On December 12, 2013, Friends of Leroy Brown opened. As the result of two years of collaboration and planning, Friends of Leroy Brown began offering dog handling training to our first participant in a 500 square foot room in the back of a building at 1518 North Main Street in Lima, Ohio. Our mission is to promote responsible dog ownership and community connections through certifying dogs to become AKC Canine Good Citizens. This enables the dogs to work on certification as part of dog therapy teams to visit nursing homes, schools, and other community settings. Through this training, individuals become effective dog handlers and benefit by developing positive working relationships. By spending time training and playing with their best friends, each individual works on personal communication skills, social manners, team building skills, relationship skills, ability to follow instructions, improving personal self-advocacy and self-confidence.
We would like to share with you some of the highlights of this past year as well as our plans for the upcoming year.
Friends of Leroy Brown’s Humble Beginnings and First Year
Friends of Leroy Brown Opens
On December 12, 2013 we began with one person in a 500 square foot room in the back of a building at 1518 North Main Street.
Friends of Leroy Brown Relocates
In July 2014, Friends of Leroy Brown moved to its current location increasing from 500 to 2000 square feet of training area at 1662 West Breese Road.
Friends of Leroy Brown Held Our First Event
In August, we held a Dog Show in cooperation with the local 4-H club, Paws and Pals. This was a practice show for the 4-H kids before the Allen County Fair. After the show, the 4-H kids judged a modified show for us.
Friends of Leroy Brown and Partners
Friends of Leroy Brown has collaborated with local veterinarians, Nathan and Melissa Metz of Metz Pets who also own Leroy Brown and his best friend Athena. We also participate in joint activities and events with the Allen County Dog Warden, Deb’s Dogs who foster dogs, and the Auglaize Humane Society. The seven original Friends are privately owned AKC Canine Good Citizen certified dogs. These dogs work with our dog handler trainees to improve the trainee’s dog handling skills. They partner as teams to visit people in the community. A local photographer came and captured each of our seven original founding Friends performing the required steps of the AKC Canine Good Citizen evaluation. These photos are proudly on display in our facility.
Friends of Leroy Brown’s Open House
On September 17th, Friends of Leroy Brown and IHS held an open house to share our new location with everyone. Our participants stamped paw prints on lunch bags and bagged puppy chow they made in preparation for the event. Visitors went on a scavenger hunt following giant paw prints all around the campus to find each part of a provided sack lunch. Visitors also met Leroy Brown, our beagle founder and his friend, Athena, a St. Bernard.
Friends of Leroy Brown Helps Rescue Dogs Get Adopted
As a result of our cooperative relationship with the Allen County Dog Warden, we took on the challenge of one of their rescue dogs, “Huggers,” a lab mix, who was in danger of being euthanized. Kayla, an Intern who is studying animal behavior at OSU, volunteered with us for the summer. She offered to foster and train Huggers to increase his adoptability. When we started with Huggers, he was extremely hyperactive and difficult to manage. The Friends of Leroy Brown trainers patiently worked with him using a treadmill, long walks and exercise to calm him down. Agility like activities were his natural gift, however, he eventually successfully completed the AKC CGC course. Huggers found his forever home and he was adopted. He now lives in Arlington, Ohio.
A second dog we worked with briefly was “Diesel,” a Border Collie/Bassett Hound mix. Diesel was adopted by the Border Collie rescue and moved to Michigan where he now lives.
Friends of Leroy Brown Participates in Community Events
Working with Allen County Dog Warden, we provided dog safety clinics at the Cheryl Ann facility, volunteered at the Allen County Fair at the Allen County Dog Warden tent to promote responsible pet ownership and adoption, and provided dog obedience and dog safety demonstrations to schoolchildren at Lima City’s Independence Elementary School.
Friends of Leroy Brown Provides Dog Handling Training
At Friends of Leroy Brown, participants work on dog handling skills. Part of the handler’s training is demonstrating skills in giving the AKC CGC trained dogs basic commands. By developing relationships with the dogs and practicing, the handler must demonstrate a positive working relationship with the dog as well as control to insure the safety of the dog and other people they encounter in the community. As a side benefit, participants work on improving many of their own personal skills including: communication, manners, team building, relationship, ability to follow instructions, and self-confidence.
