Zeller, Speak!

19 Feb - Zeller, Speak: Remembering Our Friend

Zeller 2/17/2009 - 2/15/2021 This beautiful boy left us to get his angel wings Monday morning, February 15th, just two days shy of his 12th birthday. He was diagnosed two weeks before with cancer and then he rallied and had a very good week and a half, including a good Valentine’s Day, which he richly deserved. He had the biggest heart and loved so many; he had a way of seeing into the hearts of others. Zeller served as a CCI Facility dog to New Hope of Indiana for 10 years. The work he did impacted many lives. His first day of work...

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26 Jan - Zeller, Speak!

Greetings friends, I hope this finds you and yours well and happy as we move into February. February is a very special month to me. Valentine’s Day marks my 10th year as a part of New Hope. And on February 17th, I will turn 12, which in dog years is 84 years old! I guess that explains why I move a little slower. I have felt so much love here and shared it with everyone. I have made so many friends at New Hope and I look forward to when I will get to see them all again. It has been a...

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28 Dec - Zeller, Speak!

Dear Santa, I have been good this year and I am hoping for a squeaky toy, a milk bone and maybe a nice soft rabbit toy. I do have some gigantic requests this year and I know you will do your best. You always do. So here goes…  please bring enough vaccines for everyone, please put a toy under every tree, some food on every table and some hope in every heart. Thank you, Santa and do not forget to wear your mask!! Love, Zeller...

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24 Nov - Zeller, Speak!

Greetings friends, It is hard to believe Thanksgiving is already here. It has been a challenging year for all of us and those challenges continue as we navigate the world with Covid -19 still so prevalent. It can be scary and frustrating. Still, there is still so much for which to be thankful. Here are just a few of the things for which I am grateful – my family, my friends at New Hope, a new bone, a treat, the way the sun feels on my back, fresh cut grass, crispy leaves, smiles, pats on my head, new collars, my toys, dropped...

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27 Oct - Zeller, Speak!

Greetings Friends, Are you enjoying this fall weather? I know I am. I love the crunchy leaves under my paws. Things have been busy around New Hope with a lot of fun fall activities. First there was a virtual raffle and lots of great prizes. Then Action Club hosted a virtual pumpkin decorating event. There were some really fun decorations, pumpkins turned into spiders, pumpkins wearing masks, scary faces and smiles! AIM will be hosting a virtual Halloween dance party and a committee has been hard at work to host a virtual Fall Festival! The Fall Festival has been an annual event...

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28 Sep - Zeller, Speak!

Greetings friends, Fall is here and the leaves are beginning to change color and crunch under our feet and paws! I love fall weather, and there are so many things to do. My favorite is a long walk through the woods. Although my age makes those long walks short ones now! Fall brings us pumpkins and apples and trips to the orchard. It is a good time to go to the zoo since the animals are more active in the cooler weather. New Hope is active too with virtual events like pumpkin decorating with Aktion Club, an online version of our annual Fall Festival and...

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25 Aug - Zeller, Speak!

Greetings friends, I hope you are well and that you have been enjoying some of our beautiful weather, I know I have. The AIM groups have been busy visiting lots of parks, taking advantage of hiking trails and enjoying lunch outside. They even visited a park in Hamilton County that boasts a haunted bridge. Next week they will be visiting a llama farm. Day Services has been enjoying the weather too. They took some pictures with the beautiful sunflowers at Payne Road that our friend Kathe Rae helped plant. Castleton has enjoyed their outside space as well. It is disappointing that things are still the...

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28 Jul - Zeller, Speak!

Greetings Friends, I hope you are doing well and enjoying the sunshine. I know I am loving laying in the grass and soaking up some rays! I am pleased to report the AIM groups are up and running. They are doing lots of outdoor activities and having fun. I heard they went to the haunted bridge in Avon, Garfield Park, played basketball and enjoyed some inside games and fun. It is nice to see everyone and they are happy to be here and out of the house. Richie reports, “The people in our group are fun and cool to hang out with”. Another...

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26 Jun - Zeller, Speak!

Greetings friends, Guess what? I'M FINALLY BACK AT WORK! After several dog years, New Hope has finally decided to reopen Day Services at Payne Road where I work and at Castleton where my friend Oreo works. Don't get me wrong - I love a lazy day full of naps, pets and snacks at home. But boy, was I getting tired of the view from my window. At New Hope, I can visit with my friends who I missed so much! I can enjoy a walk in the courtyard and a sniff in the garden. I can even enjoy a dance party! While...

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26 May - Zeller, Speak!

Greetings friends, I hope this Memorial Day finds you well. Memorial Day is the day we remember and thank all the men and women who have served so selflessly in the Armed Forces. I thank each of them for their service. I also thank my fellow canines, who have served in the Armed Forces in many different roles. Canines have been Sentry dogs meaning they accompany guards on patrol and warn them of the approach or presence of a stranger. Scout or Patrol dogs are trained to work in silence to aid in detecting snipers. Messenger dogs have learned to travel...

