The Westerner for October 28, 2013
Meeting: Chair - Duane; Music - Jerome; Grace - Frank
Attendance / Guests: 28, including Ron Manson, guest of Darrel Ripley, Marley McGonigle & Carolyn Thom
Announcements:
- Al Holmes provided an update on Doug MacDougall, Grace Young, Carol Turner and Sandon Cox. Doug is still at U of A Hospital, but is feeling better and would appreciate visitors. Grace is still at the Glenrose having daily physiotherapy on her ailing back and she may get released on Thursday. Carol Turner is now at home nursing her cracked ribs. Dave is now her full-time caregiver. Dianne Cox is going away from Edmonton to visit her daughter from November 11th to December 6th, so it would be appreciated if members could visit Sandon at Grandview during that period. Best to coordinate your visit with Jerome if you are planning to do this. Al reminded everyone to wear their poppy next week.
- Mike Ryan advised of a new student adventure program called Adventures in Emergency Response. We may consider this as an alternative to sending a student to the Adventure in Citizenship Program in Ottawa.
- The November/December board of directors meeting will be held on Wednesday, November 27th.
- Finemasters Fred Kraft and Jim Johnston raised $52.90 for the Club with questions about Canadian history and failure to wear a poppy.
- 50/50 Draw - Fred Kraft and Joe Lizotte failed to match cards so $11.50 carries forward.
- Regret to inform the more senior members that former member Stan Harry passed away in Nanaimo on September 26, 2013. He is survived by his wife Shirley. Condolence at www.yatesfuneral.ca
PROGRAM - ZEBRA CHILD PROTECTION AGENCY - VERY IMPORTANT PAWS (VIP) INITIATIVE
Bert Andrews introduced Marley McGonigle and Carolyn Thom and their Yellow Labrador dogs Fossey and Wren.
Marley is a social worker with Alberta Children's Services and Carolyn is a Certified Child Forensic Investigator, so both of them get involved in cases of child sexual and other abuses. Since July, the two dogs have been working with them on such cases. Fossey is five years old and has had two litters of puppies, including Wren who is two years old. Both yellow labs have been bred and trained for the work they are now doing. Both Marley and Carolyn have been trained to handle the dogs in their working environment. Wren lives with Marley and Fossey lives with Carolyn, and at home they are pets.
Both dogs have a very calm demeanor and they like children. When working, they do meets and greets, forensic interviews, pre-courtroom briefings and staff de-briefings.
Two years ago when Marley and Ben were on a beach in Hawaii, they met a Chocolate Lab and got talking to the owner. They learned that the dog had canine service dog training from an organization called Courthouse Dogs and it worked at a child advocacy centre. This, of course, interested Marley and so she did research and came to the conclusion that we should have this in Edmonton. Through her research they found the Burnaby-based Public Assistance Dogs Society (PADS).
Funding for the Zebra VIP program was provided through grants from TD Bank and a donation from the Edmonton Urban Spirits Rotary Club. The Rotary Club was looking for a program to support, and has adopted the Zebra VIP program as its 10-year legacy initiative. It has provided the financial resources to support the Zebra Child Protection Centre in establishing a long-term relationship with PADS. A service dog’s career is about nine years, but PADS will provide more animal partners once Wren and Fossey retire.
Marley, Carolyn & Ben showed a couple of videos made by Courthouse Dogs featuring Jeter with a young girl and a forensic interviewer and Jeter with the mother of two abused girls. It was obvious that Jeter was a calming influence in these highly emotional situations where the victims are likely to be re-victimized.
The breeding, training, feeding, veterinary care, etc. for two years is not cheap. Marley says that each highly trained dog is worth about $75,000. Fortunately, Zebra got a "2 for 1 deal" on Fossey and Wren. Marley would love to see the program expand to the other 21 child advocacy centres across Canada.
Carolyn & Marley were thanked for their presentations by Mike Ryan. The meeting closed with Steve McEachern telling a talking dog story.