The BIRC of WI is partnering with Comfort for Critters as part of their “Comforting Homeless Pets – One Blanket and Toy at a Time!” initiative.
Where did the inspiration for this program come from? A rescue story close to home….
The story (in brief) of how “Puppy # 2” became Packer Rieth: The Rieth family visited Colts Rescue Rehab (Muskego, WI). They were told that two unwanted male puppies were dropped off at a farm in Missouri. They then made their way to Muskego.
Garrett and Roseali came to visit the rescue dogs at Colts Rescue Rehab. When Garrett saw “puppy #2”, he fell instantly in love with him. Garrett held him for a while, and the puppy was more than content sitting in his lap. The decision was made to adopt puppy #2, whose name was then changed to Packer. Garrett gave him this name because of his coloring, and he indicated that he looks like a Packers fan, too!
Why blankets and toys?
An animal’s life can be challenging when it finds itself in an animal shelter. Despite heroic efforts by the staff and volunteers, it’s extremely stressful as the animal loses its home, is moved from cage to cage, and is subjected to new sights and sounds daily.
Having something to call their own, which provides warmth and/or comfort year-round (even against AC in the summer), familiar smells, and a soft touch, can make all the difference.
Once the animal is adopted, this comfort object takes the stress of getting to know its new surroundings and its forever family. Once again, the blanket or toy provides something comforting and familiar!
For more information or to join this initiative, contact us today. No Charge to attend, but But Donations to support this program are accepted
Wed. Aug 27, 2025
1:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Create Fleece Blankets and Dog Toys for Shelter Animals (The Packer Program) at the Brain Injury Resource Center of Wisconsin511 N. Grand Ave, Waukesha
Wed. Oct 8, 2025
1:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Create Fleece Blankets and Dog Toys for Shelter Animals (The Packer Program) at the Brain Injury Resource Center of Wisconsin511 N. Grand Ave, Waukesha
Wed. Nov 12, 2025
1:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Create Fleece Blankets and Dog Toys for Shelter Animals (The Packer Program) at the Brain Injury Resource Center of Wisconsin511 N. Grand Ave, Waukesha
The Packer Project is part of our Social and Skills Event Sessions (Download the 2025 Schedule and join us!)
“Social skills” is a broad term that includes understanding what is expected of you in different social interactions — how you conduct yourself and what you say in social settings. If you’ve experienced a brain injury, you may find that it has affected your ability to interact with other people. In some cases, you may not realize there is any change until a family member, friend, teacher, or caregiver notices changes in your behavior and shares that with you. Rebuilding social Skills can be very challenging. Not being able to connect with other people because of your brain injury or response to trauma can be painful. Isolation is one of the most devastating impacts of ABI/TBI and PTSD for many people, so improving social skills is incredibly important. Social skills problems can also put a strain on personal relationships, can make it difficult to get or keep a job, and can lead to increased emotional symptoms like depression/anxiety, which can lead to overall reduced quality of life. This hard work creates better opportunities for communication and deeper bonds with friends and family. So join us this year and start your journey of making new friendships and new beginnings!
As we know, cognitive rehabilitation is based on the concept of neuroplasticity — that the brain can change and adjust throughout life by strengthening existing connections or creating new ones. There is no “one size fits all” approach. These offerings focus on the following: memory, attention, understanding, reasoning, problem-solving skills, ability to multitask, processing speed, decision-making skills, organization, planning, communication (written, speech, language, etc.), and self-awareness