Sunday, November 29, 2009
Friday, November 27, 2009
Thursday, November 26, 2009
Saturday, November 21, 2009
Rufus joins the Simon Zook family!
Saturday, November 21 Rufus joined our family
Friday, November 27
First car trip (to Fort Smith to have lunch w/ Stan & DK) While demonstrating picking up, Rufus retrieved his water bowl!
Sunday,November 29
First Church service (music a little loud)
Rufus picked up the debit card at Canyon Grill
Tuesday, December 15
First foreign body ingestion (wood shaving at Home Depot - Kelly thought it was part of a fortune cookie, which would have been bad enough...)
Thursday, November 19, 2009
The Story of how Rufus came to be ours
In June 2007, Charles and Kelly worked at the Little Rock Film Festival with Georgann and Ben Freasier. Charles grew up with Georgann's sons so they've known each other for many moons. As it turns out, Georgann and Ben are avid dog lovers and train their dogs for agility. And as fate would have it, their agility trainer Linda Laughlin also trains service animals for people.
Charles and Kelly had talked about service dogs periodically over the years, but the logistics always seemed challenging. The only places that they knew of were in Florida and California and traveling that far is always a challenge. Plus, a two week visit is required when you pick up the dog to orient the new owner. Anyway, there seemed to be enough obstacles that they never pursued it very intently.
That is until Georgann convinced Charles & Kelly to ride out to Mayflower with her to meet Linda Laughlin and to see a demonstration by Linda's dog Peek-a-Boo. The demonstration was amazing! Kelly & Charles left there with tremendous excitement about the possibility of a service dog but also more keenly aware of the cost associated with acquiring such a highly trained animal. If you've ever met Georgann and Ben, then you know how dedicated they are. Periodically Georgann would ask Kelly or Charles if they were ready to talk to Linda about a service dog, but they just weren't ready to make that kind of commitment (not to mention their inability to come up with those kinds of funds!). Evidently Charles made an impression on Linda, and she realized what a dog lover he had always been. She also knew what a difference a dog could make in Charles' life. Over the years she had placed many dogs in homes to help children, and although she hadn't worked with an adult client before, she knew that the need was equally as great.
As time passed, Linda and her son Joe (also a dog trainer) eventually learned of a border collie puppy through a contact of theirs at a West Tennessee rescue.They had found a dog that would work perfectly for Charles. As a Border Collie, Rufus was tall enough to be able to reach Charles' lap to retrieve dropped items. Also, he was agile enough to be able to keep up with Charles' motorized wheelchair. And his demeanor was sweet enough that he would put everyone who encountered the duo at ease.
And that was the beginning. Georgann and Ben spearheaded the fund-raising efforts while Joe worked on Rufus. Rufus turned out to be a very quick study and mastered the tasks more quickly and better than any dog Joe had ever worked with. Georgann and Ben kindly asked everyone they knew to help with the fund-raising - either by contributing themselves or by posting fliers and spreading the word. One of the very generous doctors that Kelly works with at Arkansas Children's Hospital offered to leverage his donation by hosting a party. See more details under the thank you post, but Dr. Stanford's Raise the Rufus party was a HUGE success - both in terms of the amount of fun everyone had, but also in terms of the amount of money raised. It sealed the deal on Rufus becoming Charles's by Thanksgiving. How very blessed and lucky Charles and Kelly are!! THANK YOU to everyone who helped. Many people played big and small roles in this process, and we are grateful to each of you.
Charles and Kelly had talked about service dogs periodically over the years, but the logistics always seemed challenging. The only places that they knew of were in Florida and California and traveling that far is always a challenge. Plus, a two week visit is required when you pick up the dog to orient the new owner. Anyway, there seemed to be enough obstacles that they never pursued it very intently.
That is until Georgann convinced Charles & Kelly to ride out to Mayflower with her to meet Linda Laughlin and to see a demonstration by Linda's dog Peek-a-Boo. The demonstration was amazing! Kelly & Charles left there with tremendous excitement about the possibility of a service dog but also more keenly aware of the cost associated with acquiring such a highly trained animal. If you've ever met Georgann and Ben, then you know how dedicated they are. Periodically Georgann would ask Kelly or Charles if they were ready to talk to Linda about a service dog, but they just weren't ready to make that kind of commitment (not to mention their inability to come up with those kinds of funds!). Evidently Charles made an impression on Linda, and she realized what a dog lover he had always been. She also knew what a difference a dog could make in Charles' life. Over the years she had placed many dogs in homes to help children, and although she hadn't worked with an adult client before, she knew that the need was equally as great.
