Troops Go to the Dogs

New York National Guard Soldiers, Airmen and active duty and civilian medical providers on duty fighting COVID-19 in New York City are getting the benefit of a wagging tail and licks to lift their spirits.

The troops are returning the favor with belly rubs.

The dogs are courtesy of Puppies Behind Bars, a New York City non-profit that pairs inmates in regional prisons with puppies, which the inmates raise to serve as service dogs.

The group brought their dogs to hotels where Guardsmen and medical providers were staying, as well as the alternate care facility at the Jacob Javits Convention Center in Manhattan, to give those responding to COVID-19 a stress break, according to Gloria Gilbert Stoga, the program coordinator.

New York Army National Guard Sergeant 1st Class Richard Masci, assigned to the 104th Military Police battalion from Kingston and working at Javits, first suggested the idea April 10 when he was talking to the unit’s rear detachment.

“The National Guard was asked by Sergeant Masci in Kingston if they needed anything and their answer was, “Service dogs?” half in jest,” Stoga said.

“There’s something about a dog that people love and they gravitate to and let their guard down,” Masci said.

The idea was raised up to the governor’s office, Stoga said, “and they recommended Puppies, so here we are.”

“As soon as we were asked, I said that of course we would help and one week later (Friday, April 17), we started,” Stoga said.

Puppies Behind Bars began in 1997 and has almost two dozen years of breeding and training experience to prepare dogs for service or therapy duties.

It was a perfect fit for the current military missions in New York, Stoga said.

“The amount of stress that the military and medical personnel serving in New York City are going through is extraordinary,” Stoga said. “The fact that our dogs can provide some comfort makes me prouder than I think I have ever been of them.”

The dogs are raised and trained in seven different correctional facilities in upstate New York. About 140 prison inmates raise the service dogs and with support of the Puppies Behind Bars staff, train them for wounded veterans and first responders.

Dogs have some 100,000 hours of socialization during their two years of training to prepare them for the work.

“We’re set to do eight shifts a week, two hours each, and the idea is that this is a way for the young Soldiers of the Guard to decompress, to just pet a dog and have a dog lick them and kiss them.”

The dogs live in prison with “puppy raisers,” inmates who are matched with them for the mutual benefit and bonding the training brings. “Our dogs learn, instinctively, to help people who need them,” Stoga said.

The efforts have reached more than just uniformed responders in New York, Stoga discovered.

“The Guard is also taking the dogs to meet with the nurses when they come back from the hospitals around the city, and what I’ve found out that I didn’t know is that the nurses are literally coming from around the country,” Stoga said.

“They don’t know anybody, they’re working 12 or 20 hour shifts and they’re coming back (to their hotels) and the National Guard is there with service dogs and the nurses get to pet them and love them.”

The ability to hug and pet a dog during a time of social distancing is what makes the difference, said New York Army National Guard Capt. Yvette Valle, Headquarters Detachment Commander for the 104th Military Police Battalion.

“The experience here is quite surreal and unlike anything I’ve experienced in the military,” she said.

With long hours and the stress of the unknown during the pandemic, the missions for Soldiers has been unlike any other disaster response effort, Valle said.

“The biggest thing I promote within my company is a positive mental attitude during this crisis and their attitude has been more than I expected with everyone willing to do whatever is needed.”

Bringing in the dogs has certainly made a difference, Valle said.
“Coordinating the dogs has definitely boosted morale with the Soldiers and with the nurses,” Valle said.

“It gives them a piece of family, a closeness that we can’t experience due to social distancing. They can get that through the dogs,” Valle said. “It gives them love and warmth that they are sacrificing being here for this cause.”

“The dogs are doing amazing work out in the world and at this particular moment in time, are bringing a tiny bit of joy and normalcy to people for whom joy and normalcy seem almost impossible to remember,” Stoga said.

The dogs, trained to work with veterans, wounded warriors and first responders, are a natural fit for supporting the National Guard response effort and can make a real difference for Soldiers, said Maj. Gen. Ray Shields, the Adjutant General of New York’s military forces.

“I am sure this means the world to all those who get to spend time with the puppies,” Shields said.

“I went twice last week with two dogs,” Stoga said. “One was raised in Fishkill and one in Bedford Hills.”

The visits are now a regular part of the working shifts for military and medical responders at the Javits Medical Station and hotels in Manhattan, serving as a stress-relief for Soldiers and nurses.

Stoga spoke with one off-duty Soldier during a visit on April 18, and asked where he was from.

“A small town in Dutchess County,” he replied, “Fishkill.”

Pointing to one of the dogs, Stoga said, “This dog was raised in the Fishkill Correctional Facility!”

The Soldier couldn’t believe it, got down on his knees, and had the dog lick his face to meet a new hometown friend, she said.

“It’s been a great success,” Masci said. “Everybody is thrilled to see them.”

“For Puppies Behind Bars, all of our service dogs go to wounded war vets or first responders,” Stoga said, “So these dogs being able to help in this way before they are placed is just phenomenal. We’re just thrilled to be able to work with the National Guard like this.”

service dogs ‘gear up’

Susquehanna Service Dogs is a non-profit that raises and trains service dogs for those in need. The cost to raise one dog is around $30,000.

SSD was supposed to host a “Gear Up” event during Blue-White Weekend in State College, but it was cancelled due to the Coronavirus. Instead, they kicked off a month long campaign that ends April 30.

For more information on how you can donate, check out their website!

