Lockdown Bringing Owners Closer To Pets

If you have a beloved cat, dog, or other pet, chances are you’ve been seeing a whole lot more of them over the past few months. We’ve all been spending more time at home because of COVID-19, and a new survey of 1,000 dog and cat owners finds that quarantining together has brought many owners much closer to their pets. All in all, 84% of respondents feel they are more attuned to their pet’s health and needs.

“The human-animal bond now, more than ever, plays an integral role in people’s lives,” says Molly McAllister, chief medical officer at Banfield Pet Hospital, the organization that put together the survey. “This survey shows that pets are always here for us – even, and especially, during the most difficult of times – and we’re encouraged that as a result of spending more time together, people are committed to finding new ways to better be there for their pets.”

Millions of Americans find themselves working from home right now, and 20% of respondents admit they prefer working alongside their pets than any human co-worker. In fact, 73% worry about eventually heading back to the office and being forced to leave their pet for eight hours each day. Another 59% are already fear the separation anxiety their pup or cat may feel when they have to return to work.

Most survey participants (67%) plan on changing how they care for their pet once lockdown ends, and 47% are committed to spending more time with their pets when they are home. Furthermore, 21% even want to adjust their schedules as much as possible to spend more time at home with their pets.

Some (10%) even want to adopt another pet to keep their current furry friend company.

This year has been tumultuous, to say the least, and the survey also found that many pet owners have turned to their dogs and cats for some much needed comfort and support. Close to half (45%) say their entire house has been happier during lockdown because of their pets. Moreover, 39% think their pet has helped them manage coronavirus-related anxiety and stress. As far as different age groups, 47% of surveyed millennials have found emotional support from their pets, compared to 43% of Generation Zers and another 43% of Generation Xers.

It isn’t just the owners who are benefitting either. Nearly four in ten (38%) respondents believe their pet has been happier during lockdown and 35% think their pet has been more playful. Most owners (65%) also report giving their pets extra love and affection over the past few months. For many, that extra affection apparently includes more food; 33% agree their pet has gained weight lately.

Just about everyone’s social life has taken a significant hit lately, so perhaps it shouldn’t be all that surprising that 47% of pet owners are apparently talking to their pets more often. Cat owners (51%) tend to chat up their pets more often than dog owners (47%). Women (50%) are also more likely to talk to their pets than men (44%)

Lots of respondents seem to think that lockdown has made them a better owner in general. Nearly half (44%) feel they are more responsible and attentive towards their pet, 37% are paying more attention to their pet’s medical needs, and 42% are making sure their pets exercise more regularly.

Additionally, 20% plan to take their pets to the vet more often, and 41% contacted their local vet during lockdown.

Emotional Support Animals Help Students

Macy Garrison lives off campus with her emotional support dog, Stella, that helps her ease depression.

“I have always been someone who has struggled to make friends, and I knew that coming here would be hard for me to adapt, ” Garrison said. “Struggling with depression, I needed something to keep my mind off of it.”

Garrison, a sophomore business management major, hopes to have her emotional support dog certified and approved by Temple.

Emotional support animals can provide support for owners who experience mental illnesses, like anxiety or depression. Temple students can apply to have their animal certified for emotional assistance.

University Housing and Residential Life describes an emotional assistance animal as, “any animal that is specifically designated by a qualified medical provider as affording an individual with a disability an equal opportunity to use and enjoy a dwelling, provided there is a link between the individual’s disability and the assistance the animal provides.”

A student must fill out a disability request to allow their animal to live with them in university housing. Students must keep up-to-date vaccination forms for their animal, along with maintaining its hygiene and controlling its behavior.

Once the disability request is approved, UHRL meets with the student to review university policies and procedures, said Shana Alston, director of University Housing and Residential Life.

Liv Tempesta, a junior art therapy major, went through Temple’s assistance animal approval process to allow her cat to live with her at Johnson Hall. It took her a couple of weeks to receive a letter from a Temple therapist, explaining why she requires an emotional support animal.

The process was straightforward and she benefited from her having her cat with her on campus, Tempesta said.

“Having [an emotional support animal] is just another type of treatment opportunity, especially for people who love animals,” she added.

Caring for an emotional support animal can help students experiencing mental illness stick to a routine. Illnesses, like depression, disrupt a person’s ability to perform normal activities, because of persistent feelings of sadness, according to the Mayo Clinic.

Jaleh Javadpour, a junior statistical science and data analytics major, said she didn’t know until the end of her freshman year that emotional support animals were allowed in residence halls. She now lives off-campus with her dog Maggie, who helps her manage her depression and anxiety.

“[Maggie] really keeps me on schedule and keeps me exercising, which goes with the emotional support,” she said. “When I am feeling depressed and don’t want to do anything but lay in bed, I know that’s not healthy and I have to get up to feed her and take her on walks two to three times a day.”

Stay-At-Home Orders Affect Pets

There’s that saying, “You don’t really know someone until you travel.” (From personal experience, I have found this to be true.) Flip “travel” with its opposing counterpart, and the following can be equally true: “You don’t really know someone until you’ve experienced extended stay-at-home orders together.” These experiences, however, need not be negative—and need not be exclusive to humans. In fact, a new survey by Banfield Pet Hospital found that 84 percent of pet owners feel more attuned to their pet’s health after spending more time at home due to stay-at-home orders. This suggests, according to company officials, that staying home with our cats and dogs is about more than extra playtime and treats, it may have lasting effects on how people approach pet ownership.

