|
|
| ABOUT Bob Wharton – Co-President Bob is a retired corporate controller and has a B.B.A. degree in accounting from Temple University. After retiring, he started a new chapter in his life of working with dogs. He completed a two-year internship where he taught effective dog training to hundreds of clients and their dogs. Today, Bob teaches basic and advanced dog obedience, AKC S.T.A.R. Puppy Program, Canine Good Citizen, therapy dog, and trick classes. He is also an American Kennel Club Approved Canine Good Citizen Evaluator, where he tests clients and their dogs for S.T.A.R. Puppy, Canine Good Citizen and Trick Dog awards and titles. Bob earned a certificate from Outstanding Pet Care Learning Center and has attended many dog training classes and seminars. His passion for training dogs came from a lifetime of training family dogs. He presently has a Golden Retriever, Jackson. Bob and Jackson worked together as a therapy dog/handler team with Therapy Dogs International. They have amassed over 1400 volunteer therapy dog visits to date. In 2015, he founded Therapy Dogs International Chapter #294 in Bucks County, PA and held the Office of Chapter Director. In 2019, Bob resigned from Therapy Dogs International and reestablished Angel On A Leash “America’s Therapy Dogs” and holds the office of Co-President. Bob and Jackson continue to do volunteer work as an Angel On A Leash Champion Therapy Dog Team. Bob enjoys traveling with his wife and dog. |
ABOUT Steven Kramer – Co-President Steven Kramer is a partner and CEO of Advantage Auto Tags and Insurance. He has been involved in the insurance business for over 35 years. 12 years ago, while training their Dogue de Bordeaux, Stella, he learned about Therapy Dog training. Steven trained Stella and the she passed her test to become a certified Therapy Dog. Stella became the first Therapy dog at the Ronald McDonald House in Philadelphia. Along with Bob Wharton, they established the Bucks County chapter for Therapy Dogs and started Angel on a Leash in January 2020. For 5 years Stella and Lil’Abner were the Ambassadors for the National Dog Show. They helped bring the importance of Therapy Dog work to a much broader audience. Steven and Donna have 3 grown children and 7 grandchildren. |
|
ABOUT Donna Kramer – Vice-President Donna Kramer is a retired teacher. She spent 30 years teaching and 25 of those years with the Neshaminy School District. She also taught the Red Cross Lifeguarding course for 27 years for Council Rock School District. She along with their Therapy dogs’ visits St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children on a regular basis. The Ronald McDonald House of Philadelphia also gets visits on a regular basis. Steven and Donna have 3 grown children and 7 grandchildren. |
|
| ABOUT Cindy Kaeble - Treasurer Cindy Kaeble, CPDT-KA is an accountant by trade. She is also a certified dog trainer specializing in Puppy Skills and Development as well as an AKC Canine Good Citizen Evaluator and a professional member of Association for Professional Dog Trainers. She shares her passion as a dog trainer for developing a strong bond with our dogs! Her love of training started while working with horses. While learning natural horsemanship methods, she quickly learned that when you observe their natural behavior and offer positive experiences, you are far more successful. This started her learning path to becoming certified in positive reinforcement dog training. She loves her time volunteering as a Therapy Dog Handler. She and her partner, Annie, have been visiting since 2016 and have logged hundreds of visits. She is excited to be a part of Angel on a Leash©. She lives in Yardley, PA with her husband, Rich. Her pack is rounded out with her Cockapoo, Karlee and her Brittany, Marlowe. |
| ABOUT Michelle Sparling - Secretary Michelle searched for a dog for many years. Being allergic to most fur babies, she was thrilled to discover she was not allergic to the Portuguese Water Dog breed and welcomed Maverick to the family. Being an active dog, Michelle knew Maverick needed a job to do and pursued therapy work. Maverick became a therapy dog in September, 2019 and has been involved in children’s reading programs. Michelle is eager for the pair to explore more therapy work opportunities. In Maverick’s spare time, he enjoys visiting with all of his neighbors both human and dogs alike, going for long walks, jumping in big piles of leaves, romping through creeks and walking in the snow. Michelle works for Networks for Training and Development, Inc., a training and consulting non-profit with strong ties to the disability community. |
