Gabriel’s Angels mission is to deliver healing pet therapy to at-risk children, nurturing their emotional development and enhancing the quality of their lives forever. Please read on. Perhaps this chapter from Pam Gaber’s book will lead you to create your own revolution.

CHAPTER 5 –THE CHRISTMAS VISIT

My volunteer work at Crisis Nursery coincided with Gabriel’s first year of life. The Friday after we adopted him, I told the kids, “I just got a new puppy!”

“What did you name him?” they asked excitedly.

“We named him Gabriel.”

The next Friday, they asked, “Miss Pam, how’s Gabriel?” I told them that    Gabriel had his first bath. The kids’ eyes were wide  as I told them how Gabriel had been in the tub,  shaking soap and water everywhere. I described how  I dried his soft fur and how good he smelled  afterwards. “What did he do next?” they asked.

“He fell asleep in my arms.”

“Awww,” the kids responded.

Every time I visited the nursery, they asked about Gabriel and wanted to see pictures, “What did Gabriel do this week? What did he do?”

“Gabriel ate my shoe.”

“Oh – Gabriel ate your shoe. Did you hit him?” on tiny guy asked. In that moment, I was reminded that this little boy was a victim of abuse and neglect.

“Oh, no,” I said. “I just threw away the other shoe. So now I don’t have those shoes anymore. Gabriel didn’t mean to eat my shoe. I left it on the bedroom floor, and he thought it was a toy.” I told them about the times Gabriel ate his bed and tore up the outdoor drip system. They were always interested in hearing how, when Gabriel was challenging, I never hurt him. I now realize that those little stories were lessons about compassion for these kids. They learned that Gabriel was a member of our family, and in my family we did not resolve issues with violence.

I began taking a little album with photos of Gabe to  share with the kids. It had various pictures of  Gabriel at home sleeping, eating, and playing. The  pictures illustrated for the children that Gabriel was  part of our family and was always treated as such.  One photo was of a huge, beautiful lake with a tiny  dot – Gabriel fetching a stick – right in the middle. I  would ask, “Where is Gabriel?” And they would point their tiny little fingers right at the dot.

* * *

Since I’d been sharing all the details of Gabriel’s first year with the children, I wanted them to meet him. After all, they had been bonding with an animal they had never met. The perfect opportunity presented itself, so I seized the moment. Marsha Porter was the Executive Director of the Crisis Nursery, and I needed her permission to carry out my plan. “I know you’re having your annual Christmas party in December. And I came last year – without a dog. How about this year I bring Gabriel dressed as Rudolph so the kids can finally meet him?”

She looked at me and said, “That’s interesting.”

Interesting? I thought. That certainly doesn’t mean no.

Off I went to our local doggie boutique, where I purchased a pair of doggie antlers, a “Just Call Me Rudolph” t-shirt, and a big jingle bell collar. Quite honestly, I was amazed at all the Christmas regalia available for dogs at that store. That night, Gabe modeled his reindeer outfit for Mike. I thought he might mind the costume, but Gabriel was beaming, as if to say, “Look at me!” He strutted his stuff down our hallway and around the living room.

The day of the party, we arrived at the Crisis Nursery, and Gabriel jumped out of the car in full reindeer regalia, anxious to greet the children. We walked into the nursery. The children noticed me first, and then their eyes lit up like Christmas trees when they saw Gabriel. At first they were a little confused about whether it was a dog at the end of the leash, or a real reindeer. Some were quite hesitant. “Hi, everyone,” I said. “I brought Gabriel to meet you, and he decided to get dressed up like one of Santa’s reindeer. Would you like to pet him?”

After volunteering with these children every Friday for a year, I had gotten to know them pretty well, but that day they were different. They did not display any anger or violent tendencies; they were simply kind and loving toward Gabriel. They would gently pat his head and hug him. They carefully took his velvety ear and touched it against their cheeks. The nursery became an oasis of peace and serenity. And the only difference that day was the presence of a gentle gray dog.