“The human-animal bond now, more than ever, plays an integral role in people’s lives,” said Molly McAllister, chief medical officer at Banfield Pet Hospital.  “At Banfield, we are firm believers that regular preventive veterinary care is key to helping our pets live happy, healthy lives. This survey shows that pets are always here for us—even, and especially, during the most difficult of times—and we’re encouraged that as a result of spending more time together, people are committed to finding new ways to better be there for their pets.”

As people are spending more time at home than ever before, 20 percent of respondents said that they prefer working alongside their pets over their co-workers. With some states easing stay-at-home orders, 73 percent of people are concerned about going back to the office and spending time away from their pets, with 59 percent worried their dog or cat may suffer from separation anxiety once their new work schedule begins.

As pet owners adjust to their new normal, 67 percent expect to make changes in how they care for their pet once they’re not home as often. In addition, 47 percent said that they are committed to spending more quality time with their pets when they are home, 21 percent will adjust their schedule to be at home with their pets more often and 10 percent plan to adopt another pet to help keep their dog or cat company.

Pet owners attested that their pets continue to bring joy and comfort, especially during the stay-at-home orders. For example, 45 percent said that their household’s happiness increased while spending more time with their pet at home, and 39 percent revealed that their pet helped lower their anxiety and uncertainty caused by the pandemic.

The survey also revealed that 47 percent of millennials found increased emotional support from their pets, compared to 43 percent of gen Zers and 43 percent of gen Xers.

Pets are happier, too, according to the survey. About one-third of owners believed their pets appeared to be happier (38 percent) and more playful (35 percent) during this time. Pets are also receiving extra “TLC,” with 65 percent of owners showing them increased affection. They might be getting extra treats as well, as 33 percent of owners said that their pet has gained weight during the stay-at-home orders, according to the survey.

Communication, although one-way so to speak, has also increased. Take, for example, the number of pet owners who admitted to talking to their pets more than ever before the pandemic, with cat owners (51 percent) being chattier than dog owners (47 percent). The survey also revealed that women (50 percent) talked to their pets more than men (44 percent), and boomers / gen Xers (each at 49 percent) talked to their pets more than gen Zers (46 percent) and millennials (45 percent).

Spending more time with their pets may have made people more confident owners: 44 percent of people felt they are more responsible and attentive towards their dog or cat, 37 percent are paying more attention to their pet’s personal care such as dental health and 42 percent are exercising their pets more than before the pandemic.

Owners are even learning new things about their pets, according to the survey, with 46 percent of pet owners saying their pet is more active than they imagined before spending the additional time at home with them during the day.

Further, as company officials noted, people are being forward-thinking about their pets’ health, as 20 percent are committed to taking their pets to the veterinarian for preventive care check-ups more often than before, and 41 percent contacted their veterinarian during stay-at-home orders, whether in person, via phone or through telehealth service.

Banfield Pet Hospital has seen this first hand through its Vet Chat, which provides their Optimum Wellness Plan clients access to one-on-one chat with a veterinarian anytime. The Portland, Ore.-based company reported a nearly 90 percent increase in Vet Chat activity since the beginning of March, when stay-at-home orders began.

The survey was conducted May 11-15 by Wakefield Research among 1,000 U.S. dog and cat owners.

Raising Money For A Service Dog

Last year we introduced you to Mason Bowling and his family. They were asking the community to help them raise money for a cause close their hearts: an autism service dog to help Mason with every aspect of daily life.

Now 6 years old, Mason proudly graduated from kindergarten this year, alongside his new best friend, Kevin.

Mason is autistic and also has a genetic chromosome disorder.

At a cost of $25,000 the Bowling family needed help from the community so Mason could get his service dog. This included organizing a basketball tournament with the help of Damon Johnson, a former University of Tennessee and professional basketball player.

After raising money, the Bowling family finally met their goal and were able to then start the process of getting the dog for Mason.

In April, they welcomed Kevin into their home. The dog is still training to work with Mason on controlling meltdowns and aggression, social interactions, search and rescue, and medication if that is needed one day. They expect the dog to be a best friend for Mason, who has a hard time making them.

“I hope that he is understood better, by the dog calming him,” Mason’s mom Danielle Bowling told News Channel 11 in an interview last year. “We’ve tried everything and nothing seems to work. We’re in hopes that this will be it.”

Danielle confirmed that now the dog is adjusting well with the family, and he and Mason have already bonded.

Vermont’s Police Dog

The Williston Police Department has a new addition to the force and he’s definitely a rookie.

Meet Duke– an 8-week-old English lab. He will be trained as a therapy dog.

His new partner, Ofc. Matthew Cohen, says when Duke is trained, he will be the first of his kind for a police department in Vermont.

“But his job is going to be helping people who go through traumatic events or people who go through high-stress situations. His job– pretty much now what he’s doing now, snuggling into them,” Cohen said.

Duke was donated along with his training, food and health care.

