Law Dogs

Rip is a German Shepherd. He’s two and a half years old, and his handler is Deputy Porter. Rip came from Connecticut and has been on the job for about a year. When Rip isn’t working, he loves to herd chickens, play with his orange ball, and take a bath!

Jax has been with the Dunn County Sheriff’s Office for seven years. His handler is Sergeant Stalker. Jax is also a German Shepherd.
This eight-year-old dog is from Slovakia and trained with his partner at the St. Paul Police Department. Off duty, Jax loves to eat summer sausage and jump in snow piles in the winter.

Rookie is a therapy dog providing support to law enforcement officers and to crime victims. His handler is Investigator Merryfield. Rookie loves visiting schools and joining DARE classes, he loves to be dressed up, and he likes to pretend he’s a patrol K9, but when it comes down to it, he’d rather smell flowers than fetch a ball.
This goldendoodle is eight months old, and has been with the Dunn County Sheriff’s Office for six months.
Owen is a K9 officer with the Buffalo County Sheriff’s Department.
He’s a three-year-old German Shepherd. One day during training, Owen accidentally turned on the water fountain, and he’s been drinking out of them ever since! Owen and his handler, Deputy Scholl, have worked together for about two years.
Paisley is looking forward to whenever the schools are able to reopen.
She’s a School Resource Officer with Officer Lindsay Hayden with the Augusta Police Department. Paisley also works with victims of crime, and also does public relations. And we want to wish Paisley a happy birthday because she turns one this week!
K9 Zeus works for the La Crosse Police Department. This four-year-old is a Belgian Malinois. A fun a fact about Zeus: he loves the ice maker! Ice cubes are his favorite treat.
Another Belgian Malinois is working for the Chippewa Falls Police Department. Leo is five years old. He’s been with Chippewa Falls P-D for about two years with his handler, Officer McMahon. Leo loves going to work, especially looking for drugs because when he finds them he gets one of his favorite toys — a white towel. Outside of patrol work, Leo enjoys giving presentations in the community and being a member of the Eau Claire Regional SWAT team. When he’s finally off the clock, Leo like exploring the woods.
This is K9 Max with the Chippewa County Sheriff’s Office. He’s a three-year-old German Shepherd from the Czech Republic. In 2018 at the annual patrol certification, Max received the Rookie Dog Award. That means he had the highest overall score out of all the first year dogs from Minnesota, Iowa and Wisconsin.
All the way from France is K9 Manso with the Eau Claire Police Department. He takes commands in three different languages from his handler Officer Summers. You don’t want to get into a race… or a chase with Manso…. his top speed on radar is 35 miles per hour! A fun fact about Manso, he loves the cold and snow. He laid at home in the snow until the last pile melted.
I’m sure you’ve been waiting for it… a joke about law enforcement and donuts, right? No joke, this dog’s name is Donut. His handler is Officer Tim Peterson with the Altoona Police Department. Once school is in session, Donut will be walking the halls in Altoona with Officer Peterson as a School Resource Officer to help offer support to the students.

A special thanks to all the K9 officers and therapy dogs for their service to our communities.

Service Dogs Visit Medical Center

We all need a break from work every now and then – but that is especially true for frontline health care workers during the COVID-19 outbreak.

So, a pack of pups paid a visit to Rose Medical Center Wednesday to put a smile on the faces of some of Colorado’s hardest workers.

“We decided about a week ago to try to increase some of the good feelings because there’s starting to be a lot of polarization in the community,” said Susan Ryan, a physician in Rose’s emergency room. “There’s nothing but good that comes out of these dogs.”

Ryan is also the owner of one of the service dogs.

“I think it’s even more important now than it was a couple weeks ago because then, it was just this really intense time that we were really overwhelmed with the whole process,” she said.

Everyone who came by to pet a good boy or girl left with a smile on their face.

“This was amazing. Honestly, it’s been a rough few months with everything that’s going on, so just to have a little bit of puppy love and relief has been really awesome,” Mesha Aschlock said.

Nurses, doctors and registration workers all agreed it was the best day they’ve had in quite some time.

“We would love for this to happen every day.”

Missouri Ready For Service Dogs

Photos Of 2020 Graduates

Chatham High School in Pittsylvania County is honoring their seniors, the class of 2020.

The high school placed 144 portraits in the front window of their building, one of each graduate, including Radar a service dog to Emily Elaina.

Principal Jason Reece says he and his staff wanted to surprise the seniors as they returned this week to drop off their textbooks.

He says this is opportunity to show how much they care.

“We just want them to know that they’re loved. We’re proud of them and we expect good things out of them moving forward,” Reece said.

Students are encouraged to take a picture beside their portrait, which will remain in the window for the week.

Students will then be able to take them home next week.

Virtual Pet Visits

7 Future Assistance Dogs

Seven puppies will be flying in style to Phoenix as part of a special service dog mission.

