To whom it may concern, My name is Daleelah Henderson-Bradley, and I am currently the Canine Enrichment Coordinator at the Hawaii Island Humane Society. I am writing this letter of recommendation on behalf of Richard Gorton. Rich has been volunteering with us since 2022 and has done nothing but nurture, respect, and put his utmost effort into enriching the dog’s lives. Since the shelter environment is stressful for the well-being of the animals, Rich has dedicated a multitude of hours to walking, playing and overall supporting the mental and emotional needs of all the animals. When faced with a problem/challenge, Rich works diligently and quickly, focusing his attention on the task at hand. When learning new things, Rich is attentive and asks great questions. When dealing with situations beyond his control, Rich does not let stress overcome, yet he calmly assistshowever he sees fit and always follows protocol. Rich has ultimately helped dogs express their natural behaviors, build self-confidence and trust all by using modern, force-free, science-based training techniques. This includes, but is not limited to: ✓ Decompression walks or as we say “sniffaris” ✓ Engaging in food puzzles/ games with the animals ✓ Helping dogs complete their stress cycle by taking them to the yard for active engagement ✓ Sitting unobtrusively in the kennel with the dogs and going at the dogs' pace The techniques used helped guide Rich during his time here, but his energy alone will definitely be enough to turn all the dogs’ heads! I hope you consider Mr. Gorton for any hands-on canine work/enrichment because he will be a reliable asset to any team! Kindly, Daleelah Henderson- B.

Rich & I have been married for over 35 years. For 22 of those years we had two dogs, Petey and Molly. Rich was fully committed to taking the very best care of both of them over the course of their entire lives. He rarely, if ever, missed taking either one for its daily walk. Both Petey and Molly were an integral part of our family, and both hold a special place in our hearts. That deep love and compassion that Rich feels for dogs is what serves as his motivation to provide pet care as his life’s work. His experience with our own pets, along with the time he generously gave to the Hawaii Island Humane Society, have helped him develop the knowledge and understanding to use good judgment, make sound decisions, and to gain your pet’s trust. You can be assured that Rich will provide your pet with the very best care possible.