Dogs Endure Emotional Difficulties

Moody, unpredictable and with an striking disregard for the rules, teenagers can be hard to handle. Now it turns out the same is true for adolescent dogs.

Researchers say they have found that pooches become less responsive to instructions from their carer during adolescence.

And the parallels go further. “Generally teenagers that have a less secure relationship with their parents are those that are more likely to show more conflict behaviour towards their parents,” said Dr Lucy Asher, co-author of the research at Newcastle University. “That’s the same finding that we have [between adolescent dogs and their carers].” Asher suggests that, as in humans, dogs who are less secure about their bond with their carer may “play up” to test its strength. In dogs, she said, that could help the animal weigh up whether it is better to stay with its carer – or follow its reproductive urges to find a mate.

Asher said she hoped the findings would help owners be more understanding of their dogs and cut them some slack, noting there is a spike in owners taking their dogs to shelters when the animals hit puberty.

“Perhaps they are not misbehaving just because they are naughty, but it is just like in humans – the hormones are raging and there are things going on in the brain,” she said.

Asher and colleagues report how they explored canine adolescence by looking at the behaviour of would-be guide dogs: German shepherds, golden retrievers, labrador retrievers or crosses of the these breeds. Such breeds, said Asher, start puberty – the transition from immature to mature – at about six to nine months old.

“We know that there are hormonal changes and we know there is a big reorganisation of the brain that occurs around that time across mammals, so we are fairly confident that is something that is going on in dogs,” said Asher. But, she added, until now it was not clear how this period related to canine behaviour.

Among the experiments the team looked at how obedient dogs of both sexes were to commands such as “sit” at different ages.

The results from 82 dogs aged five months, and 80 dogs aged eight months revealed that adolescents were less obedient than young pups to commands from their carers.

“They are nearly twice as likely to ignore the ‘sit’ command when they are eight months as compared to when they are five months,” said Asher.

However the animals’ obedience to a given stranger increased over the same period.

The findings were backed up by questionnaire responses regarding a wider group of 285 dogs, with a drop in trainability reported by carers, but not dog trainers – who were less familiar to the animals – between five and eight months old.

Further work revealed signs of separation behaviour – such as shaking when left alone – increased around eight months of age, and was associated with lower obedience at that age. What’s more Asher noted female dogs with a less secure attachment to their carer started puberty earlier – as seen in humans, potentially offering new ways to study this – although cause and effect remains unclear.

Dr Claudia Fugazza of the Eötvös Loránd University in Hungary, who was not involved in the research, said the study is important as there is little work into canine adolescence.

But, she added, the research has limitations, including that much of the work is based on questionnaires, while it is not clear how deep the similarities go between parent and child, and dog and carer when it comes to different styles of attachment, and the mechanisms behind them.

However Sarah-Jayne Blakemore, professor of psychology and cognitive neuroscience at the University of Cambridge described the study as fascinating.

“In humans, adolescence is often associated with increased risk taking, peer influence and conflict with parents. This is probably due to multiple factors including hormonal changes, brain and cognitive development and changes in the social environment,” she said. “The [canine] research suggests certain behaviours that we associate with teenagers are not unique to humans.”

Social Distancing With Companions

In these times of social distancing to slow the spread of the coronavirus, people with disabilities depend on their service dogs more than ever. Thanks to Canine Companions for Independence, they’re being provided with these helpers for free.

The nonprofit has six regional training centers across the country. There are still more than 400 people with disabilities waiting to be matched, and the organization’s mission is to get them the dogs they need.

Norfolk resident Patricia Coale told News 3 Tuesday that she’s very thankful for the company of her service dog, Agent, who she received from the organization.

Agent helps Coale each day by performing more than 40 advanced commands. He can open and close doors, pick up dropped items and even turn light switches on and off for her – and that’s just a few of the things he’s able to do!

“Being that we’re at home all the time, it’s just really nice to have a companion that wags in the morning when I wake up, glad to see me… doesn’t get disturbed by the pandemic, that sort of thing,” said Coale.

Dogs provided by Canine Companions go to veterans, adults, and children.

And lucky for us, they’ve come up with a great way to take our mind off of the coronavirus. Right now, they’re streaming a live Puppy Cam!

Uber Refused Man With Guide Dog

A man from Cardiff is taking Uber to court over claims they refused to pick him up with his guide dog on more than 100 occasions.

Cardiff-based entrepreneur Dan Williams is bringing a case against the multinational ride-hailing company after he claims they regularly refuse to pick him up with his dog Zodiac.

Dan, who is registered blind as he is gradually losing his sight due to a condition called retinitis pigmentosa, claims over the past two years he has regularly been turned down for journeys.

He said it causes him to often miss or be late for appointments and has affected his business reputation.

