The Villages - August 2020 - 37

"We put together a script and we rehearsed and gave the first
performance. It turned out so well - we made $1,100 the first
night. We were just gasping," Dotty said.
Encouraged by the success of the event, the group continued
to put together new shows - about one every month at various
recreation centers.
"We're always working on new material," Marlene said. "We
have a three-ring circus and dogs coming in on a teeter-totter. I just
remade some of Mickey's costumes to keep things new and fresh."
But keeping it fresh is not a difficult task, Marlene notes, given
the playful nature of the crew.
"We always say we never do the same show twice, and that's
because the dogs are like kids - you never know what they'll come
up with. But the audience loves when things don't go quite as
planned - everyone loves it, except the person who owns that dog."
It's clear to see the pride on a dog owner's face when his pooch
dazzles the audience with his wit, but club members are most
proud of the donations they garner through shows. Each circus
performance benefits the Patriotic Service Dog Foundation, a nonprofit, volunteer-run organization that provides service dogs to
disabled veterans.
"At first, we thought, if we could just earn enough to give one
dog to a veteran in need," Marlene said. "It's a wonderful program.
The dogs are trained by female inmates at Lowell Prison, and the
experience changes their lives. Many of them go on to work as dog
groomers or trainers. And on weekends, the dogs get socialized.
They go out with Villagers who foster the dogs. They take them
everywhere - to the squares and all over so the dogs know
something besides prison life. After two years with the prisoners, the
dogs get additional, specialized training."
It's been three years since the start of their delightful doggie
circus. Since then, they've collected more than $18,000 from
generous Villages donors. They've delivered countless adorable
tricks and prompted rounds of laughter.
"We're so thrilled to be even a tiny part of this program,"
Marlene said.

MAGAZINE

The Villages - August 2020

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