PRESIDENT & CEO
LETTER FROM BRYAN WILLIAMS
During my MBA program, I participated in an activity I have never forgotten throughout my career. The final week before graduation, we were partnered with a student in a different cohort with the goal of acquiring what was written on a notecard that was handed to us moments before we began negotiations. Purposefully, we had never met or interacted with the student across from us. Was this person trustworthy? Would this person lie to achieve the goal? There was no way to know.
Armed with years of a training through the rigorous program, we thought we were deft negotiators, and each side was ready to win, unwilling to give up an inch to get what we wanted. Each side held information close to the vest, fearing that a slip of the tongue would give the other side leverage. Hours passed and as the deadline for completing negotiations neared, panic set in. The assignment had to be completed on time or we would not be allowed to walk with our class. In the end, each side caved, neither getting exactly what we wanted. It was easy to see dejection on faces as students returned to the lecture hall. The professors in the room asked, who achieved the goals they were assigned? Zero hands were raised into the air.
Two professors faced each other, and one asked, what goals are you trying to achieve? Holding nothing back, one of the professors read verbatim the goals written on his notecard. The other professor did the same. Each traded their respective notecard and began discussing how they could work together to help each other. In five minutes, an agreement was reached, and a partnership was born. Many students left upset, complaining of a trick assignment, and wasted time. I left with an invaluable lesson, thinking back to many wasted opportunities. I’ve brought that attitude to working with people, organizations, and businesses ever since. If we start from a place of trust, believing that together we can accomplish more, true partnerships are born.
Dogs for Better Lives’ mission is bigger than one organization. We know that the demand for the amazing dogs we train and place with the clients we serve may never be met. To change more lives, we must look outside our walls.
PLACEMENTS
DOGS FOR BETTER LIVES IS COMMITTED TO PURSUING OUR MISSION OF PROVIDING ASSISTANCE DOGS TO PEOPLE ACROSS THE NATION, BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT OUR DOGS ENRICH PEOPLE’S LIVES IN WAYS BEYOND MEASURE.
FD RUTH & ALLISON
Facility Dog Ruth was placed with Allison in American Fork, Utah. Allison is a teacher in a special education classroom for elementary school-aged children. Allison and Ruth quickly bonded and developed a great working relationship. Although this is Allison’s first dog as an adult, she naturally took to the training process and said that it was very similar to working with young children.
Ruth is a fixture in Allison’s classroom as she helps to reward good behavior from the children and makes trying new things less scary. Ruth works place, settle, squish (lap/lower back), visit, touch, shake, high five, and retrieve for Allison.
AAD Taylor & James
Autism Assistance Dog Taylor was placed with James in Spokane, Washington. James’ family applied for an Autism Assistance dog and have been on the wait list for 2 years. They were very excited when they were offered Taylor.
After meeting Taylor, the family quickly warmed up to her, with James referring to her as his new dog sister. James is a little shy and can struggle to make friends, but Taylor is an excellent match that helps bring him out of his shell. James’ parents said they were most excited for Taylor to be a social bridge in public spaces, hopefully bringing people towards James and helping him to build social skills and engage more.
HHD Fern & Leah
Home Hearing Dog Fern was placed with Leah in Portland, Oregon. Fern came to DBL in November of 2020 from Southeastern Guide dogs in Florida. Back in April, DBL learned it would be best for Fern to be a Home Hearing Dog to help avoid putting her in uncomfortable situations with public restrooms and tight spaces. This was also a deciding factor to try and avoid sending her to a client that required flying.
Leah and her spouse both work in the forestry field and are a very active couple. They enjoy backpacking, hiking, rock climbing, marathon running, swimming, and being outdoors which is perfect for Fern and her ability to keep up with an active lifestyle.
FOLLOW-UPS
FD Deacon & Rosie
Facility Dog Deacon and Rosie have been working together for about a year and a half and are doing amazing! Deacon has become a part of Rosie’s life flawlessly and they’re a great fit. Rosie said that Deacon is perfect because he always goes with the flow and is just as willing to spend a weekend out hiking or on the couch. Deacon is working settle, lap, place, visit, squish, and high five for Rosie’s classroom of middle school aged children. Rosie and Deacon did a phenomenal job on the public access test and have maintained a high level of obedience.
HHD Poppy & Alli
Home Hearing Dog Poppy and Alli have been working together for a little over 5 months and Alli says she truly feels Poppy is her “soul dog” and that they have the greatest bond. Alli loves spoiling Poppy and that Poppy absolutely loves swimming, playing in the snow, and playing fetch.
