Project Phineas a Grand Success… TOPAD is excited to announce that it exceeded its goal of $7,500 in 75 days! In July, 2014, The Other Paw Assistance Dogs launched an online crowdfunding campaign on Rockethub and succeeded in raising the money needed to cover the costs of raising, training, and placing Phineas as a service dog with someone locally! Once he turns 2 years old, Phineas will be matched and placed with someone who will then undergo 40 hours of intense bonding and training exercises with Phineas to ensure a solid, healthy service dog team. His new handler will be responsible for Phineas and his training for the rest of his working career. Once Phineas and his handler have established a bond and begun to work on mastery of the

skills specific to this person’s needs, he and his handler will be required to pass the Assistance Dogs International (ADI) Public Access Test, which ensures that a service dog team is capable of handling itself in public.

During the campaign, the entire TOPAD crew took an epic cross-continent road trip visiting several sites in Canada and the lower 48 states; they even made the front

page of the Marquette Mining Journal in Marquette, MI after visiting a 3rd grade classroom. TOPAD thanks all of its wonderful and generous supporters across Canada and the US!

TOPAD calendars are in! GREAT Holiday gift…

only $25.00

www.theotherpaw.org

The Rawhide chew on this…

TOPAD is now a 501c3 tax-exempt nonprofit organization!

WE DID IT! Issue 3: Winter, 2014

!

!

TOPAD calendars are in! Looking'for'a'GREAT'holiday'gift'idea?'''Want'to'support'a'wonderful'organization?''How'would'you'like'to'spend'each'month'of'2015'

gazing'at'an'amazing'TOPAD'assistance'dog?''ONLY'$25'ORDER'YOURS'TODAY!!'Order'online'at:'

www.theotherpaw.org'

Support The Other Paw Assistance Dogs

with a tax-exempt donation.

donate online via PayPal at: www.theotherpaw.org

or mail a check to: TOPAD

PO Box 60424 Fairbanks, AK 99706

This edition is dedicated to Bones Jacobs-Collin.

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byline [Name]

TOPAD was approached by the UAF Cooperative Extension 4H club to organize a therapeutic service dog training program for the 7th graders at Effie Kokrine Charter School. Seventh grade teacher, Cassie Jackson, makes it possible for her students to participate in several hands-on learning experiences throughout the school year, including a dog mushing program. Cassie commented that the students really enjoy the dog mushing program and are excited to begin working weekly with the TOPAD assistance dogs-in-training during the 6-week program. Between December and January, the seventh graders will learn about the philosophy behind relationship-based dog training, methods used to train service dogs, and legal/ethical aspects of all types of assistance dogs. Students will work hands-on practicing commands and socializing the TOPAD assistance dogs-in-training. We have 5 wonderful volunteers participating in the program to help the students as they learn to work with the dogs. The students and volunteers will learn positive dog training methods and why TOPAD uses certain training methods with assistance dogs-in-training. Students will experience first-hand the magic of the canine-human bond and how important and valuable it is in the lives of people with and without disabilities.

TOPAD Director of Canine-Feline Relations, Bonesy (“Bojangles”) Jacobs-Collin, Crosses the Rainbow Bridge

The TOPAD crew said a bittersweet farewell to their beloved Bones Jacobs-Collin. Bones Jacobs-Collin served as volunteer director of canine-feline relations at The Other Paw Assistance Dogs. He demanded a great deal of respect from his dogs and was a gentle, wise soul, keeping everyone in line. Bones used a sensitive approach to dog training, giving every dog a chance. He rarely drew blood as he was skilled with his claws. Bones was a force to be reckoned with, having lived at least nine, some say 10 lives in the outskirts of Fairbanks, Alaska.

Bones was originally found 11 years ago, weighing only two pounds, by a family dog hiding in a woodshed. A friend answered the ad in the newspaper looking for the cat’s family. Yukon and

Bones met and it was an immediate partnership. The two-pound bag ‘o bones (hence his name, “Bonesy”) touched noses and began to cuddle with Yukon. It wasn’t long before Bones came home to live with Yukon and Betsey, his new family. Bones enjoyed frolicking around in the woods and would regularly accompany Betsey and Yukon on hikes through the backyard woods. One of Bones’ favorite things to do was to torment the neighbor dog, Aura, by hiding under the shed and popping his head out one of the sides until Aura began to chase after him. Aura was too big to fit under the shed so Bones kept her occupied for hours upon end with this fun game. Bones was fearless and had a heart of gold, which is what gave him his beautiful golden-orange coat. (cont’d on p. 4)

