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Caregiver Center
Martin has been working with the program for about two and a half years. Before that, she had worked for a local commercial-lending company and Canine Assistants was one of her clients. “I started volunteering here in my spare time,” Martin said. “And then it kind of dawned on me. Here I was, working on multi-million dollar deals and it felt sort of unimportant compared to the work we were doing here. So I quit and came to work here. It’s the best.”

Before receiving their dogs, partners are required to participate in a two-week training camp. If necessary, Canine Assistants will provide financial aid to cover the expenses — travel, meals and lodging — associated with attending camp. During this time, partners get the chance to work with all the dogs. By the end of the second day, the partners make their top three dog choices, then staff members compare those choices with their own recommendations — trying to match personalities as well as needs and abilities.

“We try to see who clicks with who,” Martin said.

For example, when “Bobby” (not his real name to protect his privacy) met Cassie at this summer’s training camp, it was more than puppy love. Bobby, 17, has cerebral palsy. Unable to speak, he’s confined to a wheelchair. After two weeks of getting to know each other, Bobby and Cassie, a golden retriever, connected.

“They just fell in love,” Martin said. “Cassie is a sweet, calm, very laid-back dog. But for some reason, she wasn’t that easy to train. But that all changed when she met Bobby. She’d do anything he wanted her to do. She just tuned in to him and seemed to read his mind. It was like she had been waiting for him all along.”

Once dogs and partners are matched, training becomes more specialized. “We sort of cement the training the dogs have already had and fill in the cracks of what their partner specifically needs,” Martin said. Partners and dogs also participate in “umbilical cord” training, Martin says.

“Dogs are very clued into body language — more so than verbal language,” Martin said. “So we join the dog and partner together with a lead for periods of 24 hours. This provides an amazing bonding experience.”

Canine Assistant service dogs and their partners are required to participate in 24 hours of community service/education each year. It is an effort to reach out to others in the community with special needs and to generate acceptance and understanding among the general public toward individuals who may be different. For example, teams and staff visit hospitals, rehabilitation centers, elder care homes, mental health facilities and special-needs schools. In addition, Canine Assistants also reach out to more than 88,000 school-age children each year by visiting schools to present their Animal Assisted Education Program.

Panuska is happy to take part in these programs. He enjoys getting out and meeting new people — and so does Hebert. “Hebert performs so well. You know, he and I are a perfect match,” Panuska said. “He likes showing off and I like talking.”

Slowly, it began to add up. At about that time, Arnold’s disease inexplicably went into total remission and she no longer needed to use a wheelchair. Her sisters, however, have also been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. “I’m fine now,” Arnold said. “Sometimes I feel almost guilty. I mean, why me? Why am I in remission? People say maybe it’s because I was meant to do this work, but I just don’t know.”

The Arnold women sold their home in Atlanta and moved 30 miles north to a 16-acre farm with the requisite agricultural zoning and began building their dog-training facility. “My mom and I paid ourselves a combined weekly salary of $100,” she said. “That’s it. Everything else went into the program.”

They hired a trainer who, in turn, taught Arnold and her mom how to train and, in 1992, they graduated their first dog — a dog they adopted from a local shelter. That first year alone, they received more than 100 applications from people eager for a canine assistant. “It was amazing, just amazing,” she said. “We knew we were onto something.”

Today, the program has a professional staff of 18 and volunteer staff of more than 200. They have placed nearly 200 dogs and there are currently 90 dogs in training. While some of the early graduates were young adult dogs adopted from shelters, most dogs now enter the program as very young puppies. In fact, many are raised from birth at the farm.

For them, “training” begins at 2 days old. “Mostly they’re cuddled and handled so they get used to being with humans,” Arnold said. “At 2 weeks, we begin some basic training and at 6 weeks, it turns serious.

By 10 weeks, the dogs are able to respond to 30 commands. Puppies are so enthusiastic and eager to please. It’s amazing how much they absorb. They learn so fast.”

The dogs are usually about 16 months old when they complete their training, are placed with partners, and go off to begin their new lives. “And that’s the part that’s so rewarding,” said Susanna Martin, 28, one of eight trainers on staff with the Canine Assistants program. “People tell us that having a dog almost makes their wheelchair disappear. They say before the dog, people tended to ignore them, but now people smile and try to interact with them.”

Canine assistants, such as Hebert, are specially trained to help disabled children and adults with the ordinary tasks of daily life. They open doors, switch lights on and off, press elevator buttons, retrieve objects, pull wheelchairs and go for help.

“Everything Hebert does for me, he does with such excitement,” said Panuska, 41, who lives in Lawrenceville, Ga. Panuska has muscular dystrophy and is confined to a wheelchair. He and Hebert have been together for three years. “He’s a joy to be with. In the summer, we go swimming together and when the weather’s cool, I take him for long walks on a 26-foot lead.”

