Thursday, December 18, 2008

'Tis The Season


It's about time for an update from Astrid and Astrid's mom on the progress towards the goal of pouring a cement pad in a kennel at the Santa Cruz Humane Society in Nogales AZ. This shelter is where Astrid was a guest for an undetermined length of time, until the age of about two when she came to live in her forever home. As you've probably read, our goal is to use the proceeds from our Etsy shop to benefit Astrid's former shelter. We are now only $22.00 away from the $175.00 it takes to pour one cement slab in a kennel at the shelter. We have names like Monty, Shae, Sasha Louise, brother and sister Liberty and Justice, Sable and Chi, Augie, Dakota, Sassy while there are others we don't even know their names that bought wearables for their dogs, notes for writing and tags for gift giving from our Astrid Nicole Etcetera Etsy shop. Thank you to all and a special thanks to the Santa Cruz Humane Society that featured Astrid as a success story, spurring interest and sales that helped towards our goal.

Astrid's Etsy shop has done more than raised money to help a struggling shelter. It's taught Astrid's mom a little about internet social networking that has brought us into contact with others that hold animal welfare high on their list of priorities. It's also given us an avenue to spread information through informal channels that hopefully spread the word of care and concern, inspiring some type of action that will create a better world for pets and homeless pets.

The period of time that has passed since writing the previous 'My Goal' blog has not been without additional excitement. Astrid visited with Santa and that is what the silly picture accompanying this blog is all about. Even more importantly, Astrid has passed her Therapy Dog, Inc. test and has completed two of the three required observed visitations. After successfully completing the third visitation this Sunday, Dec. 21, we will be honored to turn in our evaluations with passing grades and become a full card carrying therapy dog team. Actually, make that teams because her dad has also tested with her and she and he are considered one team, while she and I (Astrid's mom) are considered another.

We are really enjoying visiting with guests of homes and rehabilitation centers where we see mostly the elderly. We've been told that the list of opportunities to work as a therapy team is almost infinite and includes schools, libraries and reading programs with kids, people with various challenges, etc. Right now, we think we will concentrate on gaining more experience with these centers we've visited and besides, as we we leave we always say "see you soon". Many times, this remark is met with the inquiry "when?" We don't like to dissapoint.