Eyes Ears Nose and Paws

06/28/2025

EENP Client Dog Team Graduation

06/27/2025

Introducing new EENP team ✋Hailey Weber & Sage! 🐾

Hailey Weber is a Child Life Specialist at Levine Children's Hospital, working in the pediatric hematology and oncology outpatient center. She supports children and their families through some of the most challenging times in their lives, offering education, distraction, and companionship during medical procedures. Hailey became familiar with Christina and Sam and witnessed firsthand the powerful impact a facility dog can have on both patients and staff.

Now, Hailey is thrilled to step into the role of facility dog handler with her new partner, Sage (formerly Elaine). Sage will be part of engaging activities like paw-painting and will provide companionship and stress relief for patients and their families as they navigate incredibly challenging circumstances. In addition to supporting patients, Sage’s calming presence will serve as emotional support for staff and loved ones—bringing quiet comfort during tough moments and spreading cheer throughout the hospital, helping create a more positive and supportive environment for everyone at Levine.

Hailey’s job counterpart, Courtney Osborne, was trained as Sage’s secondary handler so that Sage can help in all aspects of treatment.

Hailey chose the name Sage, which means healing—a perfect reflection of her work supporting children and families through medical challenges and her desire to bring comfort and connection to those in her care.

Sage’s training was made possible by an amazing team of volunteers, ABEL trainers, and staff, starting from her birth in the home of Stephanie Sacks O'Brien and support from a fantastic litter care team. Her young puppy trainers were Sarah Whittington, Xueyang Li, Gopal Manne, and Carolyn McShane. Sage received advanced training from the ABEL trainers at Warren CI, Caswell CC, and Orange CC, and her furlough trainers were Emily Atkins, Deb Cunningham, and Nuvan Rathnayaka.

Please join us tomorrow, Saturday, June 28th at the Whitted Human Services Center (Donna S. Baker Meeting Room) 300 W Tryon St. Hillsborough, NC 27278 to celebrate our newest EENP graduates! The ceremony is open to the public and will start at 11am. If you are unable to join us in person, the ceremony will be live-streamed on our page.

06/27/2025

Introducing new EENP team ✋ Christina Hall & Atlas! 🐾

Christina Hall is a physical therapist in the inpatient rehabilitation center at Levine Children’s Hospital, where she works with patients from six months to 21 years old. She supports patients with a wide range of conditions—including neurologic, orthopedic, oncologic, cardiac, general debility, and limb differences. In therapy sessions, she focuses on mobility, strength, balance, and both fine and gross motor skills.

Some may recognize Christina from Team Training in June 2024, when she was first matched with facility dog Sam. Sadly, Sam became ill and passed away shortly after placement. Though his time at Levine was brief, Sam made a lasting impact on both patients and staff. Christina shared that his presence confirmed she was meant to be a facility dog handler.

Now, we’re thrilled to welcome Christina back, this time matched with her new partner, Atlas (formerly Norm). Atlas will play an important role in therapy—supporting mobility by walking at the patient’s pace, encouraging gross motor skills by retrieving tossed items, and assisting with communication by responding to practiced cues. Patients will also be able to work on fine motor skills by brushing Atlas, putting items on and taking them off his velcro vest, or placing objects into a basket he holds.

Norm was named in memory of Jenn Peterson. Christina chose the name Atlas for her new partner—a name that means strength, which beautifully reflects both his role in supporting patients and Christina’s work as a physical therapist helping children build physical and emotional strength every day. Atlas’s training was made possible by an amazing team of volunteers, ABEL trainers, and staff, starting from his birth in the home of Mandy Hitchcock and support from a fantastic litter care team. His young puppy trainer was Evelyn Gandy. Atlas received advanced training from the ABEL trainers at Caswell CC, and his furlough trainers were Deb Cunningham, Deborah Gibbs, and Elizabeth O'Melia.

Please join us tomorrow, Saturday, June 28th at the Whitted Human Services Center (Donna S. Baker Meeting Room) 300 W Tryon St. Hillsborough, NC 27278 to celebrate our newest EENP graduates! The ceremony is open to the public and will start at 11am. If you are unable to join us in person, the ceremony will be livestreamed on our page.

