Dawn, Gwen & Stephanie

roral book club where Stephanie never read the right book and Stephanie was terrible at this book I really Su at book club I did Fabulous I'm what I just had a visual I just had a visual I proud of it look at us halfway through through the work week and still working uh I'm still alive I haven't had my wisdom teeth out yet that'll be later on today so if you're going to see me at trivia tonight Cliff is gonna be doing the most of the talking and I'm just going to be there like luggage I've got some guests in the studio this morning that I've been really excited to talk to because they have moved into an East Falmouth campus and it's so exciting to have this group of fabulousness with us on the cape uh in our studio this morning we've got vice president Gwen Dudek from Better Lives for dogs also we've got our regional development director senior philanthropic exac that's a title Don thanks it's a title thank you so much for joining us this morning thanks for having us so where are you geographically just so we're keeping up absolutely so we are um our headquarters are in southern Oregon but the reason we are so excited to be here today is that we have just recently opened a campus on on um in fouth Massachusetts yes yes and if you're wondering where on the cape it's right at the end of 151 right when you hop on the highway and uh that's just the perfect spot for you there's plenty of room for you to train the dogs uh dogs for Better Lives is such an incredible organization and I had no idea you existed until I I I bumped into somebody at dins and they were like this organization is amazing they're actually doing an event here you should get involved and then I started reading more and reading more and then we just connected and I was like you I I'm in your life now you're stuck with me we'll take you we'll take yeah that was Marie bulmore who is one of our regional Advisory board members who's been just a a rockar with making this happen and connect very cool yeah she's amazing so don maybe you can talk about the overview because since you're like the the fundraise for all of this because I just want to let everybody know that you guys are 100% donor functioning I like that's incredible we are so for for an organization of our size and i' I've been in the nonprofit sector for for 26 years and and so um you know we're completely Mission driven and 100% of all our donor dollars go to program areas so no no philanthropic contribution uh goes to pay you know administrative salaries um so every every dollar that's given um one of the other unique things about us is that charity Navigator one of the most renowned um nonprofit organ organizations that rate nonprofits uh we have received four stars which is the highest rating a charity can receive wow the 10th consecutive year and less than 2% of all nonprofits in the country receive that rating in incredible I know what it's like especially in a economy that we have right now to be able to fund these animals uh $54,000 by the way is what this is costs to get our dogs are all placed for free by the way we we our C zero which is incredible so this is what it costs per animal to fill the need for people correct right around there to get the dogs like ready to to be a a helper yes that is um definitely the number that we've kept you know the fancy calculations but this is where we land everyone's different for sure yes around 54,000 from you know the cost can be a little different if it's a shelter dog versus a dog that we've read but um yes it's it's not a um inexpensive Endeavor for sure re rewind to that Gwen because you said a shelter dog that you're making a service dog this is incredible what a program so this is definitely one of the things that sets dogs for Better Lives apart from the other service dog organizations that are out there um you know service dog work is awesome no matter who's doing it it is a fantastic Endeavor and I encourage everyone listening to learn more about service dogs because they're just they're my favorite thing um but de dogs for Better Lives or sometimes we say DBL because that's just easier um DBL was founded using shelter dogs and we have this really cool founding story where um an animal trainer he worked um for hwood and he trained the um he trained a lot of animals for movies and such but he actually trained the lion that you see at the beginning of the MGM movie The Lion that goes so he founded um originally what was called dogs for the de um and he was just fascinated a woman had trained her own hearing dog in Minnesota and he was fascinated with that concept and so he wanted to start a nonprofit and so he started dogs for the de and so that's kind of our founding but um that whole Endeavor was using shelter dogs because he really felt like um shelter dogs were more than just these discarded pets that were hanging out in a kennel right so um that has been our organization's founding and and really the um lifeblood of the organization for many many years the reality is when Co hit and you know those very adoptable dogs are going into the pet homes that became very very hard for the organization to continue to find dogs that were really super suitable for this work and so we did start a small breeding program and that's very small and just in its infancy right now um but we've continued our shelter dog work partnering with some of the larger um dog shelters so um we're currently partnered with Operation Kindness in Carolton Texas and that is just a great partnership where we're able to be there as the dogs are um coming in at intake and our trainer is there and um kind of doing a quick evaluation on the dogs and obviously you know um if the dogs have any kind of aggression or anything like that we're not really going to be able to work yeah that's what I was wondering like what would the assessment be good morning Emily Stephanie Alex thank you so much for joining us on the show we've got dogs for Better Lives Gwen DC Don Duncan have joined us in the studio and we're just talking about dogss for better lives and their shelter program right now Operation Kindness which is out of Texas so you've got to assess these dogs are you going to be able to are you fit for Duty exactly exactly and so we don't care what that dog looks like really I mean one of the the unfortunate things is because we're giving these to folks who you know have maybe have a landlord or you know we can't really use a bully breed but otherwise we don't really care um if they you know if they have pointy ears or floppy ears or if they're little or they're big um we can work with that dog if it's got the right temperament so we we're looking for in our evaluation is you know is this dog kind of social is it people focused um is it confident like if an umbrella opens or um a loud noise happens are they okay with that kind of thing um and so that initial evaluation kind of gives us a lot of information if this dog can continue but the dog does stay in training for six months um the beauty of this partnership is that the dog doesn't live in a kennel though it's going to to one of those Fosters that operation kind a good snacks it's really good um and it gives us this beautiful picture of what the dog is like to live with um because and you know in a lot of traditional assistance. programs and we have this with our purpose bread dogs they live in a kennel and then they train and they go back to a kennel so with the shelter dogs we don't have that they're in a house so we're learning you know if the little cute dog can vertically leap onto the counter and get the chicken that you were Tha like we're going to learn and by the way some of them can do that um it goes along with your mission though because you know you're you're training these dogs for individuals with disabilities and this is regardless of demographic Geographic socioeconomical status it doesn't matter and I feel like that's the way the dogs are too so it's like perfect yes absolutely the dogs don't care just no can you do the job right exactly exactly yes that's just incredible um so you've got this and you're by the way the first kind of organization that did this you're your foundation was for the deaf correct and that's where you were the first one to ever have service dogs really or set this space right for or death yep yeah and so now it's not just F and now it's not just autism or like that's what you're branching into right you're you're going into the autism area autism is um a fairly new program for us so we love um placing dogs for kids with autism and you know there's a lot of research out there that shows that um the dogs can really help with uh things like anxiety and um just transitioning which can always be typically it's hard for a kid with autism so training the dogs to do things that almost provide deep pressure or even kind of a um redirect their attention so sometimes the dogs will like lay on the kid or put their head on their lap or their half their body on their lap or like poke them like nudge them if you know like the kid is maybe getting distracted or a little bit more um concerned about their environment they can rir it it's just amazing to me what they can feel that we can't and before they even know that they're feeling that way it's incredible uh Victoria good morning Rich Donna Donna from Magic Mirror she says we are gonna be there we'll talk about your event we'll talk about your event Mari says how great is this Victoria says Service animals play such a critical role in recovery and quality of life it's great to give opportunity and purpose to dogs rather than being caged so we you know we're hearing this and very excited for it good morning Kristen thanks for joining us we've got dogs for Better Lives we've got Gwen DC and Don Duncan here joining us and they're just talking about their organization at this point we've talked about you know some of the other things that dogs that they're getting from um um from shelters from other places now you've got a small training program that you've got for the autism but you've also you're placing dogs in schools as well that's right so schools hospitals um police departments um child advocacy centers so all kinds of places where the dogs so sort of those tasks that I described for a child with autism can also be helpful for like a child in crisis or um you know trying to get um maybe the unfortunate thing of the world we live in is like forensic interviews can be horrible for a child obviously the experience preceding but then having to talk about that experience and so having the do there um can really help facilitate getting that information but getting the child through the process so um that's where our facility dog program is starting to really take off and grow um and love having dogs in schools you know we have dogs with um school counselors and special education teachers so that really helps keep that classroom rolling and motivate the kids um we have a new one here in Mash B and everybody is obsessed that's aome it makes a big difference in there like it just changes your demeanor when you're in a space with a dog for whatever reason even if you don't like them it changes your space definitely there's one other category Gwen which which um having been a teacher is kind of kind of my my favorite and that is the career change dog there are dogs that that make it maybe halfway through and then they decide yeah I don't want to work I want to be a pet and so they they actually have a skill set that makes them more adoptable and some of our career change dogs have actually gone on to be you know search and rescue dogs there was one of our dogs that went to Turkey to help recover um in the earthquake or they cool yeah so so even those that don't quite make certification um Still Still become you know more adoptable Fantastic Pets or find um a purpose that still can be helpful yeah I was always wondering like what not everybody's good for every job you know what I mean so like where's the job placement in the dog situation you are fired for this program sorry to move you along well they decide is their unemployment where do they go you almost $54,000 excuse me manam there's a restitution program for you Kristen says as a crazy dog Mom I just love this my favorite day is work when I get to work with dogs at the hospital she's our favorite nurse so uh absolutely absolutely any space that you can find these service animals and they're costly service animals and no cost to the person receiving them so maybe um Don you can talk about some of the the fundraising efforts that you have because I know like this seems like yes we can use a dog in every space but that seems like a lot of dogs a lot of dogs and a and a you know a lot of um expense that that goes into that I mean they're they're living and breathing beings and so um they're there's you know the the training that goes into that the food the you know the the housing um so yeah we rely very heavily on um on grants and and donors and um we have a very generous donor base that um that signs up to be a pack member to give on a monthly basis um we right they p member right perfect we have um we have corporate sponsorships we have um we're growing our corporate base we're we're also we have a very Visionary and entrepreneurial board and CEO that are expanding our efforts um East bouth and and the New England area is a part of that we're really happy to have you in the neighborhood I got to tell you this just makes my heart so happy to be there and our event is to be a part of our debut our yeah it definitely is drop in the chat how people can make their donations too before we leave just in case wherever we're connecting right now they can jump in because we're in like 12 different places yes and we're um we're also I'm actually charged with um with with helping to expand our efforts and and build our presence in the Southeast as well excellent we are the land of the rescue the rescue dogs um the climate and socioeconomic so um we we will will'll be looking into to that area as well and it's not always dollars maybe you can talk about the culture of your volunteerism and the people that get involved with you because without them organizations I absolutely know do not function without it right right well there's one thing I would in addition to to volunteering there's one thing I would like to say is that there in in terms of giving there is a way to give that doesn't um initially hurt and that is through your estate and plan giving as well is to um you know volunteer your time now but you can also you know leave a portion of your estate to the organization um so that it it doesn't sting at the moment get it in the end celebrates you that's right you're you're you're children may be upset with us but the dogs love you listen we're all gota help we gotta help in our own way when did you want to talk about puppy raising and that happy note life and death do it one of my friends always says I'll sleep when I'm dead and so that I'm always like I kind of heard that I'll give when I'm dead but not really what we were saying this is a very informal interview here you can say what it is gotta have fun on a Wednesday morning absolutely so um volunteer experiences as we grow on the Cape there's going to be on campus things that we will need and um recruit and really want to pull the community in for right now our biggest need is volunteer puppy raters so with that small purpose bread program we have puppies being born although not regularly sign we have the cutest puppies you'll ever see they're right now they're laborator retrievers um but there's some future that's going to have a maybe a golden lab golden cross or a golden retriever in it um I I personally ended up with one of the puppies quite by accident so but quite honestly it's the best dog in the house and not because I've put extra time in it it just he's just the best um but our volunteer puppy racing program um the puppies leave their mother around eight weeks of age and we get them to the volunteer who offers to um you know crate train them and teach them a house manners and House break them take them to obedience classes and then once they're ready kind of start taking them out in public um showing them what it's like to go into Walmart or to L still at a restaurant um and then when they're all beautifully trained and ready to go you give them back um and know but but the good news is that um they'll spend you know four to six months in training with us with our uh professional trainers and then go on to placement with a person with a disability hopefully that all works out um and we connect the um volunteer puppy Riser with whoever that individual is that gets the dog so typically there's like a virtual phone call connection um meeting that folks have and then that friendship often continues into the future so that the well that's it the only way you're going to get over losing your puppy is to take another one so no and then there's that if we can create a little bit of an addiction that would be great I need another one give me the puppies that's the perfect scenario we get people addicted to raising puppies about the puppy breath Absolut oh my gosh it's so cute I can't I have such cute aggression I'll just squeeze everything I can't and another great program that that we just started um in Ohio Gwen is the the puppies and prison program oh oh that's amazing yes so we have um uh Ross Correctional is a men's facility uh here in Southern Ohio and they are raising they've had as many as 10 puppies at a time in their program but they um you know the guys are doing an incredible job with the puppies it's kind of their job well inated and so you know and they get extra privileges within the institution by being a puppy Riser obviously they have to be in honor um inmate to even be in the program at all um and then they get extra privileges so they just dedicate their entire day from when they get up to when they go to bed so you know working with the puppies and so when they come into training dear goodness they're so wel train oh of course they are I mean that is probably like the biggest Joy of their day honestly I mean you can think what you want about it but honest they're people and they they need things and I think that that's so incredible that you're doing that good morning Cindy thanks for joining us Cara thank you these ladies do such amazing work and we're so excited to have you in our community Don and Gwen uh Don uh was just talking to us about this new program Gwen was talking to us about uh incarcerated dogs that are that are getting a new lease on life for not only their their inmates but they're they're really well-trained dogs 247 attention anything with the program though to bet it make make it better I mean all hands on deck with this not everybody has all of the time not everybody has all the funds and if you find a way to give then do that this is incredible I'm I'm just really pumped that you're here in the neighborhood so let's talk about our fundraising event that is happening uh coming this Saturday yes so Saturday we are having uh what's called the tailgate and um you know knowing that New England is the sports capital of well I don't want my New Yorkers to get mad at me you're right I just watched the Tom Brady Rose so you know I know all about the dynasty it was pretty funny hilarious and Kevin Hart is Just a Dream but um it kind of reinforces that the the tailgate was the right way to go oh absolutely thematically with this um so we're having what's called a tailgate you know the capital t a i l for tail and uh so it's a sports theme event at dos bless you Dino and Dan the bar manager for awesome for hosting us it's going to be Saturday the 18th from uh 2 pm to 6 pm and um we are going to uh highlight that event with uh a national live stream taking place um across the country called bone Apper treat where four contestants will compete to create a dog tree human grade and um you get to vote with your dollars for who makes the best treat oh I like that that's smart V that'll be at four uh but during the party we've got um Tito's Handmade Vodka will have a specialty pup tail bar for your your sampling with the option to buy a full-size one and a a limited edition souvenir cup and then we've got um we've got a a a dog collar toss where you get to toss a collar and if you ring a a bottle of turos Vineyard wine you get to keep the bottle thank you oh fancy tro I love your bottles they're amazing and thank you thank you and we've got a silent auction with lovely uh lovely donated prizes um from you know we've got zor and B Berkshire East have donated zipline experiences we've got cards from Daniel Webster in and uh Crocker nurseries and um the Falmouth Country Club has come on board we've got um um SE links has has donated a gift card we've got uh CER nurseries we've got uh Chow bowwow has donated a large gift basket New Bedford Pottery is on board and of course Donna on the call thank you Donna I know magic mirror photos to Cap all of the moment selfie Booth so you perfect take some photos good morning JT uh yeah so this event is going on it starts at two o'clock we'll be at dos on 151 and uh that's going to roll until about six o'clock but we're going to have a live stream in there and I love that you're just grabbing people from all over now where where are the people streaming in from I saw California so our our four contestants that will be competing we've got um um terara from Dallas Texas we've got one of our board members Dr Josh Broad water will be in Charlotte North Carolina we've got um R Bryson who is in Southern California and then we have got uh Dave catrell who is in southern Oregon amazing yeah so and how I would be remiss if I didn't mention that we have got the MC and the of all time forget Tom Brady we got the goat we got Stephanie yeah right watch out everybody it's going to be a perfect way to end my day give me a little te and give me a microphone and I'm good to go really be possible without without Dino of course but um our regional Advisory Board which is another way to get involved um our Northeast Regional Advisory Board is is the only Regional Advisory Board we have at dogs for Better Lives that that actually is near a campus so um you know we've got Beth sinot and and bana Barry we've got Marie bulmore who has just been a Dynamo and making all of this happen we've got Brian Buckley we've got you know lorda Silva and we've got Melissa dorski so um they have just been rock stars in uh pounding the pavement and you know again these are volunteers that just believe so deeply in the mission of what we do um that they're they're willing to be a part of DBL history with this campus in their backyard oh and they're really good mind you I mean I was interviewed before I got the job I had to I had to be vetted I was like oh my gosh this is great I've never been interviewed for free for a free job I'm like this is great no I'm really believe in your work and it's so wonderful to see how many volunteers really care about their work and the changes that you're making in everyday life for so many people Nationwide and to have you here on the cape is just really cool it's I'm like oh I know them we mentioned we mentioned puppy in and you know we mentioned the clients clients and how it comes full circle well at the event we will have um two puppy risers are coming with their puppies in their vests and we will have clients there as well so you will actually get to meet and um and and see you know in real time the circle of of the impact that we have from the puppy risers to the clients and and um so you you'll get to see our mission you know in in person yeah that's just amazing anything that you want to say before we leave this morning uh last minute thoughts something we didn't cover something you think is important yeah the only thing I I realize now is Don was talking about our clients is that um you know we're in this community we're in the found community and we would love nothing more than our dogs to be serving within the local community so if um you know someone who's deaf of heart or heart of hearing um someone who maybe could utilize a facility dog or have a child with autism please go to our website um it's very long dogs forb better lives. org all squished together but you'll get there um and and the whole application process is available on our website so um you know we want to serve the communities that we're in as well proud to serve Nationwide but we really want to be impactful where we are so oh for sure and it's nice to have that resource you know a lot of the times you're faced with this and you have no idea where to go or where to turn to so this is amazing that you're now here and willing to roll up your sleeves and get into the community I know many people are going to be knocking on your door and wanting to be involved in some way shape or Forum well and if you'd like to help those individuals you know please show up at dos on Saturday and come support us and um if you're interested in sponsorship we're still accepting sponsors you can email me directly that's Dawn D.D dogs for better life.org I'm gonna type all of this into the chat too um and if you need any information connecting with this organization or the incredible people that are involved please get a hold of us uh I'm I'm going to run uh thank you so much for your time and uh I'm really looking forward to working more with your organization and I can't wait to see everyone out Saturday at dins starts at two o'clock you can roll in whenever you're good and ready to do so bring your bucks and get ready to see puppies good luck with your surgery virtual hug everybody thank you thank you guys have a great day we'll talk soon bye bye