PAWS Dog Templeton is Changing Lives

BROWNWOOD, Texas – Youth at the Brownwood PAWS program trained this service dog candidate, Templeton, last year.

Now Templeton has gone on to change a life of a teenager who was paralyzed from the shoulders down in a car wreck. Katie’s first service dog died at just 7 years old, leaving her in a very tough position. She depends upon having a service dog to maintain her independence during the afternoons after her caregiver leaves.

At the same time, Templeton made the tough cut for becoming a service dog but his match fell through at the last minute.

Staff at Service Dogs Inc. in Dripping Springs felt so awful for Katie they decided to place Templeton with her despite the fact that she’d moved away to Seattle.
Templeton retrieves things Katie needs such as the remote for the lights so she can go to sleep or an emergency call button/phone. He helps her get undressed and puts her legs back on her wheelchair.

Templeton started out at Ron Jackson State Juvenile Correctional Institute in Brownwood, where his name is painted in huge letters on the wall so that people can see what he has gone on to do, thanks to the partnership between PAWS (Pairing Achievement With Service) and Service Dogs, Inc.

The boy who worked with Templeton, who’s now at Gainesville training another service dog candidate, said, "This dog taught me that just because I started my life wrong in the beginning doesn’t mean I got to end my life like that. He was a dog that I wanted for myself, but I knew he would make a change in someone else’s life. I thought about how many people I could embrace with four paws, more than I ever could with two arms. I am amazed and proud how far he has come along."

McFadden Sends Youth Home with Backpack of 'Hope'

By Y. Denise Caldwell Community Resource Coordinator, Northern District Parole Office FLOWER MOUND, Texas - Larry Bossaler, McFadden volunteer McFadden Ranch Volunteer Larry Bossaler enjoys his assignment: Making sure that every youth who leaves the McFadden halfway house knows that people are praying for him and wishing him the best in his future. He is the man who brings them their “Good-Bye” backpack. When he delivers the backpacks, he makes sure to do three things – visit with the youth, show the contents of the backpack (because staff put them in the lockers until the youth leaves), and lastly close the visit with a heartfelt prayer. The youth enjoy and appreciate the backpack, the visit and the prayer. Many are a little anxious and scared to leave but knowing that the McFadden volunteers care enough to send them off in this special way, helps them feel a bit less worried. “I always bring an extra backpack,” Larry said. “In case a youth i

McFadden Ranch High School Graduates Honored

DENTON, Texas -- The Kiwanis Club of Denton recognized nine youth from McFadden Ranch who earned their high school diploma or equivalency by inviting them to their April 17 noon meeting and luncheon where they were awarded $50 each for their trust fund. Spearheaded by JCO IV Gregory Winn, a longstanding member of the Kiwanis Club of Denton, the event was truly memorable for the youth who attended. They heard a motivational and moving presentation by Texas Rep. Pat Fallon, who completed the Greatest Endurance Challenge – the World Marathon Challenge – tackling seven marathons in seven days on seven continents. He took the challenge after being inspired by Jonny Wade, a 7-year-old boy who battled pediatric cancer and had only one wish – ‘that no other kid ever gets cancer.’ Wade’s death led to the creation of Pediatric Cancer Foundation for which Fallon raised over $250,000 so far. Fallon, who represents a portion of Denton County, said the takeaway from his experience is that we

IN MEMORY AND APPRECIATION: Trayce Haynes Alexander

Trayce Haynes Alexander, of Cat Spring, Texas passed away in April. She was a JCO IV at the Giddings State School and began her employment with the Texas Youth Commission on January 5, 2009, as a JCO III. She was promoted to a JCO IV on April 1, 2010. Trayce was a hardworking, loyal and dedicated staff member and friend. Her number one priority was the youth in her dorm and she would drive one hour and forty minutes everyday (even in ill health) to try to make a difference in the lives of the youth she worked with. She was well respected by both staff and youth due to her extraordinary work ethic. The boys could always depend on her to hold them accountable. She is survived by her husband Geoff Alexander and two daughters, Kristyn and Robyn Alexander. Trayce was born on September 3, 1952. She earned a BS from Southwest Texas State University in Law Enforcement.

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