Summary
Holiday House Pet Resort & Training Center presented a $2000 donation to Angel On A Leash (AOAL). The donation was made possible by clients of the pet resort’s dog daycare program.
DOYLESTOWN, PA, November 9, 2023—Holiday House Pet Resort & Training Center presented a $2000 donation to Angel On A Leash (AOAL). The donation was made possible by clients of the pet resort’s dog daycare program. Bob Wharton, Director Emeritus of Angel On A Leash, AOAL Champions Gini Parent with Sophia, and Bernie Parent accepted the donation on behalf of the volunteer therapy dog organization.
L to R: Mark Berkowitz, Amanda Diehl, Jess Covon with Sadie, Lindsay Smith, Sean McHale, Lora Leone, Bob Wharton, Rob Christ, Gini Parent with Sophia, and Bernie Parent
Pet parents who made a donation for AOAL had their dog’s photo taken in a Halloween costume as part of the resort’s Fall Fest event held on Friday, October 20, 2023. The Halloween costume options included super heroes, favorite foods, and wild animals. Special fall fest activities for the dogs enrolled in the Explorer program included time for adventure and discovery in the “haunted” sensory garden, a romp in a giant leaf pile, and a trip to the pumpkin patch to “sniff out” pumpkins decorated by the employees.
“Our clients and staff recognize the critical role donations play in sustaining the mission of the therapy dog teams throughout our community, and they enjoy making the day special for the dogs and the pet parents. We extend our heartfelt appreciation to our generous clients for their support,” said Dr. Laura Weis who owns and operates Holiday House Pet Resort & Training Center and Doylestown Veterinary Hospital & Holistic Pet Care with her husband Dr. Ransome Weis.
The organization and its therapy teams, known as Champions, are dedicated to providing comfort and companionship by visiting area schools, senior care facilities, hospitals, and fulfilling other community requests for therapy dog visits. Additionally, the organization provides therapy dog training and certification.
“Thank you to everyone at Holiday House Pet Resort and the pet parents for this donation. Your generosity is important to Angel On A Leash Therapy Dogs. The support helps bring comfort and joy to the people of Bucks County and surrounding areas. Our volunteer therapy dog handler teams can continue visiting with people who benefit from the human-canine bond that enhances health and quality of life,” said Bob Wharton.
AOAL therapy dog Sophia is a 4-year-old Cane Corso. She graduated from obedience training at Holiday House Pet Resort & Training Center in 2021 as part of the Play & Learn daycare-based training program. Sophia and Gini Parent became AOAL Champions in March 2022 and visit with patients at the Penn Medicine Abramson Cancer Center in Philadelphia.
The original Angel On A Leash organization—which disbanded in 2016—was founded in 2004 by David Frei, a renowned breeder, show-dog handler and judge, former announcer for the Westminster Dog Show, and current announcer for the NBC National Dog Show.
Bob Wharton and Steven Kramer—a friend of David Frei and a Director Emeritus also—reestablished the therapy dog organization in 2019. The organization currently has over 100 therapy dog teams serving throughout Bucks, Montgomery, Philadelphia, Delaware, Lehigh, Luzerne, and Mercer counties in Pennsylvania as well as areas in New Jersey.
Bob previously served on the organization’s Board of Directors and was a Champion Therapy Dog Team with his award-winning Golden Retriever Jackson. Bob is a professional dog trainer and an evaluator for the American Kennel Club (AKC) S.T.A.R. (Socialization, Training, Activity and Responsible Owner) Puppy program, the Canine Good Citizen program, and the AKC Trick Dog program.
ABOUT ANGEL ON A LEASH
Angel on a Leash®, Inc. (AOAL), is a nonprofit organization that provides volunteer therapy dog handler teams (Champions) to visit with anyone that would benefit from the human-canine bond in enhancing human health and quality of life. All handler-dog teams (Champions) are tested, certified, registered by AOAL. Call 215-478-6762 or visit www.Facebook.com/skramer.AOAL or
info@angelonaleash-dog.org for information on how to become an “Angel on a Leash” member or to schedule one of the group’s dog handler teams to visit your school, nursing facility or other site out in the community.
ABOUT HOLIDAY HOUSE PET RESORT & TRAINING CENTER and
DOYLESTOWN VETERINARY HOSPITAL & HOLISTIC PET CARE
Holiday House Pet Resort & Training Center offers overnight lodging for dogs and cats with activity packages, dog daycare, professional training programs, and grooming services. The resort is owned by Drs. Laura and Randy Weis, who also operate the Doylestown Veterinary Hospital & Holistic Pet Care, a full-service veterinary hospital located on the same property. For more information about Holiday House Pet Resort & Training Center, visit https://www.holidayhousepetresort.com or call 215-345-6960.