Project Phineas Hits the Road…

In July, TOPAD launched its fundraising campaign, “Project Phineas” on Rockethub (an online crowdfunding website) to raise money to cover the cost of raising, training, and placing Phineas (“Finn”) locally as a service dog for someone with a disability at no cost. Thanks to its amazing supporters, Project Phineas has already reached 61% of its goal with

approximately 30 days left to meet its goal of $7,500. Watch how Phineas evolves from a 7-week old pup into a fully trained service dog through the involvement of the community by watching the videos on the Project Phineas Rockethub webpage, accessible at: www.theotherpaw.org. You can also visit the campaign page directly at: http://www.rockethub.com/projects/35360-project-phineas-a-service-dog-s-journey

During the months of August and September, he TOPAD is traveling through Canada & the lower 48 states. Along the way, we are providing service dog demonstrations, therapeutic service dog training programs, read-with-a-dog opportunities, informational sessions, and service dog self-trainer consultation services. Planned stops include Michigan, Ohio, Colorado, California, and more… For more information or to book a demonstration or appointment, please contact us at: info@theotherpaw.org.

The national average cost of a trained service dog is between $25,000 and $80,000. TOPAD keeps costs down by involving the community in socializing and training our service dogs. For more information or to support Project Phineas, please visit www.theotherpaw.org or mail a tax-exempt donation to: ACCA for The Other Paw PO Box 60424 Fairbanks, AK 99706. Visit The Other Paw Assistance Dogs Facebook page to keep up to date on the campaign’s progress and Phineas’ training.

Issue 2: Fall, 2014

The Rawhide chew on this…

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In June, The Other Paw Assistance Dogs (TOPAD) launched the 2nd session of its Wag ‘n Train Program involving children and adults in training assistance dogs that will be placed with someone with a disability in the Fairbanks area. Nine wonderful volunteers from the local community helped with the program in which five children/teens from Fairbanks and surrounding areas were paired with a TOPAD assistance dog-in-training and a volunteer coach, meeting once weekly for six weeks. Mark Pauley, dog trainer with Golden Retriever Rescue Fairbanks & Pawsitive Dog Training facilitated the classes with co-founders, Nathan Collin, service dog trainer, and Betsey Jacobs, speech-language pathologist. The participants not only benefit from the bonds they form with the

dogs, but also learn principles of service dog training, how to teach specific commands, and the roles a service dog plays in someone’s life. The dogs learn and generalize commands they will need in order to work as assistance dogs in the local community, and the volunteers form new friendships and learn about working with children, teens, and service dogs. Graduation was held on August 16, 2014 and each student trainer earned a certificate of completion. For more information about this or any of our other programs, please contact us at: info@theotherpaw.org or (907) 888-5157.

TOPAD marches in the Golden Days Parade!

The TOPAD crew was able to recruit a wonderful bunch of volunteers to march with us in the Golden Days Parade! Thanks to a suggestion by Mark Pauley, volunteer with TOPAD and Golden Retriever Rescue Fairbanks, TOPAD signed up to march in the annual Golden Days Parade. Not only was it fun, it was a great socializing experience for the dogs.

Thank you, Hannah and Dan Nash, Amy Tuzzolino & Eric, Jen Hinman & Rick James, Nikki Vogt & Spike, Yuri, Ricky, and Kris from Morningstar Ranch, Serena Wiswar & Yukon, Sabrina, April, Dawn, and Kayla, Myriam Clain & Talkeetna, Phineas, and Yukon for representing The Other Paw Assistance Dogs this year at the Golden Days Parade! Much fun was had by all…

Wag ‘n Train Therapeutic Service Dog Training Program

it takes a community…

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Ruger gets a job… Ruger is a 2-year-old dark chocolate/black Labrador retriever that TOPAD acquired from Golden Retriever Rescue Fairbanks (GRRF) in December, 2013. GRRF rescued Ruger, who needed to undergo expensive surgery for osteochondritis dissecans (OCD), a bone condition. Ruger participated in hydrotherapy with Dr. Cole at Aurora Animal Clinic, where he healed from surgery by exercising

submerged in a tank of water. Ruger was subsequently diagnosed with ocular melanoma, an eye condition, and underwent laser surgery at Mt. McKinley Animal Hospital under the skilled hands of Dr. Deramus, a local human ophthalmologist. Ruger was given to TOPAD because of his sweet disposition and willingness to learn, the trainers at GRRF saw potential in Ruger as an assistance dog. Ruger proved to be a smart, charming, and dedicated boy. He took a large part in raising Phineas the puppy and has been an active volunteer in the Wag ‘n Train program as well as at several different sites in Fairbanks, including Access Alaska, various classrooms at the Fairbanks North Star Borough School District, Boys and Girls Home