Retiring Navy dog

Fostering a Dog

If you’re thinking about fostering a dog for the first time, it can be an understandably exciting time. If you don’t already own a pet, fostering can be a way to see if your home and lifestyle is a good fit for a permanent fluffy addition to your family. If you do have another pet, it can serve as a way to see how your animals do with a new animal in the home or to give them a friend to socialize with for a bit. And of course, there’s the cherry on top of it all: Saving an animal and freeing up a space at a shelter to save an additional animal. But it can also be daunting. Will you fall in love with the dog? Will it be impossible to give them back? What if it’s not a good fit? There’s so much to consider when thinking about fostering but one of the most important things to keep in mind is this: It’s not the same thing as adopting, despite that being a common misconception.

Pat Deshong, the president of Furry Friends Adoption, Clinic & Ranch, a not-for-profit, no-kill rescue organization in Florida, says that one of the main differences between fostering and adopting is the time commitment. But although fostering is a shorter-term commitment than adopting, it’s equally impactful.

“A foster home is a much more pleasant place for a dog to wait to be matched with his or her forever family than a cage at a shelter or rescue,” Deshon says. “The dog gets to enjoy the freedom of living in a home amongst people in the interim. It is mutually beneficial.”

So if you’re on the fence about fostering a dog, here are some things Deshon want you to consider first. The good news? By reading this article you’re already doing a little prep work. Though it is different in many important ways, fostering is similar to adoption in one sense: You don’t want to do it on a whim. Doing thorough research about what fostering is, what it isn’t, and if it’s a fit for you is key before doing anything else. All major animal shelters have resources online giving detailed descriptions about their fostering processes. It’s worth looking at national resources first (try the ASPCA’s fostering FAQ page for a start) and then moving on to local resources about fostering before you do anything else. If you’ve ever adopted an animal before, then you know that applications can take a bit of time to get approved and are certainly not instantaneous. Long before you’re hoping to foster, start getting your information together. This includes doing things like picking out your references and giving them a heads up that a fostering agency may be giving them a call in the future. This also is a good time to check the terms of your lease if you rent your home. Are animals allowed? Do you have to pay a pet deposit? These are all very important things to know far in advance of submitting your application.

Not every agency is able to allow someone to foster the very second that their application is submitted and approved. Sometimes it takes weeks to find an animal that is a right fit for you and your home. Having said that, if you know a time in the future that would be perfect for fostering, it’s worth applying far in advance so everything is approved in advance. As New York City-based adoption agency Social Tees writes on its Fostering FAQ page, submitting a thorough application is the first step to eventually being matched with a foster animal.

“Based on your application, we try to match your foster parameters (low energy, under 25 lbs, good jogging partner, friendly with other cats, etc.) with the animals we need to place in foster homes, but we can’t always give you a choice between multiple animals,” the site notes. “Once you’ve submitted the foster application, you can respond to posts on Facebook and Instagram requesting foster help for animals that look like they may be a match for you.”

Dogs all have different needs, and this includes foster dogs. Any foster parent to a pet is responsible for food, toys, water, beds, etc. But foster parents are also sometimes in charge of giving dogs medicine, taking them to vet appointments, watching over them as they recover from surgeries or treatments, etc. If this is a deal breaker for you, then fostering may not be the right fit at the moment.

As the FAQ section on the PAWs site mentions, taking puppies and kittens to regular vaccination appointments is a huge part of fostering young animals. They might be cute, but they’re a lot of work. Foster parents to dogs are expected to provide supplies for their animals (including and especially food), but unlike adopting a dog, these supplies are actually tax deductible. As the FAQ section on Homeward Trails Animal Rescue states, “purchases made for foster care are considered donations to Homeward Trails Animal Rescue and are tax-deductible.” So keep your receipts. As DeShong points out, there are always going to be “foster fails,” which means the foster family falls in love with the dog and decides to officially adopt it.” But, according to the Philadelphia Animal Welfare Society, going into fostering thinking that it is a trail run to see whether or not you like that particular dog is the wrong mind set. It’s important to realize that in most cases, the dog will be up for adoption to the public for the entire time you are fostering it. This doesn’t mean that it can’t be a good experience to see if you’d like to adopt a dog someday, but in general it’s best to remember that your home is not a permanent situation for the dog at all.

Support dog lift spirits

Many people would probably agree, we’ve never needed a dog’s love more than right now.

COVID-19 restrictions mean therapy dogs are no longer allowed in our hospitals or nursing homes, but Chance is still finding ways to keep people comforted and calm.

His owner calls him the “gentle giant.”

“They see him and they smile and they’re happy and they hug all over him, of course to try to get kisses, which he’s not supposed to do, but they try to get kisses and hugs,” said Marcia Pearce.

Chance is used to spending his time visiting patients and staff at Moses Cone Hospital and residents at Spring Arbor Senior Living in Greensboro.

But since the threat of the coronavirus, visitors have been shut out.

“It’s tough for him. He doesn’t understand why he can’t go in the door and see his friends,” said Pearce.

That’s why Pearce decided to find a new way to give back. She’s been sewing and delivering masks and surgical caps for health care workers.

“They look forward to us dropping stuff off, and they can see him through the car window or they can sneak a hug and pet now and again,” said Pearce.

At the retirement home, it’s hands and snouts pressed up to the window.

“Even now with this going on, it’s still giving them stress relief because they’ll talk about his visit for hours and days after he’s been here,” said Pearce.

Pearce says at the end of their visits it’s a tradition to stop by Freddy’s for ice cream to let Chance know he’s a very good boy.

Guide Dog Puppies Zoom

Dog lovers around the world can join a Zoom call with a host of adorable puppies on Wednesday, April 29 (or, if you’re in the U.S., the evening of Tuesday, April 28th), thanks to Guide Dogs Australia.

Posting on Fcaebook, the charity in Queensland said: “To celebrate International Guide Dog Day on Wednesday 29th April, we’re inviting you to join our first (and cutest) Zoom puppy meeting!

