Canine officer

Niagara Falls uniform officers and detectives commenced an investigation into a robbery at a local hotel.

The robbery involved the use of a knife and firearms. Two persons were injured.

Officers arrested four persons shortly after the robbery. Cameron Chiang (42 years old) of no fixed address was able to flee the scene and has been wanted for a number of offences since that time.

On April 17, 2020, the investigation led detectives to a hotel in the area of Ellen Avenue and Walnut Street in Niagara Falls.  Detectives located and seized a firearm hidden on the property.

Detectives from the NRPS Forensic Services Unit attended and processed the scene.

On April 18, 2020, at approximately 1:20 a.m. 2 District Niagara Falls uniform officers responded to a report of a residential break and enter in the area of Dawn Crescent and Fleming Drive in Niagara Falls.

The homeowners located a male inside their home. The suspect ran from the house into neighbouring backyards.

A member of the NRPS K9 Unit along with Police Service Dog Bronson attended the scene. Accompanied by 2 District uniform officers a track of the suspect was conducted that led to a backyard on Pamela Drive near Alpine Drive. PSD Bronson located the suspect hiding near a shed. The suspect was placed under arrest. The arresting officers identified the suspect as Cameron Chiang. Chiang was held in custody and attended a video bail hearing on April 18, 2020, to the Hamilton Courthouse. He was held in custody, Chiang’s next court appearance is at the Robert. S. K. Welch Courthouse in St. Catharines on April 20, 2020.

Farm animals as emotional support pets

Not everybody wants a dog or a cat as a pet — sometimes only a goat or a pig will do.

Port Coquitlam residents can now apply to keep a farm animal as an emotional support animal and may be allowed to keep their special pet  — even in a residential area— if they meet certain conditions.

Calling the move an example of city leadership, Coun. Nancy McCurrach said the special permitting idea was a good one. during Tuesday’s Zoom council meeting.

But not every case will be allowed; the bylaw services manager will have the responsibility to decide if someone can keep a farm animal as an emotional support pet in a residential home.

The range of animals people want to keep seems to be expanding, with condos and cities fielding requests for animals other than a dog or a cat.

One condo law company based in Ontario said people are seeking to keep a whole new range of animals. But not everyone is on board with offbeat pet choices and sometimes problems arise.

Denise Lash of Lash Condo Law notes how a kerfuffle started when a condo owner in Florida became embroiled in a dispute with his condo association about his pet squirrel. “He claimed that the squirrel was an emotional support animal that helped him deal with post-traumatic stress following a car accident,” Lash states in her blog.

Similarly, Port Coquitlam has already been fielding complaints about people keeping goats, pigs and chickens in their home, which prompted the bylaw amendment giving the city more control.

People can now apply, and may be allowed to keep the critter if they can provide a letter from a doctor or a psychiatrist stating they require the farm animal for a disability-related need.

But the approval process now gives the city more clout — it can say no, or, if approval is given, require the owner to maintain the animal in such a way that it doesn’t create problems for other residents, such as keeping down the odour.

Port Coquitlam isn’t alone in permitting farm animals as emotional support pets. Calgary recently allowed citizens to have a Livestock Emotional Support Animal (LESA) on their property, with similar requirements to Port Coquitlam, although Calgary requires a $65 permit and a site visit.

In that city, the property must also be large enough to support the animal.

Most people are familiar with therapy animals that are trained to support people with disabilities and receive special certification. Emotional support animals are, however, a growing trend and offer people another option for dealing with trauma.

As for local interest, Port Coquitlam says it doesn’t anticipate many applicants, there is no permit fee and the most likely animals sought for emotional comfort are pigs, goats or chickens that are being kept as a domestic pet and not a farm use.

Dog Sitting Service

Businesses that are not essential are all in the same situation. Grocery stores, pharmacies, internet providers, and of course, medical facilities, are some examples of businesses that are deemed essential. Camp Bow Wow petitioned to city to reconsider their classification.

