I write this note with a heavy heart. Some of you may know by now that Dr. John New, one of the founding members of HALT, passed away Tuesday night. It was unexpected and we are all deeply saddened by the loss of such a great man. He had a long list of accomplishments and was a big advocate for animals and the human and animal connection. He was still active on our board after 26 years, and was planning on retiring at the end of this year.
HALT was one of the programs that was near and dear to his heart. He always loved hearing the stories from classes about the kids and the changes we see once they experience the magic that happens between a kid and a dog. In addition to HALT, he was also a founding member of HABIT (Human-Animal Bond in Tennessee) and CAIT (Companion Animal Initiative of Tennessee). He will be greatly missed by so many.
We are dedicating the Furapalooza walk/run Saturday morning to Dr. New so we can celebrate his life, his loves, and his contributions to the veterinary and social work fields. We would love to have all of our HALT supporters come out to honor this wonderful man and program he helped start. Please wear your HALT shirt if you have one.