As time passed, Linda and her son Joe (also a dog trainer) eventually learned of a border collie puppy through a contact of theirs at a West Tennessee rescue.They had found a dog that would work perfectly for Charles. As a Border Collie, Rufus was tall enough to be able to reach Charles' lap to retrieve dropped items. Also, he was agile enough to be able to keep up with Charles' motorized wheelchair. And his demeanor was sweet enough that he would put everyone who encountered the duo at ease.
And that was the beginning. Georgann and Ben spearheaded the fund-raising efforts while Joe worked on Rufus. Rufus turned out to be a very quick study and mastered the tasks more quickly and better than any dog Joe had ever worked with. Georgann and Ben kindly asked everyone they knew to help with the fund-raising - either by contributing themselves or by posting fliers and spreading the word. One of the very generous doctors that Kelly works with at Arkansas Children's Hospital offered to leverage his donation by hosting a party. See more details under the thank you post, but Dr. Stanford's Raise the Rufus party was a HUGE success - both in terms of the amount of fun everyone had, but also in terms of the amount of money raised. It sealed the deal on Rufus becoming Charles's by Thanksgiving. How very blessed and lucky Charles and Kelly are!! THANK YOU to everyone who helped. Many people played big and small roles in this process, and we are grateful to each of you.
Sunday, November 1, 2009
Lots of people to thank
Many, many kind and loving people helped make Rufus a reality for Charles and Kelly. A few people in particular (in no order)...
Rev.
Thompson Murray donated the supplies for the project and with help from the youth at Quapaw Quarter United Methodist Church built the gate to keep Rufus in the backyard
Sloan Swindle's foundation helped with the donations.
Dr. Kendall Stanford graciously hosted a RAISE THE RUFUS fundraiser (photo album on Facebook! Check it out by friending "Rufus Von Schmufus"). Drs. Becky Latch and Christy Bartlett helped corral residents and alumni to attend. Kendall's family and partner (and partner's family!) helped out throughout the event and in the days preceeding it. Debbie and Lewis May opened their beautiful home for the event. Lilly's, Trio's and Boulevard Bread provided all of the scrumptious food for the event. Becca Carey donated a gorgeous diamond ring for a raffle which was won by Dr. Christine Barrett!
And lots and lots of people attended - including plenty of people who had never even met Charles and Rufus. It was enough to bring a tear to your eye...
Donations from the evening put us over the top for securing Rufus!
Georgann and Ben Freasier were the masterminds behind everything from the inception of the idea on. Without their help and tenacity, Rufus would never have come into being. (Here's Georgann at the party when Rufus officially became Charles'. She's so over-the-top thoughtful --- look at the cute cake she brought! Thank you, thank you, thank you Georgann and Ben!)
K-9 Camp Laughlin (Joe and Linda) trained sweet Rufus
Cindy Alberding served as a consultant along the way
Michelle and Ken Adams donated the printing for the flyers
Rev.
Thompson Murray donated the supplies for the project and with help from the youth at Quapaw Quarter United Methodist Church built the gate to keep Rufus in the backyard
Sloan Swindle's foundation helped with the donations.
Dr. Kendall Stanford graciously hosted a RAISE THE RUFUS fundraiser (photo album on Facebook! Check it out by friending "Rufus Von Schmufus"). Drs. Becky Latch and Christy Bartlett helped corral residents and alumni to attend. Kendall's family and partner (and partner's family!) helped out throughout the event and in the days preceeding it. Debbie and Lewis May opened their beautiful home for the event. Lilly's, Trio's and Boulevard Bread provided all of the scrumptious food for the event. Becca Carey donated a gorgeous diamond ring for a raffle which was won by Dr. Christine Barrett!
And lots and lots of people attended - including plenty of people who had never even met Charles and Rufus. It was enough to bring a tear to your eye...Donations from the evening put us over the top for securing Rufus!
Georgann and Ben Freasier were the masterminds behind everything from the inception of the idea on. Without their help and tenacity, Rufus would never have come into being. (Here's Georgann at the party when Rufus officially became Charles'. She's so over-the-top thoughtful --- look at the cute cake she brought! Thank you, thank you, thank you Georgann and Ben!)
K-9 Camp Laughlin (Joe and Linda) trained sweet Rufus
Cindy Alberding served as a consultant along the way
Michelle and Ken Adams donated the printing for the flyers
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