Notes from Robin

Notes from Robin

On December 3rd, DFD celebrated our 31^st anniversary. It is truly unbelievable to think that we have been saving dogs and helping people since 1977. It has been a labor of love on the part of many, many faithful staff, volunteers, and donors. Through this newsletter, we try to convey to all of you the wonderful, miraculous differences these specially trained dogs make in the peoples’ lives, and also how much the dogs’ lives are enriched. DFD would not be the successful organization it is today without everyone’s help and support. We would not have been able to rescue the thousands of dogs and help all the people we have helped without your faithful and generous support.

This new year is bringing some very exciting times to DFD. After 20 years in our current facility with no remodeling, we are finally ready to begin phase one of an expansion plan. Our office is very overcrowded, and we are thrilled to announce that we just received county approval to add on to our office—providing much needed space for our current staff and some additional staff and volunteer work space. It will also provide adequate space for tours. We have a lot of tours of groups and individuals who come to see our training facility, and currently it is very difficult for us to do group tours because of the cramped space we have. This additional space will enable staff and volunteers to be more efficient in doing the necessary support work needed to keep DFD operating. If you would like to help with this addition, please send in an extra donation and designate it to the Building Fund.

Also this new year, we will be placing our very first dog with a child with Autism. This new addition to our work at DFD, is going to enable us to help more people and rescue more dogs. Even though our primary focus will always be our Hearing Dogs, the Autism Assistance Dogs will become an important part of our work, and you will be reading more about it in up-coming issues of the “Canine Listener.” I guarantee you will be amazed at what these special dogs will be doing and how they will help children with Autism and their families.

I know that our wonderful country is going through some turbulent and uncertain times right now, but I have faith in our country that things will improve, and I have faith in you, our DFD family, that you will do all you possibly can to help us with our mission. You have never failed us in the past, and I know you will not fail us now. Together we will continue this very special and important mission.

As we enter this very special Holiday Season, I would personally like to wish all of you the richest blessings for the coming year.

Robin Dickson, President/CEO

Dogs for the Deaf, Inc.