Glenwood Pet Hospital Pet Photos Benefit TDU

Special thanks to the awesome staff at Gelnwood Pet Hospital on Peach Street in Erie for donating proceeds from a recent "Pics with Pets" photo shoot to Therapy Dogs United.  Erie photographer Eric Smyklo donated his time and skillsl to make the photo shoot come together.  Special thanks also to Katie Smyklo, Erica Jewell, DVM, Jan Eisert and Kristine Yurkovic.  Together they raised $1183.50 we will have earmarked for our special needs visiting therapy dog programs!

School Days for TDU Dogs!

School is back in full swing ~ and that means it's back to business for our certified therapy dogs! Here is the welcome message for students, faculty and friends at the Barber National Institute this week: 


"Welcome back to our pet therapy dogs who are here for another school year! We love Shiloh, a 9-year-old standard poodle, and all of our other canine friends who come to visit our students. Looking forward to more beautiful friendships!"

New Lime Green Team TDU T-Shirts Ready for 2014

Get 'em while they're hot!  Our pale blue 2013 "Team TDU" shirts were such a big hit, we've freshened up our look for 2014!  These new lime green t-shirts are in stock now and will be sold at our 6th annual Paws in the Park event on Saturday, September 21st at Frontier Park.   Stop by Therapy Dogs United's booth and pick one up: Size S-XL $15, 2-3X $18.

Please Support TDU on August 13th for Erie Gives Day!

If you plan to participate in the 2013 Erie Gives Day, please consider donating to Therapy Dogs United, Inc.  Funds raised on this day of giving will support our Puppy Placement Program that is raising and training a certified facility dog for a group home in North Dakota.  The home serves the needs of autistic and developmentally challenged children and its mission is the "inclusion of all people."  To learn more about Minot Rehab Services, click here.  To visit Therapy Dogs United online, click here.  Stay tuned, photos of our Placement Pup are coming soon!  It's easy to donate - simply visit http://www.ErieGives.org

Our Pirated Misadventure Ends on a Happy Note

It all ended well...but we still blame Captain Cat!

http://www.erietvnews.com/story/23062265/did-someone-pirate-the-scally-wag?fb_action_ids=686575548024112&fb_action_types=og.recommends&fb_ref=.UgG7OUFBNLY.like&fb_source=hovercard

Fun times are coming our way again on Tuesday, August 6th!  Our certified therapy dogs along with our award winning Perry 200 "ScallyWag" float are invited to be a part of the festivities at Erie's "National Night Out ~ Party in the Park" on Tuesday, August 6th.  The fun gets underway at 6 p.m. at Gridley Park, 6th and Liberty in Erie.  When you see our team of therapy dog volunteers, don't forget to stop by and say Woof!

Please Support Team TDU!

Please help Team TDU 2013 by ordering one of our new t-shirts!  $15 / shirt and available in S - M - L - XL.  Please mail your check to our Erie office, made payable to: Therapy Dogs United, Inc., 1940 West 8th Street, Erie PA 16505.  Shirts will ship after July 4th.  Thank you for your support ~ Woof!

"The Scally Wag" Wins Grand Marshall Award for "Best Overall" Float in Perry 200 Parade

I would like to thank everyone that supported this project as well.
This would never have happened without the tremendous amount of team work I had. A special thanks to my husband, Dave, for his support and encouragement.  I feel very fortunate to be a volunteer with Tdu, and am blessed to have met so many wonderful people.
Bridget

TDU's Perry 200 Grand Patriotic Parade Float Commissioned

It took more than 150 hours to complete and 15 volunteers to make it happen - but in the end, Therapy Dogs United's entry in the historic 2013 Perry 200 Grand Patriotic Parade is something to bark about.  "The Scally Wag ~ Don't Give Up the Yip" is one of 50 floats entered in the May 25th parade that starts in downtown Erie and ends at Erie's bayfront.  To read more about this grand celebration and TDU's role in the festivities, click here!

