Eastern United States

Christie

1994-2006

Christie, beloved HOPE dog of Sandi Welch

Christie was raised as a show dog and used as a breeder.  She was given to me at the age of five.  Christie was special right away and had a loving and kind way about her.  She got her therapy license and began to work her magic immediately.  I always considered her a gift from God because she helped so many people.  Always the diva, whether in a nursing home, school or church, she brought happiness to so many people.

Her favorite activities were those that involved children.  Her favorite location was Sandston Elementary School where she was the unofficial mascot and unofficial member of the mentoring team.  She visited every classroom once a month for four years.  Every child knew that she was approachable and loved to be hugged.  She also attended assemblies, concerts and field days.  At the field days, children were constantly bringing her water, Popsicles and cold towels when it was hot.  She brought out the best in these children and they miss her still.

Christie loved the people and dogs in HOPE and was an excellent representative for them.  She is terribly missed but touched so many people that she will not soon be forgotten.

Christie
Born December 1, 1994, Telltale Kennels, Manakin-Sabot, VA
Died March 26, 2006, Sandston, VA 

Jake, beloved HOPE dog of Susan Rudloff

The most commonly asked questions about Jake were: Is that a real eye? Is there something wrong with his eye? He had one blue eye that stood out amongst his black fur coat.

Mary Jo Burke, HOPE Member

Mary Jo Burke, who certified in November '04 with her Golden Retriever, Annie, ended her struggle with cancer January 15, 2007.  From the first moment we met Mary Jo, when she trained and certified for HOPE AACR, it was clear that she was someone with a huge heart and unusually generous spirit. We all looked forward to being around her infectious warmth, her wonderful smiles, delightful humor, and never-ending words of encouragement. She was always there to give her support, to listen, share her experiences, and to respond with a natural wisdom coupled with genuine concern.

Mary Jo's love and enthusiasm for her family---her husband,  three children, and four grandchildren, were a strong foundation.  From this center, she reached out and served the community in many ways. Her long time active involvement with animal-assisted therapy as a volunteer with children, teenagers, and adults of all ages, along with her recent work with HOPE AACR,  was a true reflection and extension of her love and respect for humans and animals.  She lived her life fully, unselfishly, with a giving heart.  She left  it with an inspiring legacy of tremendous strength and courage.

Mary Jo was a gift to all who were lucky to know her, one of those rare and special people who left the world a much better place for her having been here. She will be deeply missed as wife, mother, grandmother, friend, & colleague. 

Roxanne Lechner & Elwood, HOPE Team

Roxanne Lechner, certified HOPE AACR member, who served with her canine partner Elwood, crossed over the Rainbow Bridge November 11, 2005.  She died as she had lived, with great concern about the well being of those around her, after losing a courageous battle of several months with a rare abdominal cancer. Roxanne’s passion was to serve “all God’s creatures, great and small,” by volunteering.

In September 2002, Roxanne and Elwood successfully completed training and certification for HOPE Animal-Assisted Crisis Response in Portland, Oregon. They remained active together until Roxanne’s illness prevented her from participating.  Elwood loved Roxanne very much and remained by her side until the very end.

Elwood Lechner, beloved canine partner of Roxanne Lechner, went home to be with Roxanne August 27, 2006. Roxanne and Elwood are together again, as God planned.  Elwood was laid to rest under their favorite tree.  Angels only stay until their job is done.

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Special Memories

From Taryn Hefler, HOPE AACR Pacific South West Regional Director during the 2003 fires and Certified Team member with Darby:

“In October of 2003 California  experienced massive wildfires across Southern California.  At the time of these fires HOPE AACR had only 9 certified teams in California. We were  called in by the Red Cross to help with the 2000 plus evacuees in the Red  Cross shelters popping up all around the cities as the fire area grew."

"The Pacific Southwest region was quickly  becoming overwhelmed and I, as the regional director, sent out an SOS to our  other regions asking for help. Three members responded, Roxanne and Elwood, and Richard and Marcy Lowy, our President and Treasurer at the time, and their canine partner Otis."