“Tune in on your lunch break (12:00-12:30pm UTC) to meet our Guide Dogs and learn about the special role they play in the lives of people living with blindness or low vision.”

The puppy participants of the virtual call will include a three-week-old guide dog puppy named after the event itself, Zoom. Zoom is a video conference call app that has been keeping people connected during lockdown.

So far, over 1,200 people globally have signed up to watch the dogs from the comfort of their own homes. Looking for something to brighten your day? Usually, the charity celebrates International Guide Dog Day by hosting a day packed with fun-filled events for the public. However, after social distancing restrictions have been put in place, the team had to quickly rethink.

“COVID-19 hasn’t stopped the clients’ need for a working dog, and once a puppy is born it’s important we get them on the path to becoming a quality seeing eye dog as soon as possible,” Jane Bradley, Vision Australia’s Seeing Eye Dogs development manager told The Dily Mail.

“We’ve quickly had to become experts in training our people and dogs via video conferencing.”

police gets comfort dog

The Claremont Police Department is expanding its K-9 force, adding a comfort dog to the roster.

The Stratham-based non-profit, Hero Pups, is working with the department to train a rescue dog to serve as a comfort dog. Comfort dogs have become popular among first responders as they can help people dealing with the immediate effects of trauma.

“Our comfort dog’s responsibilities will include supporting victims of all crimes, engaging with families and children during difficult times, and being a resource that the community as a whole can access,” Police Chief Mark Chase said.

Chase said he first encountered Hero Pups at a charity event and learned that the organization pairs venerates with trained rescue dogs.

“We met them at a CHaD Hero baseball game last year and started up a relationship,” Chase said.

Hero Pups has supplied comfort dogs to Concord and Manchester, and has a program to have prison inmates train dogs. Laura Barker, president of Hero Pups, said the organization gives out about 20 dogs a year.

Barker has been working with rescue dogs her entire life, but got started training comfort dogs for veterans after seeing what the dogs could do for soldiers dealing with injury. She was visiting a relative who had been shot in Afghanistan when a therapy dog entered the room and approached another injured soldier.

“I could see the way this young man reacted, and his whole demeanor changed,” Barker said. “I was like, ‘My whole life has been leading up to this moment,’” Barker said.

The connections that the dogs make help people dealing with stress and trauma, whether it is for victims of violent crimes, veterans dealing with war wounds, or first responders who are susceptible to post traumatic stress disorder and depression, she said.

“These dogs are like a key that unlocks a door that sometimes has been sealed closed for so long they didn’t know it was a door anymore,” she said.

Claremont’s dog, a black Labrador-mix already has a sibling, Patch, getting ready for the Manchester Police Department. Barker said the dog has some more training to get through, but should be in Claremont within the coming months.

Chase is asking residents to vote on names for the dog, with Sarge, Sullivan, and Goose being the leading candidates. The department plans to live stream the name announcement on its Facebook page on Friday at 1 p.m. following a demonstration by Claremont’s current K-9, Maverick.

service animal nominated for award

A local mobility service animal and his military family hope their community will help them beat out several other canines to win a coveted national award.

S.D. Gunner, who has assisted Army veteran and Richmond Hill resident Sgt. Hamilton Kinard since June 2013, is up for an American Humane Hero Dog Award.

The award is all about recognizing “hero dogs” — ordinary canines doing extraordinary things, according to American Humane’s website.

The 7-year-old Great Pyrenees is nominated in the service dog category, one of the annual competition’s seven award groups, which also include law enforcement, therapy and shelter dogs.

“Gunner has been nominated in the past, but we’ve never made it past the first round because it’s based solely off of individual voting,” Britnee Kinard, president and founder of the S.D. Gunner Fund, told WSAV.com NOW.

American Humane reached out to the Kinards this year to let them know their devoted service dog would have yet another shot at winning.

Brittnee says since Gunner’s life expectancy is only 10 years, she and her husband, Hamilton, decided they would move forward with participating.

The service dog’s work with Hamilton over the past seven years helped him get nominated.

Hamilton had returned from combat abroad with no less than 56 injuries, including a severe traumatic brain injury.

“We got Gunner after the Department of Veterans Affairs determined that my husband needed a mobility service animal to help him get around,” Britnee said.

“At that point in time, he was using a wheelchair and a couple of other mobility devices, and they felt that Gunner would be of great usage towards him,” she said.

Gunner has helped Hamiliton with balance, wheelchair/walker assistance and mobility strength.

Nearly a decade later, the large and furry white dog has grown not only in size — but into an integral part of the Kinard family.

Britnee adds that it’s nearly impossible to go anywhere with Gunner without being recognized.

“It’s not Blayne’s mom, Maks’ mom, the Kinards, it’s ‘hey, you’re the people with the big, white dog,’” she shared. “We don’t go anywhere without him, he literally does everything we do, and I don’t think we ever want to think about the day that he won’t be here.”

Gunner inspired Britnee to start the SD Gunner Fund in 2014.

It serves to help veterans and disabled children with the financial expenses of owning much-needed service animals.

Through the Fund, they also train and provide service dogs to those that need them.

“As an organization, [Gunner] represents so much,” Britnee said.

“We’ve probably assisted somewhere around 10,000 children and families in the Lowcountry, working with pediatric facilities, hospitals, school systems and working individually,” she said, adding, “Yes, he’s our service dog, but he does so much more than that.”

Gunner’s owners say their service animal, which was the first Great Pyrenees ever to win the American Kennel Club’s Humane Fund Awards for Canine Excellence, has broken a lot of barriers for his breed.

“He’s not a lab, he’s not a golden retriever, he’s not a standard dog that you would see as a service dog,” Britnee said.

