Veteran Receives Service Dog

When Master Sergeant Steven Doty, a U.S. Air Force veteran and Webster University graduate who is now the executive director at Webster’s Hill Air Force Base campus in Utah, arrives at work, his co-workers often make comments such as “he’s a good boy” and “he’s so cute!”

But those comments aren’t aimed at Doty, rather, they are reserved for his service dog Filos, which accompanies him to help him cope with his PTSD and Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI).

Doty, who earned a Bachelor of Arts in Media Communications and Rhetoric in 2016 through the School of Communications, was paired with his dog, Filos, a few months ago through the program K9’s for Warriors, a non-profit organization that provides service dogs to disabled American veterans.

According to Doty, K9’s for Warriors pairs veterans with dogs based on medical submissions, personality profiles, interview questions, the temperament of the dogs, and the advice of the dog trainers. “They offer you about four solid days of bonding with your dog,” he said. “The intent is to strictly develop a strong bond with your animal and develop a respect and mutual connection before pursuing any further through the training course.”

Doty said he had many doubts—not so much about the science behind the program, but about whether he was ready to have his condition made public by a vest-wearing dog, along with the attention that would come with it. “Filos would sense this emotional adversity and conduct small gestures of his acknowledgement and calm me down. It was as if he was attempting to communicate trust and affection,” he said.

“It is very hard to explain, and it nearly sounds mythical, but in all honesty, had it not been for his loyal companionship and earnest and instinctual affection, I very-well would have chosen to remove myself from the program and attempt to pursue this recovery in continual solitude,” Doty continued. “He certainly chose me before I chose him.”

Although he wasn’t medically discharged from the service until 2019, Doty said he’d been diagnosed with PTSD long before that, in 2010. “I didn’t truly acknowledge the severity or validity of the diagnosis until much later in mid-2012,” he said. “I believe the catalyst came when I acknowledged a serious chronic pain from a back and leg injury in Afghanistan, and my career and life were slowed as a result or frequent medical procedures, including serious surgery.”

Doty continued, “I believe it was this sudden, nearly abrupt halt of a kinetic and active life which thrust my thoughts to more active, transitioned my subconscious to overly conscious, and cultivated my self-awareness – even doubt – to a keener state. Even then, I had a difficult time accepting that there was a cognitive problem, and while some of it had to do with stigma and social norms regarding mental health, much of it was fear of what it would do to my life, my career and to the relationships that were a significant part of my life at the time.”

Doty said that Webster University has been supportive throughout his entire journey. “As a student, faculty and student-support staff were understanding, personable and approachable,” he said. “If and when circumstances were overwhelming personally, medically or professionally, it was certainly easy to reach out and discuss the factors impacting my life with my superiors and resolve work-arounds, discuss alternative strategies, or simply to voice my troubles to a compassionate ear.”

“As an employee, I was offered reasonable accommodation after surgeries to sustain the workload required, and was fully endorsed when the discussion of a service dog arose as a part of my new lifestyle; there was excitement, elation and genuine interest in the promise they hoped it brought to my recovery. I sometimes question how an organization can be so understanding to a condition so many are fearful of, even hesitant to acknowledge.”

Doty noted that as a team member of the Military Campus Network, having co-workers familiar with the military life and the various stressors, cultural norms and emotions associated with post-military life were instrumental in this caring and compassionate spirit.

“My supervisor, Benjamin Brink [senior director Military Campus Operations], was a former Navy Commander and his ability to relate and connect with my background allowed me to have not only a mutual understanding of my circumstances, but an ‘offline’ mentor at any time, day or night,” he said.

Susan Schultz, Scott Air Force Base Campus Director, is another colleague Doty found extremely helpful. “Susan and I have always had a wonderful, professional connection, but in learning more about each other, we realized we had a great deal more to offer each other,” he stated. “When I was wrestling with stressors, magnified as the result of PTSD/TBI, she detected this and provided a safe, effective avenue for me to express my thoughts and feelings in an empathetic, healthy and productive manner.”Doty went on, “That’s the truest testament to Webster’s accommodations: the notion that they cared more about supporting whatever was necessary for me to get better, than caring about the background experiences or specific factors that arose for my need of such a visual and tangible resource like a service dog.”

Doty said that the best thing other people who are suffering from PTSD can do is acknowledge it. “If there was any headline to my prior management of a very present health condition, it was ‘avoidance,’” he said. “Whether PTSD, or any other medical condition, and no matter the person, keeping yourself locked-in with those adversities only serves to stifle growth. Acknowledgment of our adversities helps us to achieve even more than we first believed.”

Doty said it’s also important to seek help by any means necessary. “Open yourself up to someone, anyone you trust. That might very well be the conversation that transports you into the desired path to a better, more optimal life,” he said. “The road to healing and recovery is arduous, daunting and unfamiliar. The ‘new normal’ feels absent, even awkward. Yet, as time pushes forward, you’ll see more clearly what that toxicity was doing to your life and how you’re prouder and more relatable to the person you were without the negative impacts imparting your daily life. You’ll get better, but you’ll never be the same.”

