service dog training

Eric Caron, a retired guidance counselor who has been blind since birth, recently moved to a new home. He noticed his guide dog, a yellow Labrador retriever named Ryan, had trouble leading him across a busy intersection he must cross regularly. Caron knew what that meant: It was time to retire Ryan, a near-senior citizen at 9 years old, to pet status and get a new guide dog.

Protecting Dog’s during lockdown

The Freedom Project has quickly adapted to the coronavirus movement restrictions which saw the country thrust into lockdown and non-essential services forced to close.

Outreach projects manager at Dogs Trust, Amy Hyde, said: “It is really common that dogs are used as a tool to coerce someone, we see dogs who are physically injured as well as frequently threatened to be killed.

“We want anyone considering their options to know the project will be there for you if you do decide to leave and we will be there to support the pets as well.”

In the past week the Freedom Project has seen a sharp increase in ‘very high-risk’ referrals, which require them to attend immediately, and they expect this trend to continue.

This follows concerning predictions from domestic abuse charities Refuge and Women’s Aid that lockdown could aggravate instances of domestic abuse as victims are forced into isolation with the perpetrator.

This would mirror a significant increase in domestic abuse worldwide as a result of coronavirus movement restrictions, including a threefold increase in Hubei province where Covid-19 originated.

Refuge reported a 25% increase in calls to its National Domestic Abuse Helpline and 150% daily increase in website traffic since the social isolation measures have been in place.

In light of these measures and expected increase of incidents, the Freedom Project has adapted its operations to conform with government advice and is appealing for people to volunteer as foster carers.

The foster carers look after the dogs until the victim can get back on their feet and find accommodation which allows dogs.

Gemma, her son, and her dog Dusty suffered at the hands of her abusive partner for three years before escaping to a refuge and finding the Freedom Project.

As well as physically, emotionally, and sexually abusing Gemma, the abuser kicked, choked and threw things at Dusty, such as shovels and hammers, as well as shooting him with BB guns.

The Freedom Project found Dusty a foster home within 24 hours of Gemma calling and she and her son safely escaped.

Gemma said: “The service is outstanding and it’s because of the Freedom Project that us three amigos – myself, my son, and Dusty – are still together.

“Losing Dusty would have destroyed me – he’s the one who I broke down to and the one who laid beside me every time I cried.

“My life has changed, and so has Dusty’s, and for that we are extremely grateful.”

The Freedom Project, Refuge, and Women’s Aid have all stressed that keeping their services running during this time will save lives.

Due to social distancing measures, the previous in person home checks for prospective foster carers have been replaced with an in-depth video interview and virtual home tour.

They are providing enrichment toys and games for the dogs in addition to ensuring volunteers have a secure garden in case they need to completely self-isolate in the future.

In order to protect high risk groups, the decision has also been made to stop placing new dogs with individuals who are pregnant, have underlying health issues or are over 70 years old.

This is to avoid putting any encouragement on those at-risk groups to leave the house more than necessary, whether that be taking the dog to the vet or going on more walks.

Refuge assures all its services remain open including refuges, 24/7 Freephone Helpline, and community-based services.

 

Pet therapy

Therapy Animal Coalition is putting together a virtual project where pet owners and therapy animal teams can submit inspirational videos for people in isolation. Furry family companions are being called to the screen to help heal those who need it now more than ever.

With stay-at-home rules set in place due to the spread of COVID-19, there has been a rise in people experiencing feelings of loneliness and isolation.

Nursing home residents, hospital workers and those who are otherwise homebound are especially at risk for feeling negative emotions during this time. The Therapy Animal Coalition is a nonprofit dedicated to connecting organizations such as Mayo Clinic, Community Hospice, Wolfson Children’s Hospital and many others with therapy animal teams. It also provides resources to those who are looking to train their own pets in therapy service.

Board president Kristi Leonard said the organization currently has about 300 therapy teams that have been sidelined because of the virus. The teams now want to make a difference in the lives of the people who can’t have anyone around them right now.

“The benefit of doing this is we have so many people who want to be a therapy team with their animals, but sometimes animals are unable to make the certification cut due to many different reasons,” Leonard said. “Whether it is a bird, horse or any other pet, this is their chance to finally be a therapy animal and give love.”

The project has only been up and running for a few days but is already getting submissions. The project will continue as long as there are people who need the virtual connection.

Leonard said animal therapy has been gaining in popularity. The coalition has been lending its expertise in getting programs started at courthouses, airports and many other locations outside of hospitals.

“That’s the power of animals in their connections with people,” Leonard said. “There is no judgment, and they are completely unconditional in their support. There is so much power in that especially during these trying times.”

