Military Sniffer Dogs
Sniffer dogs can detect explosives and drugs, but can they also detect COVID-19? The German military and a veterinary university foundation are working with various breeds of sniffer dogs to find out.
German military sniffer dogs are being trained to detect coronavirus infections in human saliva as part of a joint study between the Bundeswehr, the country’s armed forces, and the University of Veterinary Medicine Hanover, Foundation (TiHo).
As part of the project, a group of 10 canines made up of sheep dogs, spaniels and retrievers are sniffing samples of infected people.
Sniffer dogs can detect not only explosives or drugs by their molecular composition, but they can also smell various cancers and the hypoglycaemia of diabetics. This ability is what has motivated veterinary scientists to research the potential ability of sniffer dogs to detect the coronavirus at a German military K9 training center in the western German town of Ulmen.
“With a hit rate of approximately 80%, researchers in Ulmen are well on their way to successfully continuing the project,” the dog training center was quoted by the German news agency DPA as saying.
The samples with which the sniffer dogs are being tested have been chemically rendered harmless. The question remains whether the canines can detect active coronavirus cases in human saliva.
“This must take place under very different conditions,” TiHo doctoral student Paula Jendrny told DPA. “After all, we have to be sure that no one gets infected by the highly infectious samples.”
Missing Service Dog
When 12-year-old Ethan Eberhart was diagnosed with Tourette syndrome, severe anxiety and ADHD, his family got him Blue.
The emotional support dog helps Eberhart calm down when he becomes too anxious. But now, the beloved Golden Retriever is missing.
“He was always just a really, really sweet dog to me,” said Eberhart. “When I was always upset at something, or just anxious, I would go over to him or he would just come over to me.”
Ethan’s mother Gillian Eberhart says Blue escaped from their backyard on Monday after their gate was accidentally left open by a lawn care company.
“Nobody’s really seen him. So that’s what really concerns me. He usually sticks pretty close,” said Gillian. “We’re in the Bloomingdale area and we’re in the Preston Woods subdivision. We actually back up to some other subdivisions in the area, so it kind of makes it a little difficult for us to do a really good search.”
The Eberharts tell WFLA.com their search is also challenging because they recently moved from Colorado to the Valrico area. Therefore, their contacts are limited. They hope by distributing missing posters of Blue and offering a $500 reward for his return, they’ll generate enough leads to bring the beloved 5-year-old pup home.
“My husband is in the Army, so we moved right before the pandemic. So we don’t have a lot of contacts here,” said Gillian. “Anybody, if they have been taking care of him, we’re super appreciative. We just want him back. We love him dearly. He’s much more than just a typical pet to us. He’s a part of our family.”
Breezer The Team Dog
While the Minnesota Wild get ready to welcome back hockey games, they also had to say goodbye to a special player. The team adopted a Labrador retriever named Breezer from a rescue organization last year. He lived with the team’s president, Matt Majka, and his family while going through obedience training.
Now, it’s time for Breezer to become a service dog for a veteran with PTSD.
Wednesday morning, Breezer was handed over to a nonprofit called Soldier’s 6 to begin the next phase of training before he is matched up with a soldier in need.
Local Veteran Gets Service Dog
American Legion Post 68 is helping veterans with post traumatic stress disorder. It helped Pedro Alverio, a United States Marine veteran, create an inseparable bond with his service dog Lincoln.
“This big stress and this big package that I’ve been hiking around with, whatnot, it’s gone. ‘Cause he just, he literally relaxes me,” Alverio said.
Alverio served in Somalia in the 1990s, and things he witnessed left a lasting impression on his memory. He said Lincoln helps him through daily stress.
“Instead of having to go to the doctor to get drugs to keep me calm and cool, whatnot, he’s my drug and actually helps me out a lot,” Alverio said. “That keeps me away from the drugs. Don’t have to take drugs and possibly get addicted to them.”
American Legion Post 68 PTSD Canine Committee Chairman Joe Merimee said being able to provide this opportunity to local veterans is motivating.
