The Start of Our Second Quarter Century!
Written by Richard Waxman, Executive Director
Last April, we celebrated our 25th anniversary with a beautiful luncheon at the Classic Club in Palm Desert. Current and past volunteers, along with many of our long-time donors and supporters, joined us. It truly was a lovely celebration, full of wonderful memories and heartfelt moments.
After the luncheon, I closed the office, took the summer off, and spent time in Ontario, Canada where I was born and raised. It was there when I contemplated retirement. During that time, Paws & Hearts continued to operate as our amazing volunteers were still making their weekly visits.
Well… that retirement idea was short-lived!
While the concept of retiring may sound exciting to some, for me it felt almost like a death sentence. It truly seemed as though the identity I had grown into for over 25 years had simply disappeared.
So, any thoughts of retirement quickly went out the window. Over the summer, we relocated our office upstairs in the Berger Charitable Foundation Building to a brand-new suite. It was a fresh start for us as we launch into our second quarter century.
For readers who may not be familiar with our 501(c)(3) nonprofit, “Paws & Hearts” brings therapy dogs into local hospitals, long-term care facilities, Alzheimer’s and cancer centers to visit patients (and of course the staff as well!) We’ve been proudly and successfully doing this for 25 years! Our Canine Ambassadors—our wonderful four- legged therapy dogs—are guided by their dedicated human handlers. We provide temperament testing and training, and all guidelines for volunteering can be found on our website.
If you’re like so many Rancho Mirage residents I’ve met over the years—retired and looking for something meaningful and fulfilling to do—perhaps our program is for you. If you have a friendly, outgoing, amazing dog and would like to share him or her with people who could truly use the comfort of a visit, please check out our website and give us a call. (Instructions follow at the end of this article.)
If you have recently had to say goodbye to a beloved four- legged family member and need a little support with the grieving process, we also offer a twice-monthly Pet Loss Bereavement Group. We’ve been hosting this group for ten years, meeting on the first and third Wednesday of each month at 1 p.m. in our office. Based on the many heartfelt thank-you letters and emails we’ve received, it’s clear this group has been a source of comfort to many. If you need us, we are here.
It has been a truly remarkable 25-year long journey, and I am always amazed by how many wonderful potential volunteers find their way to our office. I think I’ve temperament-tested at least a thousand dogs over the years, and so many have gone on to become beloved volunteers, proudly sporting their red bandannas on their weekly visits.
Please review the specifics of volunteering at the conclusion of this article on the next page. Visit our website, watch the training videos, and if you think this might be a great addition to your retirement calendar, please give us a call!
If you have questions about volunteering or the Pet Loss Bereavement Group, please call 760-836-1406 or email [email protected]
Guidelines to Volunteer with Paws & Hearts:
Full time residents only, (sorry, no snowbirds)
All dogs must be a minimum of 1 year old, spayed or neutered and current on their shots
All dogs need to be incredibly friendly and outgoing to each and every human being it meets, with no hesitation.
The handler must be able to commit to weekly visitations at their assigned facility.
The rewards for you and your 4-legged companion while on a visit to a facility are amazing. You will hear things like, “I waited all week to see you!” “Can you just leave your dog here and come back in an hour?” And my all-time favorite, “You made my day!”
You will never be more proud of your dog than after having given them a ‘job’ to do once a week! The benefits to both of you are incredible!
We hope to hear from you!
“Paws & Hearts” 42-600 Cook St., Suite 207, Palm Desert, CA 92211, The Berger Charitable Foundation Building (760)836-1406
Website: www.pawsandhearts.org
Email: [email protected]