Erica Benson, co-owner of Green Dog Spa on Baymeadows Road, was one of the first to answer the coalition’s call with her Pyrenees cattle dog Lucky and Cocker Spaniel-Boston Terrier mix Marney.

Benson is not only a member of the Pals and Paws Dog Agility Club where she trains Lucky and Marney, but she has recently joined the world of therapy animal training with Lucky.

Benson was inspired to integrate Lucky into therapy service after she attended the coalition’s Therapy Animal Expo on March 7 at the University of North Florida. As part of Lucky’s ongoing training to become certified, the pup has recently passed the first of several tests.

“I believe owners should find one thing their dogs are good at and train them to be better rather than force them into something they don’t gravitate toward,” Benson said. “Marney was excellent with agility whereas Lucky always had an affinity for healing people. I had heard of the magic of therapy animals, and it turns out one of my own dogs was a perfect candidate.”

After becoming involved with the coalition, Benson was inspired to submit a video when she read about the project on social media.

Her submission starts with a short message giving hope to all who watch the video followed by Lucky and Marney show their skills as they run through a backyard course.

“My favorite part has been seeing the creativity that people bring along with the stories and inspirations they give to others,” Benson said. “It’s a great demonstration of how the community can come together and how we can all come out of this stronger and more connected. If there are any bright spots where people can find hope, this is one of them.”

The videos can be anywhere from 30 to 60 seconds long of pets offering some kind of uplifting or thoughtful greeting.

Pets during lockdown

Devanshi Shah, founder and CEO of Pet Connect, tells us why pets are, perhaps, better companions than humans during such times.  A sense of purpose: The problem for office-goers is a lack of mission in daily life. Watching TV all day is the surest way to feel directionless. Having a pet, on the other hand, is taking on a responsibility which gives you not just emotional gratification, but areal sense of purpose.

Keep you emotionally strong: People with pets do emotionally better than people who do not care for an animal. This is why being home with a pet is likely to be a much nicer situation than being stuck on your own.
Mental Stimulation: TV, the internet and mobile phones actually make us less receptive and proactive mentally. The perfect solution to that is to have a pet. In the case of dogs, intelligent beings, you can improvise all kinds of mental activity that is good for both your brains.

Security: In the absence of security guards during the pandemic having a dog on premises is the best form of security known to mankind. And I’m not even getting into how they can fetch the newspaper!Service animals for sick people: For anyone infected by the Covid Virus, your dog can actually be trained to be a service animal. Besides the company, dogs can and do perform a number of tasks. This is a real god-sent since all Covid patients aren’t allowed to cohabit with other humans.

Make you feel less neglected: The unconditional love and attention of a dog can do wonders in fortifying you with a sense of companionship and care at a time most people will want to avoid you. This may seem really unimportant, but over the weeks of isolation, humans with dogs and cats are more likely to feel like they are loved and cared for than others facing the quarantine alone.

Puppy prices go up due to COVID-19

Prices for pedigree puppies are soaring amid the Covid-19 crisis; Golden Retrievers up to $6,000, a French Bulldog pup at $10,000. Spike in demand for furry friends is an open invitation for a few dodgy operators to line their pockets with “non-refundable” deposits and profiteers to cash in. Sandi Keane reports on the poor governance by state licensing bodies who are failing to protect the buying public.

In these bleak times when many are forced to stay at home, cut off from friends and family, puppy sales are booming. With the closure of pet shops, and puppy farms outlawed, or restricted in some states, pedigree breeders are doing a roaring trade. Whilst the majority of breeders comply with consumer law, a few unscrupulous bad apples ply their fraudulent trade in plain sight of the state controlling bodies that licence them.

But profiteering is just one of the problems. High prices now are simply a factor of the virus and supply and demand. While the majority of breeders comply with consumer law, puppy buyers should ensure they know their consumer rights before handing over a deposit.

Australian Consumer Law is clear. A pet or stud service is the same as any other good or service. Those selling puppies, whether they have an ABN or not, are “traders”. Only “one-off” sellers of goods are exempt such as a garage sale.

Shelter helps pet owners

The Iowa City Animal Shelter is providing food and care services for pet owners during the COVID-19 pandemic with the help of the community, offering ways to keep pets happy and healthy.

Iowa City Animal Shelter Director Chris Whitmore said her staff has organized a food bank at the shelter to provide food for dog, cat, and rabbit owners who have potentially lost their jobs due to the coronavirus.

“We always had food here, but with everything going on, we thought we’d increase the amount,” Whitmore said. “We have received lots of donations from the community. Hopefully the demand doesn’t happen, you know. But we are ready for them.”