“You see the success that it breeds, you can’t help but get more involved in it,” Merimee said.
The relationship between Lincoln and Alverio runs deeper than a service dog and a handler.
“He helps out so much, and if it wasn’t for the community caring, and loving, and whatnot, I don’t think I would’ve had him,” Alverio said. “He’s a service animal when he has his vest on. He’s working when he has his vest on, and he knows that. When he doesn’t have his vest on and we’re at home, he’s a family member, and he knows the difference.” Merimee said Lincoln is the sixth service dog given to a local veteran.
Service Dogs For PTSD
People across the country are turning to dogs for solace from the isolation and anxiety of the coronavirus crisis. Since the pandemic hit the U.S. just a few months ago, animal shelters have reported a whopping 70 percent increase in fostering and adoptions.
Veterans with PTSD, however, can’t access dogs so easily. They’ve been waiting 10 years for the VA to provide service dogs. In 2010, Congress mandated that the VA study the effectiveness of service dogs for veterans with PTSD. Today, a decade later, the VA has yet to complete the study due to its own errors. And the VA refuses to provide service dogs without further research.
With nearly 20 percent of post-9/11 veterans suffering from PTSD and 20 veterans committing suicide every day, this delay is cruel. Fortunately, Congress is considering legislation that would force the VA’s slow hand.
The PAWS for Veterans Therapy Act would create a five-year pilot program requiring the VA to fund service dogs for veterans with PTSD and other mental health conditions. The House passed the PAWS Act with flying colors in February. The Senate should quickly follow suit so that this urgently needed program can be signed into law.
Without VA support, many veterans with PTSD can’t access a service dog. Service dogs cost around $20,000, and nonprofits that train and place service dogs with veterans for free have lengthy wait times.
Moreover, a regular dog isn’t a viable substitute. Service dogs are specially trained to perform vital tasks. They know when a veteran is having a retraumatizing nightmare and wake them up by licking their face. They provide veterans with a sense of safety by watching their backs, which helps veterans go out to work, see friends, and live a full life. Importantly, only service dogs can accompany veterans everywhere they go.
Despite these benefits, the VA has long refused to provide service dogs to veterans with mental health conditions. Only veterans with a visual, hearing, or mobility impairment can access a service dog through the VA.
Why is the VA so scared of giving service dogs to veterans with PTSD?
According to the VA, it isn’t getting hung up on cost or discriminating against veterans with invisible disabilities. Rather, the problem is there isn’t enough research to support the use of service dogs for PTSD.
To be sure, clinical evidence is important. Yet numerous studies have already found service dogs are effective for veterans with PTSD. For instance, a Kaiser study found service dogs can reduce PTSD symptoms, improve interpersonal relationships, and lower the likelihood of substance abuse. Likewise, a Purdue University study found veterans with service dogs experienced a significant drop in PTSD symptoms.
The VA also claims service dogs are not an effective replacement for traditional PTSD treatments, such as exposure therapy and medications. This is a straw man. As prescribed in the PAWS Act, service dogs are a supplement to standard treatments. The bill requires veterans to be under the care of a VA mental health clinician in order to receive a service dog.
Finally, the VA raises the specter of unintended consequences. Even if service dogs have benefits, there might be countervailing negative side effects. This fear is baseless. The VA points to no study finding negative side effects when dogs are properly trained and carefully matched with veterans. Indeed, the only “evidence” the VA points to is its own botched and discontinued study, where the VA failed to vet the service dogs, and several dogs fell ill and two children were bitten.
In any event, the traditional treatments the VA touts aren’t risk-free. Psychiatric medications, for instance, come with a laundry list of serious potential side effects, including insomnia, anxiety, and sexual dysfunction. Service dogs, in contrast, are low-risk, high-reward. At worst, they’re clinically ineffective for some veterans. At best, they can save lives and the VA’s money as veterans’ symptoms and prescription cocktails subside.