Dan said: “A regular scenario is that I book an Uber ride and on arrival, the driver either spots me and Zodiac and drives off or pulls up and refuses to allow us into their car.

“I always remain calm and professional and explain that it is illegal under UK law as a guide dog is classed as a mobility aid, just like a wheelchair.

I then started to message drivers to inform them that I have a guide dog which resulted in cancellations and would often message two or three drivers before one would actually accept the job.”

During a two-week period, Dan said he had ordered 10 Ubers and has been refused access six times, leaving him feeling “mentally drained, exhausted angry [and] frustrated”.

He often travels to carry out training for organisations and workplace assessments for employees with sight loss through his social business Visualise Training and Consultancy.

Dan said he decided to take legal action to stop similar incidents happening to other blind or partially sighted people, and says he has also considered giving up Zodiac.

Dan said: “Having Zodiac has transformed my life over the past two years and he’s become my best friend, but at times like these I really start to wonder if I should hand him back to Guide Dogs and revert to using a white cane to avoid all the anxiety and inconvenience caused by Uber drivers.”

Specialist disability discrimination lawyer Chris Fry, of Fry Law, is handling Dan’s case.

He said: “I’m very hopeful that together, we can make a positive impact on the taxi sector as a whole that will benefit the 2 million people living with sight loss in the UK.

“We think that Uber hanging its drivers out to dry shows an abrogation of responsibility. They are the service provider and are therefore responsible for providing an Equality Act compliant service.”

The Equality and Human Rights Commission are supporting the claim.

A commission spokesperson said: “Transport operators have clear responsibilities in law to help disabled people travel freely, but often they are failing to meet them.

“We are funding Mr Williams’ case, and others, to encourage improvements to the transport industry’s policies and practice so that the needs of disabled and older people are key considerations in the current and future design of public transport.

“Disabled people and older passengers must be able enjoy public transport just like everybody else.”

Proceedings were issued in the County Court at the end of April and Dan’s counsel are waiting to receive the sealed documents back.

They intend to apply to the court to stay the case (suspend the case partially or fully) pending the outcome of a separate Supreme Court case, which they anticipate will be by the end of the year.

The Supreme Court is due to hear a case in July surrounding the status of Uber’s drivers, with the firm arguing they are self-employed.

In an email sent to Dan on May 11, an Uber spokeswoman said: “It is totally unacceptable for drivers to refuse to take a guide dog and we investigate every report.

“Licensed private hire drivers must carry service animals in their vehicle. We highlight this obligation to all drivers before they start using the Uber app and often send reminders.

“Any driver who is found to have refused to take a service animal will permanently lose access to the app.”

Uber have been approached several times by WalesOnline for a comment.

Star The Service Dog

Finding A Furry Friend

The things that are especially easy, when it comes to loving a tail-swishing, whisker-rubbing, tongue-lapping, wet-nosed cuddler?

Refilling the water bowl is easy. Making sure your cutie’s go-to toy is in good shape, and not too gnawed upon, is easy. Keeping their favorite blankie clean? So easy.

And now meeting your potential soul mate, of the four-footed variety, has gotten truly easy, thanks to a fresh feature on the Los Angeles Department of Animal Services site.

It’s a new pet search function that gives potential pet parents the chance to view animals that are in foster care, a service that will offer “… a more extensive list” of the cats, dogs, and other critters needing forever homes.

“Prior to the new pet search, only shelter guests in our Animal Services Centers were viewable on our site. The addition of the pets in foster care now allows the public to see animals currently in foster who are also available for adoption,” reveals the department.

As for how many pets are in foster care at any one time?

The number is sizable: Right now over 300 felines and Fidos are in temporary homes, awaiting a permanent placement.

“When animals are in foster, we are able to gain valuable information about these wonderful animals from their foster families, like whether these pets enjoy being with children, other dogs or cats in the home as well as their personalities and activity levels – would they make great running and hiking partners or prefer to hang out and binge watch with owners on the latest shows,” shared Brenda Barnette, the general manager at LA Animal Services.

“These kinds of insights are helpful to know when looking to place our companion animals with permanent families.”

Dogs Used For Emotional Support

According to the Oklahoma Department of Corrections, courthouses in Oklahoma are using emotional support animals to help children testify during difficult cases.

Many of the dogs that are being used as emotional support animals are trained in Oklahoma state prisons.

The dogs are rescued from local shelters and taught skills needed to be emotional support animals.

Inmates in the prisons are also learning about responsibility and dedication through the training of the dogs.

Doggy Day Care

It might seem like a trivial thing for some, but a North Side day care center for dogs has been a huge help for some medical professionals and essential workers by remaining open during the pandemic. Pathways to Independence of Central Ohio has helped the workers to stay afloat during a tough time.

Parents count on Maryellen Anderson to help them find the right doctors or the best treatments or maybe a wheelchair to help their children with serious illnesses.