Whitmore said she felt inspired by all of the people who were willing to help the shelter and how many pet owners have used the food bank.

“People realize now, if they didn’t before, that a pet is part of their family,” Whitmore said. “[The shelter] wants to make sure that the pet is comfortable and a comfort to the [owners].”

Whitmore said that one of the food bank’s main contributors is Leash on Life, a local pet store. Leash on Life owner Laurie Smith said members of the community that want to donate to the animal shelter can call the store to express interest in donating money or food, and the shelter will take care of it.

“This is a time where both pets and owners are affected by this,” Smith said. “There is no one that is immune to this, right now at least. We have done a lot of things to help the shelter in the past, and we are always supportive of them.”

Smith added that she was impressed with the steady pace donations came in at, and said the shelter deserved all of them.

“We are blessed in this community to have an incredible shelter that works to help the needs of our pets,” she said. “The response from the community has been incredible. We are all one big community, and all of these donations show that.”

Both Smith and Whitmore said the COVID-19 outbreak gives pet owners a unique opportunity to bond with their pets.

“Most owners never have time to see their pets during the day because they are at work,” Smith said. “Now, they can do interactive things with their animals. Doing games and tricks can tire them out mentally and physically.”

Whitmore said that socializing with pets can improve mental health for both owners and their pets, now that people are encouraged to maintain social distancing.

“Spend time with them,” she said. “Get out if you can, and exercise with them, too. They will appreciate seeing you and seeing you take the time to be with them. They can relieve their pent-up energy, and can relieve your stress.”

Whitmore said the animal shelter is still taking in stray animals and owners can call looking for their lost pet and pick them up, or those who found them are instructed to hold onto them until an owner can be reached. She said that in-person adoptions ceased March 24, when the shelter closed.

“When we are up and running again, we are going to need an influx of people ready to adopt, so hopefully this time makes people realize the effect pets can have on a household,” Whitmore said. “Pets are so valuable right now. They are going to help us get through this.”

Reasons to Adopt

Animal shelters across the country are reporting a surprising silver lining to the current pandemic: an unprecedented rate of animal adoptions. People who’ve wanted a dog for years but never had time for house-training or regular walking, or whose work involved regular travel, suddenly have the time to adopt, or at least foster, a dog. This is obviously good news for dogs, since shelter life even in the best of circumstances can be really stressful. But it’s also very good for people, given the research showing that pet-owners experience greater physical and psychological well-being. One Study even found that dog owners live longer. In fact, dog owners had a 20 percent lower risk of dying over the course of that 12-year study, and were 23 percent less likely to die of cardiovascular disease.

What leads pet owners to experience such remarkable benefits, and how can people reap the rewards during this pandemic?

One explanation is that pets help buffer the negative effects of stressful life experiences. For example, pet owners who take a math test in the presence of their pet experience lower heart rates and blood pressure reactivity  than those whose pets are not present. The current pandemic creates stress for all of us, including financial pressure, health concerns, and uncertainty about when and if things will ever get back to normal. Adopting a pet may help reduce the negative physical effects of stress on our bodies, which in turn can reduce our susceptibility to minor and major illnesses.

Dogs can also help reduce stress and improve well-being by increasing physical activity. Most dog owners regularly walk their dogs, which of course also leads to valuable health benefits. Even in cities under strict lockdown orders, exceptions are typically made for pet owners – which has led to reports of people loaning their dogs to others as a way to share the benefits of some much-needed escape from locked-down homes. Perhaps you’ve seen the jokes on social media about dogs complaining about too much walking during the pandemic. (My two dogs can certainly relate.)

Pets may also provide valuable emotional support. Adopting a pet may be especially beneficial to people who live alone, and therefore have much less social connection during social distancing guidelines. Dogs have a particular ability to make connections with humans: That connection you feel with your dog isn’t just in your mind. In fact, dogs can distinguish different types of emotional expressions on people’s faces and are particularly sensitive to human voices.

Even more intriguing is research showing that people who stare into their dog’s eyes show elevated levels of oxytocin, the so-called “love hormone.” Oxytocin is automatically released into our bodies when we engage in nurturing activities, such as hugging, kissing, and breastfeeding. It also leads to increases in feelings of love, security, and happiness. These findings tell us that staring into our dog’s eyes makes us feel good in basically the same way that other forms of intimate connection also make us feel good.

Pandemic Puppy

Obviously I get it. When you imagine untold weeks of pacing the same home and seeing and talking with the same limited number of people, or even just your own reflection, the idea of a cute, cuddly companion—one you can pet, take walks with, and talk to (with the added benefit of them not talking back)—is suddenly incredibly appealing.