Let’s take stock of the intimate comfort and crucial mental health support dogs have given us as we have sheltered-in-place, disconnected from loved ones and surrounded by widespread loss of life. And let’s make sure veterans with PTSD have access to the dogs they need, too.
The past decade has made clear that the VA can’t be trusted to do this on its own. Yet the time for action is now. The risk of veteran suicide is only predicted to grow as the pandemic winds down, and unemployment and financial stresses mount. It’s time for Congress to step in by passing the PAWS Act.
Veterans With Rescue Dogs
San Diego is home to the nation’s largest concentration of military personnel. It also has a staggering number of veterans who don’t have a place to live
And, even more alarming is the number every year who take their own lives.
As ABC 10News Anchor, Kimberly Hunt explains…a non-profit in San Diego lead by, and staffed by, veterans is looking to change that.
There are an estimated 1,100 homeless vets on the streets of San Diego. Statistically they commit suicide at a rate of 1.5 times higher than the general population.
Kyle Drake is president of Cammies and Canines Sanctuary… a veteran owned, faith bases non-profit helping veterans by providing, among other things transitional housing, structure, and therapy.
On this sprawling ranch in Dulzura, they’re given an opportunity.
But Cammies and Canines Sanctuary under the importance of companionship. It pairs each veteran with a rescue dog which has been schooled by their master trainers as a service animal.
Kyle’s construction company builds tiny homes on the property for each vet to have a sense of place. Tony’s pest control company, Mosquito Joes trains interested veterans to work in the pest control industry, and everyone is given a sense of responsibility and respect. With a goal of mission accomplished, that both veteran and canine have been rescued.
The organization has plans to expand into Texas and Ohio to get more veterans off the streets, and dogs out of kill shelters.
For all their efforts to help homeless veterans, ABC 10News, LEAD San Diego and sponsor, Batta Fulkerson chose the founder and current administration of Cammies and Canines Sanctuary as our 10News Leadership Award winner for the month of July.
To nominate someone for our 10News Leadership Award, click on link in this section.
A Helping Paw
A therapy dog dubbed “Dogtor” Loki is being celebrated for going above and beyond in the line of duty.
The two-year-old Rottweiler and Go Team Therapy Dogs are among the recipients of this year’s American Kennel Club (AKC) Paw of Courage awards. The program recognizes dogs that serve their communities and make an impact on the lives of their human counterparts.
In the case of Loki, the pooch and his owner, Caroline Benzel, a medical student at the University of Maryland School of Medicine, have worked throughout the pandemic to deliver more than 5,500 care packages to medical professionals working on the front line.
Since its launch, the project has taken off nationally, with similar campaigns started in eight other states. Through donations, Caroline and Loki have raised more than $80,000 to fund the kits, personal protective equipment (PPE), food, and supplies for health-care workers.
“We are thrilled to honor ‘Dogtor’ Loki and the Go Team Therapy Dogs with AKC Paw of Courage awards,” says AKC’s executive secretary, Gina DiNardo. “These canine heroes are bringing comfort and smiles during tumultuous times and these awards give us a chance to recognize the important work they are doing.”
Other 2020 Paw of Courage recipients include:
Jackson, an eight-year-old golden retriever;
Molly, a 10-year-old vizsla; and
Phoebe, a 10-year-old Belgian Tervuren.
“These therapy dogs have all adjusted to the changing times due to the global pandemic and continue their important work to comfort those in need,” AKC says.
Support Of Veterans
Are you a Tennessean who loves dogs, wants to support disabled veterans and would like to sport an inspiring specialty license plate on your vehicle? Then, Smoky Mountain Service Dogs needs your help to meet its goal of pre-selling 1,000 specialty plates this summer.
SMSD, located in East Tennessee, trains mobility assistance service dogs for veterans with service-connected physical and psychological disabilities.
The nonprofit has helped veterans, such as retired U.S. Army First Sgt. Charles Stewart, regain their lives.