It’s not always a dog’s life for Hebert. There’s the house to straighten, chores to do and crunchy dog treats to earn as rewards for jobs well done.

“First thing every morning, Hebert hands me my pants,” Panuska said. “He goes outside and picks up the newspaper. He helps me make my bed. I’m on one side and he’s on the other and he tugs until we get it straight. He does it real well. He also picks up around the house — right now I’m trying to teach him to put his toys away. And he helps me with the laundry — the sorting and such — and when the clothes are dry, he hops up and pulls the clothes out of the dryer. Doing laundry is a blast.”

But these dogs can do a lot more than simple tasks and chores. “They can offer their partners independence and a tremendous sense of security,” said Jennifer Arnold, 36, the program’s executive director and co-founder. “Folks say they feel safer both in public and when they’re alone — because they’re not really alone. These dogs also help give their partners a sense of self-esteem and happiness and help remove some of the social barriers that often go along with being in a wheelchair.”

Panuska agrees. “Hebert has taken the loneliness out of my life,” he said. “It’s good to have someone to be with and to worry about when we’re not together.”

“I laugh more than I ever did,” Panuska said. “He brightens my day. I talk to him and it’s like having another person around. I know him like a book. He’s also a real icebreaker in social settings. He makes it easy to start up conversations with folks. Sometimes when we’re out in public, he wears a sign that says he’s working. And I prefer that folks not pet or talk to him. But most of the time I just love it for people to fuss over him.”

The Canine Assistants service dog program works like this: All dogs (primarily Labrador retrievers, golden retrievers and some cross breeds) are raised, trained and placed with a partner at no cost to the partner. The dogs are provided with veterinary care and recurrent training for life. Dog food can also be provided. Applications are evaluated on an individual basis and placed on a wait list based on that evaluation, rather than on the date when the application is received.

LEARN MORE
Contact Canine Assistants
Canine Assistants is a 501C-3 nonprofit organization. For more information, visit them on the Web. You can write to them at: Canine Assistants, 3160 Francis Road, Alpharetta, GA 30004.

Caregiver Center
The Canine Assistants program was the dream of Arnold’s late father, Harry. At age 16, Arnold was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis and was eventually confined to a wheelchair. “I was devastated,” she said.

“And my dad wanted so badly to find something to help make things better. He thought starting this program would both pull me out of my blue funk and would be a wonderful way to help other people.”

Just as the family was about to make their dream a reality, Harry was hit and killed by a drunk driver. “It took us a long time to put the pieces of our lives back together,” Arnold said. “But we were committed to getting Canine Assistants off the ground. We knew this is what we wanted to do with our lives.”

Recreation & Leisure

This resort offers one of the prettiest, themed pools. Thatched huts and foliage surround it. It has a zero-entry point allowing one to wade slowly and casually into it’s welcoming water. There is also a waterslide at one end f the pool, and a pool bar at the other – Uzima Springs.

Surrounding the pool area, one can use the Zahanati Massage and Fitness Center or one of the two outside whirlpools. Nearby, children can play in the Hakuna Matata Playground which is complete with swings and other equipment. The wading pool and Pumbaa’s Fun & Games Arcade round out the offered activities.

This resort offers a few other unique opportunities for guests, including lodge tours, cookie decorating for the children, storytelling by the firepit, and interactions with the animal keepers during feeding times.
Savannas

There are four different trails for the savannas at this resort: Ostrich Trail, Giraffe Trail, Kudu Trail, and Zebra Trail. The animals are “rotated” around the various savannas, offering guests the opportunity to marvel at many different species throughout their stay.

In addition, guests are given a wildlife field guide upon check-in detailing and featuring the various animals that inhabit this resort area. This guide has a place for individuals to “check off” each animal as they have viewed it. This can be a fun, educational activity for children or adults. How many animals will you spot on your vacation?

There is also the Arusha Rick Savanna overlook for all guests and visitors to view animals from. There is usually an animal keeper on duty here to answer questions and educate the guests about the animals.
Dining

Dining at this resort continues the exotic theme with three restaurants on site. The lodge boasts Jiko, Boma, and The Mara.

* Boma is served buffet style for breakfast and dinner. The cuisine is inspired by South African tastes. Even the pickiest of eaters are sure to find some wonderful, tempting dishes here.
* Jiko is only open for dinner. This is a sit-down restaurant combining the tastes of African, French, and English cuisines.
* The Mara is open daily from 6:00AM – midnight. This is the resort’s counter-service restaurant. The offerings here range from typical fast food options to fresh fruit and salads. Guests may dine inside or poolside.
* The Victoria Falls Lounge and the Uzima Springs Pool Bar offer guests cocktails and beverages.