Dog sitting may not seem like an essential service at first glance. However, many of the nurses, doctors, and supporting staff at medical facilities have dogs at home. Those dogs need to be fed, let out, and taken care of while their humans are at work for long shifts day-in and day-out. Camp Bow Wow made this case to the City of Durham and the city agreed! Ashley Hippensteel is the manager of the franchise’s Durham facility. She told WRAL, “A ton of Duke (healthcare) workers drop their dogs off here.” She thinks these essential medical workers should not be distracted or burdened by issues like pet care while they are giving their all to help patients fight COVID-19. “You’re taking care of something that cannot take care of themselves–so, there are children, the elderly and then there’s pets,” Hippensteel said. We are all in this together! This goes for our fur babies as well. In order for essential workers to continue supporting the rest of us, we have to support them. Part of that is ensuring that their loved ones, human and four-legged alike, get the care they need during this crisis.

PET SERVICE MARKET

The “Pet Boarding Service Market” 2020 report includes the market strategy, market orientation, expert opinion and knowledgeable information. The Pet Boarding Service Industry Report is an in-depth study analyzing the current state of the Pet Boarding Service Market. It provides a brief overview of the market focusing on definitions, classifications, product specifications, manufacturing processes, cost structures, market segmentation, end-use applications and industry chain analysis. The study on Pet Boarding Service Market provides analysis of market covering the industry trends, recent developments in the market and competitive landscape.

Global Pet Boarding Service Market Research Reports provides information regarding market trends, competitive landscape, market analysis, cost structure, capacity, revenue, gross profit, business distribution and forecast 2027.

The report scrutinizes different business approaches and frameworks that pave the way for success in businesses. The report used Porter’s five techniques for analyzing the Pet Boarding Service Market; it also offers the examination of the global market. To make the report more potent and easy to understand, it consists of info graphics and diagrams. Furthermore, it has different policies and development plans which are presented in summary. It analyzes the technical barriers, other issues, and cost-effectiveness affecting the market.

Global Pet Boarding Service Market Research Report 2020 carries in-depth case studies on the various countries which are involved in the Pet Boarding Service market. The report is segmented according to usage wherever applicable and the report offers all this information for all major countries and associations. It offers an analysis of the technical barriers, other issues, and cost-effectiveness affecting the market. Important contents analyzed and discussed in the report include market size, operation situation, and current & future development trends of the market, market segments, business development, and consumption tendencies. Moreover, the report includes the list of major companies/competitors and their competition data that helps the user to determine their current position in the market and take corrective measures to maintain or increase their share holds.

Dogs during this pandemic

Only a few people take the time and effort required to feed the stray dogs during the lockdown period. The number is even smaller when it comes to taking care of injured animals.

However thanks to people like A. Rangathan, a 63-year-old retired policeman and his neighbour S. Yovel, a class VI student, dogs in Moggapair do not go hungry even for a day. “I started feeding dogs when I was posted at the Egmore police station prior to my retirement in 2015. Since then, I have been providing food to around 50 dogs in my locality on a daily basis,” says Mr. Ranganathan, who has put in 30 years of service in the police department.

He purchases ration rice and chicken and starts preparing food every evening. “Around 7.30 p.m., Yovel and I start riding around Mogappair on my motorcycle and feed the dogs. They come rushing when they hear my bike’s thumping sound. If I am not there even for a day, they wait for me,” adds the retired police officer whose wife and son live in the United States.

Most of the stray dogs used to depend on road side eateries for food. “Since they have been closed, the dogs are left in the lurch and many have become sick without anything to eat,” says Yovel. Meanwhile, the school student helps Mr. Ranganathan identify injured dogs. “We rush there immediately and provide first aid. Initially, there was lot of opposition from residents associations of our feeding the dogs. Later, they realised my efforts and started supporting me,” adds Mr. Rangathan.

Apart from dogs, he also feeds cats. “I spend ₹15,000 per month for feeding the animals. It makes me feel very happy when I provide them with food every day,” he explains.