Volunteer pilot, Jeff Stewart, who is also the owner of Blue Star Gas, will be flying seven puppies to Phoenix on his personal plane. Three of the pups will stay in Phoenix while the other four will continue on to New Mexico.

Volunteer “puppy raisers” will provide care and training for the dogs until they are able to become assistance animals through Canine Companions for Independence.

The group provides free assistance dogs to people with disabilities.

Canine Companions says they generally rely on commercial airlines to help transport puppies across the country, but due to the coronavirus pandemic, that’s become difficult. They’re now using the help of a nonprofit organization that connects volunteer pilots and plane owners with animal groups that need animal transportation.

So far, private pilots have flown 50 Canine Companion puppies from California to other states.

Service Dog Changed Boy’s Life

When Canis first tentatively allowed Homo to touch it some 30,000 years ago, neither could know that their friendship would grow and change into a relationship that would save lives and nourish souls.

Fast forward to 2020 and meet Crew Field and his dog, Boo. Crew is a 10-year-old boy who has suffered from epilepsy his entire life. Boo, a 2-year-old Goldendoodle (golden retriever and poodle mix), is helping Crew manage his seizures.

“The seizures were frequent and uncontrollable,” said Crew’s father, Chad Field, a surgical instrument company representative from Meridian. “We tried everything. We even took him to the University of Oregon for evaluation.”

The Oregon doctors recommended CBD oil, but it didn’t work, Field said. He and his wife, Lindsie, kept looking for anything to help their son.

Finally, a medical professional suggested they look into getting a service dog.

“Service dogs can serve many roles,” said Adam Gerson, assistant program manager for therapy dogs at Helping Idaho Dogs, Inc. The nonprofit organization’s motto is “Strengthening the canine-human relationship through education and compassionate interactions.”

But not all helping dogs are the same, according to the nonprofit’s website.

“Our organization is mostly made up of therapy dogs, not service dogs,” Gerson said, in a recent interview. Gerson has a black, 100-pound standard poodle named Stanley. “Service dogs are especially trained for specific tasks, whereas therapy dogs can fulfill many roles.”

Helping Idaho Dogs volunteer, Jennifer Rankin, and her dog, Cody, a white, 12-pound, 6-year-old Maltese and Shih Tzu mix, make rounds at Saint Alphonsus Regional Medical Center on Curtis Avenue in Boise every Tuesday.

“Cody lasts about an hour, 90 minutes at most,” Rankin said as she checked in at the front desk in the lobby. Cody warms up by visiting staff in the oncology unit before heading into the outpatient infusion center.

“Some days we will go to the ICU visitor waiting room or the peds unit if he’s feeling up for it,” Rankin said. Cody clearly puts a lot of effort into his weekly rounds, trotting from room to room and patiently sitting still while being petted.

While checking in at the infusion unit nursing station, a nurse told Rankin that one of the patients was willing to have a picture with the dog.

Diane Markus wore a scarf over her head and her gown draped off of her right shoulder, exposing an infusion port just above her breast. “I just love dogs, even this little guy, even though I don’t know him,” she said, smiling as Rankin lifted Cody into the chair with her.

Helping Idaho Dogs’ Gerson is also the point of contact with Saint Alphonsus for scheduling therapy dog visits. He is a volunteer in the Healing Paws program, which develops and trains health care teams for animal assisted therapy and assistance in daily activities.

Gerson said it’s more complicated than it first appears. Dogs, and other animals such as cats and miniature horses, have different training for emotional support, assisted therapy, assisted education and assisted activities.

“I have always wanted to help people beyond my OSHA role as a compliance officer,” Gerson wrote in a recent email interview. “Working with HID allows me to do this.”

Darcel Pecyna started with Helping Idaho Dogs in 2012 and is the current director.

“For years I had wanted to be able to share my dog with other people to bring them the joy that only a well-behaved and trained pet can do,” Pecyna said in a recent email interview. “I’ve always believed in the powerful connections that happen between a person and a dog or other pet.”

Helping Idaho Dogs’ Gerson is also the point of contact with Saint Alphonsus for scheduling therapy dog visits. He is a volunteer in the Healing Paws program, which develops and trains health care teams for animal assisted therapy and assistance in daily activities.

Gerson said it’s more complicated than it first appears. Dogs, and other animals such as cats and miniature horses, have different training for emotional support, assisted therapy, assisted education and assisted activities.

“I have always wanted to help people beyond my OSHA role as a compliance officer,” Gerson wrote in a recent email interview. “Working with HID allows me to do this.”

Darcel Pecyna started with Helping Idaho Dogs in 2012 and is the current director.

“For years I had wanted to be able to share my dog with other people to bring them the joy that only a well-behaved and trained pet can do,” Pecyna said in a recent email interview. “I’ve always believed in the powerful connections that happen between a person and a dog or other pet.”

