Will you help my friends?

This past school year I began volunteering at The Lab and began working with "R" (that's us looking into each other's eyes ;-) The Lab is a program of St. Paul Public Schools and serves at-risk youth to discover, understand and share their voices through creative and experiential opportunities. Sometimes humans have been hurt so much that it's hard for them to trust -- that's what I've learned about all of these great kids, and in particular "R". "R" and I got teamed up and I got to hang out with him every week. I remember the first time we met ... I could tell he liked me (and I liked him too!) but he really wasn't sure what to do with me. As weeks passed (and there were days when all we would do is hang out together while he played word games with my Human) I could feel his heart opening up ... I think my heart also started to open up to. Every Tuesday morning my Human and I would wait for "R" to arrive at The Lab. He would arrive in a St. Paul yellow cab with a couple other kids, escorted by an adult. As our bond grew, and weeks passed, "R" would dart out of the cab and run into the building to meet me. I would wait for him to walk through the door. I love to see the big smile on his face and how he would get down on his knees and give me a big bear hug. The first time the other kids met me, "R" said "This is my dog, AH-NUNG" and he hugged me for the tenth time. My pal "R" -- he can hug me a hundred times and that wouldn't even be enough.

The Lab is a really cool place because they have programs where dogs can participate. Me, i'm pretty mellow, and rather than the dog obedience stuff, I like to work 1:1 with kids like "R" ... for me, it's about relationships and connecting and simply hanging out. Like "R" i went through so much before I was rescued by Karen of Red Lake Rosie's Rescue (heartworm, lymes disease, gun shot, starvation - and I have no front teeth to prove it! You name it, i'm a survivor!)

Anyway, I need your help now ... The Lab has been nominated for a $10,000 grant - a grant called "Grant for Change" and supports artists, activists, and athletes doing good in the world. The recipient is based on votes. The Lab NEEDS your vote, and it needs to be done by 8/31, so no procratinating my friends ;-) Together, we can make a difference in the lives of more "R's" in this world ...

To vote, visit the Nau Grant for Change site.

And spread the word!

Hugs from "R" and slobbery kisses from me (ahnung)