Barfield Elementary’s School Dog

What started as an incentive to introduce the students at Tommie Barfield Elementary to understanding students and adults with disabilities, morphed into something much bigger, better and far-reaching. As the then-principal, there was an awareness spreading across the country of the benefit of service dogs, not only for adults with disabilities, but also for children. The implementation of service/therapy dogs for Veterans came a bit later and has been thoroughly embraced, although the waiting time for placement with any of these groups is painstakingly long. More on that later.

At that time in 2004, Blaine and Janet Parks traveled through Collier County on their Harley Davidson motorcycles with two sidecars for their golden retrievers—Bailey and Max. Their message was to raise public awareness of the need for puppy raisers and foster families. They introduced their dogs in training to the students along with a slide show about “Hogs for a Cause” and how the community could help, including raising the puppies and monetary donations. The students and staff were awed.

The process began to find an assistance dog organization that would work with us at the elementary school to foster a puppy. “Paws with a Cause” in Wayland, Michigan agreed and brought a Labrador Retriever puppy to the school when she was 8 weeks old. The first task was for the students to name her. The criteria were interesting and precise. Since she was born into an “O” cohort group, her name had to start with an “O” and could only be two syllables. They also wanted it to be rather unique and not a common name. Using a common name could be confusing to a person nearby with the same name as you might command, “BLANK, sit!”

Students chose three different names starting with “O” and voted for their favorite, which was Opal. Luckily, when it was submitted to “Paws with a Cause” it was approved. Opal wore an assistance dog in training jacket when she was being trained. She went to school every day and the students loved to see her in the hallways. They were a big part of her socialization as they learned the rules about petting, touching and respect for a dog in training or an official working dog. Lots of students read to her and she became very literate! With supervision, the older students had an opportunity to walk her and reinforce specific commands that she had to learn. Anyone who has owned a Labrador Retriever knows how strong they are, even when puppies, and also how smart and loving they are. They are outstanding assistance dogs, along with another favorite, the Golden Retriever.

When it came time to release her back to the Paws with a Cause organization, we knew it was going to be difficult, and it was. Paws personnel picked her up in Naples and we said good-bye, cried and yet appreciated our time with such a loving pup who was leaving on her mission—to support a person in need. There are hundreds of children and adults waiting for assistance dogs, and thankfully there are more organizations that are stepping up to raise dogs for this purpose. One of those organizations, Golden Paws Assistance Dogs in Naples, is one that is making a big difference for Veterans and disabled children.

Another example would be after the tragic school shooting at Marjorie Stoneman Douglas High School. There was a request for Golden Paws to bring as many dogs to the school as they could because the needs for therapy and comfort were overwhelming. It seems the need for therapy dogs is growing along with societal instability.

Golden Retrievers are known for their gentle nature, intelligence and their ability to bond with their owners in a strong working relationship. I’m a strong believer in the therapy, medical alerts, life-saving strategies and guide dog roles of trained and certified animals. I’m proud to say that I’ve personally witnessed the Golden Paws training program and participated in one phase of the training to be a puppy raiser once more. The Coastal Breeze also carried an article I wrote about the opportunities that Golden Paws Assistance Dogs is creating for Veterans and disabled children. Because of the growth in their organization, they are moving to the larger, vacated old Harley Davidson store on Pine Ridge Road.

Their first priority is placing a Golden Retriever with a Veteran with specific needs. For example, to open doors, fetch certain objects, provide reassurance when in public or home, wake the person when having a bad dream or respond to people with unique physical, medical or emotional issues. Training starts at 6 weeks—as it did for Opal—and continues for 2 years or more before a match is made with a person. Interestingly, Golden Paws has the dog pair up with the potential client by letting the dog choose. This method has proven to create a stronger bond and better partnership. Their retrievers can be also be paired with a child with disabilities.

Organizations dedicated to raising and training dogs for assistance rely on donations from private and public donor contributions and sponsorships from major companies and corporations which cover the costs of training the dogs to the adoption stage. Golden Paws Assistance Dogs covers the costs of continued training and veterinary care, so there is no cost to the Veteran or child’s family. These costs can be $40,000 or more, which is about half of the costs in other organizations.