It’s critical that Anderson have peace and quiet at home while helping people navigate the complex medical world.

The registered nurse/case manager loves her dog, June, but she counts on a day care center for dogs in North Columbus the way her families count on her.

“Having June out of the house is a big deal,” said Anderson, 28, who goes by Mea and has been working from home since March 12. “June likes to talk and play. I can do my job because Pathways continued doing theirs in a tough time.”

The majority of the 35 dogs in the sprawling kennel at Pathways to Independence of Central Ohio belong to health care workers or essential employees in other fields.

Pathways is both a nonprofit organization that employs 20 young adults with disabilities and a for-profit dog day care center that helps fund the operation.

It was started in 2015 by Stephanie Sanzo, 36, and Megan Ramage, 57, both of whom are former special-education teachers in Worthington. They saw how their students responded to a service dog named Karma, who greets folks at the door, and decided they could give disabled adults more independence and confidence by starting the nonprofit.

Pathways usually cares for about 75 dogs, but the pandemic has cut its business by more than half. It would have been easy to close the 7,000-square-foot complex, but the owners didn’t want to lay off their employees or let down the people counting on them to care for their dogs. The owners have barely paid themselves the past two months, but they continue to pay the disabled adults who play with, feed, bathe and care for all the dogs between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. Monday through Friday.

The owners are grateful to their landlord for giving them a break on rent, and to all the people who have continued supporting them.

“So humbling to have people trying to keep us afloat even though so many are struggling themselves,” Sanzo said. “The dog owners are appreciative of us, and vice versa. We do have some exhausted dog owners trying to do their jobs who just hand us the leash and say ‘Please just take her or him.’”

Caitlin Beebe and her husband, Josh, who are medical professionals at Ohio State University’s Wexner Medical Center, are exhausted when they finish their shifts.

They also had their first child in January, but at times it’s harder to deal with the energy of Moose, a 1-year-old German shepherd-beagle mix.

It comforts Caitlin to know that Moose, a rescue dog, is burning off some of his vigor at Pathways and learning to interact with other dogs.

“When we come home from a long day, it’s a huge help,” said Caitlin, 30, who helps patients recover from heart and lung surgeries or conditions. “Pathways helps Moose and us.”

Benefits Of Having A Pet

You probably know the joy of being greeted by your pet at the end of a tiring day. Their happy and calming presence can elevate your mood and lower your stress in a matter of seconds.

What you maybe weren’t aware of are other, very specific physical and psychological advantages that your pet provides.

Reduces stress:

It is well established that pets play a huge part in managing high levels of stress, like PTSD or other kinds of anxiety disorders. People that experience daily stress at work have reported a decrease of stress after introducing a pet into their life.

This is not limited to only household pets. Animals (mostly dogs) have also been trained and brought to hospitals and rehabilitation facilities. For all of those reasons, it is no wonder animals play a crucial role in therapy and therapeutic practices.

Helps with social interaction:

It is not easy for everyone to engage in social interaction, even (or maybe especially) when it comes to small talk. Your pet can be a perfect conversation starter!

Walking your dog around the neighbourhood increases your chances of establishing social communication. You might think this benefit refers exclusively to dog owners, but that is not the case.

Obviously, it is easiest for dog owners to form social connections on their daily walks but there are other ways to connect to other like-minded people.

For example, posting photos of your pets on social media is a simple and effective way to start up a discussion.

It is also known to improve the social skills of autistic children. Service dogs are trained to aid and, in this case, even calm the child down if necessary.

But other pets like cats and rabbits can also help them to communicate and bond with others more easily.

Acts as a best buddy for kids and older people:

A pet can have a positive impact on the emotional growth of children by helping improve their social skills. Caring for a pet also teaches children routine, responsibilities and focus.

The elderly meanwhile benefit from having companionship and physical activity.

Having a pet could be a powerful stimulus to go for daily walks and engage in other activities, helping them maintain their mental and physical health well into their golden age.

Keeps you active:

Being surrounded by nature, getting fresh air and sunlight are extremely important in achieving a healthy lifestyle. What better way to spend that time than with your pet.

Walking, running and playing will keep you and your pet entertained, relaxed and happy. While you struggled to motivate yourself to stay active before, no doubt your dog will provide you with the push you need now.

An outdoors routine full of activities will also do wonders for your mental health and emotional stability.

Maintains emotional balance:

In moments of self-doubt, depression or loneliness, pets can console and reassure you in their own way.

Sometimes, just the close, non-verbal presence of your dog, cat or any pet might be enough to improve your state of mind.

Always upgrading and working on yourself isn’t easy, but with some help, you can unlock the many benefits that come with emotional balance.

Being around your pet elevates your level of serotonin and dopamine, which will make you more equipped to deal with everyday challenges.