And the truth is, having a puppy helps. Having something to focus on other than my own anxiety and fear is nice. With a puppy, our household is forced into a new routine—the type of schedule and consistency that experts say is crucial during turbulent times. We have to wake up to take Barry for an early walk (okay, my husband has to wake up to take Barry for an early walk); we have to make sure Barry gets outside to exercise; we must ensure that he eats meals at regular intervals. Plus, he’s adorable. Barry helps us see joy in the little things, like when he first successfully made it down the stairs by himself, nervously squealing the entire time.

“Research supports that being around our dog makes us feel good,” says Phyllis Erdman, a psychology professor at Washington State University. Our collective pandemic-puppy moment isn’t necessarily good for the dogs, though. Erdman worries about what she calls the “Christmas-puppy scenario.” “People have time now and want to hug up on their animals,” she explains. “When this is over, people who have adopted these animals might find they don’t have time for them, or they ignore them.” And for some, a prolonged economic downturn caused by the coronavirus could make having a pet financially untenable, forcing them to make hard choices about whether they can sufficiently care for an animal in the long term. There’s also the question of just how much emotional support scared and anxious humans should expect their pets to be able to give them. Erdman notes that some animals that have been rescued from bad situations, or that have been in shelters for a long time, might have their own anxiety or emotional trauma, and layering the owner’s on top of that could be unhealthy for everybody.

Still, everyone I spoke with underscored that, as long as new owners act intentionally and with long-term planning in mind, the prolonged stretch of time at home might provide a unique chance for owners to bond with new pets. (Hi, Barry.) This difficult period may mean that people become more attached and attuned to their pets than if they were seeing their animals for only a few hours a day, which may help get them through the hurdles of pet ownership with slightly less frustration.

My experience so far suggests that there’s probably something to that idea. While housebreaking was hard, and it certainly isn’t ideal when Barry decides to bark for more attention while I attempt to have a series of Zoom meetings, our puppy is making us unreasonably happy. During a lengthy period of sadness and uncertainty, it has been cathartic to laugh at the random things Barry has decided to be afraid of—black plastic bags, parked bicycles, large trucks, the back alley, and stacks of cardboard boxes, to name just a few. And our walks provide a sense of purpose and structure. Having a new puppy has also helped us forge stronger connections with our friends and family—giving us all something to DM, call, FaceTime, and text about other than illness and angst.

Barry has given us the invaluable gifts of levity and joy during this extraordinarily miserable crisis. I’m not really sure how we’ll repay him, but we’ve got lots of time, right here at home, to figure it out.

Sheriff’s office adopts therapy dog

Police therapy dog Liberty, a female golden retriever, poses for a picture with her handler, Detective Nina Garner of the Charles County Sheriff’s Office.

Traveling With ESA

Approximately 40% of travellers experience anxiety when traveling by air. Of this group, about 60% can cope without support. About 5% have crippling anxiety, often referred to as clinical anxiety, and need an emotional support animal (ESA) to be as comfortable as possible during a journey. Without the support, travelers suffering from anxiety experience uncontrollable nausea, shortness of breath, and sweaty hands. Getting an ESA is the most viable solution for such travelers.  Although most people turn to their pets, primarily cats and dogs, for comfort, there’s a lot of confusion about ESA and the limitations to the type of animals that people can turn to for support, especially in restricted spaces, like airplanes. Fortunately, many airlines now acknowledge that the mental health of their clients is paramount and are a little flexible on having ESA on board.

Not everyone is great at starting a conversation with strangers, especially if it is at a time when human connection helps to distract from emotional tension, especially for first time air travelers. When there is a little turbulence, having another person say it will be okay is all some people need to feel better.

Having an ESA will help create rapport with other travelers, who may unknowingly provide additional emotional support that will make the journey worthwhile. Some trips are unavoidable, and people with anxiety tend to travel because they have no choice. They are already tense about the flight, so any support they can get along the way means a lot.

Without emotional support animals, travelers experiencing clinical anxiety would have to take prescribed medication to remain calm during the journey. These drugs may work, but they can have adverse effects on some people. In some cases, it makes work much harder for attendants and other travelers, especially if the side effects include nausea and headaches.

Pills may have a calming effect, but they don’t help travelers to cope with anxiety. If anything, it makes them even more anxious every time they have to travel. Having an ESA, on the other hand, makes trips enjoyable, and before long, people who experience anxiety will stop having a negative attitude whenever they face the prospect of traveling. Instead, they’ll come to believe they will be fine, as long as their pet comes along.