The kids in town named him and Duke will visit schools when students return.

Cohen says the pup is bonding with him and his family and Duke likes people.

Canine Companions

This Dog Is A Lifesaver

Craig Hodgkins and his medical service dog Foxy have been together just a few days, but the Pittsburgh man said he already feels like it’s been a life-changing experience.

And a life-saving one. “This was my last hope … She looks in my eyes and I feel relief,” he said.

On Thursday at Memorial Park in Grove City, Foxy, a long-haired German shepherd, leaned up against Hodgkins. The dog studied the man’s face, and sensed emotion.

That’s what Foxy was trained to do.

Hodgkins was one of five people who received a service dog this week through Guardian Angels Medical Service Dogs, a nonprofit agency based in Williston, Fla.

The organization, founded about 10 years ago, has paired more than 350 dogs with veterans, first responders, and people with disabilities.

Service dogs are sponsored by businesses and other organizations, so there is no cost to the recipients, said Joanne Werner, a traveling trainer.

The trainers had planned to bring the dogs and their new humans together in March in Florida, but the COVID-19 pandemic forced organizers to make other arrangements, so the group came to Mercer County.

The trainers introduced the dogs to their humans this week at the Avenue of 444 Flags in Hermitage and the pairs have been together ever since.

Over the past several days, the dogs and their recipients have undergone training, learned about each other, and visited businesses so they both could get a feel for what it’s like to be in public together.

The recipients said their dogs are great matches and they couldn’t wait to to head home with their new best friends.

“He’s a lot like me … I’m very, very happy,” said Ryan Yoder of Harrisburg about Rikki, his service dog.

He’s been calling the 1-year-old German shepherd “Rik,” and said he feels like they already share a special bond.

Yoder, who served in the Marine Corps for four years, is veterans coordinator for the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections.

He learned about Guardian Angels through his state post and learned that medical service dogs can provide assistance to veterans, especially those living with disabilities and post-traumatic stress disorder.

Yoder said he was excited to meet his new buddy, and looks forward to bringing Rik home to meet his wife and kids.

Rik is trained to help with anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder. Yoder credited the organization and Carol Borden, Guardian Angels founder and chief executive officer, for its work.

Guardian Angels is sending the recipients home with supplies, including dog food, and prevention treatments for fleas, ticks and heartworm.

Hodgkins served 21 years in the Marines. He said 5-year-old Foxy is calm and reassuring, which helps with balance and anxiety issues.

Hodgkins said he has always loved dogs – he’s had several Great Danes. But after a doctor recommended a service dog, he said Foxy came into his life at just the right time.

He was in a “low place,” and having Foxy has made him feel comfortable for the first time in many years.

Jim Grossman of Hermitage, who served in the Marines, heard about the organization from his counselor.

He said he was a little uncertain about the idea at first, but he’s now glad he decided to apply.

“He’s very calming to me. We just seem to click,” said Grossman, commander of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 5286 in Farrell, as he looked at 4-year-old Judd.

Grossman said Judd is already helping him sleep better.

Alexis Taggart of Philadelphia, who served in the Army from 2011 to 2016, spent quite a bit of time researching service dogs.

The Guardian Angels application process is long and includes a background check, but she said the wait was worth it.

“I cried my eyes out,” she said of her first meeting with Doc, a female German shepherd who is almost 2.

They have a really strong bond, and Doc helps her with panic attacks – like she has a sixth sense, said Taggart, who is studying to earn a doctorate degree in psychology.

Jay Cox of Charlotte, N.C., is retired, having worked in diplomatic security for the U.S. Department of State and as a police officer in Maryland.

Cox worked in special weapons and tactics, and as a detective, investigating homicides, kidnapping and serial murder – what he called “the absolute worst of society.”

And it affected him, he said.

Cox was seriously injured in the line of duty. During a hostage situation, another officer detonated a flash-bang grenade near Cox’s head, which left him with a traumatic brain injury.

Someone recommended a service dog, and his daughter Carly Cox, whom he calls a “hero,” helped him with the application. Cox said he prospect of getting a dog gave him something to look forward to.

“This is the first thing I’ve been excited about,” he said.

He’s excited to go home to his wife with Whaler, a German shepherd who helps him with PTSD.

The dog is intense and strong-willed, and he has already helped Cox deal with nightmares by jumping into bed at night and redirecting his attention.

“He broke that loop. I couldn’t believe it,” Cox said.

Sponsors of the dog were PNC for Whaler, Yellow Ribbon Fund for Rik, Armstrong for Judd, and the Colcom Foundation for Foxy and Doc.

Training a medical service dog can take up to two years, and the organization looks for dogs with low or medium energy and are willing to learn and work, Werner said.

The organization itself owns the dogs, and the recipients sign a contract that imposes conditions including getting the dog established with a veterinarian and securing pet insurance.

Guardian Angels Medical Service Dogs checks in on the dogs to make sure things are going well. The organization plans to open a second facility, in Moon Township, Werner said.

She also works with inmates at the State Correctional Institution at Mercer in Findley Township. The inmates are veterans, and she teaches them how to train the service dogs.

A lot of thought goes into pairing dogs with recipients, and that first meeting is always a tearjerker.

