Pets For Therapy
Newsletter March 2015 Issue – 94

ST PATRICK’S DAY

A fun day to be sure to be sure, we started the month with an Irish theme and Irish eyes were smiling as everyone joined in the spirit of things wearing green for the luck of the Irish. Some of our doggies dressed as Leprechauns delighting the audience, volunteers wearing the Shamrock and sharing some Irish trivia joining in the Irish jokes and a jolly time was had by all who attended. Everyone missed Frank and Cavell this year leading an Irish sing along, we do hope they will join us again for Easter as we all know how Frank loves the bunny ears!

DIVERSIONAL THERAPISTS

We are always delighted to see the effort you put in to add to the theme days for special occasions, many of the residents and clients also help, showing off their craft skills – it is great therapy for all concerned and they are to be applauded for the time, effort and love that goes into decorating the rooms to make the residents and clients feel special, WELL DONE!!

FAMILIES AND FRIENDS

We receive so many nice comments and notes from friends and family who have attended and enjoy the theme days, they look forward to our visits which makes the extra effort from our volunteers, especially through a long hot summer, well worthwhile.

MARCH VISITS INCLUDED

Ozcare Day Respite Runaway Bay

FSG Disabilities

Ozcare Day Respite Burleigh Heads

Hillview House Merrimac

Anglicare Day Respite Robina

Hillview House Ashmore

Marana Gardens

Tri-care Labrador

WELCOME

We all extended a warm welcome to Judy and Charlie Boi (11 year old Schnauzer). Who said you cannot teach an old dog new tricks? This little fellow has proved that saying wrong, loving the classes and enjoying visits showing off his newly learned skills, Judy is so proud of him and we are thrilled to have them along, well done Charlie Boi!!

CONGRATULATIONS

To Paula on her 50^th Birthday , we celebrated with a doggie cake and ten doggies proudly fronting up to have their photo taken with their much loved instructor, Paula having devoted 10 years of her time with her family and much loved dogs Gypsy and Baron to Pets For Therapy we are all so grateful and love her very much .

A BIG THANK YOU

We also thank Jack the journalist from ABC who did an online story on PFT, everyone thought it was good. Thank you Jack.

APRIL THEME

Looking forward to the Easter theme in April!!

Time is valuable. VOLUNTEERING is invaluable

I would like to thank our Sponsors and welcome new Sponsors, the names of which are on the Pets for Therapy website: www.gallerygiselle.com/pettherapy.htm

To Dieter, our Webmaster – our most grateful thanks.

Cheers from Yvonne (Coordinator) and Misty (the wonder dog)

Newsletter February 2015 Issue – 93

ST VALENTINE’S DAY

“UNTIL ONE HAS LOVED AN ANIMAL, PART OF ONE’S SOUL REMAINS UNAWAKENED”

For some of us all the more special to receive Valentine love from our canine companions, at Southport Nursing Centre, Misty surprised me with a huge red rose. Jackie and Melinda decorated the Centre beautifully with hearts and roses. Our volunteers did a great job dressing their dogs to fit the theme, so much laughter and the unconditional love was felt by all who attended.

CHINESE NEW YEAR 2015

The year of the goat sheep or ram, the eighth animal of the Chinese Zodiac. The goat will have significance to those born in the years 1919, 1931, 1949, then each 12^th year.

Goats are thought to be gentle, sympathetic with a strong sense of justice, despite their delicate appearance they are resilient and create their success through persistence.

We were welcomed at Masonic Care by Renee and enjoyed a fun morning with many residents learning the sign pertaining to their birth year and enjoying the interaction with our volunteers and doggies eager to show off their skills.

THE LODGE DOMAIN       (OPAL)

What a wonderful welcome back we received from Lara D/T, the staff and residents, always a delightful venue to visit, it was great to welcome a visitor from Melbourne, Steve a dog lover was thrilled with our presentation and the way the dogs all worked together jumping through hoops enjoying ball games etc. Steve joined in helped with equipment, the microphone and enjoyed chatting to the residents. Meet and greet time is an important part of our program and a happy group of volunteers and their dogs get a chance to visit residents in their rooms.

MARANA GARDENS

The rain had not dampened anyone’s spirits and we enjoyed a special morning out in the lovely garden and sunshine with the residents and staff , a wonderful roll up of volunteers and their doggies to celebrate a very special little member’s 6^th birthday , Kobi ( white toy poodle) the smiles on the residents faces said it all as they joined in the festivities and sang happy birthday , we later visited the rooms , where the residents comments were, such beautiful doggies thank you so much for bringing them along to visit. Lovely to have Yuki along with us on her day off, many thanks Yuki for your devotion to PFT after dear little Bobby passed away last year and loved by so many.

CONGRATULATIONS

Zak on your appointment to House Captain (Emmanuel College), a great honour and leadership role. Zak has been volunteering with PFT from the age of 2years with his Mother Paula (PFT & Dog Obedience Instructor) Marguerite

(Grandmother), Zak is now 11, and is such a motivated young man we are all so very proud of you all and Zak WELL DONE!!

PASSION

You make a living by what you get, You make a life by what you give!!

I would like to thank our Sponsors and welcome new Sponsors, the names of which are on the Pets for Therapy website: www.gallerygiselle.com/pettherapy.htm

Cheers from Yvonne (Coordinator) and Misty (the wonder dog)

WELCOME TO ANOTHER NEW YEAR

We have an exciting year planned with many new venues to visit, special occasions to celebrate and share with our many friends at the facilities we visit.

So – let go of the old
Reach out for the new
For the past is cold
And the future is due

Each year has memories
Some -Happy –Some –Sad
We must treasure the good
And let go of the bad

PFT ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

Held on the 13th January at Golden Crest Manors Nerang. The meeting was well attended by our volunteers and this year will see changes and decisions that are vital to the successful running of our organisation.

2014 was a year of growth and success and I was thrilled with the initiative on the part of our wonderful volunteers to keep our program alive, taking part in events with such gusto, a great team effort.

PFT TRAINING SESSIONS

An extremely hot January so we have all enjoyed a short break , we resumed training at James Overell Park, Brighton Parade Southport on Monday 19th January at 5.pm with qualified instructors Yvonne and Paula welcoming some new faces and doggies to meet and socialize with our existing team members

We celebrated Misty’s 11th Birthday, dogs wearing lei’s and birthday hats, the treats were “woofed” down smartly and a fun time was had by all.

DIVERSIONAL THERAPIST’S

Your expressions of thanks were received with much pleasure.

Please note: Bookings are fast filling up and we would hate to disappoint.

Special themes include:

Valentine’s Day (Booked out)
St Patrick’s Day (Booked out)
Easter theme
Mother’s Day theme
Melbourne Cup theme
Christmas theme
Special Birthdays on request

“Put your best paws forward”

FEBRUARY

“LOVE IS IN THE AIR” and what better way to celebrate than with some unconditional love from a “PUPPY”

AUSTRALIA DAY

Australians are a funny lot; you’ll often hear one curse

How things have started badly, and they’ll probably get worse

The weathers dry, the sun’s so hot it’s stolen all the water

The Government has never done the things we think they orta

But if we hear a tourist say his home is much more grand

They had better be prepared to make a solid stand

For although we Aussies may complain at what’s become our lot

When someone knocks this country, we defend it with all we’ve got.

The New Year lies before us like a spotless track of snow

Be careful how you tread for every mark will show.

I would like to thank our Sponsors and welcome new Sponsors, the names of which are on the Pets for Therapy website: www.gallerygiselle.com/pettherapy.htm

Cheers from Yvonne (Coordinator) and Misty (the wonder dog)