“When we first got started, there were so many people that told us a Great Pyrenees could not be a service dog because they’re difficult, they’re stubborn, they’re hard-headed,” she added.

Britnee says Gunner winning the Hero Dog Award would bring recognition to dogs that oftentimes get overlooked.

“To my knowledge, he would be the first Great Pyrenees to win [the service dog] category,” she said.

Votes for the first round can be submitted through May 7, 2020, and the Kinards will find out toward the end of summer if Gunner has won his category.

The winners’ award ceremony will be held in Hollywood in September.

Hero Dog Award

Joseph Hall and his dog Chance make up a therapy dog team and belong to Caring Canines, a part of the San Luis Obispo Dog Obedience Group (SLODOGs).

Chance has been nominated and is a candidate for the American Humane Hero Dog Award, which is set to be presented later this year.

From places like nursing homes, Grizzly Youth Academy, to Camp Roberts, Chance has made about 50 visits as a therapy dog and has even helped soldiers suffering from PTSD.

The American Humane Hero Dog Awards is an annual, nationwide competition. Seven finalists will be honored at a star-studded awards gala which will be broadcast nationwide on the Hallmark Channel.

Pet Supplies

To Hailey Perkins and Amber Corduan, it means there is more to this community than you might see. There is a whole community of pet people that make Muncie an interesting, well-known, and diverse city!

For example, PineAcre Kennels is one of the many hidden gems of Muncie. PineAcre has been a staple in Muncie for over 80 years now. We even found newspaper articles and advertisements from 1941 with information about PineAcre and its previous owners. Previously, Phil and Jane Gray owned PineAcres for 27 years. In 2007, Amber Corduan bought the kennel and has owned it since, joined in 2014 by Hailey Perkins. The kennel offers boarding, grooming, daycare, behavioral training, and nutritional guidance.

The property is located just out of city limits on County Road 400 North, behind Carrington Woods. They have 5 completely fenced in yards, all with security runs and 6 foot fencing, and smaller areas for the little guys! The kennel buildings were built with indoor/outdoor runs that offer the boarding pets their own private area both inside and outside with daily playtime in the yards alone or with others in daycare. The best part – the owners live on site! Peace of mind is a huge deal when trusting your pet with someone and having a house right there provides that. Multiple security features are used as well, with immediate fire response and security cameras.

Hailey and Amber have both been extremely involved in the pet community with the business and on their own. Their own dogs participate in conformation (dog show), agility, rally, barn hunt, lure coursing, dock diving, and service dog work. In addition to these activities, they also volunteer with the Muncie Animal Care and Services to provide evaluations for dogs and training for those that need it, as well as for other pet rescues. Often times they take the shelter dogs home to work closely with them on manners, socialization, behavioral issues, and health issues. They also foster kittens during peak season, one summer specifically helping with over 57 kittens at one time! Boy, that was a lot of work!

The biggest passion for both owners is pet nutrition. In September of 2018, they took the plunge and opened Roo’s Holistic Pet Supplies in Lyndenbrook Plaza in Muncie. The sole purpose of opening this store was to provide nutritional guidance for people and their pets to help them live healthier, happier lives. Their biggest seller is the dog food Blackwood and the Systemic Yeast Kit from Nzymes. This combination has cured over 450 dogs right here in Muncie of their painful, constant skin issues, frequently labeled allergies.

Outside of Muncie they have consulted with and helped cure over 1000 dogs with these issues. They work hard to search for products and companies that are reputable and make great products. Most of this knowledge comes from Phil and Jane Gray and Linda Arnt with First Choice Naturals – another hidden gem right here in Muncie. The process of finding the right food and supplements is never just from hearsay and reading the bag, it comes from private food trials that they do themselves with real clients that show real results. They have advocated against grain free foods for over 12 years even before the recent DCM issues, using the science of nutrition to point out some of the consequences that these diets would have.

They participate in many seminars, classes, educational experiences, and work directly with food companies to find and produce the best products for pets. The future goal of the store is to partner with veterinarians in the area to help provide great service. When customers trust Roo’s because of the great results, they ask for recommendations for other pet care. Hailey and Amber want to be able to partner with reputable veterinarians here in Muncie so their clients have a safe place to go and get great care for their animals. Vet care is extremely important for the wellbeing of our pets, but many people feel weary of trusting anyone when they have had such bad skin issues or other health issues and have gotten no results. By partnering together, Roo’s and veterinarians can break the cycle and work together to make pets healthier!

Breaking through the monotonous routine of health care is always a challenge and they are working hard to do just that. Currently, they work with veterinarians all over the country, consulting on especially complicated nutritional cases and working to help pets. Often times, they take in dogs from all over the United States to treat for horrible systemic yeast cases, as well as treating cases from right here in the Muncie shelter. Again, the goal is to help pet owners give their pets a happier, healthier life.

In addition to nutritional guidance, they also help pet owners understand their pets mental and physical needs, encouraging appropriate exercise and mental stimulation with toys, slow feeders, games, and other great activities. The other staple at Roo’s is selling raw dog food from reputable brands like Answers, Steve’s, Primal, Smallbatch, and other great brands. They have helped many pet owners get their pets on a species appropriate diet to increase the health of their pets!

Neither Hailey or Amber grew up in Muncie, but both of them have made this town their home and love the community. They help put on a dog show every year at the Muncie Fair Grounds. They help teach classes with Paws Up Pups, an agility training facility in Muncie, and they volunteer and foster with numerous pet groups, including Muncie Animal Care and Services, ARF, Grateful Sanctuary, and Action for Animals, as well as starting their own rescue called Roo’s Relief.

Before adopting

Puppies provide us with comfort, happiness and love.