“It’s amazing … It’s very humbling and rewarding,” Werner said of her job.

Service Dog Training

In the service dog world, Odin, a 5-year-old Siberian Husky, is an outlier.

Perceptive, intelligent, social and the foundation of Above the Clouds Siberian Service Dogs, Odin is trained to quash the effects of post-traumatic stress disorder.

“We had no idea he was going to be a good service dog,” said Barrett T. Leary-Stensgaard who, with her husband, Tim Stensgaard, breeds and trains the dogs in Woodland Park. “Our trainers were just flabbergasted because Siberians have a bad reputation.”

Most service dogs, she added, are Labradors, German shepherds or Golden retrievers. “We got passionate about Siberians when we found that Odin has superior genetics – his line goes back 400 years to Siberia,” she said. “They are working dogs.”

The couple opened the business with Siberian rescue dogs but changed focus when results were disappointing. “We decided to start breeding, to take control of the genetics and the temperament,” she said.

Yet Odin is the star Siberian for Stensgaard, a U.S. Army Special Forces Green Beret, who served in six combat tours of duty. Only recently did he acknowledge his PTSD. “I just ignored it as a possibility,” he said. “Even now I’m reluctant to talk about my PTSD — most vets are; it takes a lot to come to grips with that.”

When Stensgaard starts feeling anxious, Odin goes to work. “He’ll start getting on me, distracting me,” Stensgaard said. “He reacts to anxiety before I pick it up.”

Dogs that graduate from Above the Clouds Siberian Service Dogs help those with PTSD, mobility/stability issues, blindness, seizures or autism, for instance. “We have different training methods for different issues,” Leary-Stensgaard.

For people with mobility issues in addition to those with special needs such as autism, the couple relies on Cindy Pixler of Grand Junction, a home health-care nurse.

Each dog is certified as a Canine Good Citizen by Lisa Lima, a dog trainer and animal-assisted therapist and owner of My Life Unleashed in Woodland Park, or her business partner Eric Rice. “I can’t certify my own dogs,” Leary-Stensgaard said.

Once purchased and trained, the Siberians head out to destinations around the nation. For instance, at a year old, Raven is trained and ready to be picked up by the new owner, Nahkee Augusta, who is driving in from Wisconsin to pick up the dog.

“The research is that dogs bond better when they go home in a year,” she said. “I’m pretty good at matching the right dog with the right person.”

County Animal Services

Thanks to a partnership with the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, pet food and microchips will be donated and distributed free to the public at 9 a.m. at the Animal Services headquarters at 1250 Indian Lake Road in Daytona Beach.

This is the first event of its kind in Volusia County.

“We’re committed to serving the needs of our citizens and their pets during this difficult time,” Animal Services Director Adam Leath said . “We want everyone to know that Animal Services is a resource for the community and we’re ready and willing to help.”

Nearly $10,000 worth of dog and cat food will be available while supplies last. Residents who bring their pet along may also have microchips implanted on the spot.

Residents will not need to exit their vehicles. Staff will load food into vehicles, and escort pets inside the clinic to complete the quick and painless procedure.

Microchips, about the size of a grain of rice, are implanted just beneath the skin of an animal. With the wave of a handheld wand over the pet’s back, the microchip’s identification code will lead to the owner’s name and contact information — significantly increasing the odds of a happy reunion with separated or lost pets.

“We applaud all those stepping up for pets in need, even in the midst of so much anxiety,” Leath said. “When this crisis ends, we will be stronger, wiser and more compassionate as a result of the courageous work being done by so many people right now.”

Adopting A Pet Can Be Comforting

As many across the country shelter at home during the coronavirus, it can be especially trying for those going it alone.

The challenges of living and working in isolation with little outside social contact begin to weigh heavily.

While businesses and organizations open back up, animal shelters too are resuming in-person adoptions for dogs and cats.

Each year, 6.5 million companion animals enter U.S. animal shelters nationwide, according to the ASPCA, while just over 3.2 million of those animals are adopted. For those grappling with depression or anxiety, a new pet can be a great companion to offer unconditional love and break the lonely cycle.

But there are new responsibilities that come with pet ownership to keep in mind, mental health professionals advise.

“It’s an excellent option to cope with loneliness and a loss of interactions, but it’s something you need to really think about when everything lifts and goes back to normal,” shares Prairie Conlon, a licensed mental health professional and animal- assisted therapist.

Conlon works with patients through her own practice while also working closely with Therapetics, a nationwide company which helps those in need of an Emotional Support Animal.

She says adopting a dog or cat is a great way to deal with anxiety and depression issues that may have developed during the coronavirus shutdown.

But before bringing a new furry friend into your home, Conlon says to consider that an animal is a long-term commitment which will continue long past the pandemic.

“It’s important to remember that relationship will be at least 10 to 15 years long,” Conlon advises. “It’s going to have it’s up and downs, but it can be very rewarding for animal lovers who need a healthy routine and a healthy distraction.”

And pets can certainly have many positive effects on the mental health of their owners. A 2014 study published by BioMed Central, an online medical journal publisher, found of more than 5,200 seniors surveyed, those who owned pets reported far less signs of loneliness.