Our Boy, Eric (Part II) (Eric arrives in Fairbanks, Alaska) by Nathan

The folks at Bergin University thought that Eric would be a great therapy dog. Both Betsey and I also thought he would be a wonderful therapy dog at her speech clinic and as a volunteer with Companions Inc. When he first arrived, he was screened by

Companions Inc. to work as a therapy dog and he

passed with flying colors. He was a natural when it came to visiting with people at

the Denali Center. When people see him coming they are all smiles. He really brightens up your day when you meet him. Eric loves going to the North Star Council on Aging and Fairbanks Memorial Hospital behavioral health unit. Many staff members and clients, patients, and residents carry treats. It

didn’t take Eric long to figure out who has treats. He was a big hit at Christmastime. Being from California we weren’t sure how he would adjust to the cold winters of Fairbanks. But he really did very well. I remember the first time we had a decent amount of snow he didn’t quite know what to make of it. Once his new brother Yukon showed him the trails and the neighborhood and how much fun it was to live in Fairbanks he had a ball. Eric loves running on the trails behind the house and playing Chuck-it in the woods. We take all the dogs wherever we go. In his first year here he has been exposed to kayaking, camping, music festivals many new friends, human and canine. He is the most gentle, sweetest boy. He loves everybody and everyone loves him. We are very glad that Eric is a part of our family.

Eric visis the North Star Council on Aging at Christmastime.

Eric being screened for Companions, Inc

Yukon shows Eric the neighborhood

Bones shows Eric the ropes around home.

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Support Project Phineas

Make dreams come true…

the paws-abilities are endless… It Takes a Community…

Our mission is, “helping all whenever we can by promoting relationships to encourage and support the canine-human bond”. We involve the entire community in training an socializing our assistance dogs-in-training. TOPAD’s Wag ‘n Train Program involves children, teens, and adults in working hands-on with TOPAD’s assistance dogs-in-training. The Warriors Working Together Program involves US veterans in training and socializing the assistance dogs. The Team Flyer Program is a volunteer training program for people 14 years and older who are interested in training assistance dogs and working with TOPAD’s several programs bringing canines and people together. TOPAD also provides animal-assisted therapy (AAT) and animal-assisted activities (AAA) throughout the community in places like schools, children’s events, and youth facilities.

The Other Paw partners with Street Outreach and Advocacy Program (SOAP)

The Other Paw Assistance Dogs has been visiting Fairbanks Counseling and Adoption (FCA)’s Street Outreach and Advocacy Program (SOAP) weekly and working with the youth who spend time there. The TOPAD dogs have gotten the opportunity to practice commands and provide animal-assisted therapy with the youth at SOAP. SOAP is a free program for 10-21 year olds who are at high risk of becoming homeless, or who are currently homeless or have run away from home. SOAP’s goal is to protect youth from abuse, sexual exploitation, and assault, and to help prevent involvement in criminal activity due to their lack of money, support and resources. SOAP works with the Fairbanks community to ensure no one lives without adequate shelter, food or critical necessities.

SOAP’s hope is that each youth they work with understands their value as a human being. SOAP offers transportation to resources and shelter,

survival packs, youth activities, connections to a choice of counseling and education programs, peer groups, and support, mediation and conflict resolution and referrals to community resources. Just a few weeks ago, TOPAD participated with the Dynamic Divas in donating backpacks containing school supplies for the youth who SOAP serves. The SOAP youth drop-in center is located at 530 7th Ave. For more information, contact Rebecca Buckles, Street Outreach Manager, (907) 378-4392 or email: rebecca@fcaalaska.org.