“Sadie gives me confidence and the ability to be more mobile through her mobility assistance and calms me during my PTSD episodes,” Stewart said. “I find myself having structure back in my life just being with her 24 hours a day. My family has seen the change in me as my wife has commented that I show sides of me before I was ever in the service. I am truly blessed to have gone through this experience with Smoky Mountain Service Dogs.”
The nonprofit is an all-volunteer organization except for professional trainers so 95 cents of every dollar donated goes directly to the organization’s mission. It costs approximately $25,000 to train one mobility assistance service dog which the organization places with a deserving veteran at no cost to the veteran.
Smoky Mountain Service Dogs relies on grants, donations and fundraisers for operating expenses, and SMSD is accredited by Assistance Dogs International as the only accredited service dog organization located in Tennessee.
“To see the loving bond that develops between a veteran and his or her beloved service dog is extremely gratifying,” said Suzy Kitchens, co-founder of Smoky Mountain Service Dogs.
“With a service dog by their side, veterans’ lives and their families and communities are changed forever because the veteran can finally acclimate back into society after experiencing what most of us Americans will never truly understand.”
K-9 Loki
South Toms River Police Department K-9 Loki has been awarded a “Healthcare for K9 Heroes” Grant
Vested Interest in K9s Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nationwide charity located in East Taunton, Massachusetts, whose mission is to provide bullet- and stab-protective vests and other assistance to dogs of law enforcement and related agencies throughout the United States. The nonprofit is pleased to continue their “Healthcare for K9 Heroes” medical insurance program for 2020 which covers annual policy premiums. Since 2016, the charity has donated over $125,000 towards medical reimbursement programs for self-funded K-9 units.
Selected as 2020 recipients to date are: South Toms River Police Department, NJ, K-9 Loki; Grant County Sheriff’s Office, Washington, K-9 Hawk; Jasper Police Department, Indiana, K-9 Mack; Lone Oak Police Department, Texas, K-9 Basa; Clark County Sheriff’s Office, Illinois, K-9 Xena; Gloucester County Sheriff’s Office, Virginia, K-9 Zeus; Chelsea Police Department, Oklahoma, K-9 Eli; Allen Hospital-Unity Point, Iowa, K-9 Kaya; Wood County Constable, Texas, K-9 Juma; Maywood Police Department, NJ, K-9 Ryker; Beebe Police Department, Arkansas, K-9 Crank; Vermillion County Sheriff’s Office, Indiana, K-9 Zeus; Lewiston Police Department, New York, K-9 Shadow; Limestone County Constable, Precinct 3, Texas, K-9 Teddy; Blytheville Police Department, Arkansas, K-9 Niko; Richmond Police Department, Rhode Island, K-9 Bico; Kenosha City Police Department, Wisconsin, K-9 Mani; Villa Hills Police Department, Kentucky, K-9 Onexx; Orange County Sheriff’s Office, Indiana, K-9 Finn; Canisteo Village Police Department, NY, K9 Dex; and Cumberland Police Department, PA, K9 Finn.
The “Healthcare for K9 Heroes” grant is awarded to departments who have the financial burden of raising funds to support their K-9 unit, who have no more than three K-9s, and who have previously been awarded a vest through Vested Interest in K9s Inc. Law enforcement dogs ages 2 through 7 are eligible. The annual medical reimbursement insurance policy, administered by Trupanion, will cover illnesses, injuries — including those sustained in the line of duty — diagnostic testing and therapies. The plan allows the freedom to use any licensed veterinarian, specialty center, or emergency hospital in the United States.
Trupanion, a leader in medical insurance for cats and dogs, offers injury and illnesses coverage for working and service dogs — both on and off duty. For nearly two decades, Trupanion has given pet owners and working dog owners peace of mind so they can focus on their dog’s recovery, not financial stress. Trupanion is honored to support these brave K-9 heroes and is committed to providing the highest value in medical insurance to help them receive the best veterinary care.
