Simple concepts
By Kathi Hamblet

One of my favorite instructors in design school would plead continually with his classes to “Simplify, simplify, simplify!” He would pass by a drafting table, nod his head at a drawing and say, “Less is more,” and then just walk away. Mr. J was right. Some of the very best ideas are the simple ones.

The Sponsorship/Training program at the SPA is just that, and it is turning into a smashing success. Dogs who are connected to people and have good manners find a forever home faster. Teens who have a teacher they can respect and an activity that builds compassion and confidence will make better citizens. Sooo simple!

The SPA is grateful to the sponsors for making this happen. We are also grateful to the talented Thomas, our trainer/teacher who has gone above and beyond expectations in time and dedication to make this program fly.

Bernadette is one of the success stories. She is a Border collie mix that was adopted from the SPA as a young pup but returned as an unruly teen. This eight-month old girl would dump her water 2–3 times a day, stand on her hind legs and shake the chain-link so hard the ground would vibrate, jump, bark and get the whole yard shouting just for fun. She could unlatch her gate, fly down the row of cages and taunt all her friends who wanted to join her but were unable.

We tried balls and bones and extra romps in the paddock but this delinquent needed some real brain food. Enter Romiro (a sponsored student) who was up to the challenge and two months later when a prospective owner stopped by to visit, she sat quietly in her cage, then sat promptly on command. She was immediately chosen. We had planned to take Bernadette to the Jardín on July 10 for an exhibition and Romiro had worked so hard with her that the new owner agreed to return her just for that day.

After a short massage to relax her and get her attention off all the commotion in the Jardín, I watched Romiro give her a hand signal for a down/stay. He dropped the leash and walked away. Birds, kids, balloons and six other dogs surrounded Bernadette and she was just lying there with her eyes on Romiro waiting to see what he wanted her to do next. Okay, I had a few tears, and some later too when Romiro came to say good-bye to his star pupil as she left to her forever home. It was bittersweet. Maybe nothing is really quite that simple.

If you would like more information about the Sponsorship/Training program, or would like to come and watch the training sessions, please email Kathi at kathamblet@gmail.com or Irene at GDIAM@aol.com. If you would like to adopt a well-mannered companion for life, come see us. The students will be proud to show you what they have been working on.

We now have 14 dogs in training, five doing more advanced work and the others at different stages. We have six new students and hope to raise enough money for a third class by the middle of August.

Please stop by the Sociadad Protectora de Animales to see all of our great animals. We are open 11am–2pm for volunteers and visitors. We are located at Los Pinos 7, right off Calzada de la Estación. Visit www.spasanmiguel.org  to learn more about us.