Those benefits can add up to a more positive outlook, and longer, healthier lives. Conlon says pets can be a positive source of love and routine for those grappling with depression, which often manifests itself as lethargy or apathy.

“A lot of times, working with people with depression, one of the biggest hurdles is once they can get up and move around a little bit, it becomes easier, and that dog or cat is there needing to be fed and attended to which is a helpful first step,” she added.

For those suffering from anxiety, owning a pet can also be a great way to take your mind off excessive worrying, Conlon says.

“Animals are really good at interrupting that pattern,” she said. “They demand attention or they’ll do something funny or want to go outside for a walk – they can really help break up that viscous cycle of worry.”

Will you be able to provide doggie day care or return home at lunch to walk the dog? If those plans don’t come to fruition, that failure could actually exacerbate any mental health issues, Conlon cautions.

“It’s an exciting thought to get a new pet if you’ve been dealing with anxiety or depression, but you need to consider the animal too,” she advised. “As with any form of clinical treatment, weigh the pros and cons, and what’s it going to look like down the road.

Military Dog

Even after receiving a purple heart for his service in Afghanistan, Loki, a 12-year-old Boxer/Rottweiler mix was not ready to stop working.

He may be done using his nose to sniff out bombs, but his keen instincts led him to his retirement in Crete.

Tina Rockenbach and family got Loki from Loki’s military handler/partner at the end of January. Retired First Sgt. James Page is married to Rockenbach’s best friend from high school. Once Loki met Tina, the two became attached.

“James told me that he [Loki] has never done that to anyone other than him and that it meant something,” Rockenbach said.

Page got Loki when he was a six-week-old puppy in a program training bomb dogs. He continued Loki’s training in search and seizure, explosive searches and anti-terrorism measures.

“Loki is what I call a ‘free spirit,’” Page said. “He’s real smart. Sometimes too smart for his own good. I had to make sure he’s real secure or I would find him in my bunk or laying on top of me. He was always a mischievous puppy.”

Loki was with Page for 12 years including two tours to Afghanistan. Checking out vehicles at a stop post sniffing out explosives and chemicals was Loki’s job.

Page and Loki were checking a family and their vehicle when Loki caught a caught the scent of something a couple kilometers away. The two went to investigate. As Page got close enough to investigate, Loki jumped.

“He smelled something that just wasn’t right and he jumped into me,” Page said. “It was a land mine.”

Loki took the most of the blast for Page and ended up with a chest full of shrapnel.

When Page woke up, the medic was checking Loki out. He was unresponsive. The medic used electric shock paddles twice to bring Loki back. Page begged medics to use them again. Loki woke up.

Once the two were stable, they were flown back to the United States. When Page woke up after extensive surgery, Loki was already back at his bedside.

This act of loyalty and bravery earned Loki a Purple Heart.

During Page’s recovery, Loki was given to someone else to continue his work.

As part of the program, when the handler gets hurt, the dog has to go to the next person. Loki was re-trained to work with someone else.

“[One of my captains] said, ‘Loki won’t work with anybody else,’” Page said. “I was like, ‘I could have told you that from the beginning.’”

Rockenbach said having a service dog is very different from having a normal pet. Due to everything he has been trained for, his perceptions on things is very different.

“He pays attention to things intently,” Rockenbach said.

He verbally alerts of people he sees that are strangers, have face coverings or hoods that block their face. He also does not like loud sounds and tries to take cover and get to safety as they remind him of bombs.

Rockenbach found out how smart Loki is. He learned what the spelling of o-u-t is so they have to say “external part of the house” now.

“I tried to warn her [Tina], you have to have a firm hand with him. If he thinks he can get away with something, he’s going to get away with it. He will give you those eyes like he didn’t do anything wrong,” Page said.

Since he had training in bailing out of a Humvee, he was trained on how to open car doors.

“We have to be conscientious of him more as a human than a dog many times,” Rockenbach said.

Loki also has a sense for those who have served.

“He knows when he is around soldiers,” Page said. “He will find them quickly. He has a sense of who he can trust.”

Rockenbach said Loki enjoys spending time at Riverside Cemetery and visiting the graves of veterans there. He has a sense for spirits, Rockenbach said.

“We don’t know them, but he seems to connect in a way that he understands.” Rockenbach said.

Since becoming a service dog, he is trained for comfort for post-traumatic stress disorder and anxiety.

“When he has his vest on, he becomes a completely different dog,” Rockenbach said. “He switches from goofy pet to ‘GI Joe.’”

Rockenbach plans to get Loki certified with Healing Hearts Therapy Dogs and visit veterans and long-term facilities.

She also is interested in going to groups or schools and telling his story and informing people on what Loki was trained to do.

Loki may be retired from the military, but he will continue to work as a comfort and education animal. “He’s never going to truly retire,” Page said.

Veteran Adopts Dog

A black Labrador retriever named Blue has saved Byung “BK” Kang’s life so many times, he’s lost count.

The two served on more than 300 combat missions while serving together in the United States Marine Corps on a deployment to Afghanistan from 2011-2012. Blue, a military dog trained to detect bombs called improvised explosive devices, was so good at her job that she found one on their very first mission.

