Scheduled Visits - Week of September 26th

Here are the Lend A Paw visits for this week:

Tuesday, September 28th @1:00 PM
Jewish Home for the Aging / Grancell Village
Taper Building
7150 Tampa Ave
Reseda, CA
This is a skilled nursing facility where the residents enjoy their visit with he Lend A Paw teams. Meet at the large patio 5 minutes before 1 PM.

Sunday, October 3rd @ 10am
Oakview at University Village
3557 Campus Drive, Thousand Oaks 91360
We visit 2 groups in this facility. One group is assisted living and the other is skilled nursing. The dogs love to hug and kiss with their favorite residents!

Update on J.D.

A few weeks ago, we introduced J.D, a 1 year old Italian Greyhound/Poodle mix who had begun his training to become a therapy dog. J.D. has now completed his basic obedience training and is ready to be adopted. While waiting for the "perfect forever family" for him, he is staying at K9s Only where he is continuing to work on his socialization in public and with other dogs.
Sharon Vincuilla, Lend A Paw Coordinator and Training Manager at K9s Only says that "he is doing so great and is much more confident."
So if you, or someone you know, is interested in J.D. and the Lend A Paw program, please contact Sharon Vincuilla. You can also meet J.D. in person, at K9s Only or at the next New Leash On Life's Mobile Pet Adoption Event on:

Saturday, September 25th
PetSmart
19059 Golden Valley Road
Santa Clarita, CA 91387
10:00 AM - 2:00 PM

Story and Photos by Nathalie Seguin

Scheduled Visits - Week of September 19th

There is only one Lend A Paw visit scheduled for this week:

Saturday, September 25th @ 10:30 AM:
The Jewish Home for the Aging / Einsenberg Village
Factor Building
18855 Victory Blvd
Reseda, CA 91335
This is a visit to a nursing home where the residents really enjoy spending time with the LAP teams. We need up to 5 LAP teams to attend this visit.

A Visit To New Horizons

Jackson loves the attention he gets from the clients of New Horizons.

On the 2nd and 3rd Wednesdays of each month, the Lend A Paw program visits New Horizons, a non-profit organization dedicated to helping adults with developmental disabilities reach their potential and fulfill their dreams.

Located in North Hills, CA, New Horizons provides job training and placement, education, counseling, residential services and social programs for adults age 18 and older. The Lend A Paw program is a perfect complement to these services and the clients enjoy their visit with their "furry friends" a lot!

Sheri Campbell and Jackson are veterans of this site as they have been visiting New Horizons for over a year! Sheri states that Jackson, a Labradoodle, loves his time spent there. "He starts wagging his tail and whining as soon as we get in the parking lot!" And it is not uncommon to find Jackson laying down in the middle of a group of people, enjoying all the attention he gets. "This is the perfect energy for Jackson," says Sheri. There is enough going on that he doesn't get bored.

Donna and Audrey like to educate people about dog care and what it takes to own a dog.

Donna Beirne and her Cavalier King Charles, named Audrey enjoy visiting New Horizons and educating the clients about dog care and what it takes to own a dog. Audrey is very popular with these adults as she is very small and gentle. They also enjoy holding her on their lap while posing for a photo!

"Audrey enjoys the friendly faces," states Donna. "She is treated like a little princess."

This was Daisy's first visit since becoming a LAP therapy dog!

Some of the clients of New Horizons remember the "regular" LAP dogs. So when a new therapy dog comes to visit them, they want to know everything about it! On Wednesday, September 8th, Jim Henry and his therapy dog Daisy joined Sheri, Jackson, Donna and Audrey for this lunchtime visit. This was their first visit since becoming a Lend A Paw team. They were greeted with smiles and lots of questions! And they responded exceptionally well; Jim answered all the questions and Daisy showed off some of her tricks and greeted everyone with a "kiss" and a wagging tail!

The visit lasted about one hour. "The dogs get tired after a while and it's important to watch for clues that they are ready to leave," states Sheri. So, when lunch was over and the clients were slowly returning to their classes or to work, our three LAP teams said their good byes, leaving behind them some very happy clients.

Story and Photos by Nathalie Seguin.