“I hope that one day, there is no need for Filos to serve as my service dog, my ‘supplemental resource,’ Doty said. “That I can one day ‘de-vest’ and ‘break’ him for the last time, and introduce him simply as, ‘my dog, my best friend…my Filos.’”

Community Gets Service Dog

Husky Wins Best In Show

What a good boy! Nick the Siberian Husky won Best in Show at the 2020 Beverly Hills Dog Show Presented by Purina.

The show was held on February 29, 2020 at the Fairplex in Pomona and was hosted by John O’Hurley and David Frei. It was originally set to air April 5 but was postponed to May 17.

Nick traveled from Shanghai with his owner Michelle Scott for their first Beverly Hills Dog Show. It was quite a debut. Nick beat out hundreds of other dogs representing over 164 breeds and varieties recognized by the American Kennel Club, according to an NBC Sports news report. He won the Working Group (a category of dogs that perform jobs like service dogs, police and military dogs, and water rescue dogs) in a field of 27 breeds. He then competed against six group winners before winning top prize.

Adding A Dog To The Family

Tails, slobbery kisses and furry cuddles are some of the joys associated with pet ownership. The healthful benefits of owning a pet have been well documented, and a growing body of research shows the psychological impact pets can have on families.

A recent study by Johns Hopkins Medicine found that being around dogs at an early age can lessen one’s chances of developing schizophrenia. Interestingly, cat ownership did not have the same effects. There seems to be something special about the connection humans have with dogs.

Universities, large companies and even airports are introducing dog-friendly environments for people to cuddle with dogs to help reduce stress and anxiety. An examination of 22 studies about pet companionship, which was published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health in 2017, found that pet ownership can benefit social, cognitive, education and social development.

Families may consider adopting a pet to gain some of these benefits. To better understand the effects of pet ownership, we talked to Dr. Sabrina E.B. Schuck, executive director of the UCI Child Development Center and assistant professor in residence in the Department of Pediatrics at the UCI School of Medicine. (This interview has been edited for length and clarity.)

OCF: What are your thoughts about the recent Johns Hopkins study that found early exposure to dogs may decrease one’s chances of developing schizophrenia later in life?

Schuck: The findings are certainly interesting and warrant further investigation into the role of household pet dogs in childhood on mental health. It is a sound study, but as the authors note, there were a number of limitations, and as such we need to approach a discussion of the results with caution.

While I am an avid dog fan, we certainly cannot take away from this research (or my own) that we should bring a dog into our homes when we raise kids. Caring for animals is obviously an immense responsibility, and the decision to bring a dog, or any pet, into the home is complex.

OCF: What are some of the most important health benefits of having a pet dog during childhood?

Schuck: Research in human-animal interaction has increased in the past 10 years, but there still exists very few well-controlled, randomized trials examining the immediate benefits of pet ownership and fewer still longitudinal studies examining this question.

There is increasing evidence that families who have a pet dog are more likely to regularly walk their pet, and we speculate that this behavior may reduce the likelihood of developing childhood obesity. Colleagues have also found that pet ownership during childhood may decrease anxiety.

OCF: How do exposure and interaction with dogs impact mental health through childhood and beyond?

Schuck: Decreased physiological stress and improved perceptions of stress levels have been found in children and young adults (and adults) who participate in animal-assisted interventions and activities (AAI/AAA).

In our work, we also found improved self-perceptions, improved attention and decreased conflict in childrenwith mental health challenges who participated in AAI with therapy dogs. The finding held six weeks after the sessions with the dogs — and this finding was the same for children who had a pet and who did not have a pet.

OCF: How and why does pet ownership help reduce anxiety and stress?

Schuck: There are studies that describe reduced perceptions of anxiety among individuals when they are in the presence of their pet and reduced salivary cortisol levels in the presence of animals.

Investigators are actively working to better understand the mechanisms by which physiological and perceived stress are reduced. Some speculate that the attachment one develops to their pet acts in much the same way health attachment to our loved ones does. Others suggest the tactile sensations stimulated during pet interaction release hormones similar to those released in social relationships, particularly oxytocin. Still others posit that interaction with an animal elicits emotional and cognitive arousal, thereby calming overactivity or stress.

There is no “one size fits all” for human-animal interaction. And we are all working hard to figure out for whom pet ownership is most beneficial.

Dog Who Needs Patience Gets Adopted

One sweet rescue dog is enjoying his fairy-tail ending in a fur-ever home after receiving “hundreds” of adoption requests.

The spirited German Shepherd Border Collie was left with a “wonky” face and partial blindness after being attacked after birth and was returned to the shelter when his initial owners couldn’t handle his “hyper” personality.

Brodie the pup is officially living his best life after being adopted by Amanda Richter and Brad Ames. The couple said it was “love at first sight” when they saw photos of the “wonky”-faced dog online, and rescued him from Old MacDonald Kennels in Alberta, Canada in September last year.

Brave Brodie has grown up with severe cranial and facial injuries after being attacked by his mother at just 13 days old, news agency South West News Service (SWNS) reports. After the incident, part of the dog’s jaw fused together as he grew, leaving one side of his face “slanted” with partial blindness in one eye.

The adorable border collie spent just five months with his initial adoptees, and his first owners returned him because he had “too hyper” of a disposition.

