Glad you are here to catch up on everything we have going on!
Thanks for opening this email when we know how many things fill up your inbox. The dogs, the Lockhart Ladies, Paws in Prison Staff, and the Friends of Paws in Prison Board of Directors are very grateful to you for helping us get through the last year and a half.
Here are the articles in this month's February's Newsletter:
- "What is that Dog?"
- Amplify Austin, March 4, 6 pm to March 5, 6 pm, CST
- Paws in Prison vs Friends of Paws in Prison
- Meet our Board VP - Jeri Muhich
- Micah's Poem
- Rocky's DNA Results
- Thanks to.....
|
|
My name is Rocky and I am a graduate of Paws in Prison. Aren’t I handsome? I was one of the last dogs involved with Ms. G, the founder of the program, before her death. She approved my adoption to my new human mommy, Wendy. Wendy gives me everything I need to live a blessed dog life.
My mommy recently had my DNA tested to figure out how I got to be such an amazing specimen. Can you guess my genetics? Here is a description of my characteristics to help you out.
I love to chase birds and squirrels that dare land in my back yard domain. I don’t like heat or long walks. I LOVE to lounge on my dog bed or on the couch. If my mommy gets on the phone, I see that as an opportunity to talk to her and I enjoy barking through the fence at the dogs on the other side. I am 63 pounds of solid muscle and am incredibly handsome with my black mask markings. Don't you love how I politely cross my legs?
What do you think I am? See the answer at the end of the newsletter, and maybe that will motivate you to read it all the way to the end! See how smart I am!
|
|
March 4, 6 pm - March 5, 6 pm
For those who are unfamiliar with it, Amplify Austin is an annual day of giving to nonprofits that are located in central Texas. Last year over 750 nonprofits were represented! The quality that makes this giving day so special is that many corporations, foundations, and individuals offer matching funds and there are also multiple ways to win prizes. You can learn more about the prizes being awarded by clicking HERE. Don't want to wait to donate until March 4-5? Early giving is going on now and your donation counts towards some of those much coveted Amplify Austin Day prizes and matching grants.
As you probably know, donations are what all nonprofits depend on to survive, which has been especially difficult during Covid-19 with the inability to attend in-person fundraising events. But there is a way you can help out - become a Friends of Paws in Prison Fundraising Champion. A Fundraising Champion is a fundraiser that rallies around a nonprofit's cause to fundraise on its behalf. Individuals can set up a Fundraising Champion profile page for the Amplify Austin causes important to them (like ours!).
To be a Friends of Paws in Prison Fundraising Champion, you can sign yourself up on our Amplify Austin Fundraising Page by clicking on the Fundraise Button or just send our Board Vice President, whom you will meet in the article below, an email to Jeri.pawsinprison@gmail.com and she will help set you up as a Fundraising Champion. If all of our faithful supporters were to become a Fundraising Champion and each of you encouraged even a small number of friends and family to donate, wow, that would help us to not only continue running the Paws in Prison program but also to win some of the Amplify Austin prizes! And to "sweeten the pot" Fundraising Champions who raise over $1,000 receive a Paws in Prison T-shirt, PIP Mug, PIP Bumper Sticker, and a smooth writing PIP ballpoint pen!
|
|
Paws in Prison vs Friends of Paws in Prison - what's the difference? |
To understand the difference let's go back to the beginning. In 2007 Machelle Gaconnet worked for a prison management company, Geo Group, Inc. Machelle, who had a huge heart for saving dogs from euthanasia, saw that there were a few prison dog programs in Texas but none specifically for women. She was told if she could create one, Geo would finance it, and she could run it in addition to her other responsibilities. After all, who else has time 24/7 to train dogs who would make wonderful pets if they were properly trained, cared for, and nurtured into good health? Machelle took that challenge head-on and after much research of programs out of state, Paws in Prison at the Lockhart Correctional Facility became the first women's dog training prison program in the State of Texas! So Paws in Prison in Lockhart, Texas was born and financed by Geo Group. Machelle recruited volunteers to help her run the program, and what developed was absolutely incredible. The incarcerated women began to develop life-changing skills as they worked together to train shelter dogs!
Eight years later a new management company, Management Training Corporation (MTC), was contracted by the state to run the prison, however, MTC was not in a position to financially support the program, but did allow it to continue. In 2014, Machelle, along with a few other dog-loving folks, created Friends of Paws in Prison as a 501(c)3 nonprofit. That's when life for the Paws in Prison program had to change because finances then became the big challenge. As most of you know, Machelle passed away unexpectedly in September 2019, but 6 ladies worked hard to keep the program from shutting down after Machelle's death. The biggest challenge now is the ongoing financial needs to care for the dogs and pay our staff.
We always try to keep our expenses down and one way we can do that is using the talents, gifts, and abilities of volunteers. We have two basic areas of volunteer needs, some of which are:
Dog Needs: On-call Foster Homes, Dog Trainers, Veterinary Services, Dog Transports, Adoption Services
Administrative Needs: Marketing, Social Media, Grant Research, Grant Writing, Fundraising, Website Design, Dog Events
We all have talents and abilities that we can donate to others who need what we know how to do! If you are willing to share your gifts with us, please go to our website and fill out our Volunteer Form. Right now we are in the process of setting up volunteer teams for different volunteer needs.