Effie Kokrine Charter School/4H Club Partnership Therapeutic Service Dog Training Program

it takes a community…

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Robin Bojangles joins the TOPAD crew! Robin Bojangles is an English crème golden retriever and the biological brother to TOPAD’s Phineas. Robin was born on July 31, 2014. He and his brother Phineas are both from Westwing Retrievers in Peoria, AZ. Robin spent the first 10 weeks of

his life in Rohnert Park, CA at Bergin University of Canine Studies working with university students and veterans at Paws for Purple Hearts. Robin arrived in Anchorage in mid-October, 2014 in the arms of a volunteer via USAir Puppies in Flight Program. His handler, Sharon, was very enthusiastic about transporting Robin to Fairbanks as she has

ties with the area and is an avid supporter of the Yukon Quest. Robin was Sharon’s 82nd

puppy transport! Robin quickly adapted to life in Fairbanks and wiggled his way into the hearts of his new big brothers. Since his arrival in Fairbanks, Robin has been busy at work learning new commands and socializing all over

town. He has already learned approximately 25 different commands and by the time he is 6 months old, Robin will have learned approximately 60 commands!

Our Boy, Eric (Part III) (Eric, not just man’s best friend…)

We’ve had our boy Eric for over a year now and he has adjusted very well to the Alaskan lifestyle. As TOPAD’s Ambassador, he is well loved by all who meet him. Everywhere he goes people just love his kind and gentle way. Eric also represents Companions, Inc Fairbanks where he visits the Pioneers Home, North Star Council on Aging, Fairbanks Memorial Hospital Behavioral Health Unit and, coming up later this month, one of his favorite visitation sites, The University of Alaska Fairbanks during finals week to help relieve stress from both the students and

faculty. This is a wonderful event and Eric is very happy to help out. As most of you know TOPAD has a new addition to its growing family and that is Robin Bojangles. Again, as with Phineas, Eric, being the kind brother he is, now has a new puppy to help train. Sometimes training can be a little

frustrating for Eric due to his love of balls. It hasn’t taken Robin long to figure this out.

Phineas and lil brother, Robin Bojangles

Eric, Robin Bo, Phineas, Yukon

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the paws-abilities are endless… (Bones cont’d from p.2) During the summer of 2004, Bones was home alone for 10 days being attended to by his two neighbors and a close friend while Betsey was out of state. The cabin caught fire and burned to the ground. No one knows for sure what started the fire, nor what happened to Bones the cat. For weeks, Betsey and her friends went to the cabin site and called for Bones, searching high and low, but to no avail. Bones was gone…forever(?) Six months later, on a -20 evening in mid-December, Betsey received a phone call from a person who stated that she had found Bones the cat, identified by the purple heart ID tag hanging from the collar around his neck. Within 30 minutes, Betsey and Yukon were in the driveway of a cabin about 1 mile from their cabin that had burned. Bones had somehow survived the cabin fire and was reunited with his family. Yukon was in the back seat of the car and Bones jumped right in, snuggling into his old buddy, Yukon. When they arrived at his new home, Bones attached himself to Yukon’s side as Yukon gave him the tour of his new digs. Bones quickly adapted to his new cabin and became king of the new surrounding woods. In September 2014, Bones crossed the Rainbow Bridge while out scampering about in the woods. At the time, he was staying with his very close friends as his family was traveling. He lived a happy, healthy life surrounded by loving family and friends. Thank you, Bones, for being the best cat anyone (or anydog) could ever hope for. And most importantly, have fun at the Rainbow Bridge!

Ten Lives (written by Shannon Sinclair)

(chorus) Bones was a good cat Bones was a happy cat

Some say nine lives He had ten, imagine that

His house burned down We thought he was gone

Came walking out of the woods And found Yukon

He taught resilience Kept all the dogs in line Half a tail and half an ear

Didn’t need to raise his spine

Chorus x 2

One well-placed claw And Luna looked away

She still knows not to mess with cats Up to this day

Old Bones we miss you Now that you’re gone

Fly away, cat And have some FUN!

Chorus x 2

Thank You Allstate Insurance

and Katherine Hood

TOPAD received a generous $1,000 donation from Allstate Insurance, thank you to Katherine Hood. TOPAD co-founder, Betsey Jacobs is a member of the Dynamic Divas, a group of local women in business who gather to exchange ideas and support one another and local charity and nonprofit organizations. Thank you, Katherine Hood and Allstate Insurance!