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THE SAM SIMONFOUNDATION NEWSSaving the lives of dogs to enrich the lives of people Winter 2009

Coming Soon…Our much anticipated

Hearing Dog Videowill be ready for viewing soon!

This 10 minute video will highlight our Hearing Dogs

from selection to graduation!

After two years of planning, our observation room for new dogs is complete! The purpose of this new room is to give us a chance to observe the new dogs arriving from the animal shelter to ensure they are healthy before joining the others. We can adopt as many as three dogs at a time and each will have their own “room” and a separate run area for play.

Facility Addition/Observation Room

Foundation Events

Ventura County Animal Regulations Adoptathon 2008We showed our support at the 2008 adoptathon in Ventura. There were vendors and informational booths. Many of our dogs come from the VCAR shelter and we wanted to help spread the word about the importance of adopting rescued dogs, as well as proper care and spay/neuter.

Howl-O-Ween 2008Games, Costume Contests, Food, and Fun! We had another successful Howloween event. Many of the dogs adopted from our program brought their families out for our annual get

together. We look forward to seeing the creative costumes next year!

Hearing DogsDinky and Susan G.

Dinky is a 1 year old toy poodle adopted from the Ventura County Animal shelter. She was placed as a Certified Hearing Dog with Susan, a San Francisco attorney, after many months of training with the Sam Simon Foundation. Her order is a tall one as Susan is very busy with travel and clients. Dinky alerts Susan to the door bell and knock, a phone/fax machine, video relay, a smoke detector, name call and eventually the oven timer. In addition, Dinky travels with Susan to many places including city hall, courts, libraries, clients’ offices/homes, and events where Susan gives presentations. We are happy they are making such a good team!

Hearing Dogs

We offer our Hearing Dogs to qualified deaf or hard of hearing people living anywhere in the state of California. If you know someone who could benefit from a Hearing Dog, please have them contact us or visit our website for more information.

“He’s a miracle.” Megan said, reaching down to scratch her new companion behind the ears. Megan is an active 19 yr old who is enjoying playing soccer, graduating high school and looking forward to attending college in the fall. Prince will be her constant companion, allowing her to focus on her day to day activities. “Now I don’t have to rely so much on other people, I can start relying more on me and him.” Written by Paul, a staff writer for the North County Times

Prince came to the Foundation about 9 months old and spent a year, maturing and learning how to navigate the new world around him, while also being taught the important job of alerting his person to various sounds in the home. Prince accompanied Megan and her family back to Michigan over Thanksgiving. Megan said about the trip, “Since we haven’t really been home that much, but he has helped me notice the sounds going on at my grandma’s house, like when the door would open or if he heard someone outside. So that has been very helpful.”

“He is amazing, loves to play have fun but yet work. So that has been really good, and he sleeps with me!”

Prince and Megan H.(and twin Laurel)

Mobile ClinicClinic appts call: 1-888-DOG-SPAY (1-888-364-7729)

www.samsimonfoundation.orgOur Mobile Veterinary Clinic continues to be very successful. We have performed well over 15,000 free spays and neuters since starting the Spay/Neuter Clinic in 2004. In doing this, we have eliminated thousands of unwanted births and helped to diminish the homeless pet population in Los Angeles.We are also excited to have celebrated our Free Surgery Clinic’s first anniversary on October 15. Since opening up our clinic for non-sterilization surgeries, we have performed hundreds of life-saving procedures. Among them have been cancer removals, bladder stone removals, limb amputations, a multitude of eye surgeries, and treatment of other major ailments. We are very happy to have such a wonderful medical team and look forward to many years of continued success.

Hearing DogsHearing Dogs are specially trained to alert people who are deaf or hard of hearing to common household sounds such as door knocks, telephones, and smoke alarms. Certified Hearing Dogs have legal access rights to accompany their person into public places such as grocery stores and restaurants.

Sweetnessand Alice G.

After losing the companionship of her pet dog, and with the progression of her hearing loss, Alice desperately needed a Hearing Dog. Sweetness was the perfect match. She never lets Alice out of her sight and always alerts her when someone is at the door or when her phone rings. Now Alice can relax and trust that Sweetness will let her know if the smoke alarm rings or if someone is outside her home.