Pet Power

Don’t tell Karma — who, like all cats, thinks she’s the bee’s knees, but the truest friend among feline kind was Sasha. (No disrespect, Cameron fans, to Sammie The World’s Greatest.)

As a young woman I had a condition with chronic pain. Somehow Sasha always knew. Without prompting she invariably cuddled close, ever so gently avoiding the painful area, until I felt better.

That kind of compassion isn’t the only benefit of the pets gracing an estimated 68 percent of American households. Beyond easing loneliness, scientific studies funded or reported by the National Institutes of Health and Centers for Disease Control suggest pets help decrease stress and lessen pain, lower blood pressure and cholesterol, improve heart health, help children develop life skills, and much more.

A mere piddle (hey, they can’t help it) in the ocean of pet benefits, here are 10 ways relationships with pets can make life better:

1. Longevity

The 2017 study “Dog ownership and the risk of cardiovascular disease and death” followed 3.4 million Swedish dog owners for 12 years. The researchers found that single-person householders with a dog were 33 percent less likely to die and 36 percent less likely to have cardiovascular disease. Another 2019 review (of nearly 70 years of research) published in the journal Circulation found that dog ownership generally lowers the risk of death from any cause by 24 percent.

2. Better immunity, less stress

While those with allergies to pet dander can really suffer, having pets in early childhood may actually help. A 2018 Danish study published in the Journal of Allery and Clinical Immunology followed nearly 400 children from birth to 12 years and found that newborns who live with cats actually have a lower risk of asthma, pneumonia and bronchitis, as well as fewer pet allergies later on.

A 2016 study in the New England Journal of Medicine found Amish and Hutterite farm children are less likely to have asthma, due to exposure to certain beneficial bacteria in livestock.

Later in life, even petting a pooch can help boost the immune system and reduce harmful stress. The 2004 study “Effect of Petting a Dog on Immune System Function” compared college students who petted a real dog for 18 minutes with those who petted a stuffed dog or simply sat quietly. The dog-petters’ blood had increased immunoglobulin levels (an immune defense).

Modern frenetic lifestyles seem to create more stress than ever, which increases the risk of all kinds of health problems. Too many studies to list indicate regular contact with pets can counteract that by lowering stress hormones (e.g., cortisol) and heart rate, which increase calm feelings.

3. Heart health

There’s a double meaning here, as pets so readily shower us with love. Studies reported by the American Heart Association concluded dog owners have a lower risk of developing heart disease, as well as decreased risks for patients who already have it (Levine et. al. 2020).

Not to diss cats. A 10-year study in the Archives of Internal Medicine found cat owners were also 30 percent less likely than non-cat owners to have a heart attack, and 40 percent less likely to die from one.

4. Making friends

Four-legged friends can make people more approachable. In a 1988 study in the Journal of Psychology, people in wheelchairs who had a dog experienced more smiles and conversations with passersby than did those without one.

That’s good news for single guys: In one study (Guéguen and Ciccotti 2008) the same man got more women’s phone numbers when he had a dog (28 percent) compared to attempts without the cute pooch (9 percent).

5. Dementia, healing

Pets must be a special comfort to people suffering from Alzheimer’s and dementia, if the increasing number of pet therapy programs in assisted living and hospitals are anything to go by. Canine caregivers can be trained to assist at-home dementia patients with fetching medication, reminders to eat and guiding them home if they’ve wandered. Many assisted-living facilities now have resident pets or offer therapy animal visits to support and stimulate patients.

Some hospitals, including Kootenai Health, have trained pet therapists who visit patients during their stay. Studies have linked creature companions with improving behavioral issues, better healing outcomes, and just making people feel better.

6. Autism

According to the CDC one in 54 American kids are on the autism spectrum, a developmental condition that can make it more challenging to communicate and interact socially. Animals, who have less complicated social expectations than people, can help. A 2015 Purdue study found children with ASD talked and laughed more, cried less and were more social with peers when guinea pigs were around.

ASD animal-assisted therapy programs have recently grown, featuring everything from dogs and dolphins to alpacas and chickens.

7. Depression

I found multiple studies, the most recent in Australia (Powell et. al. 2019), which unsurprisingly found having a pet eases loneliness.

Pet therapy is well recognized by the National Institute of Mental Health. A 2018 review of 17 studies in the journal BMC Psychiatry found evidence that animals can reduce symptoms of depression, anxiety, and long-term mental health conditions.

8. PTSD

Since our veteran son got his specially trained pooch, he says he feels happier and less troubled by his demons. People haunted by effects of combat, personal assault and other traumas are particularly vulnerable to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The above-cited review and other studies have shown the boost of oxytocin (a neuropeptide released when experiencing affection) pets provide can alleviate the flashbacks and feelings of numbness, sadness and anger associated with PTSD.

