Liza is grateful to Paws & Think for helping her get a second chance after ending up in a shelter. Help put more dogs like Liza to work helping people. Donate to Paws & Think to make an impact today!
Liza’s journey began in a rough spot. Like many in her breed, the pit bull mix ended up at IACC — despite her sweet disposition and intelligent nature. After spending six long months in the facility, Liza was selected to participate in the Paws & Think Youth-Canine Program. After passing a temperament test, Liza earned the chance to participate in the program with four other dogs. Throughout the week, teens at the JDC learned valuable positive-reinforcement training techniques and taught the dogs basic obedience skills.
The program, designed to empower residents at the JDC through the power of the human-animal bond, also benefits the dogs. It gave Liza and her companions the chance to learn basic commands, become more adoptable, and take a much-needed break from stressful shelter life. Wendy Hendricks, a long-time volunteer of the program, heard about Liza through a friend in the program. Word traveled that Liza loved her trainers and would let the boys hold her like a baby. “Liza learned all her basic obedience skills, and the boys even taught her to roll over,” Wendy says. Once Liza returned to IACC, Wendy visited her, spent hours getting showered in love by the sweet, goofy pit bull, and introduced Liza to Duke, her 11-year-old bulldog-pit mix. The adoption was approved that same day.
Liza was a perfect fit for Wendy. She quickly became a bossy younger sister to Duke and has never met a stranger. “It didn’t take her long to discover the couch and bed,” Wendy laughs. “She is my Velcro dog at home — always wants to be where I am.” Wendy continued Liza’s training in a basic obedience class. Once Liza fully settled into her new life, Wendy enrolled her in the Paws & Think therapy dog certification program. Liza passed with flying colors.
Like a true worker-bee, Liza hit the ground running. Wendy joined the therapy dog program at Eskenazi Mental Health. At first, Eskenazi seemed like a big place for a little dog, and Liza was a bit unsure of the sights, sounds, and smells — though this didn’t last long. “She is starting to walk in like she owns the place,” Wendy says. “Everyone mentions how pretty and sweet she is, although some people are hesitant to pet her because she has pit bull in her.”
This initial hesitation, Wendy explains, sparks a dialog about the breed, and Liza’s personality opens the minds and hearts of everyone she meets. She shared that nurses often comment on how some patients aren’t verbally or physically engaged with anyone, and how wonderful it is that Liza can get a reaction from these patients. Per her mom, Miss Liza Jane has certainly become an ambassador for her breed, and for rescue dogs in general. She is now improving the lives of many patients.
In addition to providing therapy at the hospital, Liza is also the demo dog for the Youth Canine Program. Liza regularly helps trainer Kim Trimpe orientate and teach the JDC kids about the human-animal bond, the importance of positive-reinforcement training, and general pet care. This summer, she also started returning to the JDC every Saturday. “The kids really enjoy seeing her,” Wendy says. “They’re all smiles.”