Helps relieve pain:

In certain situations, pets can be the best medicine. When it comes to chronic pains like migraines and arthritis the presence of a pet helps relieve the pain.

How does that actually work? The key is by reducing anxiety. The less anxious you are, the less pain you will feel. Focusing on the soothing presence of an animal can help calm your nerves.

Conclusion:

It becomes obvious just how closely interwoven all these benefits are. Also, it is a reminder of the enormous influence animals have on our health and lives in general, although it often goes unnoticed.

If you were on the fence about introducing a furry friend into your life, perhaps reading about these positive benefits will put any potential doubts to rest.

Dog Groomers Providing

THE ISPCA HAS advised dog groomers that they can provide emergency services for clients whose dogs need urgent grooming to prevent welfare problems.

The association said it has received a number of queries from dog groomers and their clients raising concerns about the welfare of dogs that urgently need to be groomed during the Covid-19 crisis.

“Animal welfare is an essential service and necessary animal welfare interventions can and should continue,” an ISPCA spokesperson said.

They said groomers should assess each dog on “a case-by-case basis by photos or video conferencing”.

“If the groomer considers that grooming is necessary, they should arrange for the client to attend their premises by appointment and implement protocols that maintain good hygiene and social distancing,” the spokesperson advised.

They added that personal protective equipment such as disposable gloves should be worn during the appointment. The ISPCA said it sought clarity on dog grooming services from the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, which provided similar advice.

Veteran’s Service Dog

Right before the coronavirus lockdown was in place, Joe Tasby was admitted to Southern Hills Hospital in Las Vegas. He suffered from lung disease and from a heart arrhythmia. During his stay, his daughter came in every day to care for his guide dog, Cupid. Tasby is a blind veteran, so Cupid is extremely important to him.

But then the lockdown started. Visitors were no longer allowed, and Tasby had no idea how long he’d be in the hospital. With no one to care for Cupid, he began to panic. Luckily, a kind nurse stepped in to save the day. Barbara Borbeck, a nurse who was caring for Tasby, saw that he needed help. The veteran needed Cupid in the hospital with him and Cupid needed basic needs just like everyone else. So, Borbeck stepped in to care for the dog too. Whatever the yellow Lab needed, she was there to help. “She came in first thing every morning and took him for a walk all around the hospital as she did her rounds, made sure he got outside to get some fresh air and exercise. She made sure he had food and treats. Everything he needed, she took care of,” said Tasby.

Cupid grew attached to Borbeck almost right away. Every morning when she arrived, he would wait for her and greet her with a wagging tail. He could sense that she was an incredible person that deserved lots of love.

Borbeck’s kind actions weren’t just limited to the hospital though. When Cupid ran out of his special food, she went to go get more without even being asked. Many pet stores were running low on supplies, so she visited 9 different places before finding the right food. She even drove 40 minutes out of her way to pick it up before work. Tasby could not believe her dedication to him and his dog.

Tasby stayed at the hospital for about 3 weeks before he was able to go home. Throughout his entire stay, Borbeck was there to care for Cupid as if he were her own dog. Tasby had no idea how he could possibly thank her enough. “I left there thinking, ‘I have to find some kind of way to show this lady how much I appreciate what she has done for us through a difficult time,” said Tasby. “It’s fortunate when you meet somebody who is in the right place, at the right time, doing the right thing. And that is Barbara.” Even though Borbeck helped Tasby and Cupid immensely, Cupid actually helped the hospital too. During the lockdown, therapy dogs can no longer come in for the patients and staff. So, the hard-working employees at the hospital loved petting Cupid to help relieve some of their stress. He was able to help a lot of the staff during these tough times. Borbeck is just one of the many heroes that should be recognized during the COVID-19 pandemic. She went above and beyond for her patient and his dog. She helped make his experience at the hospital more wonderful than he ever could have imagined. Thank you to Borbeck for all her hard work and dedication during these uncertain times.

Preparing Dogs For After The Pandemic

If dogs could talk I’m sure they would say they are loving having us home all the time. And we humans sure love to lean over your home office chair and give our fur baby a belly rub.

Many people have used this extra time at home to bring a new dog or puppy into the family, but what are ways you can get your pup used to you eventually leaving the house and heading to work?

We reached out to local dog trainer Tanya Allison, from COPE Service Dogs and owner of Mannered Mutts Dog Services, to find out how to keep the pups happy, while preparing them for your eventual departure from the home.

She says that your puppy has to learn to be alone, independent, and not be used to someone being present 24/7. “The crate will be your puppies new best friend! Typically I will only feed the puppies their meals in the crate (door open at the start) and after a few times you can start closing the door while they are eating.”

Allison suggests providing them with really exciting toys and high value treats when they are in the crate and nowhere else.

Try short periods in the crate at first, and then go into a different room and work up to leaving the house.