“That IED could have taken a couple of our guys out,” Kang, 31, told TODAY. “So from there, Blue started getting trust and the respect of my platoon.” As Blue’s handler, Kang could read the dog’s body language to know when she wanted to investigate a possible IED. He’d allow her to run ahead of the group — anywhere from four to 60 Marines and enlisted medical specialists, Navy corpsmen. When she’d lie down as a final indication that she’d detected an explosive, he’d call her back for her reward: playing with a toy. Sometimes, there was time for emergency ordnance disposal technicians to confirm the existence of the IED and work to dismantle it. Other times, they’d take a step back for a security halt and get ambushed, needing to find a different path. “Since we knew Blue is effective, it was almost impossible for a squad or a platoon to go out without Blue,” he said. “Sometimes we went on three patrols per day and by the time we’d get back we’re all exhausted because we’ve been walking miles and miles in over a hundred degrees of heat in Afghanistan. So we did our best. Every chance, we tried to go out to possibly save the Marines and sailors.” Overwhelmed with gratitude to Blue for repeatedly saving his life and the lives of his fellow soldiers, one night in Afghanistan, Kang made a promise to the dog.“I told her, ‘What you’ve done for me and my guys over here in Afghanistan, we cannot pay back. So I’m going to give you a good home where you can cuddle all day, not worrying about going to war and finding bombs.’” After their tour ended, Blue was reassigned. Kang lost track of her, but he never forgot his promise. In fact, one of his first conversations with his future wife, Wendy, was about his plan to adopt Blue once she retired from service. Wendy Kang, herself a Marine veteran, used her connections with other female Marines to help track down Blue and to facilitate her adoption when she was finally retired. They welcomed her home in November 2018. “I did everything in my power to make sure that we could get Blue home,” Wendy Kang told TODAY. “After all the stories I’ve heard, I know for sure Blue is one of the reasons why BK is standing here with me and he’s alive.”

Dog Trainer Services

Paws In Court

Participants in Howard Superior II’s veterans court program soon will get extra assistance from a four-legged friend.

Recently, a grant program allowed Howard Superior II to procure Kadence, a 6-month-old labradoodle, who soon will undergo training to work as a post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and anxiety support dog. Kadence, or K-D for short, will work primarily with participants in the veterans court, operated by Judge Brant Parry, as well as his mental health court and even the juvenile court operated out of Howard Circuit Court.

“She’s a delight to work with already, and she’s almost 6 months old,” said Richard Cotterell, the coordinator for the Howard County Veterans Program. “She’ll start her full certification process sometime in June. Hopefully with the COVID restrictions and everything in place, we can work around that. But the idea is to have her fully trained and certified, ready to go by the end of the year.”

According to Parry, Kadence was purchased in February utilizing a grant program. Since then, she’s been coming into the courthouse with the judge regularly, often hanging around the probation department, greeting probationers as they check in.

The judge said he got the idea to purchase a therapy dog after hearing about how dogs have proven helpful to people in a variety of situations, such as while working as service dogs. From there the idea grew as he considered the roughly 20 participants in his courts veterans program.

“I would say the majority of our people deal with some sort of anxiety issue, especially when it comes to reporting to probation, coming to court, also anxiety about entering the job force and going to interviews and those types of things, and also anxiety when they have to talk about their experiences if they were deployed or saw action in service,” said Parry. “I would say another quarter of them have a specific diagnosis of PTSD. So I think the dog will be useful for everybody, to relax them when they come in to meet, to go to the groups with them.” Kadence soon will undergo training with Indiana Working Dogs, which is owned and operated by Darren Petty. According to Petty, K-D’s training will focus primarily on training that ensures she stays relaxed in group settings, such as the courtroom. Essentially, Kadence’s skillset will allow her to serve as a calming presence for those who need her services. In the case of the veterans court, many of its participants are going through their first experiences in a courtroom, which can be stressful as they work their way through the program.

“What we’re after is security for the veteran,” said Petty. “Give them that security blanket and help them get through a tough time in their life. We know that many veterans suffer through many different issues from their service. If this is a way for that veteran to get their life back on track, that’s what we’re after. If the dog can be there and let them relax and help that veteran get a more positive outlook on their life and how to get back on track, that’s what this program is all about.”

But the therapy dog won’t only be working with those in the veterans court program. Parry also operates a mental health court, where he said her services also would likely be helpful. Additionally, he said he’s had discussions with Juvenile Referee Erik May, and when she’s needed in juvenile court, she also can help calm children in the courtroom, perhaps as they are called to testify.

“There’s lots of studies about dogs that are used in courts that sit with kids when they have to testify,” said Parry. “It really helps the kids. I’m going to try to put the dog to as much use as possible throughout the entire system. Her first responsibility will be with the veterans’ court, then mental health court, and then anywhere we think she can get better results in either probation or juvenile court, and that’s what we’re going to do.”

Parry said the cost of Kadence’s veterinary care and grooming will be covered by the same state grant utilized to purchase her. The judge said agreements have been brokered with All God’s Creatures for grooming services and Kokomo Animal Hospital for veterinary care. In the evenings, the therapy dog will stay with Parry.