DBL NEWS
Denver Broncos’ Eric Saubert Repping Dogs for Better Lives in ‘My Cause, My Cleats’ Initiative
Denver Broncos’ (NFL) Tight End Eric Saubert (#82) wore specially designed cleats in the Sunday (Dec 5th) game vs. visiting Kansas City Chiefs, to raise awareness for Dogs for Better Lives (DBL).
“I’m very passionate about dogs and came across your organization,” stated Eric Saubert. “What you guys are doing is amazing, and I’m happy to represent y’all.” The custom cleats that Saubert wore included DBL’s logo and branding, as well as an image of his Husky dog, Abe
“We were excited to learn about the Denver Broncos’ My Cause My Cleats initiative and very honored to participate in their national awareness program,” stated CEO Bryan Williams. “And now Eric Saubert has just picked up 34 [staff] new super-fans of the Broncos.”
The My Cause My Cleats initiative was created in 2016 and was designed for NFL players to showcase the charitable cause that is most important to them in front of a national audience. Participating players had the opportunity to wear custom-designed cleats in support of their chosen cause during Week 13 games.
Dogs for Better Lives wins Central Point Chamber Small Business of the Year Award
Dogs for Better Lives was recently honored by the Central Point Chamber of Commerce (OR) as their 2022 Small Business of the Year.
The announcement was made during of the annual Chamber Denim and Diamonds Awards Banquet and Auction on March 12, 2022. Chamber members, local dignitaries, community leaders, and business owners attended the event and participated in the silent and live auction.
Trish Welch, VP of Operations at DBL attended the event and accepted the award on behalf of the entire Dogs for Better Lives Team. “It was great to be able to connect with members of the Central Point community at their awards ceremony and banquet. The entire team at DBL is incredibly proud to be recognized for our efforts and we are honored to have been nominated by fellow businesses in our area,” said Trish.
Partnership For Better Lives
In the summer of 1993, Harry & David made their first corporate gift to Dogs for the Deaf (now Dogs for Better Lives) in tribute to one of their employees. Since that first gift, Harry & David has continued to support the programs and mission of Dogs for Better Lives (DBL) with significant donations! Their consistent partnership and support over the years has helped DBL to grow in multiple ways.
In 2017, DBL launched a new Corporate Program known as Partnerships in Excellence. Harry & David was one of the first to join as a key partner with this new venture. The next year, Rhonda Klug, Head of Experiential Marketing at Harry & David, joined the Corporate Partner’s Leadership Team and helped to recruit additional committed businesses for the Corporate Program over the next two years.
The partnership directly supported the placement of an Autism Assistance Dog in 2018, a Hearing Assistance Dog in 2019, and the complete renovation of the West Coast Campus’ original kennels built in the early 1980s. And then, suddenly, the COVID-19 pandemic devastated the world. The DBL campus closed, and most staff worked remotely as much as possible.
This partnership with Harry & David is so much more than just philanthropic support. Harry & David’s Country Village staff welcome DBL trainers and dogs in-training onsite weekly, allowing program staff to work with their dogs in public; a very important aspect of the journey to become a Certified Assistance Dog. These outings with trainers and dogs in training assist with socialization, training around distractions and temptations, passing adults and children without greeting them as well as the sweet-smelling food in every bin! It is an essential part of training that all hopeful Assistance Dogs must go through to test their progress.
BOARD NEWS
Rich Perlman – Joined October 2021
“The Board of Directors are pleased to welcome Rich Perlman onto DBL’s National Board of Directors,” stated board chairman David Hollingsworth. “Rich and his late wife Cynthia, as long-time donors, truly understand DBL’s mission and the critical work the national nonprofit orchestrates. Coming from the shipping and transportation industry, we appreciate Rich’s understanding and expertise in moving precious cargo from one point to another.”
Cynthia and Rich had been annual donors to DBL for nearly 10-years, when Cynthia passed in 2017. In 2019-20, Rich made a significant gift in support of the future Puppy Sensory Park to be located on DBL’s West Coast Campus in Central Point, OR. The now Cynthia Perlman Puppy Sensory Park was dedicated with a ribbon cutting in Spring 2021 and is used regularly in training and presenting various environments to puppies, helping to orientate them to textures, smells, and experiences that they may encounter later in training and/or with their human.
Michelle Farabaugh - Joined in April 2022
Michelle Farabaugh grew up in western Pennsylvania and was lured to the west coast 25 years ago, where she currently splits her time between California and Southern Oregon.
Michelle is an entrepreneurial-spirited, visionary executive whose nearly three decade career is hallmarked with CEO, chief marketing officer, and Board of Director roles for iconic retail brands, including Sommsation, Harry & David, BevMo!, Smith & Hawken, West Marine, and PetSmart.