While more than a dozen TDU volunteers assisted in some way to get this project done, I would like to recognize the following volunteers who spent more than 150 hours building "The Scally Wag ~ Don't Give Up the Yip" : Bridget Buzard, Parade Chair; Tim and Tammy Baker; Tom and Cassie Allessie, Billy Sabatini, Sr. Carolann McLaughlin, Sr. Rita Groner, Sue Ferarro, and Paris & Billy Gartner. Please take the time to personally thank each of your fellow volunteers for their hard work, dedication, talent and vision. 

Therapy Dog Testing to Resume in September 2013

Summer is such a busy time of year and there is no shortage of events, activities, parades and visits our therapy dog volunteers are invited to participate in!  Since this is our busiest time of the year, TDU's Erie Chapter will once again suspend our Canine Good Citizen (CGC) and Therapy Dog (TD) testing in June, July and August.  Our CGC testing is set to resume again at our Paws in the Park event being held Saturday, September 21st at Frontier Park in Erie.  Registration is available as a Walk Up or Pre-Register basis.  Questions?  Please Email TDU Evaluator Tammy Baker at TamBaker@roadrunner.com.  We appreciate your patience as we give our dedicated team of TDU Evaluators and volunteers a break for the summer!  Woof!

GET YOUR BLING ON!

TUESDAY, APRIL 16, 2013

PANERA’S BREAD

UPPER PEACH STREET LOCATION

6:30PM - 8:30PM

PLEASE ATTEND A FUNDRAISING EVENT TO BENEFIT

THERAPY DOGS UNITED

PERRY 200 FLOAT FUND

THIS IS A GREAT WAY TO SUPPORT OUR EFFORTS WHILE

RECEIVING THE BENEFIT OF FABULOUS

JEWELRY!

BRIDGET BUZARD

FASHION DIRECTOR WITH PARK LANE

WILL BE HOSTING THE EVENT

ALL COMMISSIONS WILL BE DONATED

REFRESHMENTS PROVIDED

PLEASE RSVP TO

BBUZARDTHERAPYDOGSUNITED@GMAIL.COM

Polish Falcons Make Dreams Come True!

Special shout out and a heartfelt thanks to the Polish Falcons of America, Nest 123, for a generous $1000 donation made to Therapy Dogs United.  The East 19th Street club made the donation in support the upcoming Highmark "Walk for a Healthy Community" (June 8, 2013, Beach 1, Presque Isle State Park).  All Walk proceeds benefit TDU's canine programs that work to enhance the lives of children with exceptional needs.  Woof!  

Place Your Perry 200 Parade T-shirt Order Now!

CALLING ALL THERAPY DOG UNITED VOLUNTEERS ~

WE NEED YOU!!!

Therapy Dogs United is excited to build a float for the PERRY 200 Grand Patriotic Parade being celebrated on Saturday, May 25^th in downtown Erie. For the past three months, our Float Committee has worked tirelessly to design a float that will be a promising entry in the parade. 

We’ve got the expertise needed to construct the float, but we still need your help.

This week we firmed up the design for our parade t-shirts, however, in order to create the impact we need to showcase our agency’s mission ~ we need YOU!

How can you be a part of this historic and fun event? We need a minimum of 75 volunteers to walk in this parade. We’d like 25 of those walkers to be a certified therapy dog handlers walking with your dog. For the additional 50 walkers, please invite your family and friends to join us and hand out candy. All volunteers walking with your dog are required to purchase a TDU/Perry Parade t-shirt for $20.00. T-shirt orders and payment needs to be received no later than April 15^th (please Email your  t-shirt size to: bbuzardtherapydogsunted@gmail.com) Family and friends walking without a therapy dog are asked to wear a red, white, or blue shirt – or they can purchase a t-shirt if desired! We will also provide a TDU pocket apron for those volunteers.

Your support is much appreciated! And, it’s not too late to donate a Lowes or Home Depot gift card to help with our construction costs. Therapy Dogs United is built on the reputation of outstanding individuals dedicated to volunteerism in support of canine therapy, and I thank you all who continue make our mission come to life. Please support this event with the passion I know we all have!
Much appreciated,

Bridget Buzard

Perry 200 Parade Committee Chair

bbuzardtherapydogsunited@gmail.com

Plans for Paws in the Park 2013 Underway!