I remember one little boy who was about five years old, with dark hair and a Spiderman t-shirt. He had just been admitted to the nursery and was in his room crying, uninterested in coming to the party. Even when a child is removed from a violent home and taken to a safe haven, he’s scared to death because he doesn’t know what safety is. Familiar violence feels safer than a peaceful place with strangers. Though the nursery accepted children from birth to age ten, most of these kids seemed to be between four and six years of age. It makes sense, because stress often elevates during the holidays, and it’s generally the little ones who get pulled from the home because they’re just not safe there.

But this little guy kept peeking around the corner to see Gabriel, and before long, he came out and draped his arms around Gabriel’s neck and buried his head in the soft fur. The boy not only stopped crying, but began to smile and laugh. Gabriel’s eyes were a limitless pool of understanding that day. Soon the line for photos with “Rudolph” was longer than the line for photos with Santa!

We all stood in amazement at how Gabriel, without any effort on his part, was reaching these children in a way no human had been able to. It was as if we were watching a movie unravel its plot. Gabriel and I were preparing to leave the party, when the shelter director said to me, “I don’t know what happened here today, but would you bring Gabriel back?” Wow, really? I felt like someone had just told me my child was a genius. I checked Gabe’s calendar, which happened to be free – so I said YES!

As we got in the car to head home, I sensed that something profound had happened. I had witnessed Gabriel reach those children like no person seemed able to. Normally angry, impatient, scared kids had been only kind and loving. I was deeply moved by all of it. I remember thinking that something magical had happened in that nursery, and I could either do something to create more magic, or I could do nothing and let it end there. I decided in that moment that I was going to do something. I just didn’t know quite what.

What Pam Gaber did was form an  organization and launch a revolution. Today,  Gabriel’s Angels serves 13,000 abused,  neglected and at-risk children in Arizona  through the application of innovative pet  therapy. Presently Gabriel’s Angels has  nearly 150 registered volunteer Therapy  Teams and 40 Helping Hands delivering pet  therapy to over 100 agencies. All services  are free of charge to the agency and the  children. The future vision of the  organization is to expand the therapy  program to meet the needs of approximately  7,000-10,000 additional Arizona children  that need their services. The current cost to  train and support one Therapy Team for a year is $2,500. To learn more about Gabriel’s Angels visit https://www.gabrielsangels.org/. Their “Unleash the Love” Fundraising Breakfast will be held Wednesday, May 2, 2012. Please learn more, volunteer, donate from wherever you are and attend the breakfast if you can.

Thank you to Christie for this enlightening article and for sharing it with Gabriel’s Angels!

Dallas Keeping Watch

The phrase working like a dog to most means working super hard, getting dirty, putting your nose to the ground and getting the job done.  It’s even in the song Hard Days Night by the Beatles, you know, “It’s a hard day’s night and I’ve been workin’ like a dog”.   After a discussion on a Facebook post I am starting to realize it is so much more than that.  I think the qualities I often associate with my canine are qualities I want to mirror.

I posted a photo of my dog Dallas watching over my yard.  You can see his ears are perked, he is fully aware of what’s around him, and he is ready to go at a moment’s notice.  I never asked him to do that.  It is what comes naturally to him, like so many other wonderful qualities he has.

What got me started thinking about this is a comment Jim Dangelo made on the Facebook post:  “People have a habit of feeling the need to make a comment when all you want is a caring ear. I have noticed that my dogs know when to be quiet & listen, then lean in & nudge my hand, as if to say without words, ‘Pet me. You’ll feel better for it.’  And I do”

I was fortunate enough to connect with Pam Gaber, author of Gabriel’s Angels and CEO and Founder of Gabriel’s Angels, a nonprofit organization that is dedicated to helping at risk children through the healing power of pet therapy.  When I asked what she finds powerful about dogs qualities she stated “it is amazing to watch a therapy dog intuitively go to the child who has the most angst.  In our work with at-risk children we have witnessed dogs doing what dogs do best, lend a listening ear and a unconditional caring heart”.