People who need ESA are not just dependent on their pets for comfort when traveling, but also like knowing that their pet relies on them. It is easy for a person who experiences anxiety to get taken up by their situation.

Knowing that they are also responsible for their pet can boosts one’s self-esteem and give some anxious travelers something to live for. Having a pet also provides a level of comfort while traveling that nothing else can replicate. Focusing on the needs of the pet, instead of concentrating on one’s fears is a common phenomenon that works to relieve anxiety.

Emotional support animals are undoubtedly a crucial component of mental health and should be allowed to accompany people who experience travel anxiety. This will encourage more people to travel since they’ll always have the support they need.

Anxiety during this pandemic

Leia, a Husky-Shepherd mix who is the pet of an OC WarmLine staff member, helps comfort the people in the office who speak with callers dealing with emotional issues related to mental and behavioral health. The WarmLine has seen an increase in calls the past few weeks from people stressed out over the novel coronavirus pandemic.

The voice sounded like so many others who have placed calls of help to the Orange County WarmLine in recent weeks: Anxious. Stressed out. Scared.

And the question the voice asked — the one every human is asking during the coronavirus pandemic — has no easy answer: “What if I come down with it?”

But WarmLine operators said this caller was unusual in at least one respect — he was a garbage collector.

“We never had sanitation workers call us before,” said Mariam Harris, who has been clinical director of the WarmLine since its inception 10 years ago.

“Sanitation workers are afraid,” Harris added. “They’re not getting protective gear.”

The WarmLine is a confidential support service offered by the county to people who are suffering mental and behavioral health issues that aren’t considered an “immediate crisis.”

And, right now, the WarmLine is having a moment.

In a single day early last month, WarmLine operators handled 259 calls, about half from people who had never previously phoned in. This month, as the coronavirus pandemic has grown, the line has seen a steady 15% jump. That surge, in turn, has led to an expansion of WarmLine hours and consideration, by Harris and others, to go round-the-clock.

Most callers, Harris said, are in “a state of panic.” She ticked off the common concerns: “Am I going to get it?” “I lost my job.” “How am I going to make rent?” “What if I can’t feed my family?”

Animal Shelter says it’s empty

Workers at the Cleveland, Tennessee Animal Shelter say they will not have much to do this weekend — but in this case, that’s a good thing.

The reason? Thanks to adoptions, the shelter is now empty, as of Friday morning.

The shelter shared the good news on Facebook Thursday night.

“It is with pure joy that at this very moment we can announce that we have officially CLEARED THE SHELTER!!! This is the FIRST TIME EVER that we have been able to do this before a Holiday weekend! We’d like thank YOU – the members within our community for adopting, claiming, and sharing our pet’s posts online!” the post reads in part.

Unfortunately, the celebration will likely be short-lived as shelter workers resume their duties caring for animals and finding them fur-ever homes.

Service dogs-in-training

We want to know what it’s like for you working from home during the coronavirus and social distancing. Whether you’re at home, a cabin or escaped to a beach somewhere, snap a picture of yourself working from home for our Coolest Remote Offices showcase, and perhaps another without you so we can see the big picture. Is your dog or cat helping you? Include them in the photo. Tell us about the space and what your experience has been like. A different office will be featured. 

donations to support pet owners

“We are unable to accept other food or supplies at this time, but will ensure that these key items will be distributed to pets in need through our staff, volunteers and community partners,” Marieke van der Velden, outreach specialist for the BC SPCA, said.

“The BC SPCA offers pet food banks, free veterinary clinics and other support programs throughout the year to help pet guardians who are facing tough times. In these extraordinary times it’s more important than ever to keep families and their pets together and to help reduce the financial and emotional strain they are under.”

Anyone needing food support for their pet is asked to call the BC SPCA to find out how to access provisions and to get information on the safety protocols in place when picking up the food.

Coronavirus Book For Children & Families

Anyone who is anybody in Chicago’s Southland is familiar with Duke Sterk…a new breed of canine author…known as a “pawthor”…who dictates his stories to K.P. Lynne for publication…although the adorable Goldendoodle has been caught doing his own typing from time to time on a vintage typewriter!

“Stuck In The Doghouse: A Children’s Story About the Coronavirus” debuted as the #10 Hot New Release in Children’s Illness Books on Amazon as well as #20 in Children’s Difficult Discussion Books, with additional distribution to follow at Books-A-Million, Barnes & Noble and Walmart.com to name a few.

The book manages to provide 50 pages of full-color fun, on a grim topic that is anything but fun…yet the story manages to make it fun. Told through the imagination of a dog named Duke…the book provides parents, care takers and guardians with a way to comfort anxious children during the Covid-19 pandemic.

