July 31, 2003 YIPPEE!!! We won!! Here is
beginning of the letter we received regarding Polar's recent nomination for the 2003
G.R.A.C.E. Award in the category of Animal-Assisted Therapy and Activities:
CONGRATULATIONS! On
behalf of Rescue A Golden of Arizona and the Judges' Committee, it is my pleasure to
inform you that your Rescued Golden, Polar, has been chosen as a WINNER
of one of the 2003 G.R.A.C.E. Awards! Polar will be honored in a special
ceremony following the Parade of Rescue at the Golden Retriever Club of America's 2003
National Specialty in Cleveland, OH. The date of the presentation is Friday, September 19,
2003.
Polar has a date on Friday at Lancaster Generations,
a senior daycare facility. I was contacted by Tina Eshelman as a result of the wonderful
newspaper article that detailed Polar's work (see letter below). He and I are certainly
looking forward to meeting some new friends.
Dearest Pam, I can't begin to tell you how much I enjoyed reading
about you and Polar in the Sunday News!!! I am always seeking out the "Positive"
things in life and you two exemplify my daily search. I am so-o-o-o-o glad Marty Crisp
thought he had a story to tell and did put you IN THE SPOTLIGHT! I am the Activity Director at Lancaster Generations
(an Intergenerational Day Care Provider for Senior Citizens and others with Special Needs)
and we are located just down the street from you, to the rear of the Lancaster Labs. I
would LOVE to have you and Polar visit us,as I believe you and Polar have a story to tell
our clients and children that attend the Heildebrandt Learning Center that is attached to
us. We often do activities with the children and even have a S. June Smith Center class
that spends Tuesday mornings singing and learning with us. Please contact me if you think a visit from you and
Polar would be possible. I would be delighted to have you two visit our Center and become
acquainted with our Senior friends and possibly the "little ones"(schedule
permitting). I believe we have a lot to learn from our animal friends and I can't help
wondering if Polar isn't here to teach we humans a life lesson! Blessings to you this day and always. From one animal
lover to another, I Thank-You for the applaudable service you do for our Animal Friends.
Looking forward to hearing from you soon.
Sincerely,
Tina Eshelman, Lancaster Generations
Also, next week our boy has two engagements at some
additional facilities, which his grandma is going to take him too! Polar is surely going
to be a very busy boy in August.
Take Me Back for More
August 3,
2003
Here is the letter I got from Tina after our
visit on Friday to the senior daycare facility, Lancaster Generations:
Hi Pam and Polar, It was so nice to hear from you and to meet you BOTH in real life. I
can't begin to tell you how much it meant to the clients at Lancaster Generations and me
to meet Polar (and his Mom). Quite a few talked about Polar and how they felt sorry for
him but those comments led to how full of JOY he was. My point to them was that life can
be cruel and hard sometimes (diagnoses of Parkinsons, Cancer, Strokes, etc.) but that
there is still joy in living if you look for it!! Maybe a smile or a hug!!
Thank you so much for bringing smiles, thoughts and love to our Center . . . that's what
we are all here for . . . to share our gifts. Polar and you are a Prime example of that
philosophy in action. My heartfelt Gratitude. Looking forward to seeing you in the future. Blessings to you and your family,
Tina
Take Me Back for More
September
14, 2003 On Wednesday, August 13, 2003, Polar and Mary
Alice High visited the Mennonite home, Meadow View activities room for a Polar
presentation. Mary Alice is actually Polar's Grandma. Here is what she had to say about
the visit: We arrived at 9:45 A.M.
and it was a typical hot and humid August day. Polar was in his wheels leading the way
through the doors into a building where neither of us had been before. The room had about
fifteen residents arranged in a circle and we thought they were ready for us. Some of them
called to Polar to come to them but George, the activities director, came rushing to me
and said there were more residents being brought from the three buildings. I asked where
to get some water for Polar and he immediately made a huge mess. He was so thirsty so then
I asked for paper towels. The residents were watching him the entire time.
We
waited for about twenty minutes while George asked the
residents many questions about dogs. Seems they had been
celebrating the dog days of summer and we were the final
activity. More and more residents were escorted into the
room. What had been one circle had grown to three
circles with the walls lined with more. My guess was
there were about 60 to 70 residents in the room when
George turned the program over to Cora to introduce
Polar and me. I told the Polar story
and how excited he was to be here visiting them and how he just loves to be able to run
around in his wheels chasing the cats and running with the other dogs. I told the
residents about his home with the four other furry friends and about his daily trip to the
barn to feed the horses. I also told them about his three wheels and how he just kept
growing out of them. But, I said that these were his least favorite because they wiggle
when he walks.
The residents then asked more
questions, such as . . . "How old is he?" "Was he
born that way?" I thought I had covered all of the but I guess not. Then we made our
way around the room four times to give a smiling lap hug to everyone who wanted one. It
was during this time that the residents would tell me about their favorite dog. Although
Polar kept smiling the entire time, I knew he was really getting tired. He usually isn't
in his wheels this long and it was well over an hour. We took time for one final question
and then thanked everyone for being such a wonderful audience before bidding the folks
goodbye. Polar got a bag of
doggie cookies to eat at home since he had already wolfed down about half of the bag of
treats as we were greeting all of the folks. It was a rewarding treat to see the twinkle
in the eyes of the residents as they told stories about their favorite dogs. Polar is such
a good listener. Here's some special news about Polar. He is actually walking now, and has been for
about three months. My good friend Chandler, Dad to
Therapy Golden
Lucy, is going to make Polar a stroller like Lucy has, and ship it to me. Polar
recently borrowed Lucy's stroller for the Goldstock Parade of Rescue as he was just so
pooped out from all the activities going on.
Guess what?? Polar earned his CGC and
TDI titles at Goldstock! Here are some photos of him being pretty, slumming at the lake,
and taking his CGC exam. So handsome!
Hey, how deep is it out there guys?
Mom, am I doing okay?
Mom, why is that lady writing down stuff
about me?
Boy, there sure is a lot going on all around
me!
Hey, this TDI testing is a cinch!
Now, aren't we something?
Hey, look at all our title ribbons!
Now that vacation time is over, Polar
has gone back to his job at Brechnock Elementary. His first day back was Friday, September
12th. There are four new students, and this year should be just as much fun as last year!!
All the new students had already heard all about Polar and were very anxious to meet him.
Anna was there and she is always in charge of getting Polar his water, which she does very
well. She watches out for Polar and makes sure he is okay! Chanse was a little shy and
didn't want to play with Polar just yet. Rosa has grown so much over the summer and was
smiled from ear to ear when she saw Polar. Carlia was also excited to see Polar and
was at the office when we arrived. So she got to walk Polar down the hall to class. What a
treat for her! Mrs. Brown and Mrs. Harsh, of course, were happy to see Polar, and I was
also very happy to see all the children as well.
Take Me Back for More
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