2. Agenda Topics
• Shelter Partnerships
– Current Shelter Partnerships
– Shelter “pull sheet” and vetting
• Overview of Some Cool Partnerships
– Semper K9
– Fido’s for Freedom
• MD & PA Events
4. Current Shelter Partners
City/State OPH Main POC
Afghanistan Joanne Lustre
*Aiken County, SC Sonja Gladwin
Bladen County, NC Jen Dodge
Franklin County, VA Sonja Gladwin & Tiffini Carollo
*Greenville, SC Jen Dodge
*Greenwood, SC Gina Pilsucki
Laurens, SC Mindy Young
Montgomery Count, MD Kelly Citrin
*Newberry, SC Jamie Berman
Prince George’s County, MD Gwen Rodgers
Turks and Caicos Jen Dodge
*Main Shelters – OPH buys 4DX tests. With that investment, we ensure we pull dogs from these
shelters at least once a month. (4DX tests have a shelf life and we want to maximize our investment by
using all of the tests – about 30 in a pack.)
5. Shelter ‘pull sheet’ and Vetting
Action Date Completed/ Notes
IDENTIFY OPH PROFILE DOGS
Dogs under 5 years old
(preferred 0-2 years)
Highly adoptable breeds
(no pits unless foster coordinator has identified a foster)
Female
(preferred female, more fosters can take females)
40 lbs. and under
(preferred, larger dogs need foster commitment)
“Proceed to Check out dogs” – Shih Tzu, Maltese, Yorkie, Poodle, Doodles, real
Boston Terriers (these are rare and highly adoptable)
APPROVAL: Send potential Pulls to Shelter Committee
(Dogs that are NOT a “Proceed to Check out” dog need to be approved before pulled to
ensure we have space and fosters)
operationpawsforhomes@gmail.com, sonja@ophrescue.org
Dog approved
Dog only safe with foster commitment (work with foster coordinators or get
approved to post to internal OPH family Facebook page)
6. Shelter ‘pull sheet’ and Vetting
Action Date Completed/ Notes
CONFIRM:
Temperament testing
o Good with other dogs and people
Vetting requirements (review frequently as shelters change)
o DA2PP Booster Shot
o Bordetella Vaccine
o Spay/Neuter (completed for all dogs over 10 weeks of age)
o 4 Way Snap Test
o Rabies Shot
o Microchip ($25 or less)
OPH commitment to Dog with Shelter
Availability date of dog
Transport date
Enter dog on Transport Sheet (google docs)
Name from shelter, shelter, New name (check DMS for names), age, gender,
weight, description, Shelter ID number, transport method, available release
date
ADD to DMS
or
Send to Mindy to Add to DMS
Required info: Photo (at least one), information on the personality of the
dog, temperament results, age, gender, breed guess, medical records
7. Shelter ‘pull sheet’ and Vetting
Action Date Completed/ Notes
LOCAL SHELTERS - IDENTIFY FOSTERS with FOSTER
COORDINATORS Send photo, name, weight, age, sex to local
foster coordinators to identify fosters:
fosterPA@ophrescue.org, fosterMD@ophrescue.org,
fosterVA@ophrescue.org
LOCAL SHELTERS – TRANSPORT
Work internal OPH family Facebook and OPH transport
transport@ophrescue.org to get transport to foster
LOCAL SHELTERS - FOSTER SUPPLIES
Email Gina@ophrescue.org, copy foster to get foster supplies
sent
MEDICAL
Medical Issues: Notify Meds@ophrescue.org if any medical
issues at all
Heartworm Positive dogs:, contact Cheryl Grese
cherylg@ophrescue.org
8. Shelter ‘pull sheet’ and Vetting
Action Date Completed/
Notes
FINAL PREPARATION:
• Contact shelter to get update on dogs and confirm
Call shelter and get update on medical – notify
meds@ophrescue.org if any change
Confirm OPH puppy quarantine period with
meds@ophrescue.org
PAYMENT: Ensure fees are paid for dog(s)
Mindy Young and Jen Curley have credit cards to make payments
ONGOING:
• Coordinate any communications needed to the Shelter
• Send updates, pictures of adoptions, etc. to the Shelter
10. Partner – Semper K9
• From Shelter to Service
– Semper K9, a 501(c)3 public charity, was
founded by OEF/OIF combat veteran
Marine Corps Dog Trainer & Kennel
Master Christopher Baity and his wife
Amanda
– Provide Assisted-Living K9s for wounded,
critically-ill and injured members of the
U.S. Armed Forces and their families.
– Uses ‘rescue dogs’ from local
organizations to give these unclaimed K9s
a special opportunity to be the best friend
and companion to a service member.
OPH name Tobias, fostered by
Michael & Amber McLaughlin
11. Partner – Semper K9
• Who they help
– Qualifying post 9/11 Marines, Sailors,
Soldiers, Airmen, Coast Guardsmen, and
reservists with amputations, spinal cord
injuries, Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI),
severe Post Traumatic Stress (PTS), burns,
and other physical injuries, or those
suffering from life-threatening illnesses.
– Also help spouses and children of active
duty service members who face a life
threatening illness or injury.
OPH name Tobias, fostered by
Michael & Amber McLaughlin
IDEAL DOGS
- 50 lbs.
- Puppy to 18 mths– training time depends on need
12. Partner – Semper K9
MSgt. James Norman Cunningham, Jr. was born in Mobile, AL on
January 27th, 1957. He enlisted in the Marine Corps at the age of
18. He would go on to serve for 21 1/2 years working in places
such as Okinawa, Japan; MCAS Beaufort, SC; RSS Kennesaw, GA,
RSS Rome, GA, and MEPS Atlanta, GA performing duties as an
Aircraft Mechanic and Recruiter.
He would later retire from 6th District Headquarters in 1996.
That same year Cunningham began his second career with the
Marine Corps as the Marine Instructor of the Lithia Springs High
School Marine Corps JROTC Program. In July 2010 he assumed
the role of Senior Marine Instructor for the program until his
passing on January 25th, 2014.
Founders
Christopher & Amanda Baity
with
MSgt. James N Cunningham, Jr
in fall 2013 just a few months
prior to his passing.
13. Partner – Fidos for Freedom, Inc.
Who they help
• Train and place assistance dogs for
people with hearing loss,
mobility disabilities or PTSD.
• The dogs need to want to connect to people,
take odd things and changes in stride and get along with
other dogs.
• IDEAL DOGS
– Taller dogs (24" or more at the shoulders)
– Preferred age is usually 8-14 months. (Dogs are placed at around 2 years and it
takes about a year to train.)
http://www.fidosforfreedom.org/
14. OPH Events
• Maryland Team
Leads: Pamela Hummert & Sonja Gladwin
phummert@gmail.com sonja@ophrescue.org
Area Leads:
– Anne Arundel : Pamela Hummert & Dawn Swisher
– Frederick: Cheryl Grese & Elisabeth Hamilton
– Montgomery County: Kelly Citrin
– North Baltimore: Jennifer Dunn & Amber Beagle
• Pennsylvania Team
Lead: Erika Weaver
erika@ophrescue.org
