American Red Cross
93 Spring Street
Newton, NJ 07860

Re: Able Energy Explosion

Dear Sir or Madam: I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for allowing my Therapy Dog, Cinder, and I to help out at the Merriam Avenue School Red Cross Shelter 0n Saturday, March 15, 2003. Your volunteers were super, as usual. It was especially nice that your volunteers were so considerate of Cinder's needs, asking if she needed water or a break.

I would also like to invite you to call on us if we can be of service to you in any way in the future. I am the Secretary for Caring Paws Therapy Dogs, Therapy Dogs International, Inc. Chapter 126. We have over 20 certified therapy dog/handler teams and 4 certified Disaster Stress Relief dog teams and serve Sussex, Morris and Passaic counties. To learn more about Caring Paws,

Sincerely,

Karen Vogt and Cinder




A Tribute to Therapy Animals in Northern NJ:

Cinder, a 3 year old female Shetland Sheepdog, recently received a Certificate of Merit at the 2003 New Jersey Veterinary Foundation’s Animal Hall of Fame. Cinder is owned by Karen L. Vogt and lives in Andover Township. She was nominated by Michelle Hewitt, DVM, of Tranquility Veterinary Clinic, located in Tranquility, NJ. Cinder is an extraordinarily talented and accomplished Therapy Dog and Disaster Stress Relief Dog, certified by Therapy Dogs International, Inc.

"Veterinarians know how much people love animals." said Dr. Neal Beeber, Chairman of the NJVF. "The Hall of Fame is an opportunity to publicly acknowledge the special relationships that develop between people and animals; the comfort, loyalty and friendship that each offers to the other."

Four dogs and one horse were inducted into the 2003 New Jersey Veterinary Foundation’s Animal Hall of Fame. They join the more than 50 animals that have been inducted in the categories of Companion, Therapy, Professional, and Hero since the Hall of Fame’s inception in 1996. All nominees were sponsored by their veterinarians.

This year’s inductees include "Baxter" McCarthy, a dog left paralyzed after a hit and run and now gets around with the help of a doggie cart and participates in charity work, teaching others about love, forgiveness, and acceptance; "Curtsey" McCullough, an incredibly sensitive and intuitive dog that attends a school for children with learning disabilities and provides love and support to students and helps educate them about positive social behavior; "Cherokee" a horse involved in a therapeutic riding program that helps riders develop self-confidence despite her own disability - the loss of an eye; "Daytona" Cozzolino, a Dalmatian that supplements fire safety programs by showing children how to stop, drop, and roll, crawl on their bellies under smoke, and feel a door for heat before opening it; "Dino" Donow, a police dog with a long and distinguished career, earning the title of hero numerous times by putting his life on the line to protect the life of his partner and fellow officers.

This year’s keynote speaker was animal photographer and author, Kim Levin, and the emcee was Dr. Brian Voynick, host of The Pet Stop on News 12 New Jersey. The induction ceremony took place March 2, 2003 at the Dolce Hamilton Park Conference Center in Florham Park, NJ.

The NJVF assists veterinarians in celebrating the human-animal bond. The NJVF sponsors animal welfare programs that includes care for stray/abandoned animals and feral cats, supports grief counseling and therapy programs and provides scholarships and loans to New Jersey veterinary students. The NJVF was established on May 20, 1975. For more information on the NJVF, visit www.njvma.org

NOT ALL HEROES ARE PEOPLE ~