Community Service 2006
KIDS AND PETS AT NEW HOPE
Dr. Nancy Belknap has always had a desire to educate children on responsible animal care and animal safety and has remained active in the local school system even after her own son graduated from the Rogers School System. Through her years as a veterinarian she has attended many elementary school health and safety fairs (animal safety!), spoken to innumerable classes of all ages and at meetings of scouts and at career days throughout Northwest Arkansas. Her presentations are always with the company of one of her certified therapy dogs. In fact, her Papillion Kirby is known at public schools for his show “Kirby, the Court Jester.” Dr. Nancy knows that teaching the kids who are the future pet owners will make a difference in the future pets of our world.
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Kirby and Dr. Nancy have fun with a show while teaching responsible pet ownership.
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Bandit joins an elementary class for a picnic!
Our booth is always a popular stop at the elementary school Health and Safety Fairs!
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Charley show the class what a smart dog knows!
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READ PROGRAM STARTED IN ROGERS SCHOOL
Dr. Nancy Belknap and her Labrador Bandit were one of the first R.E.A.D. teams in Rogers. Her interest and enthusiasm sparked other therapy dog teams and now R.E.A.D. teams are integrated in almost every school in Rogers. R.E.A.D., which stands for Reading Education Assistance Dogs, originated with Intermountain Therapy Animals in Salt Lake City, Utah, and has become a nation wide program being used in Public Schools. Amazing improvement in reading levels are being documented with students who participate. The Therapy Teams have been trained and are licensed, insured, and certified with Therapy Dog International or Delta Society as well as the R.E.A.D. program.
The idea of Reading Education Assistance Dogs (R.E.A.D.) is to encourage the student to read to the dog. This is a child’s special time alone. No one is allowed to interrupt; no one is grading the session. The focus is the “fun” of reading, just for the student.
This program has been proven to increase reading skills and improve comprehension in the students who are in the program.
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Bandit and Kirby enjoy a moment during a READ demonstration.
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Bandit shows how he keeps up on the pages!
TEACHERS APPRECIATION BREAKFAST
Every year New Hope animal Hospital participates in the Chamber of Commerce Teacher Appreciation Breakfast in August. We really do appreciate the teachers of our community and always welcome the chance to show it!
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Our booth is ready for the flow of teachers after the breakfast!
We also participate in the career shadowing program at the local high schools. We are always happy to share our day or healing and helping with students!
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ANIMEALS
Our New Hope Animal Hospital staff was part of the driving force starting the BENTON COUNTY ANIMEALS PROGRAM. Benton County AniMeals is dedicated to providing nutritious food to the household pets of the patrons of the Benton County Senior Center Home Delivery Meal Program (Meals on Wheels operated through the Office of Human Concerns Department on Aging). Pets are a valuable part of many senior’s lives and helping them care for their pets will increase the quality of their own lives significantly.
Benton County AniMeals is a non-profit service organization with tax-exempt status. Animal food is donated by pet food manufacturers who endorse and sponsor our program. The pet food is packaged and distributed to selected patrons of the Benton County Senior Center Home Delivery Meal Program who have requested our help. Procurement, storage, packaging and distribution of pet food will be performed by volunteers. These deliveries will be made every two weeks and provide the pets of the patron of the Home Delivery Meal Program with nutritious food for their pets for a two-week period at no charge.
We began our program May 1st. We are currently helping to feed 30 dogs and 30 cats (we even have a fish and 2 birds on our route!). The seniors who come to the Benton County Senior Center daily are helping us package and organize the food for the homebound group. The seniors at the center are so excited to be able to help the homebound group!
Because of HEPA laws we are unable to share the happy faces of the people and their pets, but rest assured, our group is making a difference in the lives of people and their pets!
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ALL PETS CONSIDERED
Dr. Nancy Belknap is the hostess of a weekly television show on Jones TV called “All Pets Considered.” This program is widely viewed and highlights available adoptions from our local shelters and features a training tips segment. Tidbits of national pet news and trivia questions add to the education of the viewing audience.
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Dr. Nancy with Donna from Madison County Animal Rescue.
OXYGEN MASKS DONATED
New Hope Animal Hospital has donated a set of three sizes of oxygen masks to each of the fire stations in Bentonville and Rogers. In December 2005 thirteen sets were distributed and in March 2006 another 14 sets were added to supply each station with an appropriate size oxygen mask for pets rescued in fires. We truly hope they are never needed, but if we can save one life, our mission is met.
HURRICANE RELIEF EFFORT AT OUR HOSPITAL
The 2006 Hurricane season affected our neighboring states of Louisiana, Texas and Mississippi with thousands of strays and no facilities to put them. Initial efforts were of course to reunite these pets with their owners, but often that was impossible to do (another plug for microchipping!) During the first days our team first sent food and supplies to the area. Once dogs and cats were being released, we sent drivers down to the hurricane area and retrieved 22 dogs and 24 cats to place. These dogs and cats were quarantined and treated for all disease before being placed. We are happy to report everyone found a home and we made a difference!
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Some of the supplies we sent to Gonzales, one of the holding areas in Louisiana.
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These are some of the faces we saved!
MORNINGSTAR WILDLIFE REHABILITATION
New Hope Animal Hospital has always treated the wildlife of Northwest Arkansas at no charge. With the help and guidance of Lynn Sciumbato a federally licensed wildlife rehabilitator we have assisted in the care and healing of thousands of native birds and mammals.
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A raccoon is ready for release!
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New Hope Animal Hospital 2007
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