A perfect match for assistance dog Olu
As the incoming president of the Realtor’s Association of Maui (RAM) in 2022, Hawai’i Life’s Karin Carlson had a party to plan. The installation luncheon would be the first in-person event for the association since the COVID pandemic, so the pressure was on to create something memorable. The event traditionally includes featuring a nonprofit, and after brainstorming ideas with co-worker Lydia Pedro, the Assistance Dogs of Hawaii bubbled to the top of the list. Carlson recalls, “When Lydia mentioned it, I thought it was the perfect charity. It wasn’t about the dog, it was about the family and giving people a life with dignity.” Assistance Dogs of Hawaii is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization that provides children and adults with disabilities professionally trained dogs that will increase their independence and enhance the quality of their lives. Professional instructors teach the dogs over 90 commands during their one to two years of training to assist people with various physical disabilities such as spinal cord injuries, cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy, spina bifida, and multiple sclerosis. Certified in animal-assisted therapy, dogs are also used in hospitals and nursing homes to provide love and companionship to patients. Children who are victims or witnesses of crime utilize courthouse facility dogs that help them throughout the legal process. These specially trained dogs accompany children in interviews, exams, and even while testifying in court. The nonprofit also has a veteran’s program to assist veterans with PTSD. For the event, Carlson set a goal to raise $32,000, enough to sponsor a dog’s development from puppy to graduation. The planning committee got creative with a dog photo contest, a silent and live auction, and even a dog-kissing photo booth. The event was wildly successful and they surpassed their goal by raising over $53,000 for the Assistance Dogs of Hawaii. After the donation, Carlson received periodic updates on their sponsored dog, Olu. Each time she received an update on his progress from puppy kindergarten to reaching some milestone, she included it in the association’s newsletter so everyone could follow along. When Olu graduated from training, he went straight to work comforting people at the shelters after the August fires.
Carlson hoped Olu would eventually be matched 1 on 1 to a person in need, that suited his personality and skillset. After several interviews, a match was found for him to help an individual in a wheelchair. To Carlson’s delight, the woman was based in Maui and by sheer coincidence, had attended the installation luncheon event! Carlson said, “Her name was Karen too. I couldn’t believe it. It was a match made in heaven.” If you’d like to learn more about the Assistance Dogs of Hawaii or volunteer, visit assistancedogshawaii.org.
Q Realtor means a member of the National Association of Realtors. Do you know a Realtors Association of Maui member who should be recognized for their contributions to the community? If so, send your story idea to Alma Tassi at abtassi@ gmail.com.