Let's All Pitch in to Help Someone in Need

Salutations,

This letter is being sent to you by a family member or close Friend of David Hassenpflug's. On October 18, 1997, David added a new member to the Hassenpflug family. We would like to tell you about him, and invite you or your organization to help support the Shepherd Fund.

A 75 pound German Shepherd who answers to the name Clod entered David's life and changed it forever. Clod is a Service Dog. Most of us have seen people in wheelchairs with a dog before, or a blind person being led by one. Until you actually see how an animal of this caliber changes the life of a disabled person, you cannot fully understand the impact. "The goal here, is to educate and ask for your support."

In 1990 David's life began to change, he was a strong and able 24 year old man. He had one rambunctious baby boy named Max. David played on a baseball ream, he was an avid fisherman and played golf regularly. Without notice, he began to have trouble with one of his legs dragging. He began to seek medical advice in November of 1991 an MRI showed that David had Multiple Sclerosis. In 1992 David and his wife gave us Travis Andrew, another beautiful healthy baby boy. David's symptoms had not been terribly evident, and he was moving ahead with his life. Multiple Sclerosis began to take over David's life and by April of 1994 he was in a wheelchair, where he has remained.

David's life has changed dramatically since that day in 1990 when he first noticed he was having trouble. Though he and his ex-wife are good friends, he lives alone and has done so for the past two years. With the help of family and friends, David has managed his life very well. If any of us learn of a need, it is supplied. All of us are so sorry that Multiple Sclerosis took away David's abilities that we would do nearly anything to be sure that he has everything that he needs. The one thing that no one can help David with is his loneliness, his safety, or his incidental needs like when the pen rolls under the table, or sofa. It could use up a day's energy just getting on to the ground and back up again depending on how the disease is affecting him that day..

Most Wonderful Auntie Jo to the rescue. Joann Geist is David's aunt, and is known in our family as Most Wonderful for a reason. Aunt Jo found Clod through Steve Welch & Associates in Lake Forest, California. Steve has been so remarkably generous that there are not words to express our thanks. Steve and his associates have been training dogs for 30 years and after watching a couple of David's training sessions with Clod, I am left speechless. It is amazing what Clod can do. It is unimaginable what Clod has done and will do for David.

I, personally have witnessed a recovery of a sort in David. Trying not to sound redundant, the words amazing, remarkable, unimaginable are all that come to mind, They sit and talk to each other, David and his dog., David says, "I have exercised more in the last 3 days than I had in the last 3 years." Clod is a constant companion, protector, and a friend that does not know what Multiple Sclerosis is. David loves Clod, they would both protect each other to the end. It is in Fact, amazing.

A Charitable Trust fund has been set up through the help of Bank of America in Seal Beach, California. (Thank you B of A!) Tax deductible donations can be made to help pay for the completion of the training of Clod. Although the cost of Clod and his specialized training were dramatically reduced, we still have a balance due. Clod will need food, vet visits, and plenty of chew toys for the rest of his life! This is a challenge, but it can be done. As Aunt Jo and I have bounced this idea around, people have come up with some great ideas to generate donations, like 4 H Club projects, Scouts, Lions. You have my permission to reprint this letter as many times as you can. This is a project kind of thing. As you will read, the next page contains excerpts from a clinical study done on people and Service Dogs. This it our chance to give something back, in thanks for our healthy bodies, and that David has a friend like Clod, and you. If you would like to make a tax deductible donation, send it to Joann Geist at 133 Bluebird Pk. Rd., Fallbrook, CA 92028 in care of The Shepherd Fund, (Checks or money orders need to he made out to Joann Geist - Shepherd Fund, please put "Donation" in the memo section and use this as your receipt.) We will be sending out photo's as soon as they are developed.

Thank you for taking the time to read this letter. It is our hope that once you have read this and the following page, you will know something you may not have known about before. If you'd like more information for your club or group please write to us at the address above for the Shepherd Fund, and we will send information out right away.

American Medical Association 1996 Clinical Study