As a certified Hearing Dog, Sweetness needs her booties on before running errands on a hot day in Lancaster, CA.

I enjoy her so - she jumps on my bed to wake me, then cuddles until we are ready to start the day. Then after her breakfast, and a trip outside, she is ready to play ball - even before I have had my coffee. (Remember how she refused to jump on my bed when we were working with the smoke alarm?) She gives me a day full of laughs - she is so precious. ...Words can never express my appreciation.

In Loving Memory...We honor the lives of every dog that has passed through our program. They will be forever in our hearts...

BradyBrady was the first dog adopted into our Assistance Dog Program. He was a little too old to be a working dog and was adopted into a loving and devoted home.

EmilyEmily was originally placed as a resident dog in an assisted living home. When she retired, she stayed with us at the foundation as the ‘Queen Mum’.

We have a beautiful memorial garden on the top hill of our Foundation property. Surrounded by trees and flowers, with a view of the ocean, this is a place for our beloved dogs to be layed to rest.

Those we love don’t go away,They walk beside us every day,

Unseen, unheard, but always near,

Still loved, still missed and very dear. Author Unknown

The Sam Simon Foundation has a pet visitation program in which our dogs visit and bring smiles to residents of Assisted Living Homes. Please contact us for more information.

Pet Visitation

Introducing China! We have a new addition to our Pet Visitation team. China was rescued from an animal shelter in Denver, CO. She loves people and cannot wait to join Courage for their weekly visits with the residents of three Assisted Living Homes. Both Courage and China crave the attention they receive and the residents look forward to giving it. Definitely win-win!

Courage

China

Career Change Dogs

Jake

PingPongPunkin

Lucy

Career Change DogsOur professional trainers carefully select dogs from animal shelters by testing them for personality, health, and intelligence. Dogs not interested in becoming Hearing Dogs are adopted into loving ‘forever’ homes.

Scrappy

Muffin

Zoe

Truman

Follow-upFollow up visits are done in the dogs’ new homes, as well as through email, telephone calls and visits to our facility. We strive to do what is necessary for successful placements.

Freya (previously Eva) now lives with a loving and devoted couple in AZ with a happy pack of furry brothers and sisters. She has a huge yard where her siblings vie for her affection between energetic rounds of fetch. Thank you so much to the Mungers for providing her such a wonderful forever-home.

Maddie (aka Maggie) enjoys spending time at the beach with her family and playing with her sister, Scooter. They love to play keep-away in the backyard and snuggle with each other when they are tucked indoors.

Follow-up

One year old Zoey adores Ella, her 3 year old Labradoodle sister, and mom, Myrna. If not out on power walks or spending cuddle time in bed with mom, Zoey and Ella like to run laps through the yard around the house!

Chloe (aka PingPong) spends her off-time camping with her family – they’ve recently gone to Arizona and Yosemite! When not lounging with her “twin” sister, Sheba, Chloe enjoys spending time getting to know the family cat, Sophie.

Missy aka Muffin and“Perky” Carruthers have found their livelihood in each other - they go on daily walks, meet with friends (both 2- and 4-legged) and keep salon appointments with the groomer.

As with any extended family, we always enjoy receiving notes and pictures. Seeing the joy in the faces of the many dogs that cross our paths, and reading about their new lives is much appreciated!

I just wanted to give you an update on our precious Lucy. She is doing great! Sunbathing and enjoying the warm breeze in the yard as I type. We have been diligent on discouraging her herding of Bridgette and they seem to be getting along like they’ve known each other for years... We can tell you Kim, you had a great influence on her. She is a man’s dog and adores Fred. I’m OK during the day, but once he comes home she is HIS dog. This is wonderful because Fred was devastated when Rusty (our first Golden) died and Bridgette was mistreated by a man so she is man-shy. The other day he even said he would love to find another dog like Lucy...this from the guy who wasn’t going to have ANY dogs after Rusty died. So in addition to being adorable and loving, she is also a miracle-worker! Luv y’all, Carolyn M.

Hi Kim and everyone at the Sam Simon Foundat

ion!