But bringing a four-legged friend into your daily life is quite an investment — a pup requires a considerable amount of your time, money and attention.

Here’s what to know and do before bringing Fido home.

DIG INTO YOUR BUDGET, LIFESTYLE

Ensure that you’re ready for a puppy and everything that goes along with one.

Your new family member will need to fit into your home and budget, points out Kristen Levine, founder of the Pet Living blog.

To get in the right mindset, ask yourself questions — and be honest with your answers. Levine, who is based in Tampa, Florida, recommends these: Do you really have time for a puppy? Will your family’s lifestyle accomodate a puppy? Can you afford to feed, train and care for a puppy? And are you ready for a 12- to 15-year obligation (the potential life span of the dog)?

“Puppies …are fun and adorable,” Levine says. “But they’re a puppy only for about a year. Then you have an animal that you are responsible for and that is completely dependent on you for everything it needs.”

Aside from the upfront cost of getting the puppy home and other one-time expenses, anticipate paying about $150 in average monthly expenses, according to a 2018 analysis by Rover.com. That includes food, toys, flea and tick prevention, dental chews and more.

FIND A PUPPY THAT NEEDS LOVE

If you still feel like you’re ready for a dog, visit your local shelters and rescue groups so you can consider adoption first before you shop.

Through an adoption, Levine says you’re saving the life of an animal that was at some point unwanted. You’re also freeing up space for another animal to be rescued.

If you’re not ready to decide, some shelters offer foster programs. In this arrangement, you can take on the responsibility of temporarily caring for an animal until it has a permanent home.

“Oftentimes you fall in love with the animal you’re fostering and you end up keeping it, but you’re not making a commitment to keep it just because you want to foster,” Levine says.

Still, there are some reasons you may want to buy a puppy instead of adopting one. For example, you may be looking to show a dog or you might have an affinity for a specific breed.

SNIFF OUT TRICKS

Buying a puppy is usually more expensive than adopting (which often comes with a minimal fee), so research breeders thoroughly before making a purchase or putting down a nonrefundable deposit to reserve your spot in a future litter. You can look up breeders online or rely on word of mouth.

Ask potential breeders what they’ll provide you with so you can set expectations and get clear information.

Reputable breeders like to show off their puppies, so they’ll likely send pictures, take videos, talk to you on the phone and encourage you to visit in person, according to Brandi Hunter, vice president of public relations and communications at the American Kennel Club.

And if the breeder claims to have purebred AKC-registered dogs, the puppies should come with paperwork, Hunter says. Make sure you get a registration certificate at the time you get the pup.

Whether you’re buying a purebred Yorkshire Terrier or a hybrid Goldendoodle, watch out for scams.

You could stand to lose hundreds or even $1,000 in a puppy scam, depending on the price of the dog, according to Lori Wilson, president and CEO for Better Business Bureau serving the San Francisco Bay Area and Northern Coastal California.

To avoid being scammed, Wilson recommends doing a web search on any pictures the breeder sends you of the supposed puppy to ensure they’re not fake stock photos.

Don’t get reeled into a purchase decision based on the appearance of the breeder’s website. A fancy online presence isn’t an indication of whether the breeder is legit. After all, Wilson says, scammers will set the stage right.

Perhaps most importantly, the experts say not to hand over money too soon. If you do, you might risk never seeing your deposit or payment again.

“You want to see (the puppy) first,” Hunter says. “You want to know it exists. You don’t want to be taken for a ride.”

Athlete and service dog keep busy

Trying to stay active while self-isolating is difficult for your average person. For athletes who normally split their time between dry-land training and working out in the gym, it is especially difficult, even more so when your gym has been closed indefinitely.

Orléans blind, death athlete Kevin Frost has been making do the best he can with daily workouts in his basement that include a 50-minute ride on his bike trainer. He also goes for walks ever day with his service dog Louis.

“I workout five days a week for about an hour and a half each day. I start with 10 minutes of stretching, followed by about 20 minutes working on my core and then 50 minutes on the bike and then my cool down,” says Frost.

The daily exercise routine helps keep him in shape both physically and mentally.

“It’s important to stay active physically, but it’s equally important to stay active mentally. I call it my therapy session. It’s a sanity thing,” says Frost. “When I work out I’m usually watching the sports channel. It’s a nice escape from all the news about the COVID virus.”

It’s been nearly six weeks since the Ontario government listed gyms and fit-ness centres among those businesses that had to close indefinitely and although he misses working out in the gym, he misses the human interaction even more.

“You really don’t realize how much you’ll miss the social aspect of working out in a gym it until it’s gone,” says Frost. “This self-isolation thing is tough.”

As for those people who are starting to get cabin fever or have been lulled into a state of lethargy, Frost recommends find-ing ways to get moving again.

“It’s easy to become negative with everything that’s going on, but life is what you make it. You can think every-thing is boring, or you can use it as motivation to get things done. It’s impor-tant to focus on the positive because as bad as things are, it could be a lot worse.”

After retiring from competitive speed skating this past winter, this was the year Frost was planning to focus on his golf game. Unfortunately, golf courses and driving ranges are currently on the list of non-essential businesses in Ontario, although there is talk that the province’s golf courses maybe among the first businesses to reopen under a strict set of guidelines.

Frost is hoping they will be open by the Victoria Day long weekend.

“It’s pretty easy to do physical distan-cing on a golf course, especially if you don’t have any golf carts,” says Frost who is still hoping to participate in the World Blind Golf Championships in South Africa in September. He’s also been invited to take part in the HANDA U.S. Blind Golf Championship which has been rescheduled for November in Arizona.

When he does, he will be playing with a custom-made set of clubs courtesy of Puma Golf which has agreed to be one of his sponsors.