"Roxanne and Elwood did such a wonderful job. They helped so many people  and touched so many lives.  At the time, I don't think she understood the  impact she and Elwood would have as a result of this simple act of kindness.  She was very  worried before she came to California that she was not "good enough".  Fortunately for all of us, she was persuaded otherwise.  If you could have seen the ease that she and Elwood worked with  the people affected by this disaster!  It was a blessing that Roxanne and  Elwood traveled (at their expense) down to Southern California to help, because not only did  they help the victims of this fire, but they helped leave an unbelievably  positive image of HOPE AACR in the eyes of a lot of important people.  Those same people later were instrumental in writing a Memorandum of Understand between the American Red Cross and  HOPE AACR - Pacific South West Region."

"Roxanne and Elwood made a difference in the  lives of many here in CA. I am very lucky to have met her and Elwood, and will  always think of them with the big, warm beautiful smile she had as she helped  the many people who were so severely affected by this disaster."

"We will always be grateful to Roxanne not only for what her help did for us, but the ease and grace that she did it.”

From Lois Abrams, Ph.D., member of HOPE AACR Founding Board and Certified Team member with Duke & Romeo.

"It was indeed special to know Roxanne and have the honor of having her and Elwood stay with us during these horrific fire times. In and Out Burger became our place for fun times together as we traveled from Huntington Beach to San Bernardino.  We stopped at a couple of different In and Out's. Children eating there were thrilled with the dogs.  Roxanne was a bright star in the life of HOPE AACR and for each of us personally who were blessed to know her."

Summer "Wicked She of Ghoststone"

beloved HOPE dog of Joanne Huntley

April 12,1993 – February 2, 2005

Summer was a show dog who also gained titles in Agility competitions, but her first priority was working as a Delta Society Pet Partner volunteer (certified in 1996), and also with HOPE AACR (certified in January, 2002). She particularly loved working with children & the elderly.

Summer and Joanne were with a group named “Have Paws Will Travel”, who volunteered at Bonny Hayes Animal Shelter in Washington County. They  staffed a booth for the shelter at the annual County Fair for years. They volunteered weekly  at a Women’s Shelter and Children’s Evening Care Center, at a Head start Program in Hillsboro Elementary School, and from 1996, until Summer was retired in mid-2004, at the Hillsboro Rehab/Extended Living Center.

Summer was diagnosed with bone cancer in her leg  in 2004, sadly, she did not fully recover, and succumbed 3 months later.

Summer was a 75 pound bundle of chocolate Labrador love, and continues to be greatly missed. She left her sweet paw-prints on the hearts all those who knew her.

Kenzie, beloved HOPE dog of Denise Julian

Kenzie loved people and, like most Golden's, would nudge and prod with her nose until you gave her a pet.  Her loving nature helped so many people and will be remembered by many she touched.

In April 2006, Denise and Kenzie traveled to New Orleans to provide support and comfort to people still recovering from the devastation of Hurricane Katrina.  Kenzie touched many people while deployed in New Orleans.

Kenzie was a much loved crisis response and therapy dog, and will be greatly missed.  The angels in heaven are rejoicing because they now have Kenzie.

Tanner, beloved HOPE dog of Patty Diubaldi

Tanner was a special dog who loved his mom, Patty, very much.  Together they comforted so many people.  Tanner was loved by so many others as well.  His sweet gentle ways could melt anyone's heart.  Patty and Tanner would attend church together where he was always welcome.

Patty and Tanner were certified as a crisis response team in October 2005 and loved working together.  Tanner was stricken with a sudden illness that eventually took him across the Rainbow Bridge.

Patty said about Tanner, "I truly believe that there's a place in heaven for all our beloved companions.  I expect to see him one day waiting for me at those gates just the same way he waited by the gate everyday for me to get home. I'm always going to miss him and I thank God for bringing him into my life and allowing me the privilege of sharing his life's journey."

Applejack’s Extraordinary Career

San Diego Hope member Dori McLaurin had big plans, and she needed a big dog. Motivated by a shoulder injury of her own, she wanted to develop an animal-assisted aquatic therapy program for others. Dori found enthusiastic supporters in Newf lovers Don and Jeanette Tate, who gave her Applejack, an 8-month-old Newfoundland—a dog bred for water rescue—to launch the effort.