Richter, meanwhile, said she was instantly “drawn” to Brodie and his resilience through his difficult start in life.

“I looked at his photos every day and even cried a few times. We felt drawn to him for some reason,” the 30-year-old woman said. “We met him, took him for a walk and hung out with him for a few hours and ended up bringing him home the same day because the rescue really felt we were a great fit.

“He’s definitely hyper but he is so intelligent,” she explained. “His brain is perfectly fine and he learns tricks within 10 minutes usually which tells me he is a smart boy.”

“He just needed patience and someone to be consistent. He gets better every week.”

As Brodie grows up, Richter and Ames, 23, have big dreams for their precious pooch. The proud owners hope to train him as a therapy dog for people with special needs while raising awareness for other disabled dogs.

Though other medical complications may arise as he grows, Richter said she’s simply thankful her dog is “healthy and happy” right now.

“It’s actually funny because when we go to the dog park everyone notices how he is the happiest pup there and just wants to play and run,” she said. “Dogs are resilient and he has no idea he looks different so he enjoys his life just the same as any other pup.”

CBD Oil For Dogs

Do you think kidney disease is commonly only to humans? If yes, there’s news for you! It can happen to your pet dog as well. Kidney ailments are also known as renal disease and takes place when the usual kidney functions get limited. If left unattended, it can prove to be fatal. However, today, with the advancement of medical science and alternative therapies, there are treatments available for the same. One of the best ways in which dog owners can enhance their dog’s life is by adding CBD oil in their diet. The latest trend in alternative medicine and therapy is to use CBD for pets. CBD oil has successfully treated several human ailments and bodily discomforts, like neurological issues, sleep disorders, cancer, inflammatory conditions, chronic pain, and anxiety. The preliminary and anecdotal accounts also confirm these advantages, though there is a need for increased scientific testing. Today, CBD oil works on your pet dog favorably because of the endocannabinoid system.  Today, the endocannabinoid systems get investigated continuously as a therapeutic element that impacts the mammal physiology! It regulates the immune system, neuroprotection, regulates sleep, metabolism, and many other neural procedures. Also, the primary function of this system is to retain body homeostasis levels. It indicates that it enables a living body (humans and animals) to regulate its internal environment, for instance, the water balance, temperature, pH, chemical balance, and many more. The first and foremost aspect that you need to ensure is to use a good quality CBD oil for your dogs. CBD isn’t known to cause any harm. Going by that principle, it’s worth to check out CBD oil and how it helps your dog fight its kidney ailment. Today, several pet owners use CBD oil and other products, for leveling down the symptoms of other severe diseases. According to the latest study, vets reported that proper use of CBD oil in dogs led to better pain management, lesser anxiety, and reduced seizures. Today, provisions are made to facilitate studies and clinical trials, to understand how CBD oil can further help pet dogs to ease renal disease symptoms. The study outcomes will be beneficial to everyone.

Kidney disease often leads to acute pain! And if your dog is in pain, CBD oil can help to lessen the pain symptoms. It can impact humans having this disease in the same way. If there is more scientific evidence pertaining to dogs, vets and other doctors can prescribe better treatments using CBD oil. Presently, with the available facts and medical evidence, CBD oil can minimize the pain associated with renal disease in dogs. It will help your pet dog to feel more comfortable and respond better to the medical treatments.

CBD oil also helps to ease other ailments and its symptoms in dogs, such as cancer, glaucoma, anxiety, excess inflammation, and the like.

Pets Are Family

Since the first phase of the pandemic reached Los Angeles, many animal shelters have had a high volume of adoption and fostering applicants as many people needed a way to get through this disheartening time.

The initial stages of the pandemic saw many animals fostered and shelters beginning to be emptied, which was rightly seen as a total win for all furry friends.

With all this time at home and the recent extension to stay-at-home orders, many Angelinos find themselves with a seemingly infinite amount of time to spare, but what happens when all the comfort is stripped away from you within a blink of an eye?

Pets are great for emotional support buddies that will always keep you busy and give you something to look forward to when you get home.

These pets, however, should not be seen as coping mechanisms to manage not being allowed to go outside and do the regular everyday things you did before the stay-at-home order.

Of course, there are certainly families who can just no longer afford the expenses of an animal.

Many people who own pets will be faced with (or already made) the hard decision of taking their family pet into the shelter because they face financial hardships due to the pandemic making it nearly impossible to find a steady, and possibly safe, job able to support their family and their pet.

Yes, the pandemic has affected almost every single person throughout the county but this should not be the cause to return your family pet to an overcrowded shelter.

Returning the animal will only stress it out and may eventually push it into a depressed state, hoping to reunite with its original owners.

Then again, there are some of those people who just go through life not realizing that these animals have feelings. The unaware may simply use them for cruel, petty and short-term entertainment.

This attitude towards pet stewardship is completely backwards and irresponsible. To brazenly use an animal and “return” it like an inanimate piece of clothing with a receipt is a shocking show of apathy towards sentient life.

These animals create a bond with their owners and people never truly understand how much a pet can love their owners.

If you are one of those people who has returned a pet because now things are “getting back to normal” or are contemplating doing such a thing, then shame on you, you detestable cretin! How dare you use an innocent animal for your personal emotional well-being without considering the emotions of the animal?