The amazingly wonderful things that make a dog the top pet are all the things I want to emulate:

1. Caring for others without judging them: A dog doesn’t care what I look like, if I am in my sweats, what color, age, religion, sexual orientation, weight, hair color or height I am.  At networking events how do I choose who I connect with?  Am I judging people on how they look, what they wear, the way they do their hair?  Am I going up to the person who seems to be unsure and nervous and helping them at least find one person to connect with in the group and then introducing them to others?
2. Honesty: Have you ever come home, opened the door and saw that complete look of utter shame on your dog’s face.  You are just waiting to find what he chewed or destroyed.  Am I owning up to my mistakes as readily and showing up and asking for forgiveness?
3. Good Listener: Just like Jim said, dogs just sit and watch you with those big soulful eyes, not making a sound, but letting you know they are there for you.   When clients are sharing their concerns or issues they don’t always want me to have the answer.  Are they really just looking to sort it all out for themselves and they just need to talk it through?  Am I being careful about when I am offering my opinion and when I should just let my clients speak?
4. Greeting people with an unbridled enthusiasm: I personally love it when I come home, or I meet a new dog, and the tails are wagging and they just look so happy you are there with them. When I make new contacts, meet new prospects, am I showing them how happy I am to get to know them or am I acting like it is their privilege to know me?  When I am out at places am I greeting people with a smile as I pass them, saying hello, offering a kind gesture by holding open a door?
5. Protecting those who are important to me: By the picture above you can see how Dallas takes his job seriously.  He is watching and waiting to see if he needs to take action.  He is very prepared to act. Am I offering my clients the protection they need during every transaction?  Am I up to date on all the current material, laws, advancements, etc on what I am selling to be sure my client is getting the best deal possible?  Am I keeping up with my education, seminars, reading to be sure I am top of my game?
6. Faith that those I serve will come back: When I leave my house and say goodbye to Dallas, he knows I will be coming back to him.  I have shown him time and time again that I always come back to take care of him.  Am I doing every thing I can to keep my clients happy?  Am I putting their interests first and do I have faith they will come back to me?
7. Authentic: Have you ever seen a dog be anything other than what he was made to be?  I haven’t.  Am I always being who I am and not someone I am not?

I want to answer yes to every one of these questions so I can truly be working like a dog.  Are you working like a dog?

Here’s a story of the bond that is formed between a child and a Therapy Team – well maybe two!

Recently, a Gabriel’s Angels therapy team Debra Markert and her golden retriever, Chelsea, were volunteering at Banner Desert hospital. A young woman escorting a patient came towards them in the hall. Debra & Chelsea stopped by them for some pats and the young lady’s face lit up. She said, “You should be a Gabriel’s Angel!” When Debra announced that they already were, she gazed at Chelsea and asked, “Is that you, Chelsea? Do you remember me? I was at Parc Place when you visited there with another team, Guinness and Wendy!”

Debra & Chelsea had only visited there once as a guest team when Wendy and her golden retriever, Guinness, were on vacation. Debra was happy and amazed that she remembered. The young lady introduced herself as Samantha, and asked Debra to make sure that Wendy knew that she was doing well and no longer in the shelter, and she was no longer homeless. It was obvious that Samantha remembered her time with Wendy and therapy dog, Guinness, and even that one time visit from Chelsea and Debra.

Sometimes our teams wonder if they are really having an impact with the at-risk kids they visit…Wendy and Guinness’ love gave a young person strength and determination to succeed despite the challenges she had faced so early in life. Even Samantha’s brief encounter with Debra and Chelsea made an impression on her.

High-fives and paws to all the Gabriel’s Angels Therapy Teams and Helping Hands for making a difference in the lives of at-risk children and youth everyday!

The Sterling Award is the Scottsdale Chamber’s marquee event, and celebrates the people and companies that make our community a great place to live, work and play. The prestigious Sterling Award is one of the most coveted business awards in the Valley, with a rigorous application, judging and selection process.

On November 29^th Gabriel’s Angels was announced the winner of the 2011Nonprofit Sterling Award. With a table of supporters anticipating that instant when the Honoree would be named from the group of finalists, I easily recall the feelings of humbleness and exhilaration that we all experienced when Gabriel’s Angels was announced!

Now that I have had some time to reflect on the nomination process, the finalist stages and ultimate achievement of Gabriel’s Angels becoming the Honoree, the meaning of this recognition has become crystal clear.

The road to achieve the Sterling Award commenced at the very beginning of Gabriel’s Angels - from that first visit at the Phoenix Crisis Nursery with Pam Gaber and her gentle gray dog, Gabriel. The journey encompassed the early years when the mission and guiding philosophy of the organization was developed, along with the structure and behavioral premises for the Pet Therapy Program. As the number of therapy teams grew and our community awareness increased, Gabriel’s Angels’ program reached into more Arizona communities. The demand for our services became evident and we work tirelessly to meet the community need.