Service Dog Sinatra
Sinatra is a Golden Retriever Service Dog who has been traveling throughout North America (USA, Canada, and Mexico) since December 2016. The Travel Dog not only loves to make tours and stopover different places but also to spin interesting stories and share fun facts related to every place he visits. Currently, the @alfrescodog has over 175k followers on Instagram. The owner of this adventurous dog feels a strong connection with Sinatra and finds meaning in the duo-travels they make. While sharing his thoughts related to what he does, he said: “The account’s objective is to inspire people to take their dogs with them and explore life together. To strengthen the bond between humans and dogs. Whether that’s a long road trip or going out for a stroll in a different part of town, we believe there’s adventure everywhere.”
Traveling is considered to be one of those activities that allow the traveler to feel connected with nature. While it is not always possible for everyone to take out time from their busy lives to taste the pleasures of adventuring into unknown lands, social media has enabled millions of people to partially fulfill this desire by following and living vicariously through those who have been there. @alfrescodog is one such Instagram account that allows you to not only view amazing pictures of a Golden Retriever dog while he travels the world but also to read the stories that make all those places unique.
To illustrate the quality of the stories shared by this traveling dog, have a look at the above picture. Sinatra was visiting Miami, Florida, where he posed for this photograph. And like hundreds of stories shared on his Instagram account, this one also gained a lot of traction. Here he narrates a Gilded Age upper-class story about love, infidelity, blackmail, a big scandal, humbler beginnings, and a great comeback. He moves on to share a detailed account of the whole plot in several posts, which can be found on his Instagram page.
Or how about the picture below? Here he tells us the story behind the Margherita pizza. Its toppings are basil (green), mozzarella cheese (white), and tomato sauce (red). Did you know they represent the colors of the national flag of Italy?
Service Dog Finds Family
Dayton 24/7 Now teamed up with 4 Paws for Ability to feature a Service Dog in Training over the last year and a half to show his journey to service. In June 2020, Freddie was matched with the Sneed family to assist their daughter Lizzie.
Dayton 24/7 Now’s Kristen Cornett talked with the family via Zoom about how Freddie will help Lizzie in her everyday life.
Sniffer Dogs
The German military, in cooperation with the University of Veterinary Medicine in Hanover, is working on training various breeds of sniffer dogs to detect COVID-19 in humans.
Military sniffer dogs are being trained in Germany to detect coronavirus in human saliva by the Bundeswehr and the University of Veterinary Medicine Hanover, Foundation (TiHo). A group of 10 dogs, including German shepherds, spaniels and retrievers, are being trained by the military’s animal training facility near Ulmen.
The dogs are being trained using saliva samples from infected people. But before you worry about the animals’ safety – the training samples used to train the dogs have been rendered chemically harmless.
Sniffer dogs can detect drugs and explosives by their molecular composition, as well as being able to smell various kinds of cancer and the hypoglycaemia of diabetes. Their spectacular abilities are what moved scientists to research sniffer dogs’ ability to detect the coronavirus.
So far, the dogs have a success rate of approximately 80 percent. However, it is still yet to be determined if the results will be as successful with active coronavirus samples. “This has to take place under completely different conditions, after all, we have to be sure that nobody can get infected with the highly infectious samples,” said TiHo doctoral student Paula Jendrny.
The military dog training school has said that if it is possible to train a service dog to detect the virus then there “will need to be a discussion in which civil and military areas these dogs should do their work.”
Dog Joins Fire Service Team
The two-year-old spaniel named Phoenix has been trained to detect the location and cause of deliberate fires over the past year.
Phoenix can detect the slightest trace of ignitable liquids up to one metre below debris left by a fire, Glasgow-based firefighter and dog handler Jonathan Honeyman revealed.
But the clever pup’s talents do not end there – he is also part of community engagement work to educate young people about the risks of fire setting as well as providing comfort to victims of traumatic fires.
Fire investigation officer Jonathan revealed the canine has “tremendous capabilities” for helping with investigations.
He said: “Phoenix has come on leaps and bounds since we first started working together.