There are also those who do not even care to take an animal to a shelter where they can at least receive a modicum of support. Some find it easier to abandon the animal or let the pet run away from home, letting that pet wander around in the streets with no food or care.

It is actually a crime in most states to abandon a pet.

Taking away the privilege of a pet to have a loving home and abandoning it causes the pet to suffer from mental health conditions like anxiety and depression.

If you think that mammals don’t have emotions, you are tragically wrong. Animals experience some of the same emotions we humans do, like sadness, happiness, fear, anger, surprise and disgust.

Gregory Berns, a neuroscientist at Emory University, does brain scans to study decision-making in humans and he trained dogs to stay still in an MRI scanner while awake.

“When you start looking at their brains and you see that they react the same way in many ways that humans do it causes me to question how we treat dogs and animals in general, specifically as property,” Berns says, “Currently under all codes of law something is either property or a human being (a person) and there is not really another category so it made me question where do dogs belong, ‘Are they closer to people?’, and I see them closer to people.”

Berns acknowledges that many of his finding in dogs probably holds true for pretty much any mammal.

Pets are innocent and provide unconditional love to owners and it is the owner’s responsibility to provide the best loving environment in return.

Before you adopt, please understand that the pet is your responsibility for the rest of their lifetime.

Keeping Tabs On Pets

The Mason City Police Department issued a statement reminding residents to keep their pets’ records and vaccinations up to date to prevent a trip to the pound.

Stanley Found A Loving Foster Home

An 8-year-old chihuahua, who’s since been named Stanley, was rescued after being locked inside a crate and left on the side of Route 80 in New Jersey.

The dog spent a week at Ramapo-Bergen Animal Refuge in Oakland, New Jersey, and now has a foster mom who is helping him lose weight so he can improve his mobility.

When Stanley was was originally found, he was “frozen in fear,” said Megan Brinster, the refuge’s executive director.

Community members are chipping in to buy the dog a wheelchair and physical therapy services.

At the end of April, an overweight chihuahua was rescued after being found locked inside of a small crate on the the side of New Jersey highway Route 80.

When the dog was originally found, he was “frozen in fear” inside of the cramped box, Megan Brinster, the executive director of Ramapo-Bergen Animal Refuge in Oakland, New Jersey, told Insider. After spending a week at an animal control facility, the 8-year-old chihuahua – who has since been named Stanley – found a safe haven at the refuge, Brinster said.

Brinster explained that the dog weighs 21 pounds, which is about twice what he should weigh at a healthy size, which makes it difficult for his short legs to help him move on his own.

Now, the dog is being fostered by an owner who has experience caring for dogs with disabilities and medical complications, which Brinster said is a “game-changer.”

“He is challenged mobility-wise, and he needs someone who can help him get around,” Brinster said. “He also needs to be on a carefully monitored diet.”

Brinster added that Stanley’s new caretaker is “the most kind, loving foster mom.”

“We know that [Stanley] is just being showered with so much love and affection,” Brinster said.

The New Jersey animal refuge is used to taking in pets who have medical or mobility challenges or who need to gain or lose a substantial amount of weight, Brinster said – but she said Stanley’s case was especially moving. Supporters of the refuge have been rallying around the dog and his traumatic story, from asking the organization how to help and chipping in to buy Stanley a wheelchair and physical therapy services.

“Stanley’s story is really about the power of transformation,” Brinster said. “It comes from love and care and believing we can make a difference.”

The Way Of The Dog Episode

The Simpsons end season 31 with one of those Christmas presents people give their pets. This is fair because they carved out a horror episode for Thanksgiving this year. “The Way of the Dog,” is cute as a puppy dog’s ears and it is no turkey.

“The Way of the Dog” begins without opening credits or a couch gag. It jumps right in with Santa’s Little Helper’s POV. We’ve seen through the family dog’s eyes before, and it is both refreshing and foreboding. It usually means he’s sick or running away or, in one episode while in the care of Mr. Burns, being released along with the other hounds on Bart. In this case we begin in his dream, which will become very important because the episode hangs on Santa’s Little Helper getting Dognitive Behavioral Therapy, and the first part of owner-training is dogs see with more than their eyes. They can “smell ya later,” as Nelson might say. The dream actually focuses on another simple creature. Ralph Wiggum, who we first see happily chasing butterflies, and next see fearfully running from them. Santa’s Little Helper and Ralph aren’t very different. They both have very simple views of the world, and even more simplistic ways of interpreting it. The Simpsons put a spin on the Far Side “blah blah Ginger” joke. The words “Santa’s Little Helper” never actually come out of any of the Simpsons mouths while they corner him and try to get him to obey. But Grandpa, whose own complaints have been labeled gibberish along with everyone else’s, remains gibberish when the episode changes to people talk. In the meantime, the problem has been mimed as a problem Santa’s Little Helper has with a Santa hat.

In the meantime, the underlying premise is mostly plainly foreshadowed when Marge declares “dogs love dressing in people clothes.” There is a failure to communicate. Marge also gets to exhibit one of her master-of-the-obvious jokes when she complains about wasting digital photographs, which are actually, virtually, endless. Homer gets to do his improv version of “Jingle Bell Rock,” which is far more entertaining than the original lyrics. He tries to impress a Pay-Per-View operator by ordering a fight in HDTV like a big shot. He also snorts Candy Crush debris, but only because he’s already brushed his teeth.