While the book is intended for children, it comes with an informative and exceptionally well-written introduction for adults…a testament to K.P. Lynne’s proven versatility and ability to effortlessly shift gears and write at an adult’s level and a child’s level…all in the same book.

Duke the Dog wakes up on an ordinary day and sets off to explore his magical, almost Sesame Street-like neighborhood – a child’s perfect utopia – only to find all of his favorite places are either closed or offering curb side and take out only. All sense of normalcy has vanished. Even the library and church are closed. The church…by the way…is the most quaint-looking non-denominational church..carefully designed that way so each child can imagine his or her own faith or place of worship.

Duke the Dog runs a gamut of emotions from sad to confused to downright mad, when he comes across a group of humans who are pushing, shoving and hoarding toilet paper at the local grocery store.

Duke’s precious feelings are handled with kid-gloves by K.P. Lynne, whose experience as a school teacher, and creative education consultant, is clearly evident in every word of the story…lovingly echoing the temperament of Mr. Rogers.

If Mr. Rogers were still physically with us…this is the sort of book he would be giving us. The sentiment echoed throughout the story is you are safe…reiterating multiple times to turn to the grown-ups. The grown-ups will keep you safe! Parents are encouraged to read it with their children and re-assured it is okay if they don’t know all the answers.

Duke finally finds a grown-up he trusts…in the form of Dr. Ima Dog…the local veterinarian who dutifully explains everything from proper hand washing – to why we can’t visit Grandma – to social distancing – which is hilariously illustrated in the most entertaining possible way with a diagram of Duke’s dog biscuits, yard sticks and rulers!

The book comes with helpful common-sense ways to prevent the spread of disease – not just Coronavirus – but all diseases and perhaps the most awesome part is two complete pages of ideas to reduce boredom at home…obviously the by-product of the author’s own wildly untamed creative imagination and eagerness to explore news things.

Duke Sterk, the Goldendoodle featured in the story…is the real-life certified therapy dog at Gwendolyn Sterk’s “Sterk Family Law Group, P.C.” in Orland Park, IL! And this is not the dog’s first book either…he previously barked out a book called “Dogs At School Are Totally Cool”.

When asked about the book…the author was quick to turn all the attention to local community leader…Gwendolyn Sterk.

“The whole book was entirely Gwen Sterk’s idea. Being a family law attorney, the well-being of all children is very near and dear to her heart.”, said K.P. Lynne. “The purpose of the book is to help children realize they are not stuck at home…they are safe at home.”

You don’t need a pandemic to read and love “Stuck In The Doghouse: A Children’s Story About the Coronavirus”, as it holds its own as an informative and entertaining “anytime story”…which can be enjoyed by the whole family.

Spaying Of Strays Put On Hold

When Dawn Putman, 52, was homeless in Gainesville for 18 months, her now 9-year-old bulldog, Tasha, was more than just her companion – she was her guardian and best friend.

Putnam knew she could not afford puppies if Tasha got pregnant, and she couldn’t afford the spaying treatment, which cost anywhere from $100 to $300.

St. Francis Pet Care Clinic, located in downtown Gainesville, offered Putnam help. The clinic has received grants from Florida Animal Friend, a non-profit aimed at lowering the number of stray dogs and cats, for three years. In February, it received $14,800 – the largest grant yet.

“I’d say we really noticed there was a stray animal problem when we had the distemper outbreak in 2006,” said Natalie Isaza, one of the founding veterinarians at St. Francis.

Because of the coronavirus pandemic, the clinic has closed but plans to reopen on May 5. Before closing, St. Francis President Dale Kaplan-Stein said he made sure all clients in good standing received heartworm prevention medicine to last them until the end of May.

In addition, the clinic is offering telemedicine appointments, Kaplain-Stein said. Clients can call in and upload a picture of the pet for the veterinarian to look at.

“These over-the-phone appointments allow us to provide the necessary care pets need while upholding the proper social-distancing guidelines,” she said.

The clinic has stopped spaying, neutering and performing other elective surgeries.

The novel coronavirus has infected some zoo animals in the U.S. In Gainesville, the Santa Fe Teaching Zoo remains closed “out of an abundance of caution,” according to its website. But no animal deaths linked to the virus have been reported.

Also, there is no evidence that pets can transmit the virus to human beings, according to the Centers for Disease Control.

But other fatal epidemics have occasionally struck the stray animal population in recent years, including the canine distemper virus, a disease that domestic and wild dogs, as well as big cats, can get if they are not properly vaccinated when they are young.

According to Alachua County Animal Services officials, the 2006 distemper outbreak killed more than 600 dogs in Alachua County.