In conclusion, please consider donating to a cause that helps our most challenged members of our society and really make a difference. These dogs are in schools across the country helping in supportive, loving ways to decrease stress, encourage reading without judging the reader and contact comfort for those in pain, whether physical or mental.

Opal made such a positive difference in our school, raised awareness of disabilities, helped students and staff through rough times, encouraged other Marco Island families to foster a puppy and still bring smiles to those who remember her and ask me when I’m out and about, “Do you still have Opal?”

Periodically, Paws would send us progress reports about her after we grieved about sending her back to Michigan, but they contacted us 2 years later because her shoulders weren’t strong enough to hold the heavy leather harness to enable work with a vision-impaired client. Joyfully, we took her back and she’s lived with us since 2007, until her passing on March 5th, 2020. We were really grieving an ending this time, but it was an experience of a lifetime and she will live in our hearts forever.

Can dogs smell the virus?

 

In the past, dogs have been trained to smell and detect malaria in humans at a rate exceeding WHO standards for testing. Now Bloomberg reports, hopeful scientists in London are hoping they can be trained to do the same with the COVID-19 virus.

Bloomberg reporters spoke with scientists at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, who are funding a project that seeks to train dogs to detect COVID-19 carriers — particularly those without symptoms.

“We know diseases have odors — including respiratory diseases such as influenza — and that those odors are in fact quite distinct,” James Logan, the head of the school’s Department of Disease Control, told Bloomberg. “There is a very, very good chance that COVID-19 has a specific odor, and if it does I am really confident that the dogs would be able to learn that smell and detect it.”

While the program is in its infancy, Fortune reports that if the dogs can be successfully trained to detect the smell of humans with COVID-19, they could be helping people detect the spread of the virus in the United Kingdom by this summer.

Previously, dogs have been trained to effectively detect Malaria, diabetes, Parkinson’s disease and even cancer, the New York Post reports, this is all due to their highly developed sense of smell that can detect small changes even down to a change in skin temperature.

If the dogs are found to be able to smell coronavirus, they will undergo a six-week training program under the guidance of the Medical Detection Dogs organization in the United Kingdom. The organization states they will use the same training program they use to teach dogs to detect other diseases.If the research proves that dogs can in fact detect COVID-19, CBS reports they could likely be used at travel checkpoints to help prevent further spread, and even help to prevent the virus from returning after the current outbreak has declined, rightfully earning their title as “man’s best friend” once again.

Groomer Fights for the Rights

While a community of pooches can no longer see through their overgrown fur, the owner of Bubbly Paws spends every day trying to convince the governor’s office to designate dog grooming an essential business.

“Regular grooming is not just about looking great; it is a vital part of keeping pets healthy,” Keith Miller says. He and his wife Patrycia run four Bubbly Paws locations around the Twin Cities, along with Pampered Pooch Playground dog day care and boarding. All operations are currently shuttered.

In the categorizing of essential/non-essential businesses, pet grooming has been a nationwide debate: is dog grooming a vanity service that should remain closed—like hair salons for humans—or is it esential to pet health? Adding to the frustration for small independent groomers like the Millers, some big box stores, which are open because they sell pet food and other essential supplies for animals, continued to groom after the small shops shut down. Petco, in particular, has come under fire for keeping its grooming services open in some states. In Minnesota, the big box stores have been ordered to stop grooming.

Miller talked to us about weathering the downtime as a small business owner, and the company’s plans for getting back to work.

Miller | We are not considered a critical business, so we’re closed. In the first two weeks, we rebooked 250 grooming appointments, and now we’ve rebooked them again. April and May are prime season—busier than all the holidays put together. At Pampered Pooch, we’ve lost all of the spring break boarding we would have had. We normally care for 115 dogs per day. The week before the shutdown, we had 40.