Saving Animals Lives

Since many fire departments are only equipped with emergency supplies to save human lives, a Scottsdale-based nonprofit is providing local firefighters with tools to help save animal lives.

The Fetch Foundation has developed a Fido Bag — a specialized breathing apparatus that is formed to fit across pet’s mouth.

This cone-shaped oxygen mask allows for a secure seal on the pet’s face to help prevent smoke inhalation. The bags also come with specialized burn sheets, bandages, rinsing saline and protective restraints.

The kits also feature collapsable water dishes and stuffed toys to accompany an inured pet on its way to a veterinarian’s office or pet hospital.

Dedicated to saving lives in both the animal and human communities, the Fetch Foundation is comprised of a family of animal loving first responders.

For last ten years, the organization has used innovative strategies and unique programs to support, equip, and train first responders on how to use the animal-lifesaving equipment.

As the Ocotillo Fire burned in Cave Creek over the weekend, Fetch Foundation Founder Marie Peck worked hard to provide firefighters in the area with FIDO BAGs.

“When we were speaking with the hot shot crews and handing out the Fido Bags, which they had never even heard of or seen before, they were sharing with us memories and experiences where they were on fires – animals left behind needing to be resuscitated, animals running with burns and smoke inhalation and they had no tools to take care of critters, but now they do,” Peck told KTAR News 92.3 FM. on Monday.

On Monday morning, Phoenix firefighters saved two large dogs with the equipment after they were pulled from a house fire near 8th street and Carter in South Phoenix. Both dogs were treated for smoke inhalation but are expected to be okay thanks to the Fetch Foundation’s tools.

The Fetch Foundation’s reach goes beyond the Valley and state of Arizona. They have also donated bags to fire departments across the nation and globe.

But as the supply chain has slowed due to the coronavirus outbreak, Peck has struggled to get necessary supplies for the Fido Bags. However, her organization has continued to donate bags with whatever supplies they do have.

The nonprofit runs on donations alone and works to provide a safe place for homeless dogs that were neglected or abused.

They also work closely with other rescue organizations and shelters to identify dogs that have the potential to be trained to become Search and Service dogs or a therapy dog for veterans or people with disabilities.

Top Dogs

K9 Police Teams

The Delaware State Police and municipal K9 teams throughout the state received national certifications by the National Police Canine Association.

Both single and dual purpose K9 teams participated in the certification event.

During the week of May 11, K9 teams completed the patrol and explosives certifications through the NPCA. The K9 teams consisted of 14 Delaware State Police K9 teams and eight municipal K9 teams from Capitol Police Department, Department of Natural Resources Police, Laurel Police Department, Delaware Department of Corrections and the University of Delaware Police Department.

During the week of May 18, K9 teams completed the patrol and narcotics certifications through the NPCA. The K9 teams consisted of 18 Delaware State Police K9 teams and eight municipal K9 teams from the Dover Police Department, Newark Police Department, Bridgeville Police Department, Laurel Police Department, Ocean View Police Department, Department of Natural Resources Police, Blades Police Department and the Harrington Police Department.

The Delaware State Police K9 Units thanked the New Castle County Police K9 Unit, Wilmington Police Department K-9 Unit, Dover International Speedway and the Dover Mall for providing training locations for the certifications, and the FBI for providing additional update training for Explosive Detection K9 teams.

Think Pawsitive

Anxiety and cabin fever can stem from the stay-at-home orders impacting American lives for the past few weeks. But for nearly 85 million U.S. families, their households offer something that can reduce their feelings of angst and isolation. And it doesn’t come from the fridge.

This popular attitude-enhancer offers a sense of connection and can lower everything from stress and heart rate to anxiety and loneliness. The miracle elixir inspires outdoor exercise, boosting physical and mental health and levels of the sun’s mood-lifting vitamin D.Dog therapy increases:

It’s also cute, cuddly and dependent, pushing people out of bed in the morning and providing a sense of self-worth. A pet – especially a dog – can ease the COVID blues.

While Spader’s work with the Warrior Canine Connection (WCC) goes deeper than pandemic angst, organizers agreed that now was the perfect time for sharing her research-backed experiences from training and connecting dogs with military families in need.

Spader and colleagues use an evidence-based model in working with military veterans and service members by matching them with dogs trained to help overcome two major fallouts of combat: Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI). WCC partners with the Marcus Institute for Brain Health on campus and has sites across the country.

The emotional and cognitive effects of TBI’s make reintroduction into family and civilian life difficult for service members and veterans. Dogs help by alerting to and distracting from the disabling symptoms, whether it’s waking their owners from nightmares or nuzzling them back to the present before they sink into episodes of anxiety, flashbacks and withdrawal.

Powerful human-animal bonds are driven largely by oxytocin, often called the “feel-good” or “love” hormone, Spader said. “Oxytocin is one of the main reasons humans continue to reproduce and why mothers love their infants even seconds after the trauma of the birthing process,” she said.

Studies have found the level of oxytocin exchanged between a dog and a person is comparable to what’s shared between a mom and a baby during breastfeeding, Spader said. Oxytocin also creates the feelings of joy and bliss when couples fall in love, she said.