“As we began to react to it, we got ahead of the curve,” Isaza said. “Thankfully, members of the veterinary community began to realize, like us, that there is a real problem in terms of access to affordable care.”

Following the outbreak, Isaza and fellow veterinarians conducted a study that showed that a lot of the animals that were brought into the shelter from low-income counties did not have the necessary vaccinations.

Since the clinic opened in 2007, Isaza and her colleagues have offered free or low-cost vaccination services. But funding was always a challenge, she said.

Isaza said the grant requires that the veterinarians use it solely for spaying and neutering for low-income pet owners, so it tackles the root of the problem.

“In the last 10 years, we have decreased the stray pet population, leading to a lower number of animals coming through the shelter and a higher live release rate,” Isaza said. “Anything we can do to help lower the stray pet overpopulation problem in our county is work worth doing.”

Isaza said their goal was to spay or neuter 200 dogs and 44 cats by July 2020.

Ella Thomas, 62, of Gainesville, has three dogs. She said she used to have just one, but she can’t help but rescue them. She said if any one of her dogs got mammal or testicular cancer, a side-effect of not being spayed or neutered, she could not afford their care.

“I am on a fixed income, so it is grants like these that have allowed me to keep my babies,” Thomas said.

The grant is funded by a special Florida Animal Friend license plate, which costs buyers $25.

Non-profit organizations that are registered with the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Affairs, with 501(c)(3) status and a pre-determination or decision letter from the IRS, or a government animal control/services agency can apply for the Florida Animal Friend Grant.

“Over the past 11 years, Florida Animal Friend has provided more than $5,500,000 in funds to assist spay and neuter programs throughout the state,” said Lois Kostroski, Executive Director of Florida Animal Friend.

Back at the clinic last month, Putnam waited for Tasha to get spayed.

“Tasha’s role in my life goes beyond ‘dog.’ She’s my best friend, my life partner, my child,” Putnam said. “I have some emotional issues, so she is my emotional support animal as well.”

Putnam said if she did not have aid from the programs offered through the grant, she would not keep Tasha because she would not want the animal to suffer in any way.

Tips when working with Your Pet?

Dr. Croney, who holds a joint appointment in the Colleges of Veterinary Medicine and Agriculture as professor of animal behavior and well-being and professor of animal sciences, is used to sharing her workspace with companion animals. The same cannot be said for millions of Americans now working from home due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Dr. Croney offers some thoughts about benefitting from and adjusting to new “fur workers.”

Companion animals are wonderful stress-buffers. It’s well-documented that people who own pets, especially dogs, find them helpful under times of stress. They provide psychological benefits in terms of comfort, reassurance, and social support. This is particularly true with people who live alone with a companion animal. They are serving roles and meeting needs that many people are probably under-appreciating, not to mention the well-documented physical benefits they also facilitate.

However, in situations like this, it’s important to remember that our pets are able to pick up on the stress that we’re experiencing. That can definitely impact how stressed they are. Dogs are quite attuned to our emotional states and often respond accordingly. All of this emotional support that our animals give us can therefore come at a cost to them. We want to pay attention to what they are communicating so that while they give us that great support, we can support them in turn.

Since so many people are home now and because we will eventually go back to work, it’s important to set our companion animals up for success by setting a routine for them. I’ve been trying, imperfectly, to implement this myself. Pets do better when they have predictable routines, and this can help their people as well.

For example, if a dog knows when walks will occur, he won’t add additional stress to his humans by asking for one every six minutes. We need to establish a structured routine they can learn, remember, and predict.

Also, our pets need breaks from us from time to time. If you have the opportunity to work in a separate room away from your pets, do so and make sure they are well occupied during those times.

It is also important to simulate leaving the house to keep them practiced at being comfortable with not having constant access to you. When you eventually go back to work, it won’t set them up for success if they are suddenly deprived of constant attention.

We need to understand that animals have individual personalities. There are some pets who don’t necessarily want constant interaction. With us at home all the time, especially with larger families, we need to make sure they’re not being overstimulated. We should set up safe spaces at home where they can choose to retreat and have downtime.

When you can’t give your pets one-on-one attention, it’s important they have things that occupy them and that are safe for them to use. For dogs, giving them high-value favorite toys and treats to keep their minds engaged is great, particularly puzzle toys.

The same things are important for cats. You can use puzzle feeders and preferred toys that they don’t get at other times. Give these at times that are particularly busy for you, where you need them not to be disruptive. And remember to change out the items from time to time to make sure they remain fun and exciting.