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27 Apr - Zeller, Speak!

Greetings friends, Last month I wrote about being anxious to get back to my regular routine, especially my work life! It is hard to believe we are still sheltering in place. My sister Charlotte and I have been enjoying the sunshine when it’s here. We have done a lot of indoor playing and had a few car ides too. I know New Hope staff continues to find fun things for everyone to do like the Friday night movie and Kiwanis bingo last Thursday. It’s good to stay busy while we wait this out. I miss seeing everyone and look forward to being with...

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31 Mar - Zeller, Speak!

Greetings Friends, I hope you are all well! So much has changed in the last month. I am having to follow the shelter in place guidance, and I admit I am getting a little stir crazy! How about you? New Hope of Indiana has been doing everything we know to do to keep people healthy and happy. I even sent out a picture (of myself, of course) saying hi to everyone. Our recreation and music therapists and others are sending out activity ideas that can be done in the home. Everyone here is operating out of love for those we serve. Me? I look...

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25 Feb - Zeller, Speak!

Greetings friends! This month, I celebrated my 11th birthday. That's 77 years in dog years. Some days I feel my age, but most of the time I still love the same things I did when I was a puppy: getting a good snack, playing with my favorite toys and getting so much love from all of my friends. Birthdays make you think about stuff like that...

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27 Jan - Zeller, Speak!

Greetings friends, The Cheese and Thank food truck is getting ready to gear up for another wonderful season and we are excited!! We have new people who will participate in the program and then be ready for employment in the food service industry. We are fortunate to be able to continue partnering with Bethel United Methodist Church for the use of their kitchen. The people there have been so supportive of this project and are good taste testers too! This season we will be selling the same great mac-n-cheese with toppings. We welcome suggestions for toppings. Is there something you would enjoy on...

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31 Dec - Zeller, Speak!

Greetings Friends, Tomorrow we will find ourselves in a whole new decade!! It will be 2020 and a good time to make promises to ourselves and others about the future. So here are my top ten resolutions for 2020: 1. I will take more walks. 2. I will make snow angels every time it snows. 3. I will not beg at the table. 4. I will beg at the table. 5. I will spend more time with my head in people’s laps. 6. I will make 12 new friends in 2020. 7. I will encourage others. 8. I will listen before I speak. 9. I will be happy when I turn 11, even though I wouldn’t mind being younger. 10. I will...

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20 Nov - Zeller, Speak

Greetings, friends! Thanksgiving is just around the corner and it is my favorite holiday. Not just because I might get a bite of turkey, but because it gives me pause to count my blessings. So here is my top ten blessings list. 1. I work at New Hope, which is an awesome place! 2. I am surrounded by people who love me. 3. I have about 1,000 friends (some are people; some are dogs). 4. I have my own couch at the office. 5. I see a LOT of smiles! 6. Occasionally I get a Milk Bone. 7. In February people sing "Happy Birthday" to me. 8. Some of my friends play fetch with me in the...

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29 Oct - Zeller, Speak

Greetings Friends, It is National Disability Employment Awareness (NDEAM) Month and we are celebrating the many gifts people with disabilities bring to employers. There are so many benefits to hiring people with disabilities. Not the least of which is high quality work and dedication. Besides getting the job done, hiring people with disabilities changes the culture of a workplace for the better. It broadens the understanding of people without disabilities. Instead of assuming someone cannot do the job if they have a disability, they are able to see in action that indeed they can! And just like all the rest of us,...

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24 Sep - Zeller, Speak

Greetings friends, At my job here at New Hope of Indiana, I get to meet a whole lot of really special people. Not just the individuals that we serve, but my coworkers, too. There are a lot of important jobs to fill at New Hope, but one of the most important jobs is that of a DSP. DSP stands for Direct Support Professional, but I think it should stand for Delightfully Super Professionals! Because that is what our DSPs are. They provide exceptional care for those we serve. Our DSPs take their jobs seriously, while still having fun doing it. They...

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27 Aug - Zeller, Speak!

Greetings friends, I arrived at New Hope on February 14, 2011! I turned 2 on February 17, 2011. I am now 10.5 years old. I remember what a fun first week it was. I came from Canine Companions for Independence, a wonderful national organization that places service dogs like me at no cost. On Saturday 8/24/19, New Hope hosted a puppy raiser workshop and a day of re-certifications for current working dogs for Canine Companions for Independence. I felt like I was watching my life all over again. From the littlest puppies to dogs in service to humans for years, they were all...

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29 Jul - Zeller, Speak

Greeting friends! I am thrilled to say that the Cheese and Thank You food truck is finally open! Cheese and Thank You not only means my favorite food, CHEESE, but a new program that’s a part of New Hope’s transitional services for young adults. Team members will have the opportunity to make and serve delicious mac-n-cheese to people around the Indy area. I was able to meet the Food Truck Specialist, Tim Dunkel, and the whole Cheese and Thank You team: Michelle, Elijah, and Richie. They’ve been getting excited for the grand opening of the food truck as they’ve been practicing their...

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