Successful Disabled Pet Adoptions
Pets With Disabilities - Founders and Directors
Pets with Disabilities Founders, Joyce Darrell and her husband Michael Dickerson with their pets
Small business owner Joyce Darrell, along with her elevator mechanic husband Michael Dickerson, founded the Pets
with Disabilities organization in 2000.
Their lives were changed forever after their rescue dog Duke broke his back playing as a puppy. Having nowhere
to turn for help in caring for him, they decided to create their own organization that provided helpful resources
on with pets with disabilities. Soon after, the story of Duke (and later Misty, another wheelchair-bound dog)
helped raise awareness about disabled pets to thousands of people worldwide.
The grassroots organization and Web site, www.PetswithDisabilities.org, have provided support and information to
animal caretakers whose pets suffer from birth defects or have become disabled due to illness or injury. The couple
travels all over the country promoting their mission: provide a positive voice for dogs and cats with disabilities
that desperately need homes.
Powerful spokesdogs Duke and Misty have been featured on NBC’s Today show, as well as in Prevention and Dog Fancy
magazines. They’re also always the center of attention at every pet exposition they attend!
Joyce recently finished writing a book about dogs with disabilities. It will be available in bookstores and online
in June 2007. Extraordinary Dogs (The Lyons Press)
is a compilation of fifty heartwarming, against-all-odds profiles of dogs with disabilities that have an unwavering zest for life.
Mike and Joyce live in Prince Frederick, Maryland, along with their huge menagerie of furry friends with disabilities.
Lillie Goodrich and John Andersen
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Founders of Glen Highland Farm, Lillie and John run a year round Border Collie Rescue in upstate NY where over 900 dogs have been rehomed to date (2008). Each year, at least 200 find their way to safe haven at the facility. They also run an inner city children's program, Camp Border Collie for Kids, bringing over 200 at risk kids to the Farm each summer to work with rescue dogs. The effort is entirely supported by donations since it's inception in 2001. Both Lillie and John have backgrounds in business: John was a highly successful CEO of numerous companies and Lillie, a television producer and consultant for networks. Both apply their understanding of marketing and business to the non-profit world. Lillie is also a skilled animal communicator and teaches seminars on understanding dogs, held throughout the northeast.
Jill Barsky, the Pet Friendly Realtor
I believe in finding homes for people and animals. As you will see, it is my firm belief that one must give back as one gets.
Part of every one of my commissions goes to either Lab Rescue, the Humane Society, SPCA, or Animal Rescue League of the client's
choice. I also spend many hours volunteering for these organizations. It is not only important for me as a Realtor to find you
your "dream" home but, homes for other four legged clients as well. So to my clients, past present and future, you are the ones
that make this possible. Thank you! Because of the tragedy of September 11, 2001, not only will I contribute to the Rescue of
your choice but, a portion of every transaction will now be donated to Animal Rescue Leagues and Animal Welfare groups directly
involved in helping the with the Relief Efforts and Future Efforts.
Virginia Johnson
Virginia Johnson and her blind collies, Lady and Emma, have been Pets with Disabilities volunteers since the beginning. Lady
and Emma, both blind since birth, have been meeting and greeting thousands of people over the years, and Virginia has been
educating people about blind dogs. Lady, the dog on the right is a Certified Therapy Dog and she has been instrumental in
helping young children to read. When Virginia is not volunteering her dogs, she works as a Human Resource Specialist for
Hershey Import Company. They all reside in Hamilton Square, New Jersey.
Eric Udler, Super Pet Expo
Eric Udler began his career in the trade show industry in 1990 and decided to leave the corporate rat race in 1999 to fulfill
his dream of launching his own shows. Eric produced his first Super Pet Expo in 2001. The show is a fun-filled family event
that takes place annually with shows several metropolitan areas including New York, Philadelphia and Washington, DC.
Each show attracts tens of thousands of pet owners, thousands of leashed pets and two hundred exhibitors selling some
of the coolest pet products not traditionally found in the Petco’s and Petsmart’s of the world. Plus there is lots
of animal education and entertainment such as the Ultimate Air Dogs, a pet fashion show, a puppy playground,
K9 police dog demonstrations and more.
Eric is often called upon by the media to show off the latest and greatest pet products. He has been seen on numerous television stations including NBC, CBS, ABC, Fox, CNN, Animal Planet, and various cable stations. Prior to launching his own company, Eric was a sales executive with two of the world’s largest exhibitions and Tradeshow Week Top 200 shows -- the Consumer Electronics Shows (CES) and the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB). Eric’s Alma matter, Frostburg State University, recognized him with the 2000 Alumni Achievement Award. In 2001, Eric received the first ever Young Distinguished Alumni Achievement by his college fraternity, Sigma Tau Gamma. Eric and his wife Orna Amrani reside in Bethesda, MD with Chandler, their 90-pound Weimerunner. On weekends, they relax on the Potomac River in Harpers Ferry, WV.
Enjoy the stories on our site, a celebration of ingenuity, compassion and unconditional love shared between disabled pets and their caregivers.
Disabled animals show a special kind of devoted loyalty to their caregivers so if you have room in home and in your heart adopt a disabled animal, it just might be the best pet you will ever have.
Thank you for your support.
Rescue Magnet, Design M3 $6.00 including shipping |
Adopt Pets with Disabilities Ribbon Magnet, Design M4 $6.00 including shipping |
Spay and Neuter Magnet, Design M5 $6.00 including shipping |
Be a Pets with Disabilities Angel!
A small donation will help us to continue to meet our goals. Our sanctuary is in constant need of cleaning supplies,
paper towels, diaper wipes, clorox clean-up wipes, detergent, and dryer sheets. Dog biscuits (milkbone) are always
needed. Printing services are also needed to help keep the word out about our mission. Thank you.
Pets with Disabilities is an all volunteer, non-profit 501(c)(3)
organization dedicated to helping and promoting the adoption of physically disabled animals
into great homes. All donations are tax deductible to the extent permissible by law.
Contact your tax adviser.
Thank you.
Pets with Disabilities is an officially recognized Maryland Non-Profit Organization.