| ABOUT Josephine DeAngelis – Event Manager Josephine and her Bulldog Lucy are advocates for increasing reading skills in our community. They have quite the following at local libraries and in her neighborhood. They hope to increase reading awareness by engaging children to read to Lucy and to their families. They frequent book stores and garage sales to send books to her daughter who is an English teacher in Virginia and books are always their gift of choice. Although she has had many dogs as family members, she knew working from home would allow her more time to train a bulldog and feels very blessed to have Lucy. Lucy underwent an operation to repair her ACL/CCL in 2019 and has been working on her physical therapy. Jo and Lucy are close to over 200 certified therapy dog visits. Josephine works in cardiac safety for clinical trials where she performs critical analysis and presents to sites worldwide. She has instructed dance classes to children for 11 years both competitive and for enjoyment. When not working she and Lucy can be found in her garden with her husband Jerry. |
|
| ABOUT Carole Davis – Membership Manager Carole has been in the Grooming Industry for over 44 years. She owned and operated the Grooming Shoppe in Bensalem for 33 years. Carole was also a groomer at Canine Academy in Penndel, Pa. Since she retired, she continues to work with dogs in daycare at Canine Academy. Carole is certified in Canine CPR and successfully saved a dog during a grooming session thanks to her training. Carole is a Canine Good Citizen Evaluator. Carole has been involved in many rescue organizations and was a long-time member of Philadelphia Sheltie Rescue and Brandywine Shetland Sheepdog Club. Carole has been working with her own Shelties for several years in Obedience, Rally, Fly Ball and Agility. In addition to attending various classes over the years in all aspects of dog related issues including health, nutrition, grooming and training, Carole is involved with other dog clubs and dog activities, including managing membership for Angel on a Leash. Carole with Shelties Chloe and Murray have been Therapy dogs since 2013. |
|
| ABOUT Linda Weingard – Website Manager Linda is a Registered Nurse and has worked at the American Red Cross for 35 years. Linda is an avid animal lover. Over the years, her menagerie has included many reptiles, fish, spiders, rodents, birds, pot-belly pigs, cats and dogs. She currently has an African Grey parrot, a Sulcata tortoise, a Blue Tongue Skink, a Flemish Giant bunny, and a large Koi pond. This crowd is rounded out with 3 dogs. Abby, who was deserted in the woods as a puppy. Torga is a Golden/Lab mix puppy that Linda is training to be a service dog for Canine Companions for Independence. Linda and Phoebe, a Boxer/Pit mix are new to therapy work. They started their therapy work in 2019. Phoebe especially loves going to the elementary school and interacting with the children. Linda's grandchildren, Colin and Alyssa, love to help during Therapy dog training and testing. They are great "distracters". Linda lives in Bensalem with her husband Jim. |
|
| ABOUT Linda Somers – Publicity Manager Linda has had a love of dogs her whole life. She has worked as an assistant trainer. For over 30 years Linda and her husband have had Dobermans. They really enjoy training them as they are very intelligent and love to work. Training included Agility which they enjoyed due to the fast course and Rally obedience to keep their focus on listening to commands. Linda and her husband got Jack who became their second therapy dog. Jack was almost two when he passed the therapy test. He is now 4 1/2 and visits all his friends weekly at nursing and dementia facilities. Jack loves making the patients smile and enjoys his visits. |
|
| ABOUT Joann Kirk – Merchandising Manager JoAnn had a love of dogs from a young age, introduced to English Setters from her father, she would tag along when he went pheasant hunting, watching this amazing breed work and their endurance. JoAnn had rescued Golden Retrievers for many years but has gone back to the breed from her beginning, the English Setter. JoAnn is very active with English Setter rescue and has positions on various rescue boards. She has been actively involved and a Board Member with an AKC Club. She is a past trainer and AKC Evaluator and hopes to soon be back to training. She has had many therapy dogs through the years and enjoys going to retirement centers to bring joy to the residents. it is wonderful when we come in and cheers and yells and hugs happen! |
"Angel on a Leash" is a non-profit organization. P.O. Box 247 Richboro, PA 18954 215-478-6762