XIX. Animals and Mitzvahs

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XIX. Animals and Mitzvahs

A. How Much is that Doggy…? ($1,000)

We are always astonished by the changes that we see when we make our annual visit to the Israel Guide Dog Center. Their growth has been phenomenal as they provide blind Israelis with the opportunity to lead productive lives with the help of a guide dog. Norm Leventhal and Noach Braun, along with Dr. Yoni Peres, have made it possible for Israelis to acquire a guide dog without traveling to the United States or England. If you visit Israel, we recommend a visit to the Center. The dogs are incredibly friendly!

Israel Guide Dog Center for the Blind, Bet Oved, 76800, Israel, Attn: Noach Braun, phone: 08-940-8213 or 940-8202, cellphone: 050-404-070, fax: 08-940-8220, igdcb@netvision.net.il. In the U.S., contact Norman Leventhal, 701 Easton Rd., Warrington, PA  18976, 215-343-0373, fax: 343-0211, igdcb@nni.com, www.israelguidedog.org.] 

B. Mitzvah Dogs ($261.16)

The service dogs of Canine Companions for Independence act as arms and legs for people with disabilities who are unable to do the simple tasks we all take for granted, such as picking up dropped objects, turning on a light switch, or opening a door. CCI also trains dogs for deaf people. Call them if you would like to be a puppy raiser — a very gratifying job.

[CCI, POB 446, Santa Rosa, CA  95402-0446, Attn: Bob Henning, 707-577-1789, toll-free phone: 800-572-BARK (V/TDD) fax: 707-577-1711, info@caninecompanions.org, www.caninecompanions.org.]

C. More Mitzvah Dogs ($360)

The visiting dog program (Pet Assisted Therapy=PAT) at Huntington Hospital in Pasadena is a fine example of this very special method that alleviates the pain and discomfort of a hospital stay. In addition, each patient is  offered the opportunity to have his or her picture taken with the visiting dog. Our donation was used to buy film for these keepsakes. 

[Huntington Hospital, PAT Program, 100 W. California Blvd., POB 7013, Pasadena, CA  91109, Attn: Cindy Neimitz, 626-397-3495, fax: 836-6919, cinraybar@aol.com.]

D. Assistance Dog Institute (ADI) ($250)*

ADI’s slogan says it all — “Helping Dogs Help People.” This 10-year-old organization was founded by Bonnie Bergin, a pioneer in the field of animal-assisted therapy. ADI is involved in the research and development of methods and materials for animal-assisted therapy and also educating the public about its benefits. Our donation provided them with a “doggy bath” that allows them to bathe their large animal population in a comfortable and efficient manner.

[Assistance Dog Institute, Cathy Condon, Office Manager/Instructor, PO Box 2334, Rohnert Park, CA 94927, 707-537-1960, fax: 537-1954, assistdog@aol.com, www.assistancedog.org.]

E. The Cat’s Meow ($1,000)

Nina Natelson is the passionate founder of CHAI (Concern for Helping Animals in Israel). When we met her for the first time this past December we were struck not only by her mission — promoting humane treatment of animals throughout Israel — but also by her devotion to this cause. Anyone who has visited Israel knows the extreme problems that stray animals pose. CHAI is an able partner in resolving those problems.

[CHAI, Nina Natelson, Director, PO Box 3341, Alexandria, VA 22302, 703-658-9650, fax: 941-6132, chai_us@compuserve.com, www.chai-online.org.]

F. Delta Society ($250)

Delta Society is the ultimate resource for projects relating to animals and Mitzvahs. If you need scientific studies about health benefits for pet owners, videos, directories about visiting animal programs in hospitals or nursing homes, information about service dogs for people with disabilities...just about anything — always start by contacting Delta. 

[Delta Society, 289 Perimeter Rd. East, Renton, WA 98055, Attn: Michelle Cobey, toll-free phone: 800-869-6898, voice phone: 425-226-7357, fax: 235-1076, info@deltasociety.org, www.deltasociety.org.]

G. A Bird In The Hand ($300)  

This year’s donation to our friend Sigrid Ueblacker’s wonderful program was used for the adoption of a prairie falcon, one of our nation’s endangered species. Each year, Sigrid admits close to 500 raptors to her center in Colorado. Over the past 20 years, more than 6,300 birds have been admitted with nearly 4,000 returned to the blue Colorado skies.

[The Birds of Prey Foundation, 2290 S. 104th St., Broomfield, CO 80020, Attn: Sigrid Ueblacker, 303-460-0674, raptor@birds-of-prey.org, www.birds-of-prey.org.]

H. A Mitzvah Monkey On Your Back ($250)

We have all heard of assistance dogs. Even pygmy horses have been promoted recently for this very special work! Helping Hands, a Boston-based organization, trains Capuchin monkeys to act as the arms and legs of disabled people. They are now placing one monkey a month in the homes of disabled people and also provide education in spinal cord injury prevention.

[Judi Zazula, Helping Hands, 541 Cambridge Street, Boston, MA, 02134,  617-787-4419, fax: 787-5665, www.helpinghandsmonkeys.org.]

I. Threatened and Endangered Monkeys ($200)

Lucy Wormser’s Pacific Primate Sanctuary on Maui is an excellent program. It is a non-profit wildlife conservation organization that is dedicated to the protection, preservation, and propagation of threatened, endangered, and distressed primates. Since 1984, the Sanctuary has maintained a federally authorized captive breeding program for these New World monkeys. Many of the monkeys come from medical laboratories and research facilities.  Lucy now needs major funding to expand the sanctuary. 

[Pacific Primate Sanctuary, 500A Haloa Rd., Haiku, Maui, Hawaii 96708, Attn: Lucy Wormser, phone/fax: 808-572-8089, pps@aloha.net, www.planet-hawaii.com/pps/]

J. Where The Wild Things Are  ($250)

Park HaChai, a small zoo located on the grounds of Kibbutz Tzuba, offers visitors some exciting times, most especially in their snake house! Our contribution was used to underwrite visits by groups of disabled people from nearby communities.

[Kibbutz Tzuba Nature Center, Doar Na Haray Yehuda, Israel, Attn: Ilan Tur-Shalom, phone: 02-534-7989.]

K. Therapeutic Riding Center In Israel ($510,350)

Ziv has ceased support of the Therapeutic Riding Club of Israel program due to changes in management. Anita and Giora Shkedi, the original founders, are no longer part of that program. $500,000 of the above listed donation was sent at the beginning of this fiscal year as a donor-advised contribution.

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