tiny prison cell at the Monroe Correctional Complex.

In truth, the convicted murderer signed up for the honor.

For the past eight weeks, Anderson participated in a program where inmates helped train rescued dogs, to see if the animals could serve people with disabilities. Read More About the Prison Program
Apply to Adopt a Summit Career Change Dog

Finding the Right Job for the Dog

Luc was originally trained to be guide dog for the blind. After he developed food allergies, he was donated to Summit Assistance, an organization based in Anacortes that provides highly skilled mobility, hearing and therapy dogs for people with disabilities. The average waiting time for applications is two to five years, as dogs undergo advanced training before they are ready to be placed. Read more about Sherry and Luc

New prison partnership is “win-win-win” program

May 18 was the official launch date of a new dog housing and training program we have been developing with the Monroe Correctional Complex, Washington state’s largest prison facility.
“This is a win-win-win program,” said Sue Meinzinger, Summit’s Executive Director. “It’s a win for us because it expands our housing and training resources, making more dogs available to people with disabilities. It’s a win for the inmates because it teaches them skills they can use when they are released, and more than 90 percent of them will be. And finally, it’s a win for homeless shelter dogs, who will be given a new leash on life."
Carefully screened, selected and supervised inmates are being trained by Summit staff to work with dogs we rescue from shelters. Initially, four dogs were placed with eight inmates, so each dog has a primary and a secondary trainer.
After eight weeks, we will consult with the inmates to determine which dogs to retain for advanced training with our professional trainers and which to adopt out as family pets. Then a new round of dogs will be brought in for another eight weeks of inmate training and evaluation.
“This is a captive audience that increases our training resources and exposes the dogs to a variety of situations,” Sue said. “The inmates have shown us the utmost respect, and they are eager to learn, are reading their training manuals and are coming well prepared to our twice-weekly training classes.”
During this economic recession, when most nonprofit organizations are scaling back on programs, we are proud to be expanding our services to the community. Our paroled pups are sure to change many lives."
Fiona is recently graduated from this program and is ready for her forever home... are you ready for her? Learn more about Fiona

Summit Dogs are family even to each other.Shiloh and Scout were both rescued in 2008 and placed with their partners Melissa (Shiloh) and Anne (Scout) in 2009. Melissa and Anne were friends before they got these dogs who as you can see are friends. Both people are partnered with their second dogs.
Scout shared his mat with Shiloh during a Puget Sound Assistance Dog Club Meeting.

From Summit Assistance Dogs

From Summit Assistance Dogs

Find us on FaceBook!

Join all those in the Summit Family both four legged, and hominid on Facebook!
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=7080623401#!/group.php?gid=7080623401

2009 Graduation Honors Four More Matches, Bringing Us To 46 Graduate Pairs

There were smiles, cheers and happy tears as we honored the four most recent
additions to our Summit family of graduate pairs – Taysen Langstraat of Lynden with
Jackson, GJ Leptien of Portland with Zoey, Lynne Kovacich of Spokane Valley with
Adams and Eric Rea of Seattle with Titus. These four bring our nine-year total to 46 lives
changed for the better through the help and companionship of an assistance dog.
We also honored the puppy raisers and trainers who prepared these four wonderful
dogs for their new lives. Jackson’s puppy raiser was Christy Durham of Sedro Woolley,
and staff trainer Wendy McDougal did his advanced training. Zoey’s puppy raiser was
Diana Smith of Anacortes, who also was his volunteer advanced trainer. Adams was
raised and put through advanced training by volunteer Jan Hemme of Anacortes.
Summit staff trainer Lisa Freshour started out raising Titus when she was a volunteer
and became his advanced trainer when she joined our staff last year,
Eric Rea, speaking on behalf of this year’s graduating class, talked about how
dramatically his life has changed since he was paired with Titus last spring. He
reiterated what we hear from our graduates over and over again. In addition to the
helpful tasks they perform, these dogs help build bridges and new friendships, create
independence and hope-filled lives, reduce depression and loneliness, and of course,
give unconditional love.
It takes a lot to make these miracles happen. To produce 46 great service dogs, we
have rescued more than 200 dogs and raised more than 150 puppies. Hundreds of
volunteers have given countless hours to raise, train and socialize puppies, help us
around our office and volunteer for events. More than 3,200 generous donors have
supported us financially through the years. Without them, we would not have been
able to change these 46 lives.
We also extend a special thanks to the sponsors who helped make our 2009
graduation ceremony a wonderful event. Christine Coco, photography; Nancy Nielsen,
handmade personalized quilts for the graduates; Jan Hemme and Barb Clark, the 2009
slide show; David Lorenz & Team at Starbucks Redmond Center Store 349, coffee;
Elaine Montgomery, cakes.
Many volunteers also helped us with set up, clean up and other event tasks.

Dogs of Tuscany Calendar Raises Money for Summit

No, not that Tuscany! They are dogs who live in the Tuscany neighborhood in the Woodinville area, and the calendar was the brainstorm of five sixth graders who live in the neighborhood.
“My friends and I wanted to do something fun over the summer, so we thought of creating a dog calendar,” said Hannah Visse. She collaborated on the project with Cami Pawlak, Olivia Kaplan, Alli Porter and Katie Williamson.
“We went door to door and asked neighbors who owned dogs if they would like us to take a picture of their dogs to include in the calendar,”  Hannah said. “We easily found enough neighborhood dogs to fill up a calendar.”
The girls decided they wanted to sell the calendars for $20 each and raise money for an animal non-profit,
since they are all animal lovers. Hannah knew about Summit because her father, Bob Visse, is a donor, so
she proposed Summit as the recipient.
All five of them spent their weekends in November and December selling the calendars in their neighborhood.
They expect to raise about $400 for Summit by the time they have finished their calendar sales.
“Coming to watch graduation was very inspirational,” said Hannah, who attended the Dec. 6 event with
Cami and Olivia. “We loved seeing how the dogs are making people’s lives better.”

Donate to Summit

This post from the February 2010 Newsletter- Read More