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Insider's Blog

5 Reasons Why I am a Pack Member: CarrieJo Hoelzel

By March 1, 2021 No Comments

Carrie Hoelzel
Pack Member

  1. I’ve always been an animal lover, but seeing the joy, love, and connection a dog can make has forever changed me.
  2. Dogs for Better Lives does work, every day; changing the way people connect with the world around them.
  3. Through dogs, DBL provides clients with independence, courage, comfort, and safety.
  4. Through my own experience, it was important to me, to support an organization that represents a blend of dog lovers, and people who want what’s best for their well-being.
  5. Though my dog (Shep) is no longer with me, through donation, I can make an impact; on the lives of the dogs and people who benefit from their special training and companionship.

“I’ve always been an animal lover, but seeing the joy, love, and connection a dog can make has forever changed me.  Years ago, my dog Shep and I went through training to receive his Canine Good Citizen Certificate (CGC); this certification allowed us to visit local memory care facilities.

Shep was a weekly guest, even having a poster announcing he would be there at 6 pm on Wednesday nights.  Residents would gather in the Community Room, for an opportunity to see, pet, and give treats, to Shep.  During these visits, I watched Shep connect with the residence, in a way that people could not; through touch, they would be connected to a time long ago, and regale me with a story or conversation.  This moment would last only a short while, but the joy that would be expressed on their face was humbling and rewarding.”

The Pack (aka Pack Leader) is a passionate and determined group of monthly donors on a mission to support acquisition, training, and placement of more Assistance Dogs in our lifetime. People like you, from across America, giving at a meaningful level to prove how anything is achievable when we work together.

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