As the non-profit wing of Life’s Abundance, the Dr. Jane’s HealthyPetNet
Foundation takes pride in the diligent and committed work of all of its grant
recipients. Every month, we’re reminded that wherever caring people come
together in the spirit of hope, and apply hard work, amazing things can be
achieved.
This month, it gives us great pleasure to bring you the story of Spotted Dog
Dalmatian Rescue, which represents the pure spirit of small rescue ventures. In
operation since 2011, the founders of Spotted Dog embody the drive to make a
positive difference in the world. The non-profit is comprised of a group of
volunteers, all of whom are committed to the mission of saving and improving the lives
of hearing-impaired Dalmatians. By educating people about the consequences of
negative stereotypes regarding deaf Dals, they’re hopeful they can make
significant inroads in the acceptance of all dogs with disabilities.
That deaf dogs are aggressive and untrainable is a myth perpetuated by some
for many years. Even in their short time, Spotted Dog has already witnessed a
change in thinking among some breeders. It would appear that few are immune to
the heartwarming message that also serves as their credo: "Deaf dogs hear with
their hearts, not their ears".
With a background in both dog training and evaluation on behalf of the AKC
and Therapy Dogs International, Spotted Dog founder Ariel O’Brien knows dogs.
She knows that, even if one of their five senses is underdeveloped, it doesn’t
mean they aren’t capable of love. O’Brien is leading a crusade on behalf of
hearing-impaired Dalmatians. She believes that life should be cherished and that
puppies, regardless of ability, deserve the chance to live long and fulfilling lives.
Life is challenging enough without having the deck stacked against you.
As O’Brien has seen time and time again, not only can these Dalmatians lead
normal, healthy and happy lives, they readily take to therapy training and can
enrich the lives of people through service. In fact, one of Spotted Dog’s Dals
recently went on to become the permanent live-in companion for a 7-1/2-year-old
boy with Down’s syndrome.
At present, they do not have a dedicated facility, relying instead upon a
network of foster parents. Thus far, they have expanded their reach into Ohio,
Maryland, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas and Virginia. So strongly do they
support their foster families, they go the extra mile and provide funds to cover
veterinary expenses. Additionally, Spotted Dog trains all of their rescued pups
prior to adoption by their forever families. They are continuously hunting for
new volunteers interested in helping with the cause.
Spotted Dog actively supports a statewide Therapy and Humane Education
Program, stemming from the belief that proper training, knowledge and activity
are all key components of creating a great home for Dalmatians, especially those
with hearing deficits. Their volunteers assist in training and resolving
behavioral issues, as oftentimes one-on-one counseling can mean the difference
between a deaf Dal remaining at home and being sent away to a shelter.
Spotted Dog’s leaders actively seek out new ways to enhance the lives of
their wards. Just recently, they were able to negotiate a one-year pass to a
private dog park for all of their rescues. For the next twelve months, their
pups will enjoy acres of land for cavorting and a swimming pool to cool off
afterwards, all at no charge!
Posted in a statement on their homepage, O’Brien thanked both Life’s
Abundance and our Foundation for the $2,000 grant “to help with veterinarian
bills and other necessities Spotted Dog Dalmatian Rescue needs to continue to
help our deaf Dalmatians.” In addition to purchasing much-needed maintenance
medications for all their dogs, they were also able to rescue a 10-month-old pup
named Bandit and pay for his veterinary care. Simply put, Bandit is now in
heaven. His companions are five female Dals (although one in particular, Brande,
seems to like him just as much as he likes her), and they run and play to their
hearts’ content. In Bandit’s progress report, O’Brien gushed with praise for our
grant, saying, “We are so grateful to the Dr. Jane's Foundation for their help.”

Bandit at his new foster home
We’d like to convey our heartfelt thanks to all of our readers and customers
who, through their personal donations and continued business, makes this and
every grant possible. Each one of you has directly helped Spotted Dog to
continue its vital work to make the world a better place for a fortunate few
hearing-impaired Dalmatians.
Remember, every time you order from Life’s Abundance, a portion of the
profits goes directly to our foundation. If you would like to make an additional
contribution to help ensure that deserving rescues like Spotted Dog Dalmatian
Rescue continue to receive much-needed financial support, please call us
toll-free at 877-387-4564 … an agent will be happy to take your donation. Any
amount helps, more than you can imagine.
Check back next month for another dose of good news from our charitable
foundation!