“They were looking for a disabled golfer to be part of their roster and I’m the guy,” says Frost who also got clothing and new shoes as part of the deal.

The only thing left is for Frost to get back on the links. When he does he wants to be in the best shape possible.

For now he’s been practicing his putting on a section of artificial turf in his basement and he has been working on his swing with a set of soft-impact balls.

“It keeps me busy, but it’s not the same as the real thing,” says Frost.

For that he will have to wait a few more weeks.

Provincial Animal Welfare Services (PAWS)

Yesterday, the Provincial Animal Welfare Services (PAWS) Act came into force, creating the first fully provincial government-based animal welfare enforcement system in Canada. Ontario now has the strongest penalties in Canada for people who violate animal welfare laws.

“People care about the welfare of animals and so does our government,” said Solicitor General Sylvia Jones. “We committed to creating a strong, new system to protect animals, and we have delivered on that promise.”

Effective January 1, 2020, Ontario will:

Implement the new model with more inspectors to provide province-wide coverage, including those with specialized expertise in livestock, zoos, aquariums and equines.

Enable courts to impose the highest financial penalties for offenders in Canada.

Update prohibitions and obligations, such as barring the return of dog fighting equipment to a person convicted of an offence and harming or attempting to harm a service animal or one that works with peace officers.

Establish new oversight of inspectors that offers increased transparency and accountability, as well as a one-window complaints mechanism for the public.

Establish a multi-disciplinary advisory table made up of a wide range of experts, including veterinarians, agriculture representatives, academics, animal advocates and others to provide ongoing advice to the ministry.

Transitional regulations have been put in place to ensure animals are protected while long-term regulations are developed through consultation, including through the multi-disciplinary table.

The province has established a toll-free number, 1-833-9-ANIMAL (264625) for people to report concerns about animal distress or abuse. This call centre is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

NYC launches pet hotline

The New York City Emergency Management Department and the Mayor’s Office of Animal Welfare announced Tuesday the launch of the NYC COVID-19 Pet Hotline, which will serve as an information, planning, referral and service coordination hub for residents who need support for their pets during the COVID-19 pandemic. “Pets and service animals are a part of our family, and we want to alleviate any concern associated with having to take care of these family members during these trying times,” Emergency Management Commissioner Deanne Criswell said. “We are thankful to our task force members who have stepped up to help New Yorkers who need this service.”

The Pet Hotline and supportive services are being provided by the city’s Animal Planning Task Force, which is coordinated by NYC Emergency Management.

“This administration has always understood that animals share our homes, our lives, and are sometimes our closest companions,” Mayor’s Community Affairs Unit Commissioner Marco Carrion said. “We must support and plan for all New Yorkers, including four-legged ones, during these times, and we are grateful to all of the animal welfare partners who have stepped up to create the Pet Hotline and provide lifesaving services to animals.”

The Task Force is a collaboration between city agencies and nonprofits, including the Humane Society of the United States, the ASPCA, Animal Haven, Animal Care Centers of NYC, Bideawee, American Red Cross, Mayor’s Alliance for NYC’s Animals, NYC VERT, New York State Animal Protection Federation, Best Friends Animal Society, and PAWS NY.

“During this time of uncertainty and fear, we understand people need the comfort of their companion animals more than ever,” said Christine Kim, Senior Community Liaison for the Mayor’s Office of Animal Welfare. “In order to keep people and their animals together, we have ensured that animals are included in the safety net we have created for all New Yorkers.”

The Pet Hotline will help mitigate people’s questions and concerns about keeping their pets during the COVID-19 crisis, as well as connect callers to pet relief resources such as subsidized emergency veterinary care and food and supply distribution services.

“The COVID-19 crisis affects all New Yorkers, including pet owners seeking information and resources to keep their companion animals safe,” said Brian Shapiro, New York State director for the Humane Society of the United States. “This pet hotline offers valuable direction and assistance to those most in need.”

For New York City residents with pets requiring a higher level of care, cases will be escalated for coordination of temporary placement or supplemental care of animals.

“Although critical animal care resources are now available for pet owners who need them, including pet food, urgent medical services, and emergency boarding, knowing how and where to access these services during a crisis can be challenging,” ASPCA President and CEO Matt Bershadker said. “The NYC COVID-19 Pet Hotline will significantly help solve that problem.”

Service dogs miss the world

Imagine being a puppy trying to learn all of the nuances of becoming a service dog going out in an environment that’s suddenly become very quiet.

Officials for Assistance Canine Training Services (A.C.T.S.) are doing all they can to raise and train the 15 puppies that are currently in the program preparing to be placed with people in need of assistance.

“It’s been very different, not just for us, but for the puppies, too,” said Robin Crocker, A.C.T.S.’ head administrator, told the Sun last Friday. “I think they’ll really notice the effect of this when we start to go back to a new normal and there are people everywhere.

“We plan on bringing the pups back slowly and will be having lots of training on the handling of this transition.”

Crocker said while most pets enjoy having family members around, working from home or doing remote learning, “our dogs are actually a little bored. They miss going out to classes, miss going for adventures and miss play dates with other puppies.”

A.C.T.S. was started in Center Tuftonboro in 2007 and moved to the Mount Washington Valley in 2014. Since then, the volunteer-run 501(c)(3) non-profit has graduated 30 teams.

Service dog training “hinges around public-access training, which prepares dogs for the many hours they will spend in places like stores, movie theaters, medical offices, and hospitals,” Crocker said.

Training teams now are asked to work with their dogs in public only when it is clear social distancing can be easily facilitated.

“A.C.T.S. normally provides weekly training classes and group field trips for puppy raisers,” Crocker said. “Until state social distancing guidelines are lifted and it is safe for the group to gather, these sessions in Fryeburg and Raymond in Maine; Center Tuftonboro; and Burlington, Vt., have been canceled.”

