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About Our Staff

Linda Robinson, Executive Director

As a matter of introduction, I must start with "the facts, only the facts":
I have been in the human services field for over 25 years. I have worked with clients in many of my jobs. For the last few years, I have been in management and administration, working collaboratively to help make a difference at that level. I met Anne Curran and Bailey several years ago. We worked together and I learned first hand what a trained service dog can do and what Bailey did for Anne every single day.

Anne founded Gateway To Canine Partnerships and when she needed help in managing this organization, she contacted me. I was honored to be able to carry her vision into the future. Being the Executive Director has provided me with many challenges. You see, I have three feline sons, Checkers, Bouncer and Wheezer, my baby. I have not lived with dogs since my youth. I love all animals so it wasn't hard to become attached to so many of our service dogs in training.

I have a diverse life, I enjoy hard work and play and a have a deep spiritual foundation. I believe in aromatherapy, astrology and karma, not necessarily in that order.

I truly feel my background has prepared me for my current position. My life experience has brought me to this time and place where I know I can make a difference. I am continually impressed by how our Gateway client's lives are enhanced because of their four-legged canine companions. I want to be a part of the many success stories I hear about from our Human-Canine Teams. I am here because I am supposed to be.


Lance Matticks

Lance has been involved as a volunteer trainer since the summer of 2004. Lance donates 100's of volunteer hours each year. He is a member of the Great Salt Lake Dog Training Club and has experience in working on specialized training as well as basic obedience and team socialization. Lance knows first had about working with people who are disabled and the challenges they bring. Lance's love and knowledge of dogs is what drives him to bring out the best in the individual dog so it can be a real asset to its person. Lance has the right combination of dog training skills and working with people with disabilities whose goals are to become certified service dog teams. Lance has a regular canine assistant, Niko who regularly attends training class to assist in dominance and dog aggression issues as well socialization. Niko also speaks the canine language to other four-legged friends in training. In regular life, Lance is a full-time senior risk analyst for Hansen Quality.


Ruth Counter

Ruth has had extensive experience with raising, training and handling service dogs. She raised and trained guide dogs. She and her late GSD "Di" were members of American Search and Rescue and Davis County (UT) Search and Rescue. She and three of her German Shepherds have been Delta certified in Animal Assisted Therapy. As a Special Education Assistant, her dogs were involved daily in the classroom facilitating animal assisted activities and utilizing educational and therapeutic interventions.

Ruth's love of dogs began early at Von Schrief Kennels in Carson, CA. "My aunt was Ruth Schrieffer raised AKC German Shepherd Dogs I grew up with her dogs and spent much of my time with her and working the dogs at the kennel."

Her interest was and still is, Service Dogs. As a young adult, Ruth was privileged to train her own dogs in obedience, with Red Phillips, a well known trainer in Southern California.

Ruth's family became Guide Dog Puppy Raisers for Guide Dogs for the Blind. During the next 10 years they raised and trained 10 Guide Dog Puppies. Ruth also served as the 4-H leader of the Guide Dog program in Davis County, where she received training in puppy handling and obedience by Guide Dogs for the Blind.

Ruth currently volunteers with Gateway To Canine Partnerships as the Project Leader for Salt Lake County 4-H Club Puppy Raiser's project.


Maintenance and Kennel Manager

Gateway To Canine Partnerships is lucky to have this person who wishes to remain anonymous as the Maintenance and Kennel Manager. This person came on board early in 2003 and her dedication to GCP is incredible. She is on the GCP payroll and volunteers the same number of hours each week to maintain a clean building and grounds. She has raised 9 nine puppies from only weeks old to 4 months old. She has cared for many, many dogs we have temporarily housed waiting for their permanent home. Visitors and clients always comment on how clean GCP smells and that you would never guess we have animals on the premises. She cares deeply about our organization and donates her time and energy towards our continued success. She loves her work and most of all she loves tending to her spring garden.

Our trainers and staff are available to make presentations to your business, school, organization and agency. Topics included are what trained service dogs can do for the disabled, and understanding the ADA and local laws regarding service dog access.