All animal relationships can have positive effects, but at least one study suggested dogs rule, Spader said, apologizing to the cat lovers of the world. Researchers measured increases in oxytocin in animal and owner, comparing cat owners and dog owners.

“The dogs had a drastic increase in oxytocin compared to the cats,” Spader said.

Oxytocin also inspires a tend-and-defend versus a fight-or-flight response by calming the amygdala, an emotion-regulating part of the brain. “We know especially with our veterans with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, that this is something they are constantly struggling with,” Spader said of the stress-inducing fight-or-flight response.

Spader ended with a couple of ways puppy-less people can reap the “pawsitive” effects, calling for volunteers interested in puppy parenting and puppy sitting. Puppy parents help WCC raise, train and socialize the pups it breeds for the first few years, generally during evenings and weekends. Puppy sitters fill in for short periods as needed.

Or, for a virtual boost from the COVID blues, anyone can check out the WCC puppy-cam, which Spader said has seen a “huge” increase in viewers since social distancing began. The site offers 24/7 real-time views of WCC’s puppies in their first eight weeks. “It will provide you with hours and hours of really cute, cuddly puppies.” But watch out. “It’s addicting.”

Service Puppies Start Their Training

The coronavirus pandemic has brought many aspects of life as we know it to a grinding halt, including air travel, which affects not just ordinary travelers, but those for whom getting to another location is crucial for their jobs. Canine Companions for Independence provides service dogs to people with disabilities free of charge, and the organization normally relies on commercial flights to transport dogs from its base in Santa Rosa, California to temporary homes across the country, where volunteers train them to become service animals.

In the face of a major lack of available commercial flights in recent months, volunteer pilots have stepped up to bring 108 puppies to their trainers homes in southern California, Idaho, Oregon, Washington, Montana and Texas.

Martyn Lewis, Josh Hochberg and Jeff Stewart are three private pilots who fly out of an airport in Sonoma, California and have volunteered to help these dogs get to their first step in their vocations as assistance animals for people with disabilities.

“Not only are they giving their plane, but their time, their fuel,” Michelle Williams, public relations and marketing coordinator at Canine Companions for Independence, told Insider. “They’re going out for full days … it’s just incredible.

“Yesterday, volunteer pilots flew 29 adorable @ccicanine puppies to their volunteer puppy raisers around the country to start their journey to become assistance dogs for people with disabilities,” the caption reads.

Rescue Dogs Companionship

When Dave Fleming got ‘matched’ with his dream dog from a rescue charity he was thrilled.

There was just one hitch though — the logistics of getting Bumble on the 150k journey to his ‘forever home’ with Covid-19 restrictions limiting non-essential travel to 2, and then 5k.

Bumble was being well looked after in Kerry but Dave was keen to get him settled as a key family member and was also aware that all the enforced free time would be great to use for walks.

So Dave, an Abbey actor who’s currently in lockdown at his partner’s family’s farm in Laois, put out an appeal on Twitter.

He asked if there were any essential workers travelling that particular route who would be willing to help out. His post was shared hundreds of times and he spoke to a few good samaritans.

Now Bumble is home and enjoying being walked and praised and being top dog.

“He’s a very handsome dog alright and he has settled right in here. We’re delighted with him,” says Dave.

Bumble is a collie mix and Dave believes he may have been up for adoption due to not making the grade as a sheepdog: “We quickly realised that he has eyesight problems — cataracts.

“He’s able to find his way around alright so it’s not a huge problem. He hadn’t been mistreated as he has a very easy-going temperament so we reckon he was just rounding up the wrong things!”

A bright new ‘vest’ alerting passers-by to Bumble’s sight difficulties will help people understand any clumsiness.

Even in ‘normal times’ the process of matching dogs with owners can take some time if prospective owners are keen for a pet of a particular breed or age.

Agencies rehoming pets have to interview owners and assess their home for any dangers or escape routes that a new owner might not have spotted.

The Cork Society for the Prevent of Cruelty to Animals (CSPCA) had to close its door for the past two months but is now aiming to restart viewings by appointment only from June 3.

Manager, Vincent Cashman, said: “This, of course, will depend on how things are working regarding the Covid-19 outbreak and governmental advice and will be subject to change if we deem it necessary.

“This is a big change for our normal way of operating — as many of you know, you could just walk in for viewings previously but we need the full cooperation of you the public for this to work.”

However, his big concern is that people who bought a dog on a whim due to being home from work or to help keep children entertained during lockdown will not want to keep it once they return to work and children’s sports and school activities resume.

“We have only had eight dog surrenders over the past two months. Normally we would have that many in a week. And other animals too such as cats, goats, rabbits and even Giant African snails.

“But we do fear that it may suit some people to have a dog around now and that they won’t keep it once this is over. I need to say this: you don’t need a dog to just go for a walk. You don’t need ‘an excuse’.”

Unusually, the CSPCA doesn’t have any cats for rehoming at the moment: “That’s probably because people are selling then online to whoever instead.”

The new pet adoption arrangement plans include bringing the dog to meet the prospective new owner in the exercise run.

Home inspections or will be carried out on a limited basis — if the garden is accessible through a side gate for example.

“All this is totally dependent on the latest safety guidelines and everything can change depending on expert advice,” warns Vincent.