9. Cancer

Pets and animal-assisted therapy may help cancer patients heal emotionally and physically. Preliminary findings of a multi-year clinical trial by the American Humane Association indicate therapy dogs not only erase loneliness, depression and stress in kids fighting cancer, but also motivate them to eat and better follow treatment recommendations.

10. Pain

Millions of Americans live with chronic pain, which apparently animals can soothe by helping them relax and stimulating feel-good chemicals. In one study (Marcus et. al. 2012), 34 percent of fibromyalgia patients reported pain relief, better mood and less fatigue after spending 10 minutes with a therapy dog, compared to only 4 percent of patients who didn’t. In another study (Havey 2015), joint replacement surgery patients who had daily pet visits needed 28 percent less pain medication than those without animal contact.

Sasha and Sammie know all about that.

Nurse Took Care Of Guide Dog

In mid-March, Joe Tasby, who is blind, walked into the emergency room of Southern Hills Hospital in Las Vegas with his guide dog Cupid. He thought he had torn a shoulder tendon lifting weights. “I thought I’d be able to just walk out in three days, but it ended up being 20,” the Vietnam veteran told CNN.

But when doctors examined the 70-year-old, they discovered lung disease and heart arrhythmia. He was admitted immediately with Cupid by his side.

Tasby began losing his vision five years ago, the result of glaucoma and diabetes. Guide Dogs For the Blind set him up with Cupid last year.

During the first few days in the hospital, Tasby’s daughter Tiffini came to feed and walk Cupid. But while he was there, the coronavirus pandemic hit. Southern Hills Hospital locked down, banned visitors and Tasby’s first worry was how to care for his yellow Labrador retriever.

That’s when Barbara Borbeck, a nurse at the hospital, came into the picture. “Barbara stepped up and said, ‘You don’t worry about that. I will take care of that for you,’” Tasby recalled.

For nearly three weeks, Borbeck walked, fed and cared for Cupid. She even enlisted other hospital staff to help out on her days off. “With the kind of work Cupid does, it’s important that he’s not getting ill and that we maintain his normality,” said Borbeck.

When the yellow Lab ran out of his specialized dog food, the animal lover went on a mission to find it. Not an easy task due to barren shelves from panic buying. The nurse took a 40-minute drive to a specialty store to find the right stuff.

That certainly was good news for Cupid, because he was on double-duty. With the hospital on lockdown, therapy dogs had not been allowed to make their rounds. On some of her daily walks, Borbeck visited other hospital departments with Cupid, which she says brought lots of smiles during the pandemic.

Tasby and his Lab finally headed home April 1. “It was emotional,” said Borbeck. “Joe is such an amazing man and Cupid — he’s my buddy. We are happy they are going home, but I’m so looking forward to visiting Joe and Cupid again when things open back up.”

Tasby says it isn’t just the physical healing he is grateful for — it’s the compassion of the heroes among us. “If you find somebody at the right time doing the right thing, that’s Barbara,” Tasby made clear.

“Being a Vietnam veteran, I recognize heroes when I see them,” he said. “We have so many frontline heroes. When a frontline individual goes above and beyond like that, you feel it deep inside your heart. What do you say to a person who goes above and beyond like that?” Tasby wondered.

“I spent a lot of time volunteering and helping veterans, and when I see something like this turn back towards me, it leaves me speechless.”

Training Goldendoodles

What is important to know is that every dog must know the basic commands and must listen to you, especially in situations where other people are afraid of your pet. Do not play “aggressively” with your dog, as he can easily conclude that he should behave in other situations as well. Of course, that means that we always need to have certain things on our mind while training out pet.

Keep dogs away from small children they do not know. Both dogs and children can be frightened by sudden reactions. Explain to the children whether or not they can pet your dog.

Don’t scare the dog by taking it where there is loud music or simply follow the dog’s body language – if the dog has wagged its tail it is a sure sign that it is scared, scared or angry and that it is time to get out of the crowd. We know you love your dog, but there are places that are not for him.
As we know, the goldendoodle breed was created by crossing a poodle and a golden retriever. The goal was to create a hypoallergenic dog that would have all the qualities of both breeds. These dogs are very intelligent, friendly and easy to raise and train.  They adore children, people and other dogs. They need a lot of movement so they are not recommended to people who aren’t active. With average and above-average energy levels, Goldendoodles require daily exercise and love to go for walks, running, walks and swimming. Their playful nature and retriever genes make them great partners as well. Owners should aim for at least 30 minutes of exercise each day. A fenced yard is ideal for goldendoodles to rustle, but you shouldn’t keep them there all day. Whenever possible you need to take him out and train him how to behave while being outside that yard.

This would be an easy task also, because goldendoodles are intelligent and have a strong desire for obedience. Because of their obedience, they are very easy to train. It helps if you start their training early. They are easy to train, but require early socialization to avoid shyness. They respond best to positive, rewarding workouts and will be happy to show off their tricks for a delicious treat. Try that and you will see the results.