Gabriel’s Angels currently serves annually over 13,000 abused, neglected and at-risk children through visitations by 155 registered Therapy Teams – a volunteer and his or her own therapy dog. The individual at-risk child together with the overall community impact that our pet therapy program has in reducing violence are the very reasons Gabriel’s Angels exists. The means by which our organization moves forward, with clear vision for the future, are the hundreds of donors, supporters, volunteers, friends and talented Board of Directors, who guide and support the work we are doing each and every day.

The Sterling Award has left an indelible mark on Gabriel’s Angels. We understand that it is an honor that results from years of focus, dedication and due diligence. We appreciate how much this honor will continue to enhance our community respect and awareness.

With gratitude to the Scottsdale Chamber and the Sterling Committee, Gabriel’s Angels moves forward in our quest to expand our services and heal the additional 7,000 children in crisis throughout Arizona – all through the unconditional love that only a therapy dog provides to an at-risk child.

During this season, Gabriel’s Angels celebrates the abundance of true blessings that surround our organization each and every day. It humbles us to both see and feel the beautiful impact that our pet therapy program has on the 13,000 at-risk children who receive healing pet therapy each year. It astounds us to know that our supporters and donors have invested so deeply in our mission - in the same way that the children share strong bonds with the pet therapy team that consistently comes to see them.

This Thanksgiving 2011 - we celebrate…

A dedicated Board of Directors

Hundreds of Volunteers ~

155 Therapy Teams

40 Helping Hands

Fundraising Event volunteers

Office & Administrative volunteers

Committed Donors and Community Supporters

Unleash the Love for at-risk children

Our Founding Dog, Gabriel

This Season ~ may each of you be blessed with both human and animal loved ones and the understanding that your dedication and support help Gabriel’s Angels to Unleash the Love every day.

Kerri and Dillon

An excerpt from The Power of Wagging Tails: A Doctor’s Guide to Dog Therapy and Healing by Dawn A. Marcus, MD

Dawn A. Marcus, MD, is a neurologist and Professor in the Department of Anesthesiology at the University of Pittsburgh, School of Medicine. Dr. Marcus has authored over 100 articles on the topics of chronic pain and headache and is a frequent lecturer on these topics both in the US and internationally. She is the author of thirteen previous book including Fit As Fido: Follow Your Dog to Better Health and The Woman’s Migraine Toolkit. Dr. Marcus has trained her two wheaten golden terriers to be therapy dogs.

“People sometimes wonder if there are certain breeds best suited to become therapy dogs. Ann Cadman will tell you that becoming a therapy dog is more about an individual dog’s temperament and training than breed.  Pam Gaber, The CEO of Gabriel’s Angels, echoes that sentiment. Gabriel’s Angels is an organization committed to providing pet therapy for abused, neglected, and at-risk children. Gabriel’s Angels was named after its first therapy dog, which was not a typical therapy dog breed – a beautiful grey Weimaraner, Gabriel.  Pam’s work with Gabriel and other therapy dogs has taught her that great therapy dogs can come from any breeds:

When people think about therapy dogs, they often picture Golden Retrievers or Labrador Retrievers. If you’re interested in therapy dog work, don’t be discouraged just because you don’t have a breed that’s a popular one for therapy dog work.  On the other hand, your individual dog might not be suited for therapy work - even if he is a popular breed for therapy dogs.  At Gabriel’s Angels, we have lovely therapy dogs from a wide range of breeds - unexpected breeds like Dobermans, Rottweilers, and pit bull mixes, as well as Goldens and Labs.  We don’t automatically say “no” to these “bully breeds,” but we don’t always say “yes” either.  Over the past ten years, we’ve found that, while genes play a role, it’s the love and healthy environment provided by the owner that play a bigger part in how a dog turns out and whether he’ll be suited for therapy dog work.

The director at one of the programs where I volunteer with my Wheatens recently asked me, “We just got an application from someone who wants to do pet therapy with a Rottweiler. They have letters that say he’s a great dog that has worked so well in nursing homes.  But a Rottweiler therapy dog? What do you think?