We voluntarily closed our self-service dog wash on March 17. The hardest part as a small business, is we want to do the right thing. Daycare, we can’t justify—that’s a luxury. But grooming feels like it can be justified. This is not about money or profits; it comes down to the health of the animals. It helps prevent common problems such as excessive shedding, skin and paw irritation, painful hair mats and excessively long toenails. Sometimes groomers are first to recognize a pet’s medical issue like fleas and ticks or an ear infection. Additionally, the American Veterinary Medical Association has advised pet parents to continue to ensure their pet is well-groomed during the Covid-19 pandemic. Two weeks prior to the order to close we started doing contactless grooming and it was very effective.

‘Super puppies’

Pets of the Art World

Perhaps the only beneficiaries of the pandemic today are pets, who are suddenly getting around-the-clock attention while their owners work from home. And the joys are mutual: With their fluffy cuddles, unconditional love, and inability to talk back, pets make great quarantine companions for people, too.

We asked art world insiders to share pictures of their whiskered work-from-home buddies, and how they’re helping to make this difficult time a little bit sweeter. “Here’s a shot of Maria sitting on my drawing paper in the dining room. We are having quite a bit of ‘alone time’ these days. She likes to try to chase the pencil around while it’s in my hand and I’m trying to work! It’s great to have a pet to make art with… they are so nonjudgmental.”

“Albee and Noonan have helped me keep a rigid schedule during this quarantine. In between meetings, we all go to a remote nature preserve on Long Island for a long walk together. It’s been very helpful for all of us to get outside, and they have such fun roaming around and swimming.

Both dogs are from the organization Puppies Behind Bars, an organization that trains prison inmates to raise service dogs for wounded war veterans and first responders, as well as explosive-detection canines for law enforcement.” “Harper is extremely into my personal social isolation but very bad at social distancing.” “Pigeons first brought poetry to me as child growing up in Holland. They became my lifelong sweet travel companions, along on an at times rocky migratory path, calming down my anxious mind to quiet, and again today at this time of the extremely worrisome COVID-19 virus outbreak, they steady my being.” “Bert is a serotonin distributor, you don’t even have to pet him; it works just by looking at him.” “Princess Buttercup is thrilled to have a captive audience whilst her humans are social distancing.”

“This is the longest period of time Dini and I have spent time together (just him and I). Together we are learning how to cope without mom [artist Julie Curtiss, who is self-isolating in France]. He’s now always on my desk for a change. Every morning and night we have long and strenuous conversations about behavior, eating habits, and personal space. Dini enjoys sitting on my books and watching me struggle through beginner yoga poses. All the while I enjoy his presence. In other words we are making the best of it. To be honest, I couldn’t make it without him… just don’t let him know that.”

Service pup in training

Kind act

As essential service workers, Auckland Council Animal Management Officers are going above and beyond their normal duties as the COVID-19 lockdown continues.

For Animal Management Officer Janine Murdoch, working through the pandemic is proving challenging – but rewarding.

While on patrol last week, Janine spoke with the Ōrākei Marae gate warden who admitted the marae’s kaumātua were struggling to get out and buy dog food for their cherished furry friends.

Janine returned to the Manukau Animal Shelter, where she has been based during lockdown, and organised dog food to be delivered safely to the marae.

“With a smaller number of dogs being cared for at the shelter during lockdown I suggested we donate some of our dog food to the kaumatua, and my manager agreed,” she says.

“It was just a small gesture, but every little thing helps.”

Having worked as an Animal Management Officer for two and a half years, Janine’s passion for working with dogs has been life-long, having previously managed the Auckland Pound.

Like many essential workers, Janine’s daily duties under lockdown have had to be adapted.

“Not sharing my equipment with the community for statements and payments has been a challenge and some internal processes have changed to paperless options.

“We are also delivering dogs back to their owners, so we are having to use proper PPE – gloves, masks and I use sanitiser every time I exit, and enter, the van.

“I also have a handwash station in the van being used daily.”

As dog owners navigate life in lockdown, Janine says most Aucklanders are doing their bit.

“Aucklanders are still a very busy crowd,” she says.

“People walk with purpose and while some still have their dog off leash, most are keeping their animal in their bubble and keeping their dog on a leash.”

