Welcome to the October 2018 Roxy Reporter Newsletter!
Bark, Howl or Boo! Safety Tips For A Happy Halloween
We all love Halloween - costumes, candy, trick or treating, spooky decorations and creepy music! Here are some helpful tips to avoid making it a scary time for kids and pets who aren't used to all of the festivities and noise!
SAFE KIDS WORLDWIDE offers some great Halloween Safety Tips for children. Click here to view their tips on how kids should walk safely, how costumes can be both creative and safe, and how adults should drive extra carefully that night.
The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals® (ASPCA) recommends some simple, common sense precautions to keep your pet happy and healthy on Halloween. Click here to learn how to keep your pets safe and calm around the treats, decorations and costumes. Most importantly, in case of an accident, the ASPCA Poison Control Center can be reached at 888-426-4435.
Have a SPOOKtacular, BOOOtiful, WOOOOnderful and FANGtastic Halloween!
Celebrate National Walk The Dog Week With Roxy
Everyone knows that walking is great exercise for your dog (and you). Keeping your dog active all year long provides many health benefits including:
weight control
agility
mental stimulation
digestive health
Now, supporting Roxy Therapy Dogs is as easy as going for a walk—there’s even an App for that! And what better time to get outside with your dog than during National Walk the Dog Week which is celebrated the first week of October.
Every step counts, so whether it’s a quick walk around the neighborhood or an afternoon at the park, Roxy Therapy Dogs benefits. The more people who use walk for a dog the greater the donation to Roxy Therapy dogs so encourage your family and friends to use the App. When we walk with our best furry friends, everyone benefits!
Download the FREE App at Wooftrax.com, from Google Play or the Apple Store. Make sure to follow us on Instagram at instagram.com/walkforadog!
Secondary School Stress Relief Program Thrives
“CB West is thrilled to partner with Roxy Therapy Dogs to provide support for our high school students. Every year, the Guidance Department runs groups aimed at helping teens who are struggling with anxiety/stress management, emotional issues, bereavement, and other issues.
Bringing the Therapy Dogs into these group sessions has had an immediate and positive impact on the students. After just one session, the students reported feeling calmer, happier, and in a better mood to face the challenges in their day. One group member shared that when she woke up, she was dreading the standardized test she had to take that morning, but when she remembered that “the dogs were coming,” she couldn’t wait to get to school.
Another said that when she was sitting next to one of the dogs and petting it as she spoke, she felt more confident and less anxious when sharing a painful experience. CB West plans to explore other ways that the Therapy Dogs can help our students - whether it’s visiting classrooms, staying in the library during final exam days, or joining other group settings.”
A Message From Our Roxy President
I’m really excited to announce some pivotal organizational changes within Roxy Therapy Dogs that are going to be incredibly beneficial to our group as we continue to grow.
The task of helping us reach our community (and beyond) falls primarily on the shoulders of our Advancement and Marketing Committees. These teams have recently re-structured in a way that will not only help us continue to impact the lives of the children we serve, but also involve the community as well, while doing so more efficiently and effectively.
We have combined our Advancement and Marketing Committees under one umbrella called Community Engagement. Pat Morrison, our recent Director of Advancement, will now head up this newly formed powerhouse of knowledge and expertise.
Jill Fein, current member of the Advancement Committee as well as Roxy board member, will now be our new Director of Advancement. Jill has a wealth of knowledge and professionalism to bring to the table.
Jennifer Ashenfelter has stepped in as our new Director of Marketing. If this name sounds familiar, it is probably because Jennifer is also the Marketing and Communications Director for Holiday House in Doylestown. She has so many creative and wonderful ideas for everything from our newsletter to social media.
Speaking of creativity, we have another addition to our Marketing Team. Liza Norman is joining the team as our new Creative Team Leader. Liza was actually our Director of Marketing a few years ago and will now be overseeing special projects for social media, our website, newsletters and many more projects. Welcome back!
Please join me in congratulating Pat, Jill, Jennifer, and Liza on their new positions. These are four very talented ladies and we are fortunate to have them.
Sharon Fleck,
President, Roxy Therapy Dogs
Welcome Aboard To Our New Roxy Therapy Dogs Teams
Please join us in welcoming the new teams who support our mission of bringing comfort to children, enhancing the experience of learning, and enriching the lives of our canine and human volunteers:
Mary LaValley & Bonnie Jean
Renee Tucker & Carlee
Liza Norman & Dizzy
Michael Flanagan & Bentley
Deborah DiGirolamo & Fledge
Lois DeMarzio & Kerri
To learn more about all of Roxy's dogs, visit Meet Our Dogs.
Roxy Invites You To Join Our Pack!
Roxy has the need for new volunteers all of the time.
Our number one priority is getting more great certified therapy dog teams to join in the fun at schools, the hospital, group homes and the courthouse. If you and a furry friend would like to join our pack, learn more at Volunteer With A Dog.
No dog? No problem! Join Team Roxy™! Team Roxy volunteer opportunities include our new Technology Committee, community event planning and onsite support, fundraising and mailing support, be a part of the Welcome Team, computer and database support, community outreach and education, as well as public relations and marketing. We are already planning Roxy's 15th Anniversary Party for 2020 and are looking for a special Party Planning Manager! To learn more, visit Volunteer Without A Dog.
Happy Retirement To Zoe
Zoe
Please join us in thanking Zoe, as well as her handler, Sandy, for all of her years of service with Roxy, comforting and supporting the students in Central Bucks Schools. Zoe is retiring at 13 1/2 years old. Who knew?! She wears it very well!
Zoe will be greatly missed. May she enjoy lots of love, belly rubs, special treats, and dog naps in her well-deserved retirement!
Upcoming Roxy Events
Warminster Pet Expo & Food Truck Fun on October 13 from 9 - 1 pm at the Ben Wilson Senior Activity Center in Warminster, PA.
Bucks County Book Festival on October 14 from 12 - 5 pm in Doylestown, PA. Roxy Therapy Dog teams will be celebrating the art of writing and the joy of reading. To learn more, visit Bucksbookfest.org.
Central Bucks South Holiday Shop on November 18 from 12 - 4 pm at Central Bucks South High School in Warrington, PA.
Click on the event name above for specific event details or visit Events.
Any of your Trick-Or-Treaters dressing up as a Puppy?
This adorable gift will fit into a Trick-Or-Treat bag for your Puppy, Ghost or Goblin!
Roxy Therapy Dogs are sweet, silly, goofy, and animated with beautiful furry costumes all year long! Read about their favorite food, their hobbies, birthdays, and breed along with an inspiration quote from each of the dogs (their handlers helped a little with that last one!).
Surprise a loved one with our Be Like Bud book as a special Halloween treat. Available online today!
Children Depend On Your Donations To Continue Roxy Therapy Dog Visits
Roxy™ Therapy Dogs' programs provide an irreplaceable and dependable support system for children in our community. Make a tax-deductible donation online today!
If you prefer to donate by check, please make it out to "Roxy Therapy Dogs" and mail to: P.O. Box 136, Danboro, PA 18916.
© 2018 Roxy Therapy Dogs. All rights reserved.