2008 RESULTS

Membership
·  Updated our website to make it a major communication tool to the public, to current and potential members. It now reflects what we do, have done and will be doing.
·  Conducted a “Heeling Partners Expo” to discuss and demonstrate what we do and how dog/handler teams are evaluated.
·  Increased registered teams (working teams who have passed the evaluation), by 50%, totaling 12 at year end.
·  Increased non-registered teams (those still preparing to take the evaluation) by 43%, totaling 20 at year end.

Fundraising
·  Held the 3rd annual Pooch Parade, which included many new activities (Silent Auction; Doggie Fitness, IQ and First Aid stations, CARE).
·  Increased attendance from 2007; attendees included dogs and their people from Parachute to Aspen.
·  Increased profits by 51% over 2007, totaling $6,384 in 2008.

Angles with Paws at Valley View Hospital
·  Increased visiting teams, totaling 9 teams plus 2 back-up teams.
·  Made weekly visits to patients (and staff!); some weeks had more than one team visit.
·  Received extremely high feedback from patients and staff about the program.
·  Presented an information booth at the Valley View Health Fairs in Carbondale and Glenwood Springs.

Paws to Read at Glenwood Elementary School
· Increased visiting teams, totaling 4 teams plus 3 back-up teams.
· Total of 20 children (10 each semester) read to our dogs weekly for the entire semester and summer school.
· Reading specialist Kim Kappeli reported increased self-confidence, a significant increase in reading scores (for which we take a wee bit of credit!), and a greater love/enjoyment of reading.

Paws Abilities
·  Several of our dog/handler teams attended a workshop on how to train for and implement a therapy dog program where we work with medical professionals as part of a patient’s treatment plan (implementation in 2009).

Administrative
·  Elected a Membership Chair (Jacquie Tannenbaum) to communicate with new members.
·  Redefined our service area to those facilities located in Glenwood Springs and Carbondale, Colorado. Members may live anywhere and visit Heeling Partners facilities in these locations, but if this is not convenient, we provide help to individuals or groups starting their own program(s) in other locations.