Tasha's Friends Scholarship

Misty Pines is pleased to announce a new program, designed as a pro-active approach to meeting the needs of dog owners who find themselves with dogs they are having a difficult time handling. The program is made possible through a partnership of Misty Pines and start up funds that Misty Pines has acquired through a private donation for the purpose of training difficult dogs. This is not to say that this program is for first time owners who didn't realize what they were getting into with a wild puppy. The program is for owners of dogs who have become aggressive, fearful, overly dominant or have other behavior issues that are limiting the dog’s ability to function as good citizens in the community. Recognizing that people AND dogs need a little help at times, the scholarship program is intended to help those who are put in the difficult position of giving up their dog or letting it continue being aggressive due to a lack of the economic resources required to train their dog. Many times we have seen instances where a little formal training has gone a long way with the dog and owner benefiting from the experience. Tasha’s Friends Scholarship Program is named for Tasha, a five-year old Black Lab who has been trained and is being rehabilitated by the Misty Pines staff. Tasha’s story provides the mission for the scholarship and we believe that her story provides a model for how potential can be brought out in a dog with proper training and socialization. It is our hope that many dogs will join Tasha, as her “friends,” dogs with problems who make it to good citizenship. To fully understand the nature of this scholarship, though, you must first understand Tasha...

Tasha is, by appearance, a pure bred Black Labrador Retriever who was born somewhere in Quebec Province. Around her 6th month, she was abandoned and picked up by the Labrador Retriever Rescue Mission of Canada and eventually adopted by a young college student named Jon. After a myriad of events that led to Tasha becoming aggressive, Jon finally found Misty Pines. The road has been long and the ground rocky, but Tasha has improved by leaps and bounds and wants to share her second chance with other dogs who just may be able to become one of Tasha's Friends.

The scholarship will pay for part of the training, depending on the needs of the dog, the situation of the owner, and the judgment of the Misty Pines team that the dog has the potential to become a good citizen. Those who wish to be considered for this scholarship must complete an application, available in the Misty Pines Office.

Tasha will have a booth at the Misty Pines Customer Appreciation Day to meet everyone. Tasha’s current owner will be on hand to meet and greet and answer questions about the process of Tasha’s rehabilitation. It is our hope that many dog lovers will donate to the scholarship with the intention of restoring hope to dogs who have not had Tasha’s opportunities. Click here to read Tasha's full story.

If you wold like to be considered for the Tasha's Friend's Scholarship, please download the following document, fillit out and either e-mail or snail mail it to us.

Tasha's Scholarship Application.

“Sarge” – A Local Veteran’s Lifeline

By Brad Rapp

Having served two tours of duty in Iraq, one with the 82nd Airborne and the other with the Army’s 2nd Infantry Division as well as a tour in Korea, Dave Stemmerich of Parker has seen first hand what the casualties of war can bring. His foot prints in the sand, although long blown over, have been possibly forever etched in his mind...

Part of Dave’s success is currently in the making. Thanks to Dave’s wife Stephanie, they were able to learn about a nonprofit company known as Freedom Guide Dogs. In fact, it was thanks to Jeff Woods the Founder and President of Misty Pines Dog Park Company of Sewickley where the Stemmerich’s were made aware of the services of Freedom Guide Dogs. It was at Misty Pines Dog Park in Sewickley where “Sarge” the family’s young German Short Hair Pointer, received his initial obedience training to prepare Sarge for his service dog training.

Freedom Guide Dogs is a non profit organization based in Cassville, New York, which breeds, raises, trains and places guide dogs with the blind through a distinctive program called Hometown TrainingTM. Freedom Guide Dog's service is available to people in the Northeastern United States at no cost.

Visit "the Progress News" at www.MyProgressNews.com for the full article.