From: cole@unix.SRI.COM (Susan Cole)
Newsgroups: ba.general,rec.pets.dogs,rec.pets.cats,rec.pets
Subject: Walk-a-thon to support Pet Assisted Therapy Services
Date: 13 Apr 92 21:22:07 GMT
Followup-To: ba.general
Distribution: ba
Organization: SRI International, Menlo Park, California

***************************************************************************
		SUPPORT PET VISITS TO INSTITUTIONALIZED PEOPLE
***************************************************************************

On May 3rd, I will be walking with my dog Woody in a "Walk-a-thon" at Los
Gatos Creek Park to raise money for Pet Assisted Therapy Services (PATS).

PATS is a volunteer organization whose members (including Woody and me) visit
institutionalized people throughout Santa Clara county.  I am posting to ask
people to sponsor me in the walk -- ie, to donate money to PATS in return for
my participation.  There is detailed information about PATS below, but in case
you've already made up your mind to sponsor me -- Good! :-) -- here is the
relevant information:

	Checks should be made payable to Pet Assisted Therapy Services.  
	Email me and I'll send you my address.  If you want to be on the 
	PATS mailing list, send me your address!

	You can either send your pledge now -- unless disaster strikes, I
	guarantee I'll walk -- or after the event. 

	You can sponsor "per-mile" or at a flat rate, but I really prefer the
	flat rate because, at 50 pounds and only 17 inches tall, my dog is
	built for power, not distance :-).  I don't think we'll walk more
	than two or three miles.

	PATS is a non-profit organization.  Your contribution is
	tax-deductible.  Most people use their cancelled check as a receipt.
	Let me know if you need a more formal receipt.

	The Walk-a-thon is at 1 pm on May 3rd at Los Gatos Creek Park
	in Campbell.  You're welcome to watch.  There is a $3 parking fee
	to enter the park.

Now here is more info about PATS..

PATS was first organized in 1983, with the name Furry Friends Foundation.  A
woman, Judy Kell,  whose 9-year-old daughter had cancer, noticed that her
daughter responded more to her pets than to most other things.   When her
daughter recovered, Ms. Kell decided to do something to share the affection
of pets with more people in need.

Most PATS volunteers bring their own pets, or those of their neighbors or
friends.  The animals -- dogs, cats, birds, rabbits, even lamas, goats, and
snakes(!) -- are pre-screened for health and temperament.  (No, I don't know
how you screen a snake for temperament.)

PATS currently has over 300 volunteers visiting 22 sites.  The volunteers
join "teams" and visit the same site, as a group, each month.  My dog and I
are on three teams -- Children's Shelter, Palo Alto Veteran's Hospital, and
Santa Clara County Juvenile Hall, of which I'm the captain.  Other PATS visit
sites include convalescent homes, youth camps, special schools, and
hospitals.

All the team captains and PATS members are unpaid volunteers and there is no
charge to any site we visit.  PATS has only three paid staff, all part-time.
Besides the salaries of these essential staff, the budget covers mailings,
the costs of running an office (office space is donated), volunteer
coordination and recognition costs, and INSURANCE.

We currently have *42 sites* waiting for visits!  -- and we are trying to
expand our services to San Mateo Country.  But it will take a bigger budget,
and that is why we are trying to raise money, with the Walk-a-thon and other
methods.

So -- I hope you will be want to sponsor me in the PATS Walk-a-thon.  If you
have any other questions about the Walk-a-thon or PATS, send me e-mail.


- Susan Cole
-- 
cole@unix.sri.com
{amdahl,rutgers}!sri-unix!cole
Newsgroups: ba.general,ca.general