Keeping pets safe is more important now than ever, she says.

“What a great time to enjoy your animal… teach them new tricks like come, heel, sit, wait but above all keep them safe.”

Pups and People

In an effort to combat loneliness amid social isolation, the Animal Farm Foundation’s “Pets Together” program aims to virtually connect pets and people during the COVID-19 pandemic. Through these connections, the foundation hopes to bring lovable animals to those who require some fluffy company, offering visitors—who range from elderly folks looking for companionship to doctors working at hospitals in need of a pick-me-up—comfort at a time of uncertainty.

The “Pets Together” program is one way Animal Farm Foundation (AFF) fosters connections between pets and people. According to their website, AFF works to bring dogs and people together as a way of ending discrimination among all individuals, bringing change through its service dog program, PAWS prison program, and training for K9 detection dogs, as well as other initiatives. AFF seeks to tackle issues like breed discrimination, as well as empower people with disabilities through meaningful partnerships with dog companions.

Traditionally, AFF has only brought therapy dogs to group sessions. But now that social distancing has limited all in-person interactions, and everyone who is not considered an essential worker must stay at home, AFF has began reaching out to individual pet lovers to accommodate shifting needs.

To frame the new “Pets Together” program, the foundation worked with Kim Wolf, Master of Public Health and Master of Social Work Candidate at the University of Georgia. “Pets bring us comfort during times of distress, but not everyone is in a position to have one,” Wolf explained of her participation in the program. “I can’t imagine going through this pandemic without my pets, so I wanted to share them with others.”

Participants can meet dogs, cats, goats, horses, and other animals of AFF via video conference platforms, such as Zoom, Skype or Google Hangouts, and converse with the animals’ caretakers as well. “Pets Together is a model that brings joy and comfort to those who are feeling socially isolated and lonely,” Wolf elaborated. According to Executive Director of AFF Stacey Coleman, social isolation and loneliness are not new phenomena, although they have become more ubiquitous under the current conditions. Social isolation in particular can be detrimental for people of all ages, including older adults, as it can lead to “a 29% increased risk of mortality over time” as well as “poor access to health care, exposure to environmental hazards, injury and violence, obesity and physical inactivity, substance misuse and mental health disorders.”Having the company of these pets and other people can remove the perceived distance that we face under isolation, reminding people that there are still avenues to connect with others. With a pet by their side, people can find solace and belonging from the attention these friendly critters and caretakers offer. Virtual pet visits are available to all, and the animals of AFF can’t wait to make friends with new faces.

Furry friends

Has it been a while since you’ve trekked to your favorite dog bakery? Or even went on an extended walk due to social distancing?

Well, if you’re looking for a way to get your four-legged kiddo’s spirits up, they’d be quite a lucky dog to retreat at this Indianapolis daycare.

“Literally, if the dogs are loose in the parking lot, we’ve got a better shot of them coming in our doors than going anywhere else. They’d rather come here and play,” Robin Herman, the owner of ‘Lucky Dog Retreat,’ said.

Lucky Dog Retreat on the northeast side of Indianapolis has been doing all-around dog services since 2006.

Herman and her staff offer daycare, boarding, training and adoption services. In a typical day, pre-pandemic, they serviced 80 to 90 dogs per day in their 6,000 square feet play area.

“The dogs are out until the time they leave,” Herman said. “A lot of daycares only do part-time during the day, and our guys are out there all the time. We’ve got 6,000 square feet of play area for them and open webcams with no passwords. Anybody can look at any time.”

After working for McDonald’s for nearly 30 years, Herman decided it was time to turn her weekly passion volunteering into a full-time career of saving and protecting dogs.

“I wanted a place the dogs could have fun and … I could make enough money to feed myself and foster dogs from the pound,” Herman said.

Herman has since saved 1,149 dogs from kill shelters.

“I wanted to do something to where I could help more dogs,” Herman said. “You can make money working with dogs, but sometimes it’s not in their best interest. I wanted to open something where dogs loved coming here.”