Try not to make a big deal of you leaving and coming home Allison says. “This can feed into their anxiety.”

A tricky part of getting a puppy right now is the lack of socializing with other dogs. Puppies learn skills from other well-socialized and well-mannered dogs, which is extremely important during those first few weeks.

Unfortunately, this can’t happen right now because of restrictions, however, we can make some extremely positive experiences with our puppies by walking them in our neighborhoods Allison notes. “When they see other dogs and puppies feed them yummy high-value treats. This creates an association in the dog’s brain that when other dogs are around really good things happen. “

What about dogs who were used to their owners being gone before? Will they be able to bounce right back to being left alone once their owners head back to work?

Allison says that depends on the dog and if you have been sticking to some sort of routine.

She suggests getting out of the house without them a few times a day, even if it is just a walk around the block. Do things in separate rooms of the house, practice having them in their crate if that is what they usually do when you are not home. “This will be helpful for when you go back to work without them.  And once again, don’t make a big deal about you leaving.”

Dogs are incredibly smart at making connections or associations in their environments Allison shares. They pick up on what we call pre-departure cues such as picking up your purse, keys, or putting on your shoes.

Make a list of these cues and do them throughout the day to create a new association. For example, try picking up your keys and then go and sit on the couch. “Picking up keys doesn’t always mean you’re leaving.”

If your dog or new puppy has severe separation anxiety, Allison suggests contacting a local trainer to come up with a game plan on how to help them.

In the end, Allison shares that it’s an amazing privilege to have all this extra time with our animals, and it will definitely increase the bonds we have with our puppies.

Strong Service dog

A service dog was forced to have its leg amputated after being shot in a Caroline County neighborhood. Richard Sibert and his family live in the Lake Land’Or subdivision and are in disbelief about what happened steps away from their front porch six days ago.

Sibert is a two-time cancer survivor. He was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia at five-years-old and diagnosed with testicular cancer at age 12. He also suffered head trauma in his early 20s and adopted Minnie to help with his PTSD.

“I started having flashbacks and night sweats, really bad anxiety,” said Sibert. “I adopted Minnie and she was always there for me. It’s almost like she could speak to me, like she felt how I felt.”

Minnie has now been a healthy, happy member of the Sibert family for the past five years, but now she is getting used to her new reality, learning to walk with three legs after being shot on May 6.

Sibert said his three dogs somehow got out of their backyard and were sniffing around his neighbor’s home. William Hinton, a 74-year-old Vietnam War veteran, lives across the street from the Sibert family and was having work done on his house the day of the incident.

A worker was in Hinton’s driveway when the dogs came around. Sibert says the worker asked Hinton if he knew who the dogs belonged to. According to Sibert, Hinton responded with, “no I have no idea whose they are, never seen them before, but I’m going to get protection.”

Sibert told 8News that’s when Hinton opened fire, a bullet hitting Minnie in her front leg. She hobbled back across the street and collapsed on the front porch.

“Our whole front porch and the stairs were covered in her blood,” Sibert said. “Her leg was almost completely separated. The bone was hanging out and she was bleeding profusely.”

Sibert rushed Minnie to the Emergency Vet, where he was told she would need an emergency amputation, which would cost more than $4,500.

“I used our whole entire savings account to pay for it,” explained Sibert. “And I still didn’t have enough to cover the entire amount.”

Sibert is a truck driver and works six days a week for support his wife and five children. He wasn’t able to afford the entire amount on the spot, so he created a GoFundMe page. His generous neighbors, some who witnessed the aftermath, donated money for Minnie.

Sibert also worked with the Old Dominion Humane Society, who helped him get the price lowered and in contact with Ferry Farm Animal Clinic in Fredericksburg, where the operation was performed.

Sibert said prior to the incident, he would often see Hinton walking around the neighborhood with his gun and cane. He says the two would exchange friendly hello’s, but nothing more.

“That’s insane to fire your weapon in a residential area,” exclaimed Sibert. “You have no idea if there’s kids on the other side of the woods or it could have ricocheted and hit that house. We don’t feel comfortable with him owning firearms.”

Sibert told 8News when the shooting happened neighbors ran out of there house after hearing gunshots. A neighbor told Sibert, Hinton yelled, “It’s a pitbull and it’s trying to attack me.”

Sibert said his dog has been around his five children and children in the neighborhood for years and doesn’t even bark. He said Minnie is a therapy dog and is not ever aggressive or malicious. He also added that Minnie is not a pitbull.

Samantha McLaurin sent a statement to 8News reading in part, “I have interacted with Minnie countless times, and she has been nothing but sweet and calm.When I went outside I immediately lost composure when I realized what had happened and yelled at him ‘what is wrong with you??’ In my opinion, I don’t think she attempted to attack him.” It is devastating that someone would make such a horrible choice to intentionally injure Minnie, when Minnie doesn’t have a mean ounce in her little body. Even away from her family, surrounded by strangers, new dogs, and pushed beyond her regular daily limits – I have the pleasure of telling the world that this dog is an angel. It is situations like this that hopefully the newly passed Tommie’s Law will protect dogs like Minnie and up hold justice for her and her family that had to witness this tragic situation.”