Without training, you can expect them to roll out the toilet paper, that you will miss the Thanksgiving turkey and the sofa cushions that will be arranged on the floor. Of course, goldendoodle’s playful nature is also quite charming. But, still most of us aren’t prepared for this type of behaviour.

The basic training consists in teaching your pet from the very beginning to perform a certain action on a given command, and to strengthen that action by repeating it. Prolonged repetition creates a habit and the dog mechanically performs a certain action on a given command. Training is successfully completed when the dog on precise commands performs precise actions that are planned for that command and always without error. This is also why you need to train your goldendoodle while he or she is still a puppy.

Goldendoodles have been used as pets, agility dogs, guide dogs, therapy dogs, diabetic dogs, as well as search and rescue dogs. Their love and patience have made them a popular choice for family dogs in recent year. he first three dogs to win the American Kennel Club obedience champion title after its introduction in 1977 were golden retrievers, proving their loyalty and ease of training. Poodles were originally bred as retrievers and water dogs, and both breeds scored in the top 5 among150 smartest dog breeds. These genes are passed on to goldendoodle, so owners can be convinced of a sporty, intelligent and obedient companion. So, don’t worry at all, because obviously your pet will obey every command you give to him. The training will go smoothly and you will be satisfied because your dog will follow all your instructions.

Healthy Dog Food Company

You can’t check out James Middleton’s Insta without catching a glimpse of his adorable dogs and now, he’s turning his greatest passion into a business with a mission to help furry friends around the world.

Middleton just launched a dog food company called Ella & Co and announced the news in a radio ad. The animal lover introduced the new concept of providing freeze-dried raw food with healthy, natural ingredients for every pooch.

On the website, the younger brother of Kate and Pippa describes Ella & Co as a “happiness and wellbeing company for dogs,” noting that each serving will provide vitamins, proteins and natural nutrients for a balanced diet.

Middleton named this company after his therapy dog Ella but was overall inspired to start it by all of his nine pets. “It became my mission to discover what I can do to repay even a small percentage of what they have been able to give to me,” he wrote on this site.” “I spent my time researching and thinking about how I can make their lives as healthy and happy as possible.”

You can start your very own trial providing your dog’s name, breed and size before choosing a recipe your furry friend would enjoy. The first delivery comes with a feeding guide, a measuring cup and eco-friendly reusable storage bags. And the best part? The delivery is completely free.

Lockdown Pet Adoption

Kalamazoo County Animal Services

The Kalamazoo County Animal Services and Enforcement is reporting that 10 pit bull type dogs have been removed from a Kalamazoo home, with dogfighting suspected.

The investigation and cleanup was assisted by the Kalamazoo Humane Society (KHS), who says that an officer viewed evidence of suspected dogfighting during a visit to a home in the 400 block of East Frank Street on Saturday, May 16.

Officer Keith Myers visited the home after receiving a tip from the Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety (KDPS) about loud barking coming from the home.

Following the execution of a search warrant, authorities discovered dogs, roosters, and hens in “deplorable conditions” in the backyard, as well as more dogs inside the home.

Ten pit bull-type dogs were removed, which is above the allowable limit of up to 3 dogs per household according to the city code.

According to the KHS, dogfighting is a felony in Michigan with a penalty of up to four years in prison, community service of 500-1000 hours, and possible fines of $5,000 to $50,000. Other violations can include owning, possessing, breeding, and selling dogs and equipment for fighting and baiting, as well as other activities commonly associated with the crime of dogfighting.

Officials say it is currently unknown if the birds are part of the suspected animal fighting activity.

No arrests were made on the scene, and the investigation remains active. Criminal charges are expected to be filed in connection with this case by KCASE.

The KHS adds that citizens can help stop dogfighting by reporting a large number of dogs, excessive barking from multiple dogs (inside and outside of the home), and dogs outside without adequate shelter, food or water.

Paws Giving Independence

Paws Giving Independence is a service dog program based in Peoria that trains dogs to help people with various disabilities.

During the pandemic, training looks different and PGI is finding new ways for trainers to teach important skills.

“There’s still people out there that have disabilities and need these dogs,” said Michelle Yuen, director of animal intake and training.

Soon, the service dogs will help people in wheelchairs and alert owners to medical issues like seizures.

“These dogs really are essential workers,” said Yuen.

And training is key.

“Sometimes it can be the difference between life and death,” said Donna Kosner, director of community outreach, education, and applications.

So, Paws Giving Independence is getting creative.

“Our training has changed a bit with social distancing and just with the changing of the standards of groups,” said Yuen.

Virtual training sessions are helping dogs learn and practice skills during quarantine.

