Hand-In-Paw

*Teams are in alphabetical order*
A - H I - Z [more teams]

Kris Baldwin and Graham

Kris and Graham retired from service in 2004. She recalls that one reason her HIP work was so important to her was that during her visits she felt the presence of her mother who died in 1999. Kris says, She was there every time I saw Graham stand to reach an elderly patient that couldn't quite reach him; when he laid his head on a patient's shoulder and took away some of their pain. I heard people tell him stories when others hadn't heard them speak in months, and I've seen nurses so tired they thought they couldn't go on, leave his side recharged and ready for another shift.

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Liesl Bittner & Pudge

Liesl and Pudge retired in 2004, though Liesl remains active serving on the Board and with Picasso Pets. One of her favorite visits with Pudge follows: "Nurses told me that our teams would be visiting a little boy that had been a real challenge during his 8-day stay. He wouldn't talk or make eye contact with them and the only noise they heard from him was screaming from frustration and discontent. However, the animals soon had him talking and laughing, and as we were leaving the nurse said it was the first time she'd heard such happy sounds coming from his room. His mother was clearly touched by the animals, and it was a relief to the nursing staff to know this patient had finally made some joyful noise."

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Carol Borham & Rocky

Rocky and Carol retired in June 2005. Rocky enjoyed making therapy visits and as an RN in a nursing home, Carol saw how the residents missed their own animals. She said, “When you spend your life with animals, it's hard to imagine life without one and with Hand-in-Paw, we can give that back to them.”

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Jenni Boswell, Biz, Dynasty, Misha, Charlie, and Crash

Jenni Boswell and her gentle giants have blessed many lives through their extensive therapy work. Pictured with Jenni are: Charlie, Crash, Drumm and Misha, four of the seven Pet Partners who have brought smiles to those they visited. Drumm is still an active Pet Partner, but we were saddened by the deaths of Misha, a Borzoi, and Biz, a greyhound (not pictured). Charlie, an Afghan Hound, Crash, and Dynasty, both Greyhounds, are retired from therapy work. Our thanks and appreciation to each of these dogs, and to Jenni, for her willingness to drive at least an hour to get to most of the facilities we serve. Each of these beautiful dogs has made a difference in the lives of those in hospitals, rehab units, and in the lives of troubled teens in our Pawsitive Living program.

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Jo Dee Bucki & Josiane

Jo Dee Bucki and Josiane served as Pet Partners® for several years before retiring in 2004. Jo Dee remains active with her other therapy whippet, Maya. All three are pictured, with Josiane on the right.

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Sheila Cavallo & Boo

Boo was limited in doing therapy work after back surgery in 2004, but Sheila continued as HIP’s Program Director. She resigned that position in June 2005 and is now working part-time as a facilitator for Pawsitive Living, a program she loves working with. She said, “In my experience working with the juvenile justice system, the animals in our program are often able to build a bridge within minutes that would take months in other settings. I never cease to be amazed at the ways in which our dogs foster and facilitate the healing process with children who have been abused, neglected and in some cases, simply discarded.”

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GiGi Gauthier & Colette

After a year of working with Colette as her Pet Partner®, Gigi said she sensed Colette's desire to be more of a home girl and granted her retirement status. Gigi works on our annual fundraiser, Picasso Pets Debut and Auction, and serves on our Advisory Board. She says, "Each time I visit a facility or hear a story about lives touched by therapy teams' visits I am profoundly moved and motivated to tell more people about the amazing ways HIP improves lives. It is rewarding beyond words."

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Joe & Jenny Gilmore & Bella

Due to health issues, Joe and Jenny retired Bella the Great Dane from active service in June of 2004. They each enjoyed their HIP experience and explain, "Bella has been in service ¾'s of her life in once capacity or another. But by far, the most enjoyable and rewarding time has been the three years with HIP. Jenny and I thought we were pretty good handlers until we experienced HIP! Through training and perseverance we had the opportunity to elevate our game - being surrounded by what we now know to be some of the best handlers and animals…bar none.

Bella is getting older and while we hope she has many good years left, we don't want our wishes to overrule Bella's. With that in mind, we decided to retire AKA's Bella - 'J & J's Mile High Smile.'"

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Stacey Gordon and Sadie

Stacey Gordon and Sadie retired in 2004 when they moved to Atlanta. Before leaving, Stacey said, “As a cancer survivor, volunteering for HIP seemed more like an act of selfishness, than of selflessness. I felt I got more from the visits than I gave. It thrilled me to see my dog bring joy to someone who hasn't been able to smile since the word cancer became a part of their life.” Pictured are Stacey, Sadie, left, and her puppy, Teek, on the right.

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Phil Hagan & Conrad

Phil Hagan and Conrad retired in 2004. Phil recalls, “I liked being able to serve the community through our therapy work. Conrad was so good at it and he enjoyed it, so we all benefited.”

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Hand-In-Paw is an affiliate of Delta Society® Pet Partners®