“Phoenix can be brought on-site hours, days or weeks after an incident to search a wide radius to trace any evidence, which is a huge advantage to us. He is without a doubt a valued member of our investigation team.”
Firefighters were called out to more than 1700 deliberate secondary fires in Scotland last summer.
Secondary fires refer to small outdoor fires, but the SFRS warn they can have catastrophic consequences and cause injury and death, spread to nearby properties, affect local businesses and also threaten wildlife within areas of natural beauty.
Jonathan added: “Phoenix will work with community action teams to support educational programmes running across Scotland that support disaffected youths who may become involved in antisocial fire-related behaviour.
“These locally run programmes involving SFRS staff and our partners are often extremely successful in outlining the dog’s capabilities and therefore driving down fire setting.”
“If he could speak, I am sure Phoenix would encourage young people to act responsibly this summer and avoid putting themselves and communities at risk.”
Before joining the SFRS, Phoenix spent almost a full year with the Scottish SPCA.
He was rescued from the illegal puppy farm in Aberdeenshire in 2017 following an investigation which resulted in a criminal conviction.
Manager of the Scottish SPCA’s rescue and rehoming centre in Glasgow, Anna O’Donnell, said: “Our team did a fantastic job with Phoenix, who was in our care for 321 days. Phoenix, being a spaniel, is energetic, very clever and obedient so we thought he was the perfect fit for the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service.
“We are pleased to hear that he is now trained and working to keep communities safe by educating young people on fire safety.”
David Dourley, SFRS Head of Fire Investigation, said: “I’m delighted to introduce Phoenix to our communities and I’m sure this valuable and capable resource will assist our FI teams across the country.
“Phoenix not only enhances our fire investigation capabilities at complex fire scenes, but he will support our partners and contribute hugely to community engagement work, also providing comfort and wellbeing support to the victims of traumatic fire.”
Service Dogs Helping Veterans
A nonprofit providing service dogs to veterans and first responders at no cost in Pittsburgh is making a real difference. Their actions and local support are making us proud to be from Pittsburgh.
At a Grove City park, five military veterans gathered after being paired with their newest support animals.
“It’s just remarkable, I cannot believe it,” said James Grossman of Hermitage.
Veterans like Grossman suffer from invisible wounds, like PTSD or Traumatic Brain Injury. With the help of dogs from the Florida-based nonprofit Guardian Angels Medical Service Dogs, they’re regaining their independence.
“I would be very sheltered. I would not feel like I would be well to be out in public. Something might flare-up, I might be anxious,” said Dustin Schneider of Pittsburgh. “I might have a breakdown with her. She doesn’t let me get that far, she just wants me to be okay.”
The nonprofit gives 90% of their dogs to veterans and first responders. Guardian Angels founder Carol Borden said they see a lot of need and support from our region.
“We have just a wonderful, wonderful base of corporate sponsors and philanthropic-minded individuals who have welcomed us wholeheartedly over the past five years that we’ve been there in their area,” said Borden. “We have paired dozens and dozens of dogs in Pennsylvania.”
Pittsburgh professional sports teams, PNC and local foundations are just a few of the groups supporting the training for each dog, which cost $25,000.
Guardian Angels employee Joanne Werner said she loves being able to give dogs to people that need them.
“Just paying back all the respect that we have for them, giving them something that’s going to give them a new normal,” she said.
The support is appreciated by Schneider and his dog Spangle.
“Pittsburgh has been a very large staple in my recovery here,” said Schneider. Borden said they plan to expand by building their first campus, which will provide more dogs to more people.
Police K9 Unit
From vomiting to diarrhoea, the canine parvovirus (CPV) is a highly contagious viral infection that spreads between dogs… and if untreated, it can prove deadly.
In Gauteng, police service dogs are bred and trained at a specialised K9 facility that’s been overwhelmed by an outbreak of CPV and this year, over 30 state-owned puppies have died from the infection.
But it’s not the first time that this virus has spread through this training centre and in just eight months, almost 100 puppies have died. Last year 76 puppies were killed by the Parvovirus.