An Animal Companion

An emotional support animal can be nothing short of a lifesaver for many people struggling with mental health problems. Much like a guide dog, emotional support animals will help you through stressful and anxiety-inducing situations you would otherwise find very difficult to handle on your own. On top of this, they provide companionship through tough times and are always there to hand out support without feeling judged, the best bit about an animal is that they will always love you for who you are, whether you’re going through a really hard time or you’re on top of the world.

When it comes to emotional support animals we aren’t talking about any normal pet, neither are we talking about service or therapy animals. ESA’s have certain legal rights that are specific to their role, but to be able to have legal allowances they need to be registered as an emotional support animal, only then can you enjoy the true benefits of having one. The number of people suffering from mental illness of any kind is rising rapidly which is why any help and support we can get the better, having an emotional support animal could benefit you in huge ways if you are suffering from depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, any phobias, and panic attacks. It’s been found that having a companion has given huge relief when other methods haven’t worked. To qualify you will need to determine what disability you have that requires you to have an ESA, this is done by your therapist or a medical healthcare professional and they will decide if having an ESA will help you.  There is a difference between an emotional support animal and a service dog, mainly it’s the legal allowances so it’s best to understand that if you’re going to have one. The main difference being an ESA will provide only emotional support for its owner, whereas a service animal will carry out tasks for them and make life physically as well as mentally easier. There’s a difference in legal allowances between the two as well, whilst a service dog will be able to go pretty much wherever it’s owner goes, an ESA will have limited rights. Any animal can be an emotional support animal, but you have to be realistic when using public transport or flying, people aren’t going to be too happy sitting next to a tarantula on a plane for 5 hours. It’s best to have an ESA that’s widely socially accepted. If you’re thinking of getting an ESA then do some research first to find out what’s best for you, if you choose something like a dog then take time to look into all the breeds and see which suits you best. If you’re struggling with anything and feel like an ESA will help improve your life then don’t wait any longer, take the first step.

Canine Cancer Treatment

Oncology company PharmAust (PAA) has found success in its canine cancer treatment trial.

Pet dogs with naive B cell lymphoma were treated with new monepantel (MPL) tablets.

Six out of seven dogs completed the “at home” treatment with their owners. One dog failed to medicate in accordance with the study and was removed from the trial in the early stages. However, this dog continued with MPL tablets and has now reached over 120 days of treatment with prednisolone added to the treatment regime.

Following 14 days of treatment, veterinarians reported that one dog achieved a partial response with more than 60 per cent reduction in total tumour burden (cancer cells). Additionally, this dog also has one lymph node (neck and head) tumour, which is regressing completely.

Four dogs have achieved stable disease, meaning the tumour is neither growing or shrinking. However, unfortunately, one of the dog’s tumour is continuing to grow.

The results showed that the tablet trial reported better results than the original MPL liquid trial.

“This outcome provides a meaningful trend, comparing favourably with the treatment used in the original “liquid” monepantel formula,” the company said.

After the 14 days of treatment, one dog with progressive disease and another with a partial response but with high liver enzymes discontinued the MPL treatment.

All four remaining dogs completed the 28-day treatment schedule, with all of the pets achieving a stable measured lymph nodes condition. A new lesion became apparent in two of those dogs and some high liver enzymes, though this did not result in clinical illness.

An unexpected outcome from this trial was, at higher dosing levels, the dogs lost appetite and weight, making it hard for owners to get the dogs to take the tables. So, reducing the target dose in future trials is anticipated to result in better outcomes with efficacy, safety and dosing.

Plasma MPL levels were recorded in all dogs and reached levels up to 50 times higher than those recorded in the human trial undertaken at the Royal Adelaide Hospital in 2014/2015.

PharmAust reported that some variability was observed in plasma levels, and unexpectedly, at the lower blood levels of MPL there were better outcomes.

“This observation may be consistent with the mechanism of action of mTOR inhibitors (class of drugs) and lends itself to reducing and optimising the future dosing of monepantel tablets,” the company explained.

The principal investigator overseeing the trial, Dr Claire Cannon, was pleased with the results.

“Monepantel appears to be showing anti-cancer activity in dogs with lymphoma and I believe that controlled phase three trials are now warranted to investigate the efficacy and safety of lower dose monepantel,” she said.

“The phase two trial results suggest that monepantel, perhaps in combination with standard of care lymphoma therapy, may represent a future prospect for treatment of dogs with this disease,” she added.

This trial has provided enough data for further evaluation of this new canine cancer therapy.

