Donations
The next nine are here and they really need your support!! On June 5th, the next litter of pups arrived at BRAD, nine — yes 9 — strong. Undoubtedly, these are going to be great service dogs. But for the first time in BRAD’s history, including current puppies & dogs in training BRAD has a roll call of more than 12 in training at the same time.
With your financial help, Blue Ridge Assistance Dogs can continue to support people in our community; and raise exceptional dogs that serve every day people & enhance the lives of everyone they touch. We appreciate all donations & so do the puppies and dogs who, right now, are hard at work learning how to help people.
BRAD has a few different ways for you to contribute. If you would like to donate money online, we are currently using PayPal as our payment processor. PayPal is a unit of eBay.com & is also one of the most trusted companies on the web. Or, if you’d prefer you can make a donation through regular mail.
The pups are marked with finger nail polish so we can figure out who’s who; and to decide what names each of them will receive in the coming days.
BRAD Community Program
Even while BRAD’s canines are learning to be service dogs, they in turn are teaching a group of at-risk students from the new Dominion Alternative School in Manassas, Virginia. As a new and innovative program, the PWCPS Education Foundation funded the project in 2003 and 2004. We are happy to report that due to the generous support from the Banfield Charitable Trust and the Gannett Foundation, “Going to the Dogs” will be funded again this school year. The teens will be able to continue to participate in this very successful service learning partnership. BRAD’s Executive Director Lydia Wade-Driver refers to this collaborative effort as “Exciting Possibilities,” but the students just call it fun!
These students have issues with self-esteem, compassion, anger management, attendance and writing skills. By participating in many hands-on activities with the dogs, including grooming, teaching basic commands, caring for their environment and learning about animal behavior, they begin to address their issues and see the value of improvement. The students keep a daily journal of their training experiences, allowing them to see the dogs’ progress as well as their own.
By working and bonding with the dogs, the students gain self-respect, responsibility and the joy of accomplishment as they see the dogs grow towards being about to help someone in need, and BRAD dogs gain new friends.
Meet the Volunteers
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Amory
The biggest supporter of Blue Ridge Assistance Dogs is Lydia’s Mom, Amory. She graciously donated the barn on her family’s estate where the school is located, supports Lydia in all her endeavors, and is a wonderful sounding board for new ideas and projects. She is always available to give assistance in any way possible. Her true “Southern Hospitality” allows all the volunteers to feel that they are at home whenever they visit. We are truly fortunate to have such a warm and wonderful person as a member of our team. |
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Aikiko Akiko makes her home in Arlington, VA, and began volunteering with BRAD in February 2002. She has been a great help with training and grooming the dogs, as well as helping with other things that needs to be done around the office. |
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Beth Beth has been volunteering with Blue Ridge Assistance Dogs since 1999. When she is working with us, Beth’s responsibilities include giving the dogs lots of TLC. Beth will be working with the dogs more once the Therapy Dog program gets started. Beth works as a chef in Washington, DC. She also has private clients and is the cook for the owner of BET. |
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Bonnie Bonnie started volunteering with BRAD in the summer of 2000. She enjoys grooming the dogs and working as a handler during obedience training. In Bonnie’s words “These dogs are awesome!” Hope insists on bringing Bonnie her car keys, no matter where she lays them down. Bonnie said “I could use her help at home when I can’t find them myself!” Bonnie has wanted to work with dogs since she was three years old. Thirty something years later, she became totally fascinated with the training process while rehabilitating a dog she and her husband, Rick, adopted who had been badly handled at one or more of her five previous homes. Bonnie feels the dogs learn much faster than she does! She is our Fundraising Coordinator. Bonnie and Rick are also owned by five cats. |
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Brian & Jane
Brian & Jane reside in Fairfax, VA. They joined the Blue Ridge team in November 2002 and became puppy raisers after our first litter was born. They are currently raising Calypso, their second puppy for Blue Ridge. We are happy to have Brian and Jane working with us. |
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Brad, Julie, Ellie & Emma This wonderful family makes their home in Fredericksburg, VA. They became volunteers and puppy raisers for Blue Ridge Assistance Dogs in December 2002. They are currently raising Journey. Julie also works as an obedience trainer for All About Dogs (AAD). You can visit the AAD website at www.allaboutdogsinc.com. We thank Brad, Julie, Ellie, & Emma for their enthusiasm and dedication to BRAD, and look forward to their continued participation in our program. |
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Cindy |
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Dylan & Diane
Dylan & her mom, Diane, started volunteering for us in August 2002. They became puppy raisers in September of that year. Dylan is actually doing the puppy raising with Diane assisting her. Dylan is our youngest volunteer at the age of 8 and is doing an outstanding job with Theo. Dylan and Diane live in Dumfries, VA, and share their home with a Lab/German Shepherd mix and 2 cats. We are extremely happy to have Dylan and Diane working with us. |
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Ellen
Ellen is a web designer by trade and offered her services in helping with the constant updates a website like this needs. Her can do attitude has been a wonderful gift to Blue Ridge. Ellen lives in Reston, VA, where she shares her home with two terrior mixes, K-9 and Teegan, Maggie, a Border Collie, and Little Feets the cat. |
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Jane Jane is a puppy raiser for Blue Ridge and raised Rosie for us. Jane and her husband make their home in West Virginia. They also have another black Lab named Ellie. |
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Joan
Joan was the first volunteer at Blue Ridge Assistance Dogs, starting her volunteer work in 1996. She assists with training dogs, dog sits on occasion, sends out volunteer applications, answers e-mail, and does just about anything that needs to be done at the school. She makes her home in the Northern VA area and lives with her Australian Shepherd, Teddy, and her cat, Elizabeth. Joan hopes to come to work for BRAD part-time when she retires from her job with the government. |
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Kathy |
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Lauren |
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Marsha
Marsha has been with BRAD since 2000 and is pictured doing what she loves best… |
| Marilyn |
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Melanie Melanie is the original designer of our website. When she was told we hoped to have a website built in the future, she immediately volunteered her services. She spent many hours helping us organize our thoughts and putting them into an easy to read and pleasing format. Melanie and her husband, Tom, make their home in Northern VA along with their 2 children, Jennifer and Patrick. They also share their home with a Cockapoo named Rufus, and a Cockateil named Sport. BRAD is very happy to consider Melanie a part of our family. |
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Michele & Brian
Michele & Brian began volunteering for BRAD in August 2004. They are puppy-raising Jackson. Michele works for American University. Michelle & Brian reside in Burke VA. |
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Paul & June
Paul and June joined Blue Ridge as puppy raisers in November 2003. They are raising Denali, one of the puppies from our first litter. Paul and June make their home in Ashburn, VA. They also share their home with a Caesar the parrot and 3 fish, Bubba, Bob, & Blue. We arevery happy to have Paul and June with us as volunteers. |
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Regina Regina has been a volunteer/puppy raiser with Blue Ridge Assistance Dogs since the summer of 1999. She has raised several puppies for Blue Ridge and has done an outstanding job. Regina is now our Puppy Raiser Coordinator. Regina and her husband, Jon, share their home in Manassas with a Jack Russell Terrier named Jill. We at Blue Ridge Assistance Dogs consider ourselves extremely lucky to have Regina as part of our team. |
Volunteer Info
Blue Ridge Assistance Dogs
welcomes inquiries from anyone who would like to volunteer their time
and energy to this worthwhile cause. We offer rewarding opportunities
through the process from the time a puppy or dog is first obtained to
when it is placed as a member of a team or as a family pet.
Blue Ridge Assistance Dogs
always needs volunteers with various talents, interests, and of all
ages. Whether you have experience training or working with dogs or are
just interested in volunteering your time and talents, we would welcome
the opportunity to talk with you. Any amount of time to spare is
greatly appreciated.
There are many opportunities in which to help:
- Puppy Raiser:: Raises & trains Blue Ridge Assistance puppies.
- Puppy Sitters: Assist Puppy Homes by keeping puppies while their families are on vacation.
- Puppy Hugger: Assist Puppy Raisers with playing, exercising and training puppies.
- Special Events Staff: Assist by staffing booths at various shows and events.
- Carpenters
- Painters
- Seamstresses
- General Maintenance
- Kennel Cleaners
- Assist with training in puppy classes.
- Recruit friends to volunteer.
- Video or Photography
Puppy Raiser Info
Puppy Raisers raise and train puppies in a loving home environment. They teach house training, basic obedience and house manners. Puppies are placed in the home for 6-18 months. After that time they are returned to Blue Ridge Assistance Dogs for specialty training.
An important part of the Puppy Raising program involves exposing the puppies to settings and situations similar to what they would experience in their working life. Experiences would include walks, grocery stores, church, meetings, trips, shopping malls, movie theaters, etc. Each puppy is provided a special training vest identifying it as an assistance dog in training.
Puppy Raisers are required to attend classes at the Blue Ridge Assistance Dogs facility. In addition, puppies must visit the Blue Ridge Assistance Dogs facility twice monthly for evaluation, field trips, and to learn problem solving skills.
Puppy Raisers need a fenced yard or outdoor kennel area and must allow the dog to live in the house.
It’s always difficult to say good-bye to someone you’ve grown to love. This is especially true when it’s time for the puppy to return to Blue Ridge Assistance Dogs for specialty training and placement. But the reward of Puppy Raising is in the knowledge that your hard work will improve the quality of life and independence of an individual with a disability.
Before placing the dog you’ve raised, Blue Ridge Assistance Dogs carefully screens each disabled applicant. The individual must:
* be committed and responsible
* be financially able to care for a dog
* be kind and compassionate
Interviews are conducted to match the personalities of the dogs and individuals. After placement, Blue Ridge Assistance Dogs maintains a continuing relationship throughout the dogs life to ensure the continued well being of the dog.
Responsibilities of Puppy Raisers
Early experiences help ensure success in later training. We provide a crate, collar, leash, and food.
The Puppy Raiser is responsible for:
* lots of exercise daily – long walks, runs and panting puppies
* diligence with housebreaking
* regular attendance to our dog classes
* special games at least twice a week
* car rides all the time
* walks in populated places and places with buses, traffic, and trucks
* walks in parks and forests, especially important for young puppies to increase their learning capacity
* go inside to new and interesting places at least once a week
* take the puppy to meetings so it learns to wait quietly
* discourage barking except during playtime
* absolutely no feeding from the table – only from the dog dish
* no rough housing
* no tug-of-war games with people
Our Training Program
The puppies and dogs that make up Blue Ridge Assistance Dogs are obtained through our own breeding program, other breeders, shelters and donations. Each pup is carefully evaluated as to suitability for the program. They are housetrained, taught basic obedience skills and develop excellent manners in public and at home.
Throughout the training program, the puppies and dogs are continuously and carefully screened and tested for good temperament, good health, and safety of the individual and the dog.
Puppies are raised in loving Puppy Raisers’ homes. An important part of the Puppy Raising Program involves exposure of the young dogs to settings and situations that are similar to what they will experience during their working life. When they are 18-months old, they are brought to the BRAD Training Facility for an average of six months of intensive training where they learn and become confident in specialized commands and tasks. During training, the Puppy Raiser or Trainer will take them in clothing or grocery stores, a theater, or a restaurant to accustom them to public places.
Once a recipient is accepted into the program, the person is teamed with an Assistance Dog that has the needed skills and a good personality match with the recipient, thereby increasing the success of the Team.
During the two-week Team Training at the BRAD facility, both new owner and dog learn to work together to create a new feeling of independence for the recipient and a wonderful bond of love between them.
Throughout the Team’s life together, there are follow-up visits and conversations to help maintain important communication between the person with the disability and the Assistance Dog, as well as the connection between the Team and Blue Ridge Assistance Dogs.
The final Public Access Test, done at an outside facility, affirms that the owner and dog are a team than can move confidently and safely anywhere.
Blue Ridge Assistance Dogs welcomes inquiries from anyone who would benefit from the independence and the special bond that forms with a Service Dog or a Social/Therapy Dog.
Friends of B.R.A.D.
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BRAD’S TOP DOGS FOR 2005 |
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Banfield Charitable Trust |
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GENEROUS IN-KIND DONATIONS |
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Creative Brush Studio |
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SUPER SERVICE PROVIDERS |
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Battlefield Animal Clinic |
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ADDITIONAL DONORS |
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Doctors Foster and Smith |
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ADDITIONAL SERVICE PROVIDERS |
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Clifton-Centreville Animal Clinic |
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AND FOR THE USE OF THEIR FACILITIES |
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Grace United Methodist Church |
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AND OF COURSE OUR TIRELESS |
Calendar of Events
BRAD Board of Directors
Honorary Board Members:
Senator Edward & Mrs. Victoria Kennedy
Dr. Richard Goode, DVM
The Honorable MacDougal J. Rice
Lt. Col. Hubert Mitchell, USMC (Ret.)
Ms. Amory Rice Wade
Advisory Board Members:
Dr. Paul Desper, MD
Dr. John VanStavoren, DVM
Dr. Amy Bowman, DVM
Dr. Mark Thomas, MD
Dr. Warren Seigel, MD
Board of Directors:
Lydia Wade-Driver, President
Deborah Sabean, Treasurer
John Thomason, Secretary
Roxana Adams
Regina Constantz
Nancy Thomason
About B.R.A.D.
Pizza For The Dogs Fund Raiser!
Blue Ridge Assistance Dogs, Inc. is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to providing specially selected and professionally trained Assistance Dogs and Social/Therapy Dogs to individuals with disabilities.
Assistance Dogs
Assistance Dogs have become an integral part of many people’s lives — greatly increasing their mobility and overall quality of life.
Since these dogs help people in their daily lives, it’s common to see them in grocery stores, restaurants, malls, etc. Whenever an Assistance Dog is in public and has a vest, cape, backpack, or harness on, it is working and should never be interrupted or disturbed. Please always ask the person’s permission before talking to or touching a working dog. If they say it is okay to pet the dog, do it very briefly so that you do not distract the dog.
Assistance dogs help people with physical disabilities accomplish daily tasks that would otherwise be fatiguing or even impossible alone. By enhancing their mobility, service dogs quickly become valued companions.
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How BRAD Can Help You:
It’s amazing the difference an Assistance Dog can make in a person’s life. If you or someone you love could benefit from this program, click here. Or, send an email here, to find out more. |
How You Can Help BRAD:
Be a Volunteer: Be a Puppy Raiser: Donate: We accept Paypal:
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About BRAD Test
Pizza For The Dogs Fund Raiser!
Blue Ridge Assistance Dogs, Inc. is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to providing specially selected and professionally trained Assistance Dogs and Social/Therapy Dogs to individuals with disabilities. Assistance Dogs Assistance Dogs have become an integral part of many people’s lives — greatly increasing their mobility and overall quality of life. Since these dogs help people in their daily lives, it’s common to see them in grocery stores, restaurants, malls, etc. Whenever an Assistance Dog is in public and has a vest, cape, backpack, or harness on, it is working and should never be interrupted or disturbed. Please always ask the person’s permission before talking to or touching a working dog. If they say it is okay to pet the dog, do it very briefly so that you do not distract the dog. Assistance dogs help people with physical disabilities accomplish daily tasks that would otherwise be fatiguing or even impossible alone. By enhancing their mobility, service dogs quickly become valued companions.
How BRAD Can Help You: It’s amazing the difference an Assistance Dog can make in a person’s life. If you or someone you love could benefit from this program, click here. Or, send an email here, to find out more. |
How You Can Help BRAD: Be a Volunteer: - Learn about it - Application Be a Puppy Raiser: - Learn about it - Application Donate: - Sponsor a Puppy - Buy from our store - Buy from our Sponsors We accept Paypal: 
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