Is this gross incompetence or another under-resourced state facility? Carte Blanche investigates in a programme produced by Nicky Troll and presented by Derek Watts. Derek says: “While the country fights to contain COVID-19, there is another virus raging at a police K9 dog breeding and training facility in Gauteng. Two outbreaks of parvovirus have led to the agonising deaths of around 100 puppies in less than a year. Could implementing proper medical and hygiene protocols have saved them?”
Fundraising For NEADS
The COVID-19 pandemic has put a crimp in fundraising for a nationally known nonprofit agency.
As a result, Bay State Savings Bank has announced a fundraising drive to support NEADS, which trains service dogs to help people who are deaf or have a physical disability. The campus is at 305 Redemption Rock Trail.
The fundraiser ends July 22.
Bay State Savings Bank recognizes many of the fundraising opportunities NEADS relies on have been impacted by COVID-19 and decided to help support the organization. Donations are tax-deductible and all funds will go towards training and placing a service dog with an individual in Massachusetts. The bank will match donations up to $3,000.
“We had a lot of community events that were planned for this time period and obviously they were not able to happen, so being in touch with different people and being out in the community … not being able to do that has been a challenge,” said Audrey Trieschman, manager of communications for NEADS.
“Our donor base has remained loyal, and bequests and grants continue to come in, but we have seen the cancellation of several spring and fall fundraising events and fewer community fundraising efforts, activities which we depend on to support our mission,” Trieschman said.
With COVID-19 came the cancellation of planned community events and fundraising opportunities. NEADS relies on these opportunities to fund training and placement of their service dogs.
“It costs us approximately $45,000 to breed, raise and train each of our dogs,” said Trieschman.
The goal for the fundraising effort is $6,000. The annual budget for the organization is nearly $3.5 million.
When the NEADS campus closed in March, it faced a number of other challenges – on-campus dogs had to find temporary homes within 24 hours, dogs had to come out of five of the seven prisons NEADS is involved with, and three new litters of puppies were born and needed care during quarantine.
Trieschman said NEADS staff is thankful for the support the organization has received from the community during this difficult time.
“We’ve had very positive community support in spite of our inability to do the community outreach,” said Trieschman. “We’re very thankful for the donors who have continued to support us.”
Bay State Savings Bank reached out to NEADS to start the fundraiser in honor of the bank’s mascot, Benjie, celebrating his first birthday.
“They’ve just gone above and beyond,” said Trieschman. “They’ve just been really great partners and I think the fact that they’re doing the $3,000 … is a really great way to get this jump-started. They’ve just been very responsive and just a real pleasure to work with.”
Trieschman says the Bay State partnership is not unique, as NEADS welcomes community partnerships, but says NEADS is grateful for the opportunity to partner with the bank.
“We have loved working with them to get this setup and we’re really looking forward to continuing to work with them,” Trieschman said.
Bloomingdale’s Service Dog
The Bloomingdale Police Department lost one of its own this week, a four-legged warrior named Kane.
Kane, the department’s service dog, died in his sleep Tuesday at the age of 6 from unknown causes. His time as a member of the force left a remarkable impression on his handler, who said the German shepherd will be sorely missed.
Officer Levi McGhee, Kane’s handler, saw Kane as more than just a service dog but also as a genuine pet and loving member of his family.
“I feel like I’ve lost my shadow,” McGhee said Thursday. “He wasn’t just a pet, he was literally a part of me and a part of our family. His unexpected passing has been extremely tough on all of us.”
Kane began his training when he was 1 year old, the typical age dogs become trained to become service dogs.
When he was not playing around like a normal dog, he was chasing down violent offenders and sniffing out drugs and illegal narcotics, often protecting the lives of other officers in the process, McGhee said. One case that sticks out to McGhee that exemplified his service was tracking down a DUI and car theft suspect hiding under a car last December.
Frank Giammarese, director of public safety, said he plans to add another service dog to the department, though there is no timