Press Release

For Immediate Release

Date: June 15th, 2005
Contact: Deborah Winters
HandicappedPets.com
27 Rt 101A, Unit 6
Amherst, NH 03031
(603) 673-8854.
Email: Media@HandicappedPets.com
Website: http://www.Handicappedpets.com.

4 th grade class project becomes heroic rescue of a Handicapped Pet

Velma, OK, June 15 th, 2005 - What started as a class project for fourth-graders learning about handicapped pets turned into a nationwide effort to help a bright-eyed dachshund left partially paralyzed after an attack by angry teens.

Kathy Barton's 4 th grade class in Velma, Oklahoma, was working with HandicappedPets.com to create awareness of the value of disabled animals. They heard about the plight of a dachshund in Tennessee named "Boo," now named "Johanna" and wanted to help. The dog had been attacked with a bat and was left paralyzed in her rear legs and incontinent. After her injury, her former owner would chain her outside to prevent damage to the rugs. To move around, she had to drag around her back legs in the dirt, leaving them scraped and raw. Their class project became a successful rescue mission.

By then, Johanna had been taken in by Beth Farmer of the Humane Society of Warren County, Tenn., who searched for and found a new home for Johanna with Lauren Smith of DogsDeserveBetter.com. The only problem: Smith lives in Fryeburg, Maine, 1,100 miles away.

During a radio interview with the class on nationally syndicated "Animal Radio," host Hal Abrams suggested that they help Johanna, and the students all agreed, in unison, to donate the $423 they had raised. They then continued the radio show, calling Smith in Maine who gratefully accepted.

“I’m so proud of these kids for raising enough money for the dog wheelchair, the air transportation, and the dog diapers and other supplies that Johanna needs. It’s a story about one group of kids repairing the damage done by another group of kids. They’re all Heroes!” said Mark Robinson, creator of the HandicappedPets.com website.

Johanna arrived at the Portland, Maine Jetport on Monday. She was met by Lauren Smith, HandicappedPets.com, and Channel 6 News. Johanna gratefully folded herself into the welcoming arms of her new mom.

“The deep, loving bond that grows when we care for elderly, disabled, and injured pets is always heartwarming,” continued Robinson.

HandicappedPets.com offers a wealth of products, services, and support for caretakers of elderly, injured, and disabled animals. See the website at http://www.HandicappedPets.com for photos of Johanna, the 4th grade class and their Handicapped Pet inventions, audio files of the radio interviews, news, more.

For more information, contact Deborah Winters, HandicappedPets.com, at (603) 673-8854. Website: http://www.Handicappedpets.com.