Lucky Dog Retreat had anywhere from 80 to 90 dogs per day at their care center; now they’re down to 30.

Currently, the majority of their consistent clientele right now is coming from two miles up the road at Community Hospital North. “We want to make sure to be here for them,” Herman said. “We service a lot of doctors and nurses at Community, and we are a shelter — closing is not really an option. I want to be there for my customers and the dogs.”

As healthcare workers are busy working on the front lines of this pandemic, they can rest assured that their doggo’s are safe and smiling.

The purpose of the care center is always to save as many dogs as it can, Herman said, but right now she is seeking to help out those dog-parents who may need a safe place their dogs can roam and play.

“Lots of times they’re doing conference calls at home, and they’re like, ‘here, please take my dogs,'” Herman said, laughing.

Herman is shooting for a Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan. Daily procedures are still the same, even with a smaller staff than usual.

“We’ve had an awful lot of generous customers. We’ve had people that were boarding for spring break and had to cancel their boarding, but told us we could keep the deposit,” Herman said. “So, ya know, we’ve had a lot of really good people do what they can to help.”

Lucky Dog is currently fostering five dogs that are up for adoption.

Herman is also offering certified training through zoom starting at $90 for four weeks.

“We’re doing them, right now, online. And then hopefully we’ll be able to meet up again soon. Cause its hard to train a dog online,” Herman said.

Dogs Trust Ireland offers

Aimed at workers who might be worried about their pet’s wellbeing as they work long shifts at hospital and care centres around the country, the initiative is being set up to offer them “peace of mind”.

Some staff members with dogs are suddenly unable to tend to them at all for the majority of the day, due to the lengthy time they’re spending at work.

Similarly, those at risk of becoming ill will worry about their doggos, but Dogs Trust appear to have come up with a temporary solution.

They are offering to take in dogs of overworked or ill health staff, where they will provide the animals with the desired amount of exercise and human interaction to keep them happy.

Dogs Trust executive director Becky Bristow said: “The amount of offers we have received to foster dogs has been truly uplifting for us in these worrying times and we are delighted to now expand our team’s services to assist essential workers.

For those interested in the service, Dogs Trust staff would arrive to collect the dog wearing appropriate PPE and adhering to social distancing guidelines.

Dogs Trust Ireland head of operations Karla Dunne added: “As with all dogs in our foster programme, we take great time and care to ensure they are matched with the perfect temporary home for them and their needs and we are delighted that we can now extend this to frontline staff so they can rest assured that their dog will be loved and cared for while they are caring for others or keeping essential services operational.”

Response dog helps ease stess

One person was killed in a house fire in Boiling Spring Lakes earlier this week. The house was engulfed in flames in a matter of minutes, and there was little firefighters could do.

The call came in around 4 a.m., and before all was said and done, crews from Boiling Spring Lakes, Southport and Sunny Point, were all on scene. Three people were inside at the time the fire started. Two were able to escape with minor injuries, but the third lost their life.

“We were told three had to bust a window to get out,” said Assistant Chief Nathan McConnell. “But when there turned around, one person wasn’t there.”

“It was very stressful there, to help gather and take that body out,” said firefighter Brad Blumeshine. “It was a hard day. I’m glad Ember’s here.”

Ember isn’t the department’s mascot, but a crisis response dog provided by paws4people, an area non-profit that trains dogs and places them around the country.

There are currently 100 dogs going through a two year certification program.

“Ember went straight up to one of the gentlemen who was crying,” McConnell explained. “He was able to pet her, bring his stress level, and maybe his blood pressure, down. And then she licked away his tears.”

Petco Workers

As the death toll mounts from the coronavirus pandemic, governors in 42 states have urged more than 300 million Americans to stay home.

So it shocked some Petco employees this week to see shipments that are almost guaranteed to draw in more customers: Guinea pigs. Hamsters. Parakeets.

“Why are we getting betta [fish]?” an employee wrote on Petco’s internal social media platform. She posted a picture of a purchase order for more than a dozen fish while other workers reacted with frowns and crying emoji. “This will just bring more people in.”