Phase two is now on hold while the PharmAust finalises its interim report for Elanco U.S., which will highlight both the efficacy parameters as well as the induction of lack of appetite and higher liver enzymes at very high dosages levels.

Elanco develops innovative products that protect and enhance animal health.

“Having the monepantel tablets achieve a 60 per cent reduction in tumour burden in one dog, with one lymph node returning to normal, is a terrific and unexpected outcome,” CEO Dr Richard Mollard said.

“The correlation of lower MPL blood levels with superior outcomes is also a very positive trend, providing flexibility for better outcomes in a future phase three trial,” he added.

No Ordinary Dog

The almost 20-year war on terror has claimed many American casualties. For those who survived their time on the front lines, sharing their stories can be therapeutic. That includes former Navy SEAL Will Chesney, who participated in the mission to take down Osama Bin Laden.

He’s now written about it in a book titled No Ordinary Dog: My Partner from the SEAL Teams to the Bin Laden Raid. It focuses on his four-legged partner Cairo who, Chesney says, saved his life in more ways than one.

“I don’t like talking about myself but I’ll talk about Cairo, he’s pretty easy to talk about,” Chesney told CBN News.

The 36-year-old says he’s always had a love for dogs and knew as a teenager he wanted to be a Navy SEAL.

It wasn’t until years later, after achieving that goal that his two loves came together after hearing the testimonials of military dog handlers.

“Raise your hand if a dog’s ever saved your life, and everybody’s hand went up pretty much,” Chesney said of the group of trainers. “The first time I met Cairo was at Dam Neck at the training facility. I remember him coming out toward the bunkers where we were working. He was a good looking, calm dog, and had a great bite. I got pretty lucky getting him.”

Nonstop training built trust, relationship, and deep dedication.

“We ask these dogs to do some pretty dangerous stuff,” Chesney said. “Sometimes they lay down their lives to save ours.”

That almost happened during a 2009 mission in Afghanistan when Cairo was shot while protecting his teammates.

“When I saw him, he collapsed and I thought that he had passed away,” Chesney said.   “I thought he was dead right there.”

But Cairo survived and went on to take part in the mission to finally get Osama Bin Laden, the infamous mastermind behind 9/11.

“My job that night was to do a sweep to the perimeter, put the dog in the best position to find any explosives or tunnel systems,” Chesney said.  “I like to say I was just there to babysit Cairo pretty much and let him do all the work. I remember…I’ll never forget looking around and seeing that everybody was still alive and okay afterward, and we had accomplished the mission and I got to do it with my dog!”

Assignments then took Chesney and Cairo in different directions. About a year later, a grenade blast left Chesney with a brain injury and post-traumatic stress, resulting in a difficult discharge from the Navy.

By then, Cairo was also reaching the end of his career, and Chesney was able to bring him home.

“Cairo was a huge part of getting me through the tough times as well, Cairo got me through some really tough times,” Chesney said.

After watching Cairo suffer from cancer, Chesney had him put down in 2015. He says he wrote “No Ordinary Dog” to honor Cairo’s memory while bringing attention to military working dogs and service animals in general.

“He took care of me, I took care of him and I just want to tell Cairo’s story,” Chesney added.

Animals continue to play an integral role in military service members.

Just last week the Defense Department said soldiers helping the fight against COVID-19 in New York are getting stress therapy from service animals provided by an organization called Puppies Behind Bars.

That’s why, even with shrapnel still in his body, Chesney says he’ll continue to advocate for animals who assist and protect our military and first responders. He believes Cairo would be proud.

Man’s Best Friend

A Lakewood Marine is doing his best to honor the soldier that has had his back on and off the job.

Richard White-Pickett, a contractor for the U.S. Embassy in Kabul, Afghanistan, has spent his last year working and living with his partner, bomb-sniffing canine, Abel. The team serves their country by helping clear and sweep areas of possible explosives to ensure the safety of all.

You better believe when a man and his dog work in such a high-stakes and precise field, they develop an unbreakable bond. The trust must be absolute when it comes to this kind of work, and White-Pickett and Abel spent a lot ot training time to become an efficient team.  And that is why White-Pickett needs our help. They both will be returning stateside soon, and he wants to keep Abel by his side. Unfortunately, Abel is owned by a company that contracts working dogs to the military and other organizations, and White-Pickett’s request to take his canine companion home with him to Lakewood was denied. Abel will likely go back into service with another handler. So White-Pickett decided to raise the funds to pay for Abel, who is valued at about $25,000 due to his highly specific skills, and make the company an offer he hopes it won’t refuse.

White-Pickett started a petition and created a GoFundMe to see if he can garner the support need to persuade Abel’s owner to have a change of heart. Any funds raised beyond the purchase price will be donated to the Rescue22 Foundation: if Abel’s current owner doesn’t sell him to White-Pickett, all the funds raised will go to the foundation.