Transportation

The only Disney-provided transportation here is via bus. However, the bus service is very quick and efficient, as this resort does not share a bus with any other property. This resort is also located just minutes from Animal Kingdom and Blizzard Beach.
Overall thoughts

I found this resort to be one of the most impressive of all the Disney properties. It is like no other stay in the World. It will be interesting to see how Disney can top this one, or is that even a possibility?! I found this resort to be magical, comfortable, and simply enchanting. I truly felt as though I was on a safari, far away on a different continent, traveling abroad with just me and the animals.

The staff, the accommodations, the animals, and the artwork all enhance this feeling. After staying here, it is hard to imagine staying anywhere else. There was simply nothing I did not like about this resort. I would rate it as a 10. Perfect bliss.

Every stay at a Walt Disney World Resort affords a new, unique opportunity to experience Disney’s magic at another level. My recent stay at the Animal Kingdom Lodge yielded a delightful taste of “Africa.”

No, I have never been to Africa. No, I cannot state what it would be like to visit such a magnificent place full of wild animals on the roam, drums beating and pulsating a native dance, but I can say I felt transplanted. Animal Kingdom Lodge whisked me away to an exotic wonderland.
Architecture

When you see the structure from the outside, you see what appears to be part of an African village. The thatched roof and stucco-type siding makes you feel as if you are about to enter a ceremonial house. Well, let the ceremony begin, as you are about to enter Africa…
One step into the main lobby of this remarkable resort foretells that this is something completely different and marvelous. The African artwork is proudly displayed, the hotel staff wears safari garb, and the lighting is dim and enchanting. I did not know where to gaze first, as there were so many unique fixtures and displays. I truly was in awe of my surroundings.

The lobby actually puts the guest on the third floor. Yes, that is right – you enter the building via the third floor. This is not initially evident, until your gaze stumbles upon the vast picture window at the far end of the lobby. You will see the amazing savanna overlook.

The rich, dark wood evokes a very mysterious, mythical feeling. Your eyes notice the dark contrasted against the bright, vibrant tapestries. You instantly know you are a very special place, a place like no other.
Rooms

At this spectacular haven, several various room types are available: standard view, savanna view, deluxe savanna view, and concierge.

The only “guaranteed” way to view animals from your room is to opt for one of the three latter choices. However, there are numerous “public viewing” areas of the savanna for those guests not wishing to upgrade to the “savanna view.”

My stay was in room 3391, overlooking the Kudu Trail savanna. This room provided a very quiet, private view of the backside of the savanna. This room was also situated quite a distance from the lobby and other amenities.

The room was not as spacious as a room at some of the other deluxe resorts, but I did not feel at all crowded. My room had two queen-sized beds, a table with two chairs, an armoire (for the television), one nightstand, and a separate vanity area from the restroom. The vanity area had double sinks, as well as a shelf to place your toiletries on.

The room’s decor featured bright, bold colors and rich patterns reminiscent of native cloth from Africa. The patterns were vibrant yet tasteful. The room also contained prints of animals, hand-woven bowls (hung on the walls), and a “carved” armoire. I felt the decor was a combination of that of the Coronado Springs resort with that of the Wilderness Lodge.

The balcony offered prime viewing of the animals. This room is situated at the corner of two “savannas,” allowing the possibility to see even more animals simultaneously. There was never a time when some sort of animal was not out grazing or resting nearby.

A: The reason that teachers keep pets in the classroom is that they are animal lovers themselves and want to share their passion with children. Like many animal lovers, however, they might not realize that not everyone feels as they do. We sometimes think that all children love animals.

Many things can make children fearful of animals. Being startled by a snake or other reptile, being attacked by a dog or even being bitten by an insect can leave an emotional scar. Some children develop fears not from their own experience but rather from a parent.

Having a pet in the classroom is a valuable teaching tool. With careful guidance, much of the animal’s care can be turned over to the children. Your daughter’s kindergarten teacher will not force her to hold or help care for any animals that she is not comfortable with.

I would suggest that you make an appointment to talk with the teacher before school begins. Explain that your child has some fears of animals and that you are eager to make her transition to school smooth. Ask how the animals are incorporated into the daily routine and how she has accommodated children who have had fears. If possible, make arrangements to bring your child to the classroom before school begins.

Go at her pace. Don’t rush her into moving close to the animals. Encourage your daughter to ask her own questions about the animals, their cages and anything else she needs to know.

Young children can replace fears with positive experiences. Given time to become comfortable with the animals in the classroom, she will soon see the other children’s enthusiasm and will gradually put aside her fears. A good experience this year could make a difference for a lifetime.

An average of 19 copies are made of each original. Almost 2 trillion pieces of paper are generated yearly in American offices. Executives spend up to six weeks each year searching for misplaced, misfiled or mislabeled paperwork.

It costs $120 in labor to track down a misplaced document or $250 in labor to re-create it. Record keeping constitutes more than 90 percent of all office activity.