Friends of Leroy Brown Provides Education
Participants not only get to spend time working on their personal skills, training and playing with their best friends but they receive education to increase their understanding of dog behavior and knowledge of various dog breeds. This year, some of the participants have achieved advanced dog handler skills to provide training “off lead” to some of the dogs.
Friends of Leroy Brown Provides a Variety of Activities
There are many things to do at Friends of Leroy Brown. In addition to the relationships that are formed, the education and learning to become an effective dog handler, participants listened to speakers who came to talk about dog related topics, such as dog health and grooming. They made crafts for various events and to give to the people they visit. Each participant works on self-advocacy as they are each given the opportunity to plan the activities for one day per month. In addition, as a group, participants assist in planning and approving the schedule for upcoming events.
Friends of Leroy Brown Gives Back to the Community
Participants are always actively looking for ways to give back to the community. This year the current participants voted to make Christmas ornaments and window clings to give to the nursing home residents they routinely visit. Friends of Leroy Brown currently visit the Shawnee Manor Nursing home weekly and the Lima Manor Nursing home every other week. Twice a month, Friends of Leroy Brown visit the Allen County Dog Warden where they assist with bathing, walking, and socializing some of the dogs waiting for adoption.
Friends of Leroy Brown Promotes Active Participation, Self-Advocacy, and Advocacy for Responsible Dog Ownership
Participants are encouraged to provide input as to the education types, speakers, and upcoming activities and events. We celebrate birthdays, especially our founding dog, Leroy Brown’s birthday. Participants voted to provide lunch to the Allen County Dog Warden staff in recognition of National Animal Control Officer Appreciation Week. In addition to providing lunch for all the Warden’s staff, they toured the facility and talked to the Warden’s staff about what they do. Participants chose to be a part of their Scarecrow contest at Shawnee Manor. The participants worked cooperatively with the Allen County Dog Warden and Deb’s Dogs to create and display a tree in the Allen County Christmas Tree Festival promoting the adoption of dogs currently in rescue or foster care.
Friends of Leroy Brown Looks to the Future
Friends of Leroy Brown Start a School Reading Program
Next year looks to be an exciting one. The Friends of Leroy Brown were asked to begin a school reading program in some of our local schools. Next year we will start this program at Perry Schools. Dogs and handlers will go into the school where children will improve their reading skills by reading to the dogs. The dogs help provide a low stress environment for the children.
Friends of Leroy Brown Expands Crafts and Fund Raising Efforts
We will be expanding the type of crafts we do to include exploring making dog toys, dog beds, creating dog-themed greeting cards, and other dog-related items.
Friends of Leroy Brown Offers AKC CGC Classes
Dog training classes will continue to be available to the community in the evenings and during the day.
Friends of Leroy Brown Trains Rescue Dogs to Improve Manners
Participants who have become skilled dog handlers will provide training to rescue dogs who pass the temperament testing and are good candidates to get their AKC CGC certificate. This could improve the dog’s chances of adoption.
Friends of Leroy Brown Adds New Dogs as Friends
Participants will be training new privately owned dogs to become new Friends of Leroy Brown
Friends of Leroy Brown Adds to Schedule
Currently, the Friends of Leroy Brown has a 4 day per week schedule. Mondays and Wednesdays participants take dogs into the community. Tuesdays and Thursdays are in-house education and training days for dogs and handlers. As our teams build, we will be contacting and expanding the list of facilities we visit with our dog teams.
Friends of Leroy Brown Will Pursue Becoming a Therapy Dog Organization
Friends of Leroy Brown is currently providing companion dog services to people in the community. We will pursue becoming certified as a dog therapy organization.
Friends of Leroy Brown Expands Employment Opportunities for Our Trained Handlers
On Friday’s this next year, we will begin a doggie socialization day at Friends of Leroy Brown. On these days, privately owned dogs from the community can come to Friends of Leroy Brown and for a fee, spend the day participating in supervised play and socialization. Our plan is to offer this as an employment opportunity to some of our more advanced handlers.
If you would like to be a part of Friends of Leroy Brown or would like more information, please contact
Andrew Rowe at:
Friends of Leroy Brown
1662 West Breese Road B Annex
Lima, Ohio 45806
Phone:
(567) 940-1337 Friends of Leroy Brown/Innovative Opportunities or
(419)224-8811 IHS Services, Inc.
E-mail: androwe@ihsservices.com
