AIR Dog Daphne, whose “mom” is actress and AIR Advisory Board Member Carrie Genzel.
Like most AIR volunteers, Audrey Kilbride met AIR Co-founder Tricia Baker during a dog training class and has been involved with AIR ever since. For the past eight years, Audrey has been creating AIR Dog patches on her embroidery machine and sewing them onto the AIR Dog vests.
Tricia discovered Audrey’s talents when she embroidered bandannas for all the graduating dogs in that first training class back in 2012. After the next level class, Audrey embroidered towels and Tricia asked if she could embroider the AIR Dog vests.
“I taught myself how to do this,” Audrey said. She explained that the vests are hard to put on the frame of the embroidery machine, so she creates the patches and sews them onto the vests.
Even though Audrey now lives in Pennsylvania, she continues to be AIR’s exclusive, dedicated embroidery specialist. After about seven dogs become certified AIR Dogs, Tricia sends vests and the dogs’ names to Audrey.
Another project Audrey has under way is creating a patch for the Hopewell Valley Regional School District, where Tricia is training six of the employees’ dogs to become certified AIR Dogs – an achievement that is anticipated next month. Of course, these dogs will have the AIR Dogs patch and will also proudly display the school district’s logo on their vests.
“I’m so glad to be supporting AIR because we have to start talking to kids about mental health when they’re young. We can’t wait until it’s too late,” Audrey said.
Here is another example of Audrey’s creative talent: Towels that were a hit at the Miki & Friends’ 5K Walk and Run last year.