Mr. Burns doesn’t have much screen time but his oppressive influence over Homer is in extreme view during the episode. In an early scene, we see his card on the back of the Christmas tree advising his employees to think of work during the holiday. Towards the end of the episode, Bart hires Homer’s boss to be Homer’s boss so he can do what Bart wants him to do. If only Bart would use this power for evil instead of good. Burns actually advises, well, commands Homer to do the right thing and let Bart sleep outside with the dog. It’s sweet, in a suitably twisted way.

It looks like we may have heard the last of Bart’s evergreen catchphrase “Eat my shorts.” Now that he’s gotten a taste of his own medicine he realizes the bite has gotten a little stale. The episode reexamines its past throughout the episode, so this is a compound fracture in the fairy tale. The Simpsons have veered toward a more middle of the road kind of subterfuge in recent seasons. While they know they can’t change whatever sins they may think they committed, they can make revisionist history going forward. It’s not that the Simpson family doesn’t apologize. They have and often. But upon closer inspection, they’ve always been the family which gets things right.

So when the family dog goes wrong, they call in a dog psychologist, the aptly named Elaine Wolff, played by the talented Cate Blanchett. Elaine loves dogs and despises all pet owners as privileged and entitled, something you can’t say about the Simpson family. Elaine is going through problems of her own, mainly because The Simpsons missed hearing the dulcet tones of Michael York pronouncing “exhume.” Ultimately Elaine cannot resist a wagging tail. However, Lisa’s attempt to bully the canine therapist is unexpected and largely effective. “Hold my pearls,” she tells Bart as she puts up her dukes. “There’s only so much poop I can scoop,” says Elaine. Lisa loses the round by forfeit but the dog has his day.

The episode itself is quite wholesome. Even the darkest character, the abusive race dog trainer, has a kind of redemption in the mere fact that Santa’s Little Helper mother is still alive. The threat of being put to sleep comes up on several occasions, however. We don’t quite believe it when the cheapest veterinarian in town brings up having to put down any dog who bites someone. Homer can’t bear to look at the man who wants to put Santa’s Little Helper to sleep, and wears a dog cone on his head on the way out of the office to ensure it. While we may be expecting him to wreak havoc with the equipment, Homer instead turns the gag into a mild tweak of the Pixar logo.

We take it a little more seriously when Chief Wiggum shows up at the door, except we really don’t. As the doggy-deady App creeps closer, and then backs up and makes a U-turn and resumes its approach, we remember Wiggum is the one of the most ineffectual characters in Springfield. He’s the kind of cop who brings a lollipop to a gunfight. Bart brings this to vivid life by calling him a Big Blue Balloon, and Wiggum himself solidifies our characterization by appreciating the analogy until his fantasy gets deflated.

The family’s farewells to Santa’s Little Helper are very sweet until Homer goes overboard by slipping a little tongue into his goodbye kiss. To be fair, and to bring things back to perspective, so does Santa’s Little Helper. Homer says he’s not an emotional guy but is actually nothing but emotion. The Simpson family has their hearts in the right place throughout. They break off a holiday brunch, Lisa reads “Looking for Mr. Good Boy,” a take on Judith Rossner’s 1975 passive sexual thriller Looking for Mr. Goodbar, and they even have a family prayer. Homer prays to Saint Bernard.

The Dognitive Behavior Therapy Institute is like doggy heaven: wet grass, no fireworks and Lambien for those restless nights. Elaine proves herself a capable therapist who goes the extra mile for the dog. She even reads to him and sleeps on the floor to get inside his head. While Santa’s Little Helper doesn’t get to sniff the butts of strangers, he does have a mother and dog reunion. She was only a mongrel away. Elaine ultimately ends the episode as a lone wolf, walking her 20 or so dogs. This reviewer hopes to see her again someday having tea with the Crazy Cat Lady.

“The Way of the Dog” is also the way of one of the creators of The Simpsons. The late Sam Simon donated the majority of his $100 million fortune to causes having to do with animals. The Sam Simon Foundation matches veterans and the hearing impaired with service dogs. He also gave to PETA, vehemently opposed medical experiments on animals, and believed veganism could solve hunger and climate change. Lisa’s disclaimer about the salami she gives Santa’s Little Helper as a farewell dog treat is also testament to Simon’s (and Paul McCartney’s) legacy.

The Simpsons season 31 finale is dedicated in loving memory to Little Richard, and ends on an upbeat. “The Way of the Dog” is a fully developed story, which neither rushes nor skimps. It has more heart than laughs, though they throw us several bones.

Service Dog Becomes Gift For Veteran

Newest Member Of Vernon RCMP

The Vernon North Okanagan RCMP is welcoming a new member to its ranks.

New Police Service Dog Nelly is 10 weeks old.  Every year, the RCMP holds a puppy naming contest with a different letter of the alphabet chosen.  This year, the letter ‘N’ and her name was selected from the Quebec submissions, according to Cpl. Tania Finn, media relations officer with the Vernon RCMP.