06/27/2025

Introducing EENP team ✋ZuZu Bersley & Fella! 🐾

ZuZu is headed to high school this fall—woohoo! She keeps busy performing in musicals like Mary Poppins, taking jazz, tap, and ballet, and attending voice lessons. She recently returned from an amazing trip to France and Switzerland, where her favorite sights were the Notre Dame and the Mona Lisa. When she does get a rare break, you’ll find her knitting, hanging out with friends, or smothering Fella with kisses.

If ZuZu and Fella look familiar, it’s because they’ve been a team since March 2019! Back then, ZuZu was just 7 years old, so her mom, Tracy, completed Client Team Training and served as Fella’s primary handler. Now, ZuZu is returning to complete training herself and officially take over as Fella’s handler.

ZuZu was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes in 2016. While she uses technology to manage her blood sugar, it’s not always accurate. That’s where Fella comes in—he alerts to rapid changes in blood sugar, often before the technology catches it. He’s also trained to “go get help” if ZuZu needs support (or if she’s ignoring his alerts!). If necessary, he’ll even gently nudge her toward the kitchen for a snack.

As she steps into high school, ZuZu is excited to bring Fella along. He’ll monitor her blood sugar throughout the day and offer calm companionship when things get stressful.

Please join us tomorrow, Saturday, June 28th at the Whitted Human Services Center (Donna S. Baker Meeting Room) 300 W Tryon St. Hillsborough, NC 27278 to celebrate our newest EENP graduates! The ceremony is open to the public and will start at 11am. If you are unable to join us in person, the ceremony will be live-streamed on our page.

06/27/2025

Introducing new EENP team ✋ Ezra Stigen-Nelson & Carr! 🐾

Ezra just turned 10 years old—his birthday was June 21st! He has an impressive taste in music and loves mixing tracks on his DJ board. Ezra enjoys playing outside, whether he's tossing a ball, feeding the family’s ducks, swimming in the pool, or simply watching cars go by. One of his favorite activities with his siblings is a game called “Puppy,” which started after Ezra attended an EENP Graduate Dog Meet and Greet.

Ezra was born with cerebral palsy, which significantly affects his movement and communication. He uses a manual wheelchair outside the home but prefers to be on the ground at home, right in the middle of the action. Because of his limited mobility, he relies on his family to help him with tasks like picking up dropped items, opening doors, or getting in and out of bed—though they’re working on helping him build more independence.

In addition to cerebral palsy, Ezra has epilepsy, which—though currently well-managed through medication and diet—is far more dangerous. His seizures, which usually happen at the beginning or end of sleep, require rescue medication to stop. His parents, Trina and Stigen, remain constantly vigilant and often lose sleep out of concern for his safety.

That’s why the whole family is excited to welcome Carr into their lives! Carr will alert to Ezra’s seizures, retrieve dropped items, open doors, and help with tasks like adjusting blankets and providing deep pressure therapy when Ezra feels overstimulated. As Ezra grows stronger, Carr will also help with bracing. Most importantly, Carr will offer companionship, greater independence for Ezra, and much-needed peace of mind for his parents.

Carr shares a birthday with, and was named by, Mateo Snider-Kimrey, in honor of drummer Eric Carr. Carr’s training was made possible by an amazing team of volunteers, ABEL trainers, and staff, starting from his birth in the home of Logan Ikenberry and support from a fantastic litter care team. His young puppy trainer was Angel Melos. Carr received advanced training from the ABEL trainers at Caswell CC, Orange CC, and Warren CI, and his furlough trainers were Hanna Baum, Adelaide Gordon, Claudette Nitard, and Elizabeth O’Melia.

🎉❤️ Welcome to the EENP family, Ezra, Laura & Carr! ❤️🎉

Please join us tomorrow, Saturday, June 28th at the Whitted Human Services Center (Donna S. Baker Meeting Room) 300 W Tryon St. Hillsborough, NC 27278 to celebrate our newest EENP graduates! The ceremony is open to the public and will start at 11am. If you are unable to join us in person, the ceremony will be live-streamed on our page.