Just a quick reminder to Save the Date for Therapy Dogs United's 6th annual Paws in the Park outdoor canine festival scheduled for Saturday, September 21st at Frontier Park.  New this year - a fantastic spectator event the entire family will howl at ~ The "Running of the Pugs!"  Also returning for a second year, our "Doxie 500" Wiener Dog Races. 

For more Paws in the Park information, visit us online!  Our 2013 Vendor Application and registration forms for the "Doxie 500" can be downloaded online.  Or continue to check back here - we'll keep you posted...Woof!

Therapy Dog Volunteer Survey

Vanderbilt University, in conjunction The University of Pittsburgh's Dawn Marcus, M.D., is conducting an online  research survey of therapy dog handlers. The survey takes about 15-20 minutes and can be completed by handler who has made at least one visit during the last year.

If you are an active therapy dog volunteer working with any certifying agency, you are invited to participate.   Click here! 

Enjoy!

Jeans Day Donation Appreciated!

Special thanks to Erie Insurance's Personal Lines Activities Committee who recently raised $194 on a Friday "Jeans Day" to benefit TherapyDogs United!  Doggie Kisses to you all!

Good Job! Sophie with her owner, Anne, recently participated in a dog safety class with pre-schoolers in the Corry school district. This program works to bring awareness to children on how to safely approach a dog and  by the look on the children's faces, Sophie was a big HIT!

Today Srs Carolanne and Rita, Rusty and myself accepted the grant during a presentation ceremony at the Jefferson Society. Grants were given to 22 participants that submitted a design for floats to be entered in the parade May 25th, 2013. The grant gives us a great start toward the funds necessary to complete the designed float.  If interested in supporting the project, please contact our agency.
Thanks again to our wonderful volunteers of the year Sr. Rita and Sr. Carolanne and, of course, Rusty for accompanying me to the event. Scott Bremner of WICU interviewed all of us and I believe we caught his attention because of Rusty. WOOF

GREAT NEWS! We were notified this morning that TDU was awarded a grant for the building of the above float that we will enter in the Perry200 Commemorative Parade May 25, 2013!
We still have some fundraising to complete to secure all the funds necessary, so if you would like to contribute supplies, money, and or your time, please contact us. We will also need people to volunteer to walk with us that day to hand out candy. We are excited to be a part of this historic event and to bring awareness to the significant contribution our therapy dogs provide to the Erie community.
WOOF!
Bridget Buzard
Bbuzardtherapydogsunited@gmail.com

I just wanted to give an update on the progress we are making towards our fundraising efforts for the Perry200 float building fund. I am very excited to give a shout out to our volunteers Sr. Carol Ann and Sr. Rita, they have raised $100.00. They say that this is only the beginning!!!
Also, we submitted the grant application last week and are eagerly waiting for news on the amount we will receive. I will keep all posted on the outcome.

It's Not Too Early to Think Spring!!!

Sure, it may be snowing outside right now....but it's not too early to think summer!  Please join your friends at Therapy Dogs United as we get set to lace up our walking shoes for the annual "Highmark Walk for a Healthy Community!"  This year's walk is Saturday, June 8th at Presque Isle State Park, Beach 1.  To register to walk for our charity, click here!

EKC Dog Show a Howling Success!

Jo Clark & Molly participate in the 2013 Meet the Breeds

Thank you to everyone who stopped by Therapy Dogs United's booth at the EKC Dog Show (Bayfront Convention Center in Erie, January 26 and 27, 2013)!  If you missed the show, click here to read all about it!  We are also so proud of the many therapy dogs that were invited to participate in the "Meet the Breeds" forum.  This is a favorite event for TDU and we can't wait to do it again in 2014!

Welcome 2013

Hello Volunteers & Friends! 

TDU welcomes you to our Blog World ~ and we welcome your posts on our new and improved blog!

This new forum will allow you to share your thoughts and stories, get information and discuss what's on your mind 24/7, and yes, it's that easy!

Write down this Blogspot address, and be sure to check back frequently to see what's being said:  http://therapydogsunited/blogspot.com