I didn’t have to think long – Rottweilers can make terrific therapy dogs.  A

great example is Dillon, a five-year-old who has been making visits with his handler, Kerri Stamas, for the last two years. Dillon has a special affinity for working with children.  At one crisis center, Dillon acts as a go-between to help parents reconnect with children who have been living at the center without their parents:

Interacting with Dillon is something both the parents and children can do comfortably.  Once they’re playing with Dillon and talking about him together, it’s easier for the parents and kids to start talking with each other about other things, too.

Dillon also has incredible patience. Because children are so attracted to him, he’ll often find himself surrounded by large groups of kids - with everyone reaching in to pet, hug, and brush this beautiful dog. 

Many people are surprised when they first meet this gentle giant:

At one facility, teenage boys had been looking through some books showing different dogs and were commenting that Rottweilers were mean and ferocious. So the counselor asked us to bring Dillon for a visit. When we got there, a Rhodesian Ridgeback who is a therapy dog at the center came up to Dillon – apparently less than pleased to find another dog in his territory.  The Ridgeback gave Dillon a sniff and a quick snap to show him who was boss. Dillon calmly backed away and turned his attention to the teens.  The boys looked on in amazement and one exclaimed, “Now that’s something I never thought I’d see!

A Rottweiler backed down!”

That day, those boys got a great lesson about dogs – and a valuable lesson about handling conflict without fighting.

Dillon’s incredible work with children shows that so-called “bully breeds” can be wonderful therapy dogs – these tough-looking dogs can provide a calm strength for those needing support. So should my director consider adding a well-trained, qualified, reliable Rottweiler to our team?  Absolutely.”

Interested in reading more? The Power of Wagging Tails is available at www.demoshealth.com

I asked Debbie Coons, one of our outstanding therapy teams, with her Bloodhounds Beau and Georgia, to give you her experience utilizing the activity kits that we supply to our Therapy Teams.

After a Therapy Team has some field experience, the handler returns for in-depth training for the ACT (Animals and Children Together) Learning Project.  ACT was developed as a result of an independent evaluation of our Pet Therapy visitation effectiveness on impacting the key behaviors needed for abused children to develop socially.  The activities that are engendered in this project help our volunteer Pet Therapy Teams reach children on a deeper level.  Included in the training, which lasts between three and four hours, are modules that help the volunteer understand the emotional effects of child abuse, the core behaviors being impacted, and the important role volunteer teams play.  Volunteer Teams are introduced to and trained on the effective use of over 25 engaging activities they may employ on their visits. 

The ACT Program is leveled in an age-appropriate manner.  Noah’s Tails is geared towards infants to children age 5; Penny’s Pals for 6 to 12 year olds; and Gabe’s Gang for teenagers. Each ACT activity bag contains an instant camera.  Handlers are trained to “catch the children doing something good” and snap those photos.  For children who have grown to believe that they can do nothing right, these photos are extremely valuable in providing tangible images that they can and are capable of doing right and well. 

Here is what Debbie had to say with a little help from Beau and Georgia:

The ACT kit is a tool that I use on all of my therapy visits for Gabriel’s Angels.  Students are typically anxious to see what interactive activity we will use on each visit and some of the items we commonly utilize are: a stethoscope, soft brushes, a water bowl, a ball or other toy, trading cards, and several books about dogs. 

I have two Delta registered therapy dogs, Bloodhounds Beau and Georgia, and we work with teenagers at an alternative school.  Over the course of a school year I have watched growth and change in the students as they have built a trust in our bi-weekly visits. Through the ACT books the students have discovered that individual dog breeds have unique temperaments and they enjoy relating them to their own personalities.  Sometimes we sit in a circle brushing or petting the dog and have discussions on grooming and the proper care of animals.  This activity reinforces the idea of taking turns and sharing while building empathy and affiliation.  Listening to the dog’s heartbeat and then hearing their own heartbeat sends the message that dogs are living beings that need to be cared for and loved, thus bringing out compassion in the kids. 

The ACT kit is a powerful and creative tool that Gabriel’s Angels has provided for the therapy program. The activities and training provided by Gabriel’s Angels staff are an integral part of my interaction on therapy visits with the students.