“Nelly is part of the RCMP puppy program and she lives with an RCMP officer who is working toward become a police service dog handler.  Her puppy handler will be responsible for teaching her to track across various terrain as well as expose her to many different situations and conditions,” she said via email.

Ever four months, Nelly will be tested, and if she passes, she’ll enter the official police dog training at the RCMP Kennels in Alberta when she’s roughly one-and-a-half years old.

“Very few puppies make it to Alberta and even fewer become police dogs.  Those dogs that are not successful in the puppy program are adopted and become family pets,” Finn said via email.

There are currently two police service dogs at the Vernon detachment.  Cpl. Kyle works with PSD Jagger and Cst Rutten works with PSD Hawkes, Finn said via email.

“Being a police service dog handler is a big commitment as the police dog lives and works with their handler 24/7 throughout the career of the police dog.  The pair develop a close bond which is crucial to ensuring a successful police dog as the handler learns every aspect of the dog’s personality and capabilities,” Finn said via email.

Service Dogs Going Virtual

Therapy dogs typically tasked with providing comfort and emotional support are now, like many workers, adapting to doing their job virtually.

Four-year-old Levi is part of Lutheran Church Charities K-9 Ministry and boasts more than 2,000 hours of training on how to help people.

Now he’s doing remote visits with the help of his handlers who say Levi knows it’s time to work when they put on his comfort dog vest.

“Sure, he’s never sat in front of a computer like this for as many hours as he has now,” explained Pam Miller with Lutheran Church Charities K-9 Ministry. “That’s just not a normal thing for a dog that visits people to do. For us to stick his face in front of a computer or ipad, in the beginning, I was putting a phone in front of him. He’s like, this is not a toy. Why do I want this? But he can hear the voices and, you know, he’s looking your way, and he listens.”

Miller said when he’s around people, he can actually sense who needs a little more attention, who needs some comfort.

She admitted that is hard to do over virtual. But noted that when he has his vest on, he knows he’s working, he knows he needs to be relaxed and pay attention to what we’re doing.

Service Dog Fostered

In March, Belmont resident Jane Slavin’s second dervice dog-in-training, Hershey, was placed as a Veteran Service Dog in the Boston area through Canine Companions for Independence (CCI). Slavin’s first CCI puppy, Galya, was placed in 2015 as a Facility dog at Gaylord Specialty Hospital in Connecticut.

Eight-week-old Hershey, a Labrador Retriever, arrived in Belmont in February 2018. A puppy raiser’s responsibility is to oversee the complete care of the puppy: feeding, grooming, socialization, basic manners, exercise, and veterinary care. Puppy Raisers teach the puppies 30 commands and get them used to wearing the “Gentle Leader” head collar which functions very much like a halter on a horse.

After 18 months with the Slavins, Hershey went to New York to complete CCI’s six to nine month advanced training program. In addition to standard Service Dog skills which include opening drawers and doors, retrieving items, pulling a wheelchair, and turning on and off lights, etc., Hershey was also given specialized training to assist a Veteran with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). This additional training included anxiety and nightmare interruption as well as learning to support his handler in crowded public situations.

Slavin is especially thrilled with Hershey’s placement because he had been volunteering at the Virginia in Bedford for several months and her father was a very proud World War II Ranger.

CCI is the oldest and largest U.S. assistance dog provider. They provide, at no cost, four kinds of assistance dogs, service, hearing, skilled companions, and facility dogs. Anyone interested in the program should visit the CCI.org site for more information.

Rescue Pup Comes Online

The students in Hailey Beutler’s first-grade class at Edgemont Elementary School in Sandy received a special treat when they logged onto their Canvas online learning site on April 13. Beutler, known affectionately to her students as Miss B, shared her new puppy named Coconut in their morning meeting. The students’ responses were immediate. “There’s been a lot of, ‘He’s so cute!’ and ‘I love him!’” Beutler said.

Beutler adopted Coconut from the Humane Society of Utah where she volunteers on a weekly and as needed basis and said, “I have always loved animals, especially dogs. I’ve been looking for a while but hadn’t found one that I thought would be a good match until Coconut came along.”

The school closures because of COVID-19 was also a factor in the adoption. “Being able to stay home and train him while still working was a huge plus as far as timing went. My ultimate goal with the dog I adopted was to hopefully become a therapy dog team and visit classrooms, hospitals and nursing homes.”

Beutler, a Draper resident, was excited to share Coconut with her students even if it was in a different way than she would have if they were all in the classroom. She sees the importance of maintaining connections and relationships throughout social distancing and school closures.

“I’ve learned quickly in order to teach, you first need to build a relationship. A great way to do this is through sharing things that are happening in your life with your students because it makes them more comfortable and encourages them to share about their lives too,” she said. Knowing more about her students and what is going on with them, especially during these times, helps to guide Beutler’s interactions with each student and allows her to better understand their needs.

Coconut has also helped Beutler with the stress she’s been feeling in the transition from classroom to online teaching. “It’s really hard not being able to see my kids,” she said.  “It’s also been stressful putting together an online course and making sure they have everything they need to succeed.”