Scheduled visits - Week of September 12th

There are 5 scheduled Lend A Paw events this week:

Tuesday, September 14th @ 1:00 PM:
Jewish Home for the Aging / Grancell Village
Taper Building
7150 Tampa Ave
Reseda, CA 91335
This is a skilled nursing facility where residents enjoy the visits of the Lend A Paw teams.

Tuesday, September 14th @ 2:15 PM:
Westside Regional Center
5901 Green Valley Circle
Culver City, CA 90230
This is a brand new site; The Lend A Paw teams will visit with individuals with a wide range of developmental delays as part of the Healthy Lifestyle Service Program. For more information about this site, please contact Jane Singer.


Wednesday, September 15th @ 1:30 PM
New Horizons
15725 Parthenia Street
North Hills, CA 91343
This is an indoor classroom visit to a school for developmentally challenged adults. The people are friendly and it is always a great experience.

Thursday, September 16th @ 10:00 AM:
Dr. Fallon's Cardiology Office
2020 Santa Monica Blvd Suite 580
Santa Monica, CA 90404
This is a Cardiologist's office and the Lend A Paw teams visit patients in the lobby. They are providing a distraction to those waiting for their tests.

Saturday, September 18th @ 8:30 AM:
Lend A Paw Workshop Certification
K9s Only
18603 Topham Street
Tarzana, CA 91335
Think your dog has what it takes to visit schools and nursing homes as a certified Therapy Dog? Come to this workshop to find out! If your dog is over 1 year old, has basic obedience, and is spayed or neutered, you are welcome to bring him to this workshop to be tested. Individuals also welcome to attend to find out more information about the program, including how to be involved if you do not have your own dog. Call Sharon at 818-344-9663 or email at sharon@k9sonly.com for more info or to register.

Jane, Jessica and Caspy: Lend A Paw Ambassadors!

Jane Eckstein, her daughter Jessica Masser and their therapy dog Caspy.

Jane Eckstein and her daughter Jessica Masser, both JuJuitsu practitioners, teach a self-defense / self-esteem program called "Blocking the Punches" at the ECF Kayne Eras Center, in Culver City. They teach abduction prevention, assault prevention and defense to a wide spectrum, at-risk and challenged middle and high school students ranging in age from 12 years old to 22.
In 2009, they started researching dog therapy programs, feeling that some of the non-verbal autistic students at Kayne Eras Center would benefit from the exposure to the gentle, quiet presence of a therapy dog. While doing some research on the internet, they found New Leash On Life and the Lend A Paw program.

"I believe he was meant to be a therapy dog," says Jane of her dog Caspy.

They contacted New Leash On Life about adopting a therapy dog and met Caspy, a then 2 years old, Lhasa Apso/ Poodle mix who was already trained and was a member of the Lend A Paw program. Caspy was at the time in foster care, awaiting someone to adopt him. Perfect timing? Meant to be? Jane states: "Yes. There was beautiful Caspy who had been rescued from the East Valley Shelter, in foster care and already trained. We jumped on it! He has a job, a purpose. He and Lend A Paw have changed our lives."

Since they adopted Caspy, in February of 2009, they have brought the Lend A Paw program to the Kayne Eras Center on a regular basis. "We try to visit once a month", says Jessica. "One time, I asked a boy with autism what he whispered in Caspy's ear and he said, "I feel happy!"

But giving back to her school wasn't enough. Jessica wanted to do more. She and Jane also visit the office of Cardiologist, Dr. Sandra Fallon, in Santa Monica. They take Caspy in the lobby, to visit patients waiting to undergo their stress tests. "She is my cardiologist," states Jessica. "And I am proud to give back to my doctor." Jane mentions that according to Dr. Fallon, after visiting with Caspy, her patients blood pressures decrease. "The whole room changes," Jane says. "We provide a distraction."

