- May 9, 2024
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Gracie sits next to one of her owners, Mac McMullen at the meeting of the Episcopal Church Women, at St. Thomas Episcopal Church on Thursday, April 14. Photo by Jacque Estes
Lee Christie and Cash are active participants in the Ambassador Dog program. Photo by Jacque Estes
Amy Carotenuto, director of Flagler Humane Society, and Yvonne Presley, organizer of Ambassador Dogs, speak to the Episcopal Church Women at St. Thomas Episcopal Church on Thursday, April 14. Photo by Jacque Estes
Cash "leaps" through a ring during his visit to the Episcopal Church Women on Thursday, April 14. Photo by Jacque Estes
Renee Schneider reads to Char-Lee at the meeting of the Episcopal Church Women, at St. Thomas Episcopal Church, on Thursday, April 14. Photo by Jacque Estes
Char-Lee and Cash dance for treats. Photo by Jacque Estes
Gracie and Cash shook hands with their owners, and jumped through hoops, at the meeting of the St. Thomas Episcopal Church Women, on Thursday, April 14. They were two of the four Ambassador Dogs who came to entertain and educate.
“We bring the Ambassador dogs to groups like this, to do a few tricks, and to show what wonderful pets are available at the humane society,” Yvonne Presley, organizer of the group, said.
The Ambassador Dogs are a volunteer group connected with the Flagler Humane Society. They also participate in the Paws to Read program at the Flagler County Public Library, visit Florida Hospital Flagler and hospice, and local nursing homes.Some of the dogs have certifications, and some are registered therapy dogs, but that's not a requirement. The dogs have to be well behaved and good with people.
Gracie, a Great Pyrenees mix, was adopted by Sharon and Mac McMullen 7 ½ years ago.
“We were living in North Carolina and looking for a dog on PetFinder,” Sharon McMullen said. “My sister in Colorado saw Gracie's picture and noticed she was in a shelter close to where we were living.”
Cash, a Pomeranian, was adopted by Lee Christie 10 years ago, when the dog was 2 years old.
They are totally different dogs that have two common bonds – they were abused and neglected, and they were lucky enough to get a second chance at a loving home. Gracie had been kept in an outside cage with no roof, in the heat, snow and rain. Her coat was severely matted, and she had heart worms, requiring her to go through eight months of heart worm treatment before she could be adopted into a new home.
Cash, is a local pup, confiscated by the Flagler County Sheriff's Office, and taken to the Flagler Humane Society 10 years ago, after neighbors reported that children were dropping him from a second floor deck, into a swimming pool. Cash still doesn't like swimming pools.
Two other dogs, Char-Lee, Presley's dog, and Teddy, a golden retriever, are also rescues who entertained during the morning meeting.
Amy Carotenuto, director of the Flagler Humane Society, attended the demonstration, something she said she doesn't get to do often. She explained the benefit of volunteers and the programs they provide.
“Educational programs like this are making a difference,” Carotenuto said. “With these, and the low cost spay and neuter clinics, we are finding we have more responsible pet owners who are spaying and neutering their pets, and adopting from shelters.”
This shift in attitude, Carotenuto said, has reduced the euthanasia rate to almost zero, and allows the Society to put its focus into programs to help families keep their pets, by providing a low cost wellness clinic, and a pet food bank for those having trouble affording pet food.
“It's a temporary solution, but I would much rather help someone for a few months with food than for them to have to surrender their pet,” Carotenuto said.
