Santa, dancing dogs help women herald holiday

The holidays arrived early for the women of Partners for Community Living at Bernadette’s Place, which houses developmentally disabled women and helps them lead independent lives.

The group held its annual Christmas party at St. Anne’s Children and Family Center in Spokane on Thursday night for the 12 women and their families – complete with a holiday dinner, a visit from Santa and two dog shows.

Appearing as the post-dinner entertainment for the fourth year was the Spokane Dog Training Club Drill Team and The Ruff Revue, a performance troupe composed of members of Diamonds in the Ruff who dance with their dogs.

Diane Baker, leader of the Revue, said the dancers and their dogs often go to schools, nursing homes or hospitals because it gives members a chance to perform and lets audiences interact with animals.

“It’s a way to practice our sport and to share what we do with the community. To entertain and just bring smiles to the faces of the residents at these facilities,” she said.

The members use positive reinforcement, providing treats for a good behavior and ignoring negative behavior, to train their dogs to do standard tricks, like rolling over, and more complex ones.

After dinner Thursday, chairs were pushed back, the tables were folded and the dogs took center stage.

To strains of Christmas classics, canines large and small weaved between their owners’ legs, spinning in circles and jumping to grab bits of kibble.

The audience erupted in applause when Baker’s miniature dachshund, Trooper, rolled over on command. Another dog walked backward, considered an unnatural move for a dog.

“We’re very freestyle, but we also use choreographed dance routines with our dogs,” Baker said.

For the women in the Bernadette’s Place program, celebration is common. Last week, the group took a bus tour of Spokane to view the Christmas decorations around town.

“They integrate (the women) into the community. They hold jobs out in the community, they eat out in fine-dining establishments, they do recreation and they take vacations,” said Shannon Miller, a staff member at Partners for Community Living.

The organization helps them by giving assistance with paying bills, buying food and getting work. The group is funded by Catholic Charities.

Jonelle Bellis’ daughter Jackie, 29, has been living at Partners for Community Living for nine years.

“We’re pleased that our daughter is living in a place like that,” she said.

Karen Hathaway, organizer of the drill team, which performed second, said she considers the group’s work therapeutic.

“Almost everybody loves animals, when you bring an animal into a nursing home or a school it just relaxes everyone incredibly,” she said.