“A lot of our dogs have been training mainly at home, so the skills carry over at home is similar to in public but again it’s definitely not the same,” said Yuen.

Training in public is a huge part of working on service dog’s skills.

To help, Northwoods Mall is stepping up.

“We trained regularly at Northwoods Mall before all this happened, so the fact that they’re inviting us back here is really great,” said Kosner.

In small groups, trainers are now able to work with dogs, giving them real life experience.

“The dogs can practice still one on one with some of the skills that they need to learn,” said Yuen.

The trainers and dogs are making the current circumstances work in an effort to serve people with disabilities in the area.

“We’re really trying to find creative ways to get our dogs safely and keep the community safe,” said Yuen.

Leaders say they hope to continue training at Northwoods Mall while it’s closed to the public.

During this time, Paws Giving Independence is still taking applications and conducting interviews virtually.

Pomeranian Helped Through Quarantine

Kiss is a three-pound, four-legged Pomeranian. She is an AKC-emotional support dog who has joined me at hospitals and in collaborations with organizations like ELEM/Youth in Distress in Israel, a nonprofit and a special consultant to the UN which provides life-altering support and services to at-risk Israeli youth.

Kiss is the Hebrew word for pocket and she is small enough to fit inside one. Spending more time with my dog during this time of quarantine hasn’t just provided an outlet for my creativity; it has given me time to reflect on how much she’s changed my life. When I got Kiss and started to spend time with her, I learned what other people have known for years, that it is wonderful to wake up to see a creature smiling at you, wagging its tail at you, or jumping up and down like a lottery winner when you get home.

But there was a time when I felt having a dog wasn’t in the cards for me.

I grew up in Jerusalem, the product of an Ultra-Orthodox environment. Dogs, like a lot of aspects of contemporary life including popular music, dolls, and movies, were forbidden.  The Torah states that it’s unkosher to socialize with dogs and that one must keep a dog chained, because these animals are known to cause “substantial and frequent” damage.

There were no dogs where I grew up and I never saw anyone with a pet in my neighborhood.  Even stray dogs were rare. Once on the Orthodox-Hasidic street of Sorotzkin where I grew up, a dog chased me on the way to the elementary school bus. I still remember being terrified that this dog was going to bite me. I grew up believing that all dogs——not just stray dogs——were to be avoided at all costs.

But, one day, I saw my friend’s small teacup Pomeranian and I just knew I had to get a dog like this. The teddy-bear like appearance made the dog seem friendly enough for me to overcome my lifelong fear and mistrust of dogs.

I’ve since learned that some dog lovers might not consider “Micro-teacup Pomeranians” to be “real” dogs. But just try to tell me that Kiss isn’t a real dog after all of the positive changes she’s made in my life.

When one grows up in the Hasidic community, one can have little contact with people on the outside. I wasn’t exposed to many non-Hasidic people and this lack of exposure intensified my natural shyness.

Having Kiss forced me to stop and talk to people I might never have met, or had the nerve to interact with, before. I found myself speaking to people from all walks of life — whether they were Jewish, Christian, Muslim or any other religion — all thanks to this little dog.

When people passed us on the street, they often told me how Kiss made them happy. This seemed fitting to me since the Hebrew word for dog “kelev” can be broken down into ke-lev “like the heart.” The Hasidic masters liked to remind us that “The Merciful One desires the heart.”

Working with kids has taught me a lot of lessons I’ve applied in quarantine. When a script calls for changes, the strong performer must adapt. So, too, did I learn to adapt when Covid-19 changed the script for everyone.

I replaced weekly dog-training sessions with a trainer to personal daily training sessions. I had more time to spend with Kiss so I started teaching her new tricks and reinforcing the old ones she already mastered.

Training Kiss can sometimes be similar to working with young performers — the director or producer needs to place them in the right role that takes advantage of their diverse interests and abilities. For Kiss, I have to find the right commands and choreography too. Some commands she eagerly follows while others seem to be a lost cause. One command Kiss has mastered is for a move I’ve called “Spin and Shalom” in which Kiss spins twice and stands at attention at peace.

I miss taking Kiss with me to parks and hospitals. But, as soon as I am able, I’m looking forward to taking her with me to more and more places with people whose spirits, like mine, need uplifting every once in a while.

Traveling With Your Pets

One of the reasons I don’t travel much is I hate leaving my dogs. Not a day away from home and I’m missing them.

My first dog, Jitterbug, entered my life at the perfect time.With my ailing mother on the East Coast, I had to fly to New Jersey a lot. Because Jitterbug was a terrific traveling companion, I wasn’t quite as homesick for my dogs, because I got to take one of them with me.

Will travel with your family pet be as easy? Before deciding to bring your pet on your next family trip, give the idea some serious thought. Remember when your kids were tiny, and travel meant careful planning to ensure that nothing went wrong? It’s like that.