“You can see the health and well-being of people improve when they have the love and support of a service dog with them,” stated new board member Michelle Farabaugh. “I am honored to work with an organization focused on the well-being of their clients and the dogs that will improve their lives for years to come.”
Michelle was recognized as a Top Women in Retail in 2019 and one of San Francisco’s Most Influential Women in Business in 2016. She earned an MBA in entrepreneurship from the F.W. Olin Graduate School of Business, Babson.
Emily Nelson – Joined January 2022
“The Board of Directors are pleased to welcome Emily Nelson onto DBL’s National Board,” stated Board Chairman David Hollingsworth. “With her extensive background in law and human resources, Emily will quickly help to augment DBL’s national board and its growing northeast presence. Growing up and now living in Massachusetts, her community networks and contacts will further support the important growth DBL is focused on in New England and along the east coast.”
Emily Nelson, a lifelong dog lover and New England native, recently returned to the Boston area where her family lives and she is excited to be a part of this growing national nonprofit.
Emily Nelson graduated from Harvard University with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, then earned her law degree from Boston College Law School. She has practiced law for over 10 years and specializes in labor and employment law, spending the last several years working as in-house counsel for national corporations.
Through this work, she has seen the incredible value that Assistance Dogs can provide in the workplace and more broadly in daily life. Along with her in-house practice, Emily provides pro bono legal services for survivors of domestic violence and serves as a volunteer alumni interviewer for Harvard.
FOSTER PUPPY PROGRAM
Foster Puppies in California
By LAURA ENCINAS, Staff
There are many exciting milestones happening in California! The four of the five original puppies who were with puppy raisers in California have been returned to our Oregon campus for official Assistance Dog task training – of the five, one was released before official training started for skin allergies.
Since their return, one of the dogs, Cedar – who couldn’t quite make it as an Assistance Dog due to his separation anxiety – was transferred Working Dogs Oregon to be placed as a Therapy Dog/Victim Support Dog with Oregon State University Police Department. Thus, giving DBL an opportunity to provide another life-changing dog! The three remaining dogs are doing well and remain in training to become Assistance Dogs.
The puppies are thriving in their puppy raiser homes – gaining a variety of experiences and learning general obedience. We’re delighted to have two successor puppy raisers back raising a puppy with us again!
Last yet certainly not least, we currently have a shelter dog in training in California. The dog was procured from our rescue partner Valley Animal Haven in Lemoore, California. They have a staff trainer that works with the dogs, so most of the dogs have some training upon rescue. The little guy is doing well, adjusting, and learning how to behave in public.
“Cedar” the black Labrador is part of our “C” litter and residing in Camino, CA. They have been prepared to evacuate for the past two months due to fires in the Lake Tahoe area. He is a whopping 75 pounds at 12 months old! He spends his days with his retired raisers, going on outings and spending time in their wood shop. He also spends lots of time with their grandchildren
New Partnership Lets Supporters Walk to Support Dogs for Better Lives
A partnership with WoofTrax and Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health USA Inc is helping to raise funds and awareness for Dogs for Better Lives (DBL).
“I’m excited that this partnership has come to fruition, through the generosity of our sponsor Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health USA Inc. The Step Up for Service Dogs Challenge will not only raise much-needed funds for Dogs for Better Lives, but it will help raise awareness about what makes a true, accredited Service Dog,” said Doug Hexter, DBL Board Member and CEO of WoofTrax.
T.A.G. Foster Volunteers
Sometimes our dogs need a place to stay for a few days or they need a ride to another location. Enter our T.A.G. team of foster volunteers! Whether a dog needs to be transported to or from a partner organization, a foster home, or a field representative, or whether a puppy raiser needs a short-term foster to fill in while on vacation - these volunteers help bridge the gap to free up DBL staff time and resources.
YOUNG PROFESIONALS BOARD
By JO CABALLERO, YPB Board Member
The DBL Young Professionals Boards (YPB) are comprised of like-minded individuals in their 20s, 30s, and 40s that have a passion for dogs and giving back to people with disabilities in their communities. Members are engaged in helping to market the mission of DBL, participating in outreach events, as well as planning and fundraising through a variety of initiatives.
With the support and guidance of the regional Young Professionals Board in both the Pacific Northwest and Northeast, DBL will host key events nationally around September’s National Service Dog Month, engaging volunteers, and community partners. Eventually, DBL will have Young Professionals Boards across the country, working to support each of national nonprofit’s planned five regions. Currently DBL has satellite offices in Washington, California, Arizona, and New Hampshire.
To learn more about the Young Professionals Board – PNW and opportunities to join YPBs in other regions of the country, visit:
(541) 826-9220 | (800) 990-3647
10175 Wheeler Road, Central Point, OR 97502
info@dogsforbetterlives.org