And just recently, Jessica and Jane opened the doors of a new site to the Lend A Paw program. On September 14th, at 2:15 pm, they will visit the Westside Regional Center in Culver City, for the first time. Jessica works for the Peer Mentor Lifestyle Coaching Agency. She is a mentor and trainer within the Agency's Healthy Lifestyle Service Program helping pre-diabetic, diabetic and others facing weight and nutrition challenges to move toward a more active, safer and healthier lifestyle. She approached one of her bosses about bringing the Lend A Paw program to the agency. Her boss thought it was a great idea! She was introduced to Sharon Vincuilla, Lend A Paw Coordinator, who facilitated the legal aspects of bringing the dogs in. "This is a brand new site, a state agency!" Jane says. "We are desperately seeking dog teams for this visit."
Who would have thought that one small dog would have such an impact on so many people's lives? Jane has put in so many hours into the Lend A paw program that she is now eligible to become a Level III handler! But she is not completely satisfied. "Our goal is to go and visit the Veterans Rehabilitation Center and work with recovering military personnel from Iraq and Afghanistan," says Jane. And with these two women's determination, anything is possible!

Story and Photos by Nathalie Seguin

Scheduled Visits - Week of September 5th

There are 2 Lend A Paw events scheduled for this week:

Oakview at University Village
Sunday, September 5th @ 10am
3557 Campus Drive
Thousand Oaks, CA 91360

This is an assisted living and nursing facility that we visit on the first Sunday of every month. The individuals here really look forward to their monthly hug and kiss session with their furry friends!

New Horizons
Wednesday, September 8th @ 12:00 PM
15725 Parthenia Street, North Hills, CA 91343

This is a lunchtime visit to a facility for developmentally challenged adults. They are always very happy to see the dogs. It's a warm and friendly place and everyone has a good time.

Meet J.D.: the newest Lend A Paw trainee!

J.D. loves everyone he meets canine and human alike!

Meet J.D., a sweet 1 year old Italian Greyhound/Poodle mix who began his training to become a therapy dog on August 18th.

J.D. is currently training at K9s Only.

When J.D. was rescued by New Leash On Life, the staff noted immediately his gentle disposition; He loves everyone he meets and especially loves being held! He also demonstrated all the personality traits necessary to be a good therapy dog: he is older that 1 year old, people oriented, comfortable around other dogs, calm and comfortable to touch. So as soon as he was ready, he was transferred to K9s Only to begin his training.

According to Sharon Vincuilla, the Lend A Paw Coordinator and Training Manager at K9s Only, J.D. is due to finish his training on September 8th. He is looking for someone to adopt him who is also interested in joining the Lend A Paw program as a volunteer handler.

Let's hope that J.D. continues to make steady progress with his obedience training so he can continue his journey towards becoming a therapy dog and bring some warmth, compassion and unconditional love to people in need.

Story and Photos by Nathalie Seguin

Ava continues her training to become a Therapy Dog!

Nicolette and Kristin are learning how to take care of Ava.

Last Wednesday, August 25th, Ava went home with her new family, the Alvandians. Afie (mom), Greg (dad), Nicolette (10 years old) and Kristin (5 years old) had been looking for a dog for a while. They were waiting for the perfect dog for their family. "I guess it was worth the wait," states Afie. "She is just wonderful! We are very happy to have adopted her".

Nicolette is learning the handling skills necessary to work with a therapy dog.

The Alvandians are also happy to continue Ava's training to become a therapy dog! With the help of Sharon Vincuilla and the staff of K9s Only they will continue to practice basic obedience and learn what it takes to be members of the Lend A Paw program. So, on Saturday, August 28th, I met with Afie, Nicolette and Kristin at K9s Only, during one of their training sessions.

"Nicolette wants to take Ava to her school to teach the children about animal awareness, and dog safety," says Sharon. "I am so excited to take Lend A Paw in this direction. It is so important to educate the next generation."
During the training session, the whole family learned about taking care of a dog as well as how to continue Ava's training. And Nicolette is also learning the handling skills necessary to work with a therapy dog.

The Alvandian family will continue their training until they are ready to take the Lend A Paw test to be certified. Once they pass the test, they will need to complete 6 supervised visits prior to visiting a site on their own. The next Lend A Paw Certification Workshop is scheduled for September 18th. If all goes well, Ava and her new family should be ready to take and pass the test on that day.

Photos and story by Nathalie Seguin.