Well, it’s had to believe that it has

been a year that we have had Rosie. What

a wonderful year it has been! She is still

part pig and will eat anything. Let’s see

if I can remember some of them: a pumpkin

lid (pumpkin gas smells just like pumpkin

guts), more apples then I can guess, a

butternut squash, carrots, she found my

tomato plant and cleaned it off before we

knew where she was (red balls that taste

good!), a pound of raw bacon (did I mention

that she is fast?), a couple of peanut

butter sandwiches, the list goes on and on

...We can’t thank you enough for trusting

us to take Rosie she has been a great

addition to our family! The Kirkpatricks

Keeping in TouchPictures & Stories

If you have a picture of a dog adopted from our program, that you would like to be considered for our 2010 calendar, please email it to: lori@samsimonfoundation.org.

Announcements

“One of my favorite picture of him. Lake Tahoe background. He looked very relax and cool!” - Riley and Barbara G.We always enjoy receiving pictures and stories of the everday adventures that you share with the dogs adopted from our programs.

For more information, or if you or someone you know would like to receive our newsletter, please contact jannelle@samsimonfoundation.org or call 310-457-5898.

Merry Christmas from Santa Paula. Toby is dressed, ready to go out in the cold. He is being a very good dog, so well behaved and cute, just wanted you to know we’re doing fine up here. Eva A.

The Sam Simon Foundation30765 Pacific Coast Hwy., #113Malibu, CA 90265

Jake has fit into our family perfectly. He won’t let me out of his sight and he and Barney get along so well, we’ve never had a problem. He is the perfect new family member for us and a wonderful “brother” for Barney. Our entire family loves him and he’s been very good with my young grandchildren. Our 20 month-old granddaughter, Cameron calls him Jakey. They live in Chicago, but were here for Christmas and you’ll see in 1 photo Cameron walking Jakey. When we talk on the phone she always says,”HI, Jakey.”Jake goes in & out of the doggy door to go out,but prefers to stay in curled up on the couch or begging for food when we are in the kitchen. He loves our morning walks and likes to greet other dogs, though sometimes he’ll bark at the big dogs. Because of his cataracts, Chuck has nick named him “Foggy Eyed Jake”. We would welcome a visit from you any time and I’m so happy you are going to be rescuing more dogs. I hate to think of what would have become of sweet, friendly little Jake if you hadn’t rescued him. Thank you very much.Sincerely, Barbara B.

Jake

www.SamSimonFoundation.orgSafety RemindersThe trainers have put together some tips for new and experienced dog owners we hope you will find helpful. Know of any safety tips we missed? Let us know and we will include them in the next newsletter!

• The following foods are known toxins to dogs: grapes, raisins, onion, chocolate, sugar free foods containing Xylitol, most fruit pits - especially peach pits, macadamia nuts, moldy or rancid garbage (can cause problems for the pancreas especially). There are additional foods that may cause problems in large quantities, but these are some of the common ones.

• Here are some known toxins that will cause illness and/or death: antifreeze, snail bait, poinsettas, dumb cane, mistletoe, holly berries, lilies, ferns, aloe plants, cocoa mulch, fertilizer, acetaminophen, mouthwash, and moth balls.

• Dogs that like to play “tug” or “mouth” the collar of another dog, have been known to get their jaws stuck in the collar causing suffocation to the other dog. If your dog likes to play in this manner, collars should be removed while dogs play in a safe and fenced area.

• Choke chains and other types of “tightening” collars should never be left on a dog unattended. The collars can get caught on items in the house and yard causing a dog to “panic” and suffocating themselves.

• Dogs should never be left tied up to an object for confinement unsupervised. Dogs can panic causing themselves injury or death. A dog that needs to be confined should be crate or kennel trained in the house.

• Dogs should never be given cooked bones that splinter such as chicken bones. Pieces of bone can get lodged in the throat and cause suffocation.

• Dogs should always be on leash in areas where there are moving vehicles nearby. Even if you believe your dog is reliable about staying close, it does not mean that they can’t be tempted to run into the road if there is another animal or they are frightened by a sudden loud noise.

• Dogs can be quick to “door dash” ...always keep one thumb in your dog’s collar when the door to the street is opened!

• Deodorizers for the toilet bowls are very popular and very hazardous to your dog! Toilet bowls are a very handy dog bowl for most dogs even if they have one of their own so be cautious of using these products.

Jake is a 10 year old adopted from Ventura County Animal Regulations. Many older dogs need loving homes, too.