A.C.T.S. normally celebrates each year’s graduating teams with a ceremony in May. Three teams (involving a service dog, a facility dog and an explosive detection dog) were set to graduate next month but it has now been pushed to May 21. Meanwhile, the three dogs slated to graduate have gone to live with the people they were paired with and are thriving, according to Crocker.

However, “graduation is a very big event for A.C.T.S.,” said Nan Ippolito, graduation coordinator. “This is the event we use each year to celebrate our new teams and to allow our volunteers to experience first-hand the results of their hard work.”

While things have gone quiet, volunteer trainers have devised ways to maintain contact with puppy raisers.

Crocker said A.C.T.S. has a private Facebook group that is active and where puppy raisers and volunteers can exchange messages with administrators and trainers daily as well as with each other.

Crocker also said they are providing training videos and fun challenges on their volunteer Facebook page.

“The challenges come in a variety of formats so that everyone can participate,” she said. “If you are not feeling like teaching your dog a trick, then you can accept the challenge to provide a good treat recipe or comment on how a posted trick might have been taught.”

Most of the puppies in training are in Maine and New Hampshire, but two are in Vermont, and one is in California.

“Our three puppies that are further away are working with Shelby Packard (of Conway), who is currently coordinating our University of Vermont Puppy Raising Program,” said Crocker, noting that Packard is providing weekly training projects via Zoom.

Crocker recently held her own online Zoom meeting with trainers, an event where puppy raisers kept their dogs in a “down stay” next to them while participating.

“Of course we are looking forward to getting back to our normal training,” she said. “And it goes without saying that we all miss seeing each other and all the puppies. But we must be safe, so we will continue this way as long as it is necessary.”

A.C.T.S. is scheduled to have two puppies arrive to begin their 18-month journey to service work. One will arrive at the end of May and another at the end of June.

“We always need puppy people,” Crocker said, adding, “We do have two people for these dogs.”

While puppy raisers usually make 18-month commitments to care for the young dogs, Crocker said A.C.T.S. is adding six-month puppy raising opportunities.

“This is a difficult time for many non-profits,” said Kelley Brown, chair of A.C.T.S.’ board of directors.

“Everyone is facing challenges that they never could have imagined. Through the work A.C.T.S. did with their Assistance Dogs International accreditation, and because of the dedicated and professional team running the organization, we were as prepared as possible for this.

“We remain as healthy as an organization as we hope all our supporters are as individuals. And we so look forward to returning to a time and place when we can be out seeing everyone around town.”

“Good Boy”

“Good Boy” is the June 2020 installment of Blumhouse Television’s “Into the Dark” horror franchise that streams on Hulu. It will premiere June 12, in celebration of Pet Appreciation Week.

The film centers on Maggie (Greer, who also executive produces), a woman who gets an emotional support dog (Chico) to help quell some of her anxiety. Only, she finds him to be even more effective than she could have imagined because, unbeknownst to her, he kills anyone who adds stress to her life. It was by Aaron and Will Eisenberg, who wrote the role of Maggie specifically for Greer.

“It was so funny, I was walking Mary one day,” Greer said of her own dog on a set visit to “Good Dog,” of which Variety was a part, “and I was walking by Bricks & Scones coffee shop on Larchmont where I guess every writer is — in fact, when I was writing my book I went there. And Aaron and Will ran up to me and were like, ‘Judy, Judy Greer! We’re not weird; we’re writers.’ And at the time they were represented at my same management company. They were like, ‘This is so crazy that you’re walking by because we’re putting together this pitch for this idea for this movie and we’re writing it really for you, and then here you are walking by with this small terrier, and it’s just too crazy and just too good to be true.”

Greer later met with the Eisenbergs for an actual coffee to talk about the project, and she signed on, in part, because of how she related to her character’s desire to have a companion in her dog. Greer rescued Mary in order to have someone she could take with her when she traveled, she said. Similarly, she personally understood the idea of an emotional support dog not being exactly what she imagined.

“She’s so awful to everyone that I can’t let anyone take care of her because if she bites anyone they’ll totally sue me, so I can’t really take her with me when I go places and she’s not emotionally supportive,” Greer said. “In fact, she stresses me out so much because of her nature and how troubled she seems and how f—ed up her life was before I met her. So I feel like I really am her emotional support human.”

In “Good Boy,” Guttenberg is Don, Maggie’s “misanthropic but at times soft around the edges” boss, while Wong is Annie, a former baby-sitting charge of Maggie’s who recently moved to Los Angeles and rekindles their friendship. Neal is Dr. Linda Johnson, Maggie’s fertility doctor; and Alonso is Bea, Maggie’s “no-nonsense” landlord; and Freeman plays Nate, who is a “detective who believes deeply in law and order, which causes his burgeoning relationship with Maggie to tailspin when he is confronted with a gray area in which he realizes she is operating.”

“Good Boy” was directed by Tyler MacIntyre.

Greer is repped by CAA, Artists First and Fred Toczek. Guttenberg is repped by Binder & Associates. Wong is repped by Innovative Artists and Premiere Talent. Neal is repped by BRS/Gage Talent Agency. Alonso is repped by Mavrik Artists Agency and Luber Roklin Entertainment. Freeman is repped by Artists and Representatives; Luber Roklin; and Goodman, Genow, Schenkman, Smelkinson & Christopher. Chico is repped by Worldwide Movie Animals.