06/27/2025

Introducing new EENP team ✋ Salim Dellicker & Parlow! 🐾

Salim is an active 10-year old who loves to learn - he just finished up fifth grade and will be heading to middle school in the fall! He loves to watch whatever college sport is playing depending on the season, although basketball is his favorite. At home, he likes to play basketball with the various hoops around his home. Salim and his mom, Laura, also enjoy traveling - they went to England over spring break and are hoping to visit Salim's birth family in the fall.

Laura started the process to adopt Salim the day after she graduated grad school - she did her thesis on families who adopt children with Epidermolysis Bullosa (EB), which is how she learned about Salim. Salim was born with Recessive Dystrophic Epiderlysis Bullosa (generalized severe), which means he is missing the protein that binds skin layers together. As a result, any sort of friction will cause his skin to tear and blister, similar to a third degree burn. Salim is wrapped head to toe in bandages, partly to help heal any open wounds and partly to protect his skin. With EB comes constant pain, difficulties with movement depending on wounds and scar tissue, bandage changes at least two times a day, and several surgeries a year. Salim has a lot of anxiety and trauma regarding medical procedures, which make these life-saving measures cause severe stress for Salim and his mom both before and during the appointments.

Now, Salim has Parlow by his side! Parlow will provide soothing deep pressure for Salim during painful bandage changes and difficult medical procedures. Parlow will also help Salim stay stable when he's walking on uneven ground, in crowded areas, and/or if he has wounds on his feet. Parlow can also get Laura if Salim needs help. Parlow will be handled by Salim's mom, Laura.

Parlow’s training was made possible by an amazing team of volunteers, ABEL trainers, and staff, starting from her birth in the home of Kim & Bob Christopher and support from a fantastic litter care team. Her young puppy trainer was Sunshine Scoville. Parlow received advanced training from the ABEL trainers at Warren CI, Caswell CC, and her furlough trainers were Emily Atkins, Hanna Baum, Deb Cunningham, Cindy Leacox, Elizabeth O'Melia, and Carriella Starnes.

🎉❤️ Welcome to the EENP family, Salim, Laura & Parlow! ❤️🎉

Please join us tomorrow, Saturday, June 28th at the Whitted Human Services Center (Donna S. Baker Meeting Room), located 300 W Tryon St. in Hillsborough to celebrate our newest EENP graduates! The ceremony is open to the public and will start at 11am. If you are unable to join us in person, the ceremony will be live-streamed on our page.

03/14/2025

Thanks to Maggie Newland and CBS 17 for putting together this great piece on the ABEL program!

Service dogs trained in North Carolina prisons are changing lives, not just for the people who need them, but for the inmates who train them.

03/01/2025

🎉 Paws Up for Graduation on Sat 3/1! - https://mailchi.mp/eenp/client-dog-team-graduation-mar-2025

11/02/2024

EENP Client-Dog Team Graduation

06/29/2024

Client-Dog Team Graduation June 2024

06/28/2024

EENP is excited to announce the matching of two new facility dog teams this month, and we will be celebrating them at our graduation tomorrow. The graduation ceremony will be in the Great Hall at the Passmore Senior Center in Hillsborough, NC on Saturday, June 29 at 11 am.

These special dogs, trained in many of the same skills as our assistance dogs, provide service to entire communities rather than just one person. They operate in professional settings, interacting with multiple individuals daily.

Frankie (who came through training at EENP with the name Aurora) will be working with the community relations team and crisis unit at Chapel Hill Police Department alongside Lt. Nate Chambers and Kathleen Tuohy. Samwise will be joining staff at Levine Children's Hospital in Charlotte, working alongside physical therapist Christina Hall to help children recovering from severe injury or ilness.

We would be very honored if you joined us tomorrow to witness and celebrate the accomplishments of these new teams and their trainers, and to support our teams as they begin their work together.

06/27/2024

Saturday 6/29: It's time for graduation! - https://mailchi.mp/eenp/client-dog-team-graduation-jun-2024