Our future plans after the prison re-opens to volunteers again is to rescue more dogs and increase the number of special Lockhart Ladies we can admit into the program. We also plan to collaborate with a nonprofit that rescues dogs to be trained as service dogs. Ms. L (Catherine Laria) is also in talks with a dog grooming company to provide scholarships to released offenders who want to work as dog groomers. We want to be prepared to take off and continue saving more than dogs in 2021!
|
|
Meet our Vice President - Jeri Muhich |
|
In a million years I never would have imagined that I would create, design, and update a website, set up online fundraisers, create and write regular newsletters, and apply for nonprofit grants, but that's been my role as VP of Friends of Paws in Prison. With a lot of uncertainty and insecurity, I was determined to do my best one day at a time and hold on to the Mark 9:23 Scripture that says, "with God all things are possible." I just loved this program too much to let it dissolve, and it was also my way to honor the founder, Machelle Gaconnet.
When Board President Jennifer Keaton called me 2 days after Machelle's death and told me of her passing and that the program was in danger of shutting down if we didn't get some help, I knew I had to figure out what I could do to help. I had a background in writing, editing, and marketing, but I had been retired for years, and even though I had experience on other nonprofit boards, I had been one of many who helped with various activities, and not the main one in charge. If Jennifer hadn't asked for my help, I wouldn't have thought I had anything to offer this nonprofit that was basically starting over - it just seemed like more than I could handle, until I jumped in and tried!
But I should back up in my story. In 2007 I was grieving the death of our 14-year-old dog Christy, whom we had adopted from a rescue organization when she was 10 months old. Christy was a huge challenge. After we adopted her we discovered that she was a fear biter (not aggressive unless someone tried to pet her). She grew to love and trust us, but never conquered her fear of strangers. But we loved her so we put up with her issues until we had to tell her goodbye at age 14. It was another 3 years or so before we decided to welcome another dog into our family. A woman at my gym told me about Paws in Prison where she had adopted two dogs. With lots of coaxing, after telling my husband about Paws in Prison, he agreed to take a short trip with me to Lockhart. That's when I met Machelle who listened to our lifestyle and dog preferences and matched us up with Ms. Muffin. We adopted her in 2010 when she was 3 years old, and she has been the perfect dog for us.
In December of 2019, I fell in love with another prison dog, Little Tater, but with Muffin and 2 cats, my husband made me promise not to come home with another dog. However, at the last prison dog graduation ceremony in early March 2020, Tater's adopters didn't show up to get him. My husband and I attended the ceremony, he met Tater and agreed he could be ours! These two dogs fill our home with so much love, laughter, and joy. I am very grateful to all the Lockhart Ladies who trained them to be wonderful household pets and who poured love and nurturing into them.
|
|
Our sweet Muffin is now 13.5 years old, is going deaf, has arthritis, and was recently diagnosed with lung cancer. My heart is broken, but I know that Machelle rescued her from death 10.5 years ago, and we were blessed to have her as part of our family all these many years. So I just continue to love and cherish her for the time we have left together, and when the time is right, we will help her cross over the rainbow bridge.
So, that's my Paws in Prison story. Jennifer Keaton told me that the last email she got from Machelle before she died was that she should ask me to be on the Board. I decided it is what I was being called to do, especially since Machelle recommended me. As I look back over the last 1.5 years on our little 4 member Board, not only did the program survive this difficult year but we actually thrived. We survived it all with the leadership of Executive Director/ Trainer Catherine Laria and Board President Jennifer Keaton at the helm, and of course lots of prayers. Our secretary, Diane Baines, keeps us organized and on top of things, and our Treasurer, Tia May, keeps all the numbers and financial requirements in total compliance.
I have shared my story with you to hopefully inspire you to join us in our mission. I would love to hear your Paws in Prison story to possibly share in a future newsletter or on our website testimonial page, so please contact me at info@pawsinprison.com. We gratefully welcome our new supporters to join us in our mission to:
|
|
MICAH'S POEM
Micah, a resident in the Lockhart Correctional Facility recently wrote this heartfelt poem and gave it to Ms. L for publication in our newsletter.
|
|
Did you guess Rocky's genetics? If you want to enter your dog in our WHAT IS THAT DOG game, send your dog's photo, DNA, and a bio about your dog to:
info@pawsinprison.com
|
|
THANKS TO THE FOLLOWING PEOPLE FOR HELPING US TO SAVE MORE THAN DOGS! |
Elida E, Christina P, Jonathan C, Melinda S, Diana S, Debbie M, Marcus L, Clare G, Shawn J, Morgan K, Sonya H, Desiree F, Steve O, Matthew E, Mary Kay R, Jack J, Jill R, Pamela O, Scott B, Annette M, Mike J, Kathryn N, Susan T, Ronnie B, Carolyn G, Ivey K, Steven E, Kathryn F, Mike S, Kim W, Nicola K, Susan P, Marilyn B, Val, Julia W, Cindy B, Shawna S, Dixie B, Diane H, Kurt S, Melissa F, Victoria E, Darlene W, Emy E, Kristina W, Brian K, David & Elizabeth, Fran P, Susan P, Janet S, William F, Deanna P, Molly F, Lawrence H, BJ and Joanne, Heff H, Daniel H, Jessica C, Georgia and Michael, JL & JM, Richard L, Janis G, Whiteside Construction and forgive us if we ever overlook thanking you for helping us to save more than dogs!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
