Freeland, MD July 24,2018 — In honor of International Assistance Dog Week, Taking the Lead, Inc. is presenting a dog yoga event on Thursday August, 9 2018 at 6 PM with certified yoga instructor, Megan Porfida. The low impact dog yoga class will be held at Timberbrook Farm, 21000 Slab Bridge Rd in Freeland MD 21053.
International Assistance Dog Week was created to recognize all the devoted, hardworking assistance dogs helping individuals mitigate their disability related limitations. In addition to honoring assistance dogs during their special week, one of the goals is to raise awareness about these very special and highly trained animals. This year International Assistance Dog Week is August 5-11.
We hope everyone in our area can join us to celebrate the selfless love and devotion these dogs provide. Taking the Lead, Inc. provides individuals with disabilities skills to be independent and successful at home, in the community, and in the workplace through animal assisted therapy, therapeutic riding, and the training of dogs and service animals.
Taking the Lead, Inc. Taking the Lead, Inc. is a local non-profit organization pending 501(c)(3) designation. Taking the Lead, Inc. trains service animals to assist individuals with mobility, safety, and emotional or medical support. An animal trained to assist someone with mobility can help in counter-balancing an individual to prevent a fall and aid with fall recovery, and object retrieval. An animal can be trained to assist an individual with disabilities to remain safe in the community, and alert to medical conditions like a seizure. Unlike other organizations, Taking the Lead, Inc. incorporates the person in need throughout the entire process. Furthermore, many of the horses and dogs trained by Taking the Lead, Inc. were rescued and are now fulfilling a greater purpose.
Please attend the dog yoga session with or without your socialized dog, meet demo dogs trained by Taking the Lead, Inc. Please bring water, a yoga mat, treats, and your dog’s vaccination records. All dogs must get along with other dogs and be leashed at all times. Donations are greatly appreciated!
Chelsea Whitaker from Taking the Lead, Inc. states, “I cannot wait to demonstrate some tasks that the dogs can be trained to do and help you and your family experience a fun yoga session with your entire family!”
Assistance Dogs transform the lives of their human partners with debilitating physical and mental disabilities by serving as their devoted companion, helper, aide, best friend and close member of their family. Assistance dogs include Guide Dogs, Service Dogs, Hearing Alert Dogs, Seizure Alert/Response Dogs and Medical Alert/Response Dogs.
International Assistance Dog Week was established due to the efforts of Marcie Davis, a paraplegic for over 35 years and CEO of Davis Innovations, a consulting firm based in Santa Fe, NM. Davis is the author of Working Like Dogs: The Service Dog Guidebook, a resource book that captures personal stories, checklists and practical tips to provide the reader with an A-Z guide about service dogs and she is the host of the Internet radio program, Working Like Dogs, at www.petliferadio.com. As a member of a service dog team, she founded Working Like Dogs to honor assistance dogs around the world.
More information about International Assistance Dog week can be found at www.assistancedogweek.org.