The outcry was just one example of the fear, anger and uncertainty that have become fixtures for many of Petco’s 25,000 workers since the start of the pandemic. Because Petco sells necessities like pet food and cat litter, some of which can’t be found in grocery stores, most of its 1,500 U.S. locations are deemed “essential” and are open for business.

But some of Petco’s retail workers feel the company is treating them as less than essential. In March, as its stores saw what one executive called a “massive surge” of pet owners stocking up on necessities, many Petco employees clamored for protective gear and warned the company of dangerous crowding in their stores. While some Petco locations have converted to having curbside pickup only, many are still welcoming customers inside.

Workers fear their employer is gambling with their health to push products and services no one needs in the middle of a pandemic. The company has attempted to keep pet salons open in places where pet groomers have been ordered to close. And this week, Petco executives approved new shipments of birds, small mammals, reptiles and aquarium fish to select stores — even as retail employees, posting on the company’s social media platform, describe hiding their fish tanks “to protect us from people who think we are a zoo.”

It’s an apparent reversal of Petco’s mid-March decision to stop restocking pets, which caused, in the company’s own words, “unnecessary traffic in our stores.” Petco says the change is meant to accommodate its suppliers, who have more animals than they can handle and would otherwise euthanize some of them.

Petco is scrambling to supply its workers with additional masks, and some workers felt compelled to rig their own protection. A photo posted in early April to Workplace, a private social media platform for Petco employees, showed checkout clerks in New York surrounded by clear plastic shower curtain liners.

Foster Pets

Dogs Trust has offered to help get their four-legged friend fostered for the duration of the crisis.

The charity’s heard from more than 700 people looking to mind a dog while they work from home.

Boss Becky Bristow told us it seemed like an obvious solution;

“We’re watching all these front line workers going into work and then we’re getting phone calls from them, they’re exhausted and want to know how they can care for their dogs

“They’re starting to get worried: what if they get sick or what if they’re just too tired to actually interact with a dog or walk the dog properly

“People want to support in whatever way they can, so we thought why not join the two up

“We have the ability to do it, we’re used to dealing with diseases with dogs, our staff are well-trained in taking precautions that are appropriate

“So we could make sure that front line worker’s dog is minded and cared for in a family environment

“So they won’t have to worry about that during this time

“It’ll be a variety of our current fosters and some of our new ones

“It’s our normal matchmaking service but it’s just for a temporary period of time

Local dogs had a videoconference

Doggie daycare

They run, play, and bark, while their owners work on the front lines of the coronavirus pandemic.

The K9 Kabana in Garner is staying open to serve essential employees. “We have quite a few clients that are in the medical field, first responders,” said owner James Mirgoli. “They’re doing a huge favor for everybody, doing us a huge service and the least we can do is take a little bit off their plate. They’re working long, long hours.”

The K9 Kabana is taking special precautions to limit contact with owners such as offering curbside pickups and dropoffs. There’s also The K9 Kabana Koach, which picks up and drops off pups from their homes.

Mirgoli said they use hospital-grade disinfectant and practice social distancing.

“We have one employee per 10 dogs so we space out dramatically,” Mirgoli said. “We have a 10,000 square foot facility, three-quarters of an acre outside, fenced-in, so plenty of space for everybody to get plenty of distance.”

Stephanie Turner, of Raleigh, works as a healthcare provider in a hospital setting. She works long hours and uses The K9 Kabana’s transportation service for her dog, Fob. She said Fob gets stimulating play and socialization for many hours throughout the day.
“Fob is a happy camper, and that allows me to stay focused on providing excellent patient care while at work,” Turner said in an email.

But with many people working from home during the COVID-19 crisis, Mirgoli said business is down.

“We’re seeing about a third of our customers but knock on wood, very grateful for even that number showing up,” said Mirgoli, who added that “parents” entrust them with their care and they treat the dogs as “kids.”

“They are our kids, four-legged, but they’re our kids,” Mirgoli said.