You’d be surprised how much enjoyment cats can get out of boxes and how creative dogs can be at offering new behaviors you can reward for interacting with cardboard boxes. Imagine what they could do with all those toilet paper rolls we’ve been hoarding! Small pets like rabbits and rodents can be greatly entertained by having food hidden in discarded toilet paper rolls.

Bringing therapy dogs to middle school

When Streetsboro Middle School students return to their building in the fall, they could be greeted by a black Labrador retriever named Piper.

On Thursday, the Board of Education took another step toward allowing therapy dogs in Streetsboro buildings by unanimously approving a policy that outlines the rules about having a therapy animal on school grounds and provides a mechanism to remove any therapy dogs.

Streetsboro already has policies for emotional support animals and therapy animals, which are animals trained to address one person’s needs, whereas therapy animals are trained are trained to deal with all people.

“This is the first step and it just allows it to happen. Remember that for a therapy dog to be accepted, it has to have my approval and certification. So this is just allowing us to move forward. There are still several steps to achieve prior to a therapy dog coming into district,” Superintendent Michael Daulbaugh said.

While the policy is for therapy animals in general, its creation is in direct response to Piper, a therapy dog in training owned by middle school counselor Monica Holzapfel.

In January, Holzapfel told the board about the benefits of therapy dogs and addressed common concerns about therapy dogs in schools. The board then gave her an unofficial nod to continue training Piper to become a school therapy dog.

“One thing Monica said on her own was that she would assess whether the dog was ready and assured me that there were steps to take the dog through certifications and if they’re not met, this won’t happen. That tells me she’s driven and realistic. Therapy dogs are becoming more and more popular in schools because of their benefits. Monica will monitor this every step of the way and if it’s not right, she’ll pull the plug,” Daulbaugh told the board in January.

In an email on Thurday, Holzapfel said that Piper is meeting her benchmarks and that they are working with a trainer to continue to improve her skills.

“While we have not yet undergone an evaluation to become a therapy dog team, I am hopeful that we will be ready for that evaluation by fall of this year. The current restrictions due to COVID-19, if they continue much longer, could delay our progress some because we are not permitted to meet with the trainer in person at this point; it has also made it much more difficult to expose her to different situations that would help prepare her for the school environment,” Holzapfel wrote.

Holzapfel had been bringing Piper to events with large crowds and had received board permission to bring Piper to the building when students weren’t in the building. Both of those activities were intended to help acclimate Piper to the school environment, and neither can be completed due to coronavirus-related restrictions.

USPS Tips To Prevent Attacks

 

The Postal Service continues to fulfill its essential mission to provide services that process and deliver information, communications, goods and services vital to residents.

To ensure the safety of our delivery personnel, the Postal Service is asking Maryland dog owners to keep their animals secured when deliveries are being made. For local Postal Service officials and mail carriers, one bite is one too many and new tools continue to be unleashed that can help reduce dog attacks in the area.

• When a carrier delivers mail or packages to your front door, place your dog in a separate room and close that door before opening the front door. Dogs have been known to burst through screen doors or plate glass windows to attack visitors.
• Parents should remind children and other family members not to take mail directly from carriers in the presence of the family pet. The dog may view the carrier handing mail to a family member as a threatening gesture.
• If a carrier feels threatened by a dog, or if a dog is loose or unleashed, the owner may be asked to pick up mail at a Post Office or other facility until the carrier is assured the pet has been restrained. If the dog is roaming the neighborhood, the pet owner’s neighbors also may be asked to pick up their mail at the area’s Post Office.

Cleared the adopted animals

One place in Riverside County where an empty state is cause for applause: an animal shelter.

Riverside County Animal Services shared a sweet scene of empty kennels and smiling staff on Wednesday night, with a post on Facebook announcing, “This is incredible: we cleared the adoptable animals!”

Riverside County Department of Animal Services began to see a spike in pet adoptions last month as new owners sought comfort in new pets.

Gavin Newsom ordered seniors and at-risk individuals to stay home during the COVID-19 pandemic. By March 19, all Californians were under orders to stay home unless doing essential work or errands.

Animal officials say adoptions are driven by two factors: People want company during home confinement, and sheltering allows time to care for pets they’ve always wanted.

In a video on the department’s Facebook page, a woman says she is at the “Riverside animal shelter” (presumably, the department’s Riverside location — one of its four locations in the county) and that it has been completely cleared of adoptable animals. On cue, people in scrubs lined up in front of empty kennels yell and waive their arms in the air in celebration.  “We really continuously need your help, but right now, you have met our pleas, and we are so, so very thankful for all of you for doing right by our community, animals, and because of that we’re empty!” the woman says, with everyone joining in on the last word.