We’ll focus on dogs, because they’re the most likely pets to accompany us on our journeys. But keep in mind that many aspects involving travel with dogs also apply to other animals.

Preparation

Travel with a pet means bringing food, sleeping material and maybe toys or other things to keep your buddy amused. Do you have room to bring along what’s needed?

What kind of traveler is your pet? Does Fido get sick in the car? Can he ride quietly for hours on end? Will he bark at every person, building or vehicle you pass? How long can he go without a potty break?

What’s your pet’s personality like? Is she outgoing? Does she enjoy discovering new places and people? How does she feel about other animals?

If your reaction to these questions is negative, you might consider other options. But if you know your animal will enjoy the outing, read on.

How will you travel?

If by auto, do you have a way to safely contain your pet? A sudden stop can turn even the smallest unrestrained dog into a projectile. A crate or some type of restraining system is best for everyone in the vehicle. Don’t forget fresh water and to factor potty breaks into your driving time.

Taking a plane? Dogs in the cabin must ride in a carrier that fits under the seat in front of you. The only dogs that can ride unrestrained in the cabin are service dogs, and don’t get the idea that you can quickly label your pet as such so he can roam about the cabin. The Transportation Department in January proposed a rule cracking down on airline passengers labeling their pets as emotional support animals.

Bigger dogs must ride in a specific kind of crate in cargo. Are you comfortable with that? Dogs have been lost and transported to the wrong airport when transported in cargo.

Buses and trains generally don’t allow dogs on board.

Playtime

What are your plans once you arrive at your destination? If they don’t include lots of things you can do with your dog, you might reconsider bringing her along. Many hotels either don’t allow pets to stay in rooms unaccompanied – meaning someone in your party will have to miss out on the fun if that’s what you were planning – or charge for day care services. If your idea is to put your pet in day care, reconsideration is again in order. It likely will be stressful to be in a strange place far from home, surrounded by strangers.

If you’d like to adventure with your pet, options are plenty. But check them out before you hit the road. Some places require reservations; others limit the number of pets allowed at any given time, require that they be leashed or in carriers, or limit the size and type of animal.

When all is said and done, if you decide to bring Fido along, pack up and have a great time. And take lots of pictures.

Service Dog In Yearbook

Service dogs play a big part in people’s lives, and a Kentucky school wanted to pay tribute to a special canine.

Hadley Jo, 7 was diagnosed with epilepsy when she was 16 months old, according to The Record. Ariel, her chocolate labradoodle service dog, was bred and trained to be a seizure dog for Hadley Jo, the newspaper reported. The dog was bought for $20,000, funded by parishioners of St. Patrick Church, which counts the Lange family as members, The Record reported.

Doctors at the Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center discovered that “abnormal brain waves” were causing Hadley Jo to have seizures.

“My heart froze,” Lange told The Record. “What can we do about it?”

The family had a revelation when Hadley Jo was at her babysitter’s home. A German shepherd was trying to pull the child to the floor, Lange said. The dog apparently detected the onset of a seizure and was trying to get the child safely onto the floor before a convulsion could knock her down and cause an injury.

“That was a turning point,” Lange told The Record.

Lange began researching service dogs and settled upon Ariel. Seeing the dog honored in Hadley Jo’s yearbook was a happy moment, she said.

“We are beyond blessed to attend a school that is truly inclusive and accepting of others that may not look like everyone else. It means the world to see your child’s happiness and acceptance, Lange wrote on Facebook. “It means the world to see your child have a home and ‘a family’ at her school that love her like we do.”

Paws Giving Independence

Paws Giving Independence is a service dog program based in Peoria that trains dogs to help people with various disabilities.

During the pandemic, training looks different and PGI is finding new ways for trainers to teach important skills.

“There’s still people out there that have disabilities and need these dogs,” said Michelle Yuen, director of animal intake and training.

Soon, the service dogs will help people in wheelchairs and alert owners to medical issues like seizures.

“These dogs really are essential workers,” said Yuen. And training is key.

“Sometimes it can be the difference between life and death,” said Donna Kosner, director of community outreach, education, and applications.

So, Paws Giving Independence is getting creative.

“Our training has changed a bit with social distancing and just with the changing of the standards of groups,” said Yuen.

Virtual training sessions are helping dogs learn and practice skills during quarantine.

“A lot of our dogs have been training mainly at home, so the skills carry over at home is similar to in public but again it’s definitely not the same,” said Yuen.

Training in public is a huge part of working on service dog’s skills.

To help, Northwoods Mall is stepping up.

“We trained regularly at Northwoods Mall before all this happened, so the fact that they’re inviting us back here is really great,” said Kosner.

In small groups, trainers are now able to work with dogs, giving them real life experience.

“The dogs can practice still one on one with some of the skills that they need to learn,” said Yuen.

The trainers and dogs are making the current circumstances work in an effort to serve people with disabilities in the area.