Americans waste 9 million hours per day searching for misplaced items. Getting rid of clutter would eliminate 40 percent of housework in an average home.

Crisis purchases related to disorganization are as much as 15 to 20 percent of a household’s annual budget. They include duplicates of misplaced or broken items, last-minute shopping at premium prices and unnecessary interest and finance charges on late payments.

The sound and feeds are back.
A: We were Neck to Neck.
W: I think there was a late whistle. I’d like a review of that.
A laughs.

Hardy is begging for another cigarette. He’s so weak.

All are saying, “That was fun.”

Alicia is still walking around in her teeny-weeny blue bikini. What an awesome body she has. Dang, her legs are huge – nothing but muscle! She could so easily kick my ass.

This is funny…

The topic of Survivor 2’s bitch came up. Nicole said, “Will is our Jerri.” Everyone looked at each other like, “No, Nicole. YOU are BB’s Jerri.”

Susan then cut her off and said, “No, Jerri was just mean. He doesn’t come across like that at all.”

Alicia and Jeff discussed Jerri’s Playboy spread (and no, the Manly Man hasn’t seen it). Apparently, from Jeff’s comments, Jerri has rather, umm… “…like long pencil erasers. It was just weird to see.” Alicia said she made enough money to buy a house.
Now, here’s the SCOOP on the KEL BEEF JERKY INCIDENT!

Jeff told this story about how Kel was caught trying to smuggle beef jerky through the airport into Australia! They stopped him, found something, and then EVERYONE had their bags searched. THIS is why Jerri accused him of the beef jerky thing.

So, Jerri wasn’t entirely off base after all. Yes, it’s wacky to think Kel could’ve smuggled beef jerky past the Survivor Security checks, but at least now we know why Kel wasn’t so quick to defend himself then and even after Survivor was over.

The process of profit. Initially, quality may be perceived as more costly than is possible to provide, and it is when profit margins are low. If you cannot afford to attract and retain qualified staff, performance suffers, and poor service is a tough sell. Members require constant positive reinforcement that their purchase decision was a good one. When that doesn’t occur, you have lost a member.

Improving profitmargins requires investigation. What is the actual quality of your products and services? What level of service is being provided? What are your members’ perceptions for quality or service? What complaints are being registered? What do your staff membersthink of the facilityand/or the quality of services?

QP and QA functions contribute a goldmine of intelligence for yourfacility and, at times, simple improvements requiring minimal cost may have atremendous impact upon quality, service and profit margins. This is particularly true for facilities with high-caliber staff, innovative programs, participative management and a commitment to improvement. Enhancing performance through an investment in quality directly impacts profitability.

Recipe for profit. The same factors that force you to carefully plan for quality are those that warrant higher prices: customized solutions, applications that may improve health and well-being, innovative programs not available elsewhere, etc. What requires an expense on your part, such as staff who deliver exceptional service, creates a more costly product. But consumers expect to pay premium rates for quality products or exceptional service. Even in the most competitive market, consumers will pay more for higher quality or service.Customized services fetch higher prices because of actual and perceived quality and service.

Custom applications, particularly for complex problems such as health or sports performance, require specialized knowledge and higher levels of expertise and service. On the other hand, customers perceive lower cost as lower quality, despite what actually may exist. When prices are perceived to be “too low” for a certain service, purchase does not occur. People who do purchase at the lower price are more easily lost. And even price-conscious members expect a level of service for their money.

Free services. Do medical professionals advertise free services? If they did, what would your perception be? Quality providers do not offer free services unless it isat start-up oron a limited basis.

“Free” is a powerful advertising word, but only for commodities. Custom services or products, or services within a principle profit center, should notbe offered free
of cost.

Membership enticements that include freebies undercut the value of whatever those free coupons are for. If anything freeis to be offered, make it a tangible and low-cost item that will not influence perception of quality or value.

For instance, the decision to add a group cycling studio may be in response to a competitor creating one. Or, the purchase of additional elliptical machines may be a defensive response to a few members who complained they were tired of waiting. Unfortunately, without evaluating the true value of capital expenditures such as these, money spent may be wasted.

Need for capital budgeting

Fitness center owners are somewhat cavalier about the financing and specific dates of capital spending. Most regularly create 12-month operating budgets, even broken down by departments, yet they do not similarly create a meaningful one-year capital budget.

This is unfortunate, because about 4 to 6 percent of a fitness center’s annual gross revenues are spent on capital items, but not always in a priority fashion and without a clear schedule. For instance, if a racquetball court is to be converted into a group cycling or a yoga/Pilates studio, it is critical to know when construction will begin and end. Obviously, racquetball league and lesson revenue would end, no revenue would be available during construction, and revised revenues and expenses would ensue only once the new studio is operational.