She said watching Coconut lightens the mood with all that is happening. “He’s been a huge stress relief for me because he loves to snuggle and is such a goofball,” she said. Coconut even had his own Easter egg hunt, but he was more interested in “chasing and chewing the plastic eggs than the treats inside them,” Beutler said.

Coconut and his siblings were in a foster home until they were old enough to be adopted. Beutler says that the Humane Society of Utah tries to keep animals in their current situation if it’s a good fit by, “providing any help they can to the current owners that will help prevent them from having to surrender the pet.” Beutler said that so far 9-week-old Coconut seems like he will be a good fit for therapy work. In the meantime, he certainly is helping her first-grade Eagles feel connected and bringing them joy. Such was seen with one student’s response to the prompt: What was the best thing about your spring break? “Miss B. getting the cutest puppy ever!”

Popular Breeds For Emotional Support

Finding emotional support can be as simple as spending time with the right dog breed. Dogs provide humans with unconditional love and companionship and can put a smile on your face no matter what you’re going through. If you need a little extra emotional support (and from time to time, who doesn’t?), consider finding it with one of these popular dog breeds for ESA’s.

Retrievers:

The most popular breeds of retrievers are Golden Retrievers and Labrador Retrievers. Known for their patient and friendly natures, retrievers make exceptional emotional support animals. They’re also well suited as family pets.

German Shepherds:

These dogs are intelligent, eager to please, and enjoy engaging with their human friends. With enough training, they can thrive with humans in public spaces. German shepherds also want to have a job and do well as working dogs. The breed is loyal, easygoing and approachable.

Collies:

With the appropriate training and attention, collies can give emotional support to people who need it. This dog is sensitive, peaceful, and intelligent. They appreciate a calm environment without loud voices or frequent tension. As herding dogs, collies are quite active and highly trainable.

Chihuahuas:

By learning to socialize at a young age, Chihuahuas can give humans vital emotional support. Bring this small dog breed along for easy on-the-go travel. Chihuahuas don’t need much exercise and can be wonderful family pets when treated with respect.

Spaniels:

Spaniels can provide emotional support because of their friendly temperaments. The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, for example, loves to cuddle with humans and take pleasant strolls. This small to medium-sized breed has a silky coat and can be found in many colors, looking almost like a live stuffed animal.

Yorkshire Terriers:

Humans tend to report Yorkshire Terriers as being devoted but feisty creatures. This toy dog breed is a loving companion who wants plenty of attention. Anyone who wants to dote on a dog will appreciate this trait. Giving love to an emotional support animal can sometimes be even more healing than receiving it.

Corgis:

Corgis are highly trainable, intelligent, and affectionate. These comforting dogs need plenty of physical activity and mental exercise to be healthy. Corgis are playful, bold, and protective. They do well with adults and children of all ages.

Irish Wolfhounds:

The sensitive nature of the Irish Wolfhound helps him understand your feelings. This dog is a natural protector and very sweet-natured. Although Irish Wolfhounds are staggering in size, they can be cuddly as well. This easygoing dog can make you feel safer than ever.

Pugs:

Pugs get along particularly well with kids, but every age can benefit from their support. Pugs are energetic and cute, and with the proper training and socialization, you’ll also find that they are intelligent and sociable.

Great Danes:

This “gentle giant” is people-oriented and eager to please. A Great Dane’s height may be intimidating at first, but they get along with children and love humans in general. This dog is all heart. They’re reserved, love to play, and are devoted to their families.

Beagles:

Cheerful and affectionate dogs, beagles love to spend their days with people. Children and adults alike love this compact pup. These dogs are even-tempered, loyal, and happy-go-lucky. Beagles are also very active and can spend hours playing outdoors.

Poodles:

Poodles may be somewhat high maintenance, but they get along well with children. In addition to this, they have a longer lifespan than most dog breeds and easily adapt to different environments. Socialization is second nature to one of the cutest dog breeds around.

Great Pyrenees:

This exceptionally large dog is calm, smart, and patient. The Great Pyrenees is skilled at reducing human anxiety; the breed is patient, affectionate, and well-mannered. Adults and well-behaved children can generally make fast friends with this protective animal.

Consider enrolling him or her in obedience class, or ask a behaviorist any questions you may have. No matter what, be sure to treat your dog with the respect she deserves. She’ll be more likely to return your kindness with lots of doggy kisses and tail wagging.

GPBR Service Dog

It’s been a few years since the Grosse Pointe Board of Realtors was introduced to Guardian Angels Medical Service Dogs, but their partnership continues to grow.

The GPBR recently began sponsoring its fourth service dog with the organization, which provides specially trained dogs to veterans and first responders who have post-traumatic stress disorder, traumatic brain injury, seizure disorders, glucose imbalance, mobility issues and more.

The local realtor board began its longterm commitment to Guardian Angels by first sponsoring GP, named for Grosse Pointe, along with The War Memorial and private community donors. Since then, the GPBR has sponsored Mack, named for Macomb County, and Sterling, named for Sterling Heights.

Sponsorship of its fourth dog, Harper, named for Harper Woods, began late 2019.

While admittedly the outbreak of COVID-19 has put a damper on sponsorship efforts, GPBR members regularly provide funds for Guardian Angels, CEO Bob Taylor said.

