Looking back …
Preston, as captured by Photographer Sharon Montrose
As we prepare to launch Preston’s legacy, we can’t help but look back with love to something Preston had posted on Facebook in 2009, outlining his goals for one day bringing The Preston’s Planet Foundation to life.
A message from our angel & inspiration, Preston Casanova, in 2009:
***
MISSION STATEMENT >
I am Preston. And welcome to my planet!
A place where ALL dogs are created equal…
CHERISHED… RESPECTED… and LOVED… by humans everywhere, as we deserve to be. As my mudder bear treats me! ENVISION a perfect world for canines :) and EMPOWER YOURSELF.
I hope to make the above a reality, with the help of some very special human friends… and hopefully, YOU!
There are MILLIONS of dog guardians on our beautiful earth… In fact, according to a recent APPMA survey, there are nearly 75 million dogs in the United States, alone! Just imagine how many of us exist in other parts of the world?! Think of all we can accomplish, if animal guardians could somehow unite?!!!
I have a dream. With the help of my momma, Laura Nativo, I am launching PrestonsPlanet.org - a fun, informative online community that connects dog lovers and experts who all share my passion.
Please join us on our adventures around the world, as I challenge important issues on behalf of my fellow dog. I look forward to meeting you along the way! And you can always catch up with our journey here @PrestonsPlanet on Facebook or IG!
As we embark on a mission to better our planet by making it easier for people to offer animals a happier, healthier, more involved lifestyle -
THANK YOU for your support!
I do believe, together, we can make a positive impact in our lifetime.
Paws for a happier tomorrow…
Lick. Love. Live.
Preston Casanova
(Barktated, but not pawed)
OUR FOUNDATION >
The Pawtastics
The Pawtastics is an all-volunteer, non-profit family of happy canines and their humans who give unconditional love to people of all ages with social, physical, emotional and cognitive needs in Southern California. Comprised of celebrity dogs, studio dogs, agility dogs, other exceptionally-trained animals, the all-star teams of The Pawtastics aspire to take therapy work to another level, providing animal-assisted activities (AAA), animal-assisted therapy (AAT), and animal-assisted crisis response (AACR) services, with a focus on youth-related initiatives.
Our Paws 2 Love program sends The Pawtastics to shelters, hospitals, nursing homes, mental health, assisted-living, and transitional housing facilities, with the hope of creating smiles from the joy they bring to those they meet. The animals offer unconditional love, help boost confidence, and perform entertaining demos which help make patients' days a little less lonely, and a little more fun.
Our Paws 4 Reading program aspires to improve children's reading skills, to reduce their anxiety in reading aloud, and inspire a lifelong love of reading. We visit schools, libraries, and book stores, where children read their favorite books to our animals. The Pawtastics are fantastic listeners, who help make reading fun, offering a calm, patient ear in a safe, non-judgemental environment.
Our Practical P.A.W.S. program shares dog bite prevention, general dog care and humane education for children ages 3 – 12 in a fun, interactive learning atmosphere. Through practical training, interactive games and role play, participants learn how to “speak dog” and lower the risk of bite incidents. The program is suitable for presentations in schools, libraries, daycare centers, after school programs, and other childcare facilities. The Pawtastics will not only empower children with the necessary skills to remain safe, but will also help them discover the amazing relationship we can have with dogs when we treat them humanely and respectfully.
Founded by Greatest American Dog co-stars Laurie Williams and Laura Nativo, in celebration of their two dogs, Andrew and Preston, The Pawtastics is the west coast chapter of Comfort Paws, a national animal-assisted chrisis response program, based in Fairfax, VA. The Pawtastics is under the direction of Laurie Williams (CPDT), Patricia Troise (IACP), Kathryn Segura and other professionals who train, qualify, and evaluate handlers and their mannerly, exceptional-loving animals.
If you would like to “audition” for The Pawtastics, we encourage you to research The Pet Partners Program of The Delta Society. All therapy dog teams must complete our therapy animal training workshop, then become registered with the Delta Society Pet Partners Program to join The Pawtastics. Teams with one year experience who complete CCR Training are eligible to join Comfort Paws Canine-Assisted Chrisis Response.
If you live in the Southern California area and would like to be invited to upcoming training sessions and certification events to join The Pawtastics, we welcome you to contact us. Animal therapists are in great demand, and there is a definite need in the Los Angeles area.
We invite our friends in Southern California to contact us if your facility could benefit from the joy, peace and comfort a therapy animal brings. Our animals come in all breeds, colors and sizes... and we'd love to share them with you!