“It is my goal to certify Abel as a service and therapy dog, partner with multiple foundations, and share him with as much of the world as I possibly can,” White-Pickett said.

Animal Get On Zoom Video Calls

 

 

Video calls are bringing families and friends together during the pandemic. Some are also taking people for a walk on the wild side with animal cameos.

Through a non-profit animal sanctuary in Northern California, people across the world have been using Zoom to visit llamas, goats, sheep and cows. Nate Salpeter, a co-founder of Sweet Farm, says demand is so high, they’ve booked more than 600 appointments for their “Goat-2-Meeting” program and more than three thousand cameos across their network of affiliate sanctuaries. Sessions start at a $65 donation for a happy hour appearance and go all the way up to $750 for a VIP virtual private tour.

“It’s a way to break from the norm–the new norm, I should say, and get outside even through a video screen,” Salpeter says. “It’s a very uplifting opportunity for folks.”

The virtual visits can offer much-needed relief. In San Diego, the handler of a certified therapy dog is now offering free sessions to help with stress relief. Judy Fridono was inspired by their work with veterans with PTSD to focus on healthcare workers but says time with Ricochet, a 12-year-old golden retriever, is available for whoever needs it.

“If you hold back your anger, that just ends up festering, so if you can tell Ricochet what you’re angry about, it doesn’t affect anybody,” Fridono says.

Fridono asks people to write a letter to Ricochet beforehand to read out loud.

Diana Moczygemba spent an hour talking with Ricochet. The San Antonio nurse has been working with critically ill coronavirus patients.

“I feel good having let it out,” she says. “Having had someone to listen without judgment, that was hugely important.”

Greyhound Racing

A greyhound racing ban was passed by an overwhelming majority in the November 2018 election. Greyhound racing is now active in just three states: Iowa, Texas and West Virginia, and it is being actively phased out in Arkansas.

Barbara Masi is President and Founder of Awesome Greyhound Adoptions in Boynton Beach, which is one of the groups overseeing the adoptions from the Bonita Springs track. The coronavirus pandemic has caused the sudden closure of several other tracks in Florida too, but the greyhound adoption network—the “Greyhound Nation,” she calls it—is stepping up.

“They are coming off the track quickly. We are placing them quickly,” Masi said. “We do not euthanize any of them. They’re all taken care of.”

Karen Feldman of North Ft Myers is a longtime greyhound owner. She now lives with her 7th and 8th greyhound. They’re very easy to love, she says, and nowhere near as active as many people think.

“They’re very laid-back,” Feldman said. “People will say, don’t you need a big yard? They need about 5 minutes of exercise a day. What you need is a big couch, you need a good-sized bed. Because they will want to join you. They really do think they are lap dogs.”

They’re also good, Masi says, at being service dogs. She is part of a program called Hounds & Heroes, which donates greyhounds that can aid veterans.

“The tallness makes them good for veterans with mobility assistance and they are so intuitive, they can help with night terrors. They can help with a lot of issues that veterans do have,” said Masi.

So as the Florida tracks close, the greyhounds move on to new homes and new jobs.

Pet Groomers Adjustments

As the ongoing health crisis continues, area groomers have made big adjustments and are following social distancing guidelines.

Staff members at the Fancy Paws dog grooming company located on Saratoga Boulevard say they temporarily closed in March.

Workers were able to reopen early with permission from the governor’s office and the City of Corpus Christi, but with a few rules and regulations to follow.

Workers say they service about 15 to 20 dogs a day but it’s not so much of the contact with the animals they’re worried about.

“We’re more worried about contact with other humans, that’s the quickest way it spreads,” says Fancy Paws groomer April Wilcher.

With these concerns in mind, day-to-day operations led to a few changes.

The lobby in the building is closed to customers. Instead, visitors would need to place their name on the sign-in sheet and wait in their vehicle.

After every transaction, surfaces are wiped down, and at the beginning of every shift, dogs are given a bath.

Staff members say a dog’s fur is also considered as a surface and must be cleaned especially during concerns with the coronavirus.

Works also are aware of how dogs can test positive for COVID-19 which is why it’s important to take these precautions.

“We do have elderly clients, we don’t want cross-contamination if we were to touch a dog someone had sneezed on and then touch their dog that could be a risk for them so we’re trying to minimize the cross-contamination between families and that kind of thing,” says Wilcher.

Groomers also say they do not service dogs that are sick and advise the animal should see the veterinarian.

Future Service Dogs

Susan Tyson is a volunteer puppy raiser for Susquehanna Service Dogs. Tyson watches over a cute litter of Labrador Retriever puppies for the non-profit.

She is using this time during the pandemic to show how service dogs are raised and trained to assist children and adults with disabilities, and she’s doing it all through an interactive live stream.