“Additionally, one of our members held a Halloween party last year, which kicked off our fundraising for Harper,” he added. “The proceeds were $10,000. This year, if willing, we will raise the balance to complete the funding for Harper.”

It takes approximately $25,000 to train a dog qualified to be a Guardian Angels service dog. Expenses include 24/7 care, food, shelter, specialized training and the cost to bring the identified recipient to meet the dog and train, Taylor said. “These dogs are provided at no cost to the recipient,” he added. Harper still is in the training stages at Guardian Angels, based in Williston, Fla. As Taylor explained, “From birth until about 18 months, puppies go through general training. Over that time, trainers access the skills of the dog, allowing them to create a ‘best fit’ when it comes to placement. Harper’s training will only be complete after a recipient has been identified and they train together. On average, this whole process takes 24 months.” “Additionally, in a time when so much of our charitable giving goes toward causes, a search for a cure, etc., all of which may get ‘fixed’ someday, the placement of the Guardian Angels Medical Service Dog with a recipient provides an almost instantaneous result,” he continued. “We had one member so moved by the story told by a recipient’s wife, he wrote a check out for $5,000 and he is usually most skeptical. When we — all of us — contribute to a pairing, we give a significant other back a loved one, a father or mother back to children, a son or daughter back to parents and a neighbor back to a community. There is little we can do anywhere that accomplishes this and for no more than a few dollars per person. We owe our way of life to these people.”

Mail Carriers Ask For Protection

As the U.S. Postal Service continues to provide an essential service during the current crisis, we want to make sure our carriers are safe and out of harm’s way while making their appointed rounds.

To ensure mail carriers’ safety, dog owners must securely lock their dog in another room until a delivery exchange is done. If outside, dogs must be leashed at a distance from the mailbox. Also, please remind children to close doors and gates, making sure dogs are properly “social distancing” from carriers.

When a carrier feels unsafe, mail service could be interrupted, not only for the dog owner, but for the entire neighborhood. When mail service is interrupted, mail must be picked up a Post Office. Service will not be restored until the dog is properly restrained.

Dog attacks and bites are 100 percent preventable when dog owners remain vigilant and properly restrain their dogs. With your help, we can keep our hero carriers, your neighbors and your dogs safe.

Thank you for protecting your pet and our mail carriers as we continue to bring packages and correspondence to your door each day.

Service Dog At Traffic Stop

A deputy with the York County Sheriff’s Office conducted a traffic stop on a pickup pulling a fifth-wheel camper on Interstate 80 near mile marker 348.  The vehicle was stopped for committing a traffic violation in the area.  The deputy identified the occupants of the vehicle as James Bailey of Anderson, California and Jamie Bowman of Redding, California.  While speaking with the occupants of the vehicle, the deputy observed numerous indicators that criminal activity was afoot.

The deputy asked the occupants for consent to search the vehicle and camper and was denied consent to do so.  The deputy deployed his Police Service Dog, “Loki” on the vehicle.  Police Service Dog “Loki” alerted and indicated to the odor of controlled substances emitting from the rear of the camper.  A subsequent search of the camper yielded approximately 705 pounds of marijuana.  Both occupants of the vehicle were arrested for multiple charges relating to the trafficking of narcotics.

Woman Forced To Leave Due To Service Dog

DeShawndra Winters waited two long years to find the right dog.

One that not only would be a good companion, but one that could save her life.

“You can’t look at me and tell my disability, but if you were to look at my MRI, you would see that I am missing two parts of the brain. I had two brain surgeries. That I have epilepsy and he is here to respond for when I have a seizure,” said service dog owner DeShawndra Winters.

The 2-year-old black labrador goes everywhere with Winters — often by bus, lift service. But with those services shut down due to COVID-19, Winters said she thought she had found another way to get around.

“I just really wanted a bike and a trailer to put my service dog in, and that’s when this incident happened,” she said.

The incident Winters is referring to took place at the Chicky and Chippie, a vacuum and bicycle shop in Saginaw Township.

“As soon as I come in, at this point I don’t know this is the owner. He tells me I have to get out with the dog and I says it’s my service dog. He says I don’t care, get out, take the dog out,” she said.

Winters said she went outside and called police. She said when the officer arrived, he sided with the owner.

“I keep telling him my rights. He ignores it, and then I was trying to get the police officer to give me his badge number and make a police report. The police officer gets in the car and pulls off,” Winters said.

“We often times assist our clients with discrimination issues with store owners and we really just want to educate them more than anything. Most of the time that education is received very well. But I’m very surprised when the officer did not understand federal law and did not enforce that law,” said PAWS, Becky Canale.

ABC12 paid a visit to the owner of Chicky and Chippie.

The owner said he believed Winter’s service dog was not allowed in the store due to COVID-19. He also said he was unaware of American with Disabilties Act law of 1990.

He also said he called to apologize to Winters and PAWS for his mistake.

Saginaw Township Police Lt. Scott Malice told us a police report was filed and turned over to the Saginaw County Prosecutor’s Office. Malice also said they are also looking in Winter’s claims about her interaction with the officer.

In the meantime, Winters is still hoping to find a bike and lift for her and Nike.