Applejack matured into a lovable, 180-pound adult, perfect for aquatic therapy—except for a surprising aversion to swimming! What he did do well was connect with people in need of emotional support. And so began his remarkable 7-year career in therapy and crisis response. From Children’s Hospital to assisted living, skilled nursing and Alzheimer’s facilities, Applejack delighted patients, families and staff alike. And then, in early 2001, San Diego was rocked by two fatal school shootings. Believing Applejack could help the traumatized survivors, Dori took him to both campuses. To her surprise, the big guy drew not only students, but teachers, counselors, even police officers. Some sobbed into his fur. Others simply said thanks.

Soon after, Dori learned about HOPE AACR, and Applejack became the first Newfoundland certified in crisis response. As a HOPE team, Dori and Applejack responded to multiple disasters. When catastrophic wildfires hit San Diego in late 2003, Applejack worked day after day at the fire base camp, comforting hundreds of exhausted firefighters and even greeting President George W. Bush. Two years later, when Hurricane Katrina hit the Gulf Coast, Applejack was still on the job, helping de-stress evacuees flown to a shelter provided by the San Diego Red Cross. But he was eight now and slowing down. Dori began to wonder when she should retire him.

Then came word that Don Tate had died. At the family’s request, Dori and Applejack both attended the funeral. Never had the big Newfy’s crisis response skills been so appreciated as by this grieving family, who had made his journey with Dori possible. Realizing her beloved partner’s career had come full circle, Dori retired Applejack that day. He responded just once more, coming out of retirement in late 2006 to lead a contingent of HOPE teams at a public memorial service for five fallen firefighters. But Dori and even other HOPE members continued to hear kudos from people whom this very special Newf had touched in some way. No doubt, the many memories of Applejack and his magic will linger for a long, long time to come.

SKOOK

“Wild and Care-free”

1995 - 2006

Skook was nearing her tenth birthday and had suffered a second injury by the end of the 2005 hunting season.  She was cold, wet and, oh so, tired!  My husband sadly admitted it was time to retire her from the intense physical demands of the hunting field.  Skook healed quickly and replenished her energy with the warmth and love of her family surrounding her. She was still the tenacious little Brittany Spaniel, with a heart of pure gold!  I am sure she dreamt of days to come when she would return once again to the golden-colored fields around Montana looking for the wily Ringneck pheasants for my husband, Larry.  However her life, as she had known it, was about to change in so many ways....... 

I, too, had recently retired (from education) and was wondering what type of new and interesting opportunities awaited me in my changing world.   I remember not only asking myself, but also asking her “What now little girl?”  The answer wasn’t readily apparent!  We were both used to busy lives, deeply involved in what it seemed as if we were destined to do.  I was hoping to try to merge my time and talents in helping people in a completely new and different way.   

And, she being a true working dog at heart had a burning desire to be “out there in the field” - despite the slow-down-phase she had entered.  To be sure our daily “walk-abouts” joyfully continued with both me and her younger “sister”.  All three of us enjoyed those outings, knowing that the warmth of the house would chase away the chill in our bones once we returned.  Still, the answer to “what’s next” seemed to elude us!

That is,  until late January of 2006, when I happened upon an advertisement in our local newspaper inviting the public to an OPEN HOUSE  meeting for HOPE AACR.  It was here that a dream began to emerge. Perhaps, both Skook and I could meld our lives together, and with training we might become an animal- assisted therapy team where we would each have a “job” of service within our community.  We had so much fun together over the next few months while being  encouraged and mentored as a new Intermountain Therapy Animal  team.  From there, we attended and successfully completed the 2006 HOPE AACR workshop in Bozeman, Montana.  We did it - we were also a HOPE K9 Team!   Life was busy, we were learning new things all the time, and we had a purpose!   LIFE IS GRAND...........but it is also challenging to be sure!

Our little Skook-er took a turn for the worse.  By early Fall, she experienced  rapid onset blindness, and found her “new world” a dark and scary place to navigate without her eyesight.  She went on to develop additional life-threatening symptoms and was gone by mid-November!

Yes, life is challenging, but oh, so rewarding!!  THANK YOU SKOOK FOR ENRICHING MY LIFE, FOR BEING  MY STEADFAST FRIEND, AND FOR INSTILLING IN ME AN EVEN STRONGER DESIRE TO KEEP WORKING FOR HOPE AACR. 

With loving memories,

Mary Martin

August 20, 2008