“Into the Dark” is a monthly horror event partnership between Blumhouse and Hulu. Each feature-length installment is inspired by a holiday and features Blumhouse’s signature genre/thriller spin on the story. The most recent installments have been Easter’s “Pooka Lives!”, St. Patrick Day’s “Crawlers,” and the aptly-titled “My Valentine” for Valetine’s Day. “Delivered,” the May 2020 installment centers on Mother’s Day and will stream May 8.

How do you say goodbye to a support animal when you need him the most?

Pantry offers helping hand for Pets

Veterinary ophthalmologist researches treatment for pigmentary uveitis

At least 2 billion people around the world have vision problems—but how do you know if and when your pet is struggling with its own eyesight?

Dr. Wendy Townsend, associate professor of ophthalmology in Purdue University’s Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, has focused her career and research in veterinary medicine to diagnosing and treating eye conditions in animals.

“The most common question I get is if we fit animals with glasses,” Townsend says. “While that’s not what we do, our goal is to help animals see better and improve their quality of life if they’re having issues.”

Although her patients span across a variety of different species, her research is focused on a particular breed of dog that reigns as one of the most popular dog breeds in America: golden retrievers.

Golden retriever pigmentary uveitis is a disease almost exclusively found in purebred golden retrievers. It’s an inherited form of uveitis—which is defined as inflammation of the uveal tract. The uveal tract includes the iris or the colored part of the eye. And though the disease is inherited, the onset and diagnosis usually occurs when the dogs are older.

The disease can often result in blindness due to cataracts and glaucoma, and there are no current methods to prevent or reverse it. Mild symptoms, such as redness and drainage, usually don’t appear until the dog is around eight years old and can progress to an advanced stage before dogs see a veterinarian, Townsend says. The disease affects about 10% of senior golden retrievers.

Townsend is leading a study that is trying to identify the gene that causes the disease. If the gene can be identified, the disease can be detected earlier, and breeders will be able to identify which of their dogs might be carriers and how they can keep the disease from being passed on to future generations.

“The problem breeders are facing right now is that even if they’re being responsible and making good decisions, they don’t know their dog is affected,” Townsend says. “They can be several generations down their pedigree before they know there’s a problem.”

Nonprofit Harley’s Hope Foundation helps pets

A local nonprofit, through its free food and delivery services, is helping to keep pets and pet owners together during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Harley’s Hope Foundation, in collaboration with Colorado Pet Pantry, is offering free cat and dog food and delivery services for residents of El Paso, Pueblo and Teller counties and their four-legged companions affected by COVID-19, be it directly or through income loss.

Since March 31, HHF has bought and collected about 6,000 pounds of pet food and supplies and has been distributing these items since April 2. To date, more than 3,500 pounds have been distributed to help care for 240 animals.

“We have more food in stock and are ready to deliver to people with pets in need. We plan to continue this service until fall as the people we serve are high-risk. We anticipate a fair percentage of them will not be ready to venture out even after the stay-at-home order is lifted,” said HHF Executive Director Cynthia Bullock.

Medication vouchers up to $150 toward purchasing medication for chronically ill pets also is being offered. Applicants must prove their financial hardship is due to COVID-19 and show a history of providing pet medication. Applications are available at harleys-hopefoundation.org/applicationforservices.html.

Because future pandemic waves are possible, HHF doesn’t want at-risk pet parents to feed their pets “people food” (and possibly deprive themselves) because they can’t leave their home. HHF has spoken with senior citizens and caretakers who have said they will continue to feed their pets out of their own food supply in order to ensure their companions don’t go hungry.

“We want to make sure that is not a choice our seniors and disabled individuals need to make,” Bullock said.

Bullock and her husband, David, founded HHF after cancer claimed their dog, Harley Jane. The couple realized many people don’t have the financial means to do everything they can for their pets.

HHF ensures low-income pet owners and their companion or service animals remain together when issues arise. HHF prevents at-risk animals from being surrendered or falling victim to euthanasia for treatable conditions and behaviors.

Through HHF the Bullocks honor Harley’s memory and help pets and owners deal with unexpected hardships.

“We realized how fortunate we were to afford major treatment when so many pet parents might be forced to euthanize for treatable conditions such as broken limbs, bladder stones, urinary blockages and certain traumas,” Bullock said.

Collectively, HHF programs have assisted more than 3,500 companion and service animals, thereby saving thousands of pet lives, Bullock said.

“Our most active program is financial assistance with life-saving veterinary care. We’ve also provided emergency foster care, assistance with training and periodic pet health clinics over the last decade,” Bullock said. “Since the pandemic and stay-at-home order, we’ve added emergency pet food assistance, providing no-contact deliveries of pet food, litter and other supplies to high-risk pet parents who must stay inside due to age or major health issues.”

According to Kim Brandon, volunteers play an integral role in assisting needy families and individuals. The human-animal bond is important and should be maintained during the pandemic, she said. “HHF helps pets and their people stay together during tough financial times,” said Brandon, who has been a volunteer since 2010.

Volunteers have been the heartbeat of HHF during the pandemic as many have driven more than 2,000 miles to deliver free pet food, Brandon said. Watching communities pull together to help others and their furry companions is the most rewarding aspect of her work, she said.

“They helped an elderly lady who was feeding her pets hot dogs because she was too scared to venture out of her home. Recently, they helped fund an emergency veterinary operation for a Husky, who’s ‘fur-mom’ was an unemployed first-responder who had tested positive for COVID-19. I am honored and proud to volunteer beside them,” Brandon said.

HHF is seeking emergency foster homes for pets whose owners may be affected by COVID-19. Anyone interested in fostering cats, dogs and other small pets can complete an application online at harleys-hope foundation. org.

The foundation is accepting donations of canned cat and dog food and cat litter. Arrange for pickup of these items by calling 495-6083. Leave a message and Cynthia Bullock will call back to arrange a pickup date and time.