“We’re really trying to find creative ways to get our dogs safely and keep the community safe,” said Yuen.

Leaders say they hope to continue training at Northwoods Mall while it’s closed to the public.

During this time, Paws Giving Independence is still taking applications and conducting interviews virtually.

A Helping Paw

K9s for Camo Inc. is in the business of giving rescue dogs a new purpose in life.

Dozens of canines had been headed toward euthanasia before John Lopez claims them for training at his Rogersville nonprofit. The mission is to turn them into service dogs for military veterans.

“Getting started, I thought it was going to be all about the veterans,” says Lopez, a former U.S. Army specialist, “but starting to work with some of these rescue dogs, they are so thankful.”

Lopez started the organization in 2013 – while running his core business, Howliday Inn Pet Resort in Rogersville. The for-profit work in dog training, boarding and grooming led to his nonprofit idea.

He’s since sold Howliday Inn, striking a deal last year with longtime K9s for Camo volunteers, Brandon and Summer Gerhardt. The husband and wife bought the pet resort for an undisclosed price. Lopez had owned it since 2013.

“When I did own it, it just worked hand-in-hand because I could have the dogs boarding there at no cost and do everything to help the nonprofit out with the business,” Lopez says.

The K9s for Camo training varies based on challenges facing the veterans, with the dogs instructed to provide diabetic and narcolepsy alerts, as well as help with issues involving mobility, post-traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injury.

Training camp
A connection remains between K9s for Camo and Howliday Inn.

“We always have at least one to two. Sometimes we have five or six,” Summer Gerhardt says of Lopez’s canines in training.

Every rescue dog is first evaluated at Howliday Inn, Lopez says, with seven to 10 brought in every week. The dogs are rescued by numerous animal rescue groups, including Valley Hills Animal Rescue, Humane Society of Southwest Missouri and Rescue One.

“Usually, one out of every 20-30 is what we take,” he says. “We really just look at energy and temperament. We don’t care what breed it is.”

If they pass, the dogs head off to “boot camp” for two to three months at Ozark Correctional Center in Fordland. Prisoners at the minimum-security state facility learn new life skills by training the dogs, who stay with the inmates during that time, he says.

Upon finishing at OCC, the dogs return to Howliday Inn for additional task training in public before connecting with their veteran for the first time. A trial period then determines if the two click as a team, Lopez says.

“If it does, they start coming back to classes. If it does not, we find a different dog for that veteran,” he says, noting an additional 18 weeks of training follows at no cost to the veterans or rescue groups.

Gerhardt says Howliday Inn gives K9s for Camos a discounted boarding and food rate that tops out at roughly $3,000 per month for all dogs.

Valley Hills Animal Rescue owner Mary Gillam says she’s been supplying dogs for K9s for Camo since it started. She estimates 95% of her organization’s canines come from the Springfield-Greene County Health Department’s animal control unit and many of those are “death row dogs,” meaning they are in jeopardy of being euthanized.

“We look for that behavior that John likes,” she says, estimating she’s supplied 40-50 dogs that have been selected. “You can’t just send any dog to test for that. They need to have a nice calmness about them.”

Goal setting
The annual goal over the past few years is connecting around 22 dogs to veterans, Lopez says.

“We were on track to probably do 28-30 this year,” he says, noting the number will likely be around 20, as the coronavirus halted training for several weeks. “We’ve probably helped close to 100 total over the years.”

Operating income reached a record-high $155,000 in 2019, an 82% increase from 2018, aided in large part by fundraising efforts at the organization’s second annual Camo-lot Ball. The gala, held at The Old Glass Place, generates about 80% of K9s for Camo’s yearly funds, he says. The third-annual event is still on track for September, but Lopez says he’s uncertain of fundraising prospects in the current COVID-19 environment.

Until this month, Lopez had been the sole employee of K9s for Camo, which became a 501(c)(3) in 2017. Steven Doty was recently hired as director of operations, thanks to a $50,000 grant through the Cook Family Foundation. Lopez also relies on a board of directors and around 20 volunteers for the nonprofit, which has a general coverage area within a two-hour radius of Springfield.

As K9s for Camo is largely focused on southwest Missouri, Lopez wants to eventually spread out to St. Louis and Kansas City before scaling outside the state. He’s setting a five-year goal to expand in Missouri and 10 years for points beyond.

“We want to be the standard for training and have great dogs,” he says. “It’s super impactful seeing it in person.”

Help Prevent Attacks

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

To ensure the safety of delivery personnel, the postal service is asking dog owners to keep their animals secured when deliveries are being made.

The postal service offers the following tips for dog owners:

When a carrier delivers mail or packages to the front door, place the 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 the dog is roaming the neighborhood, the pet owner’s neighbors also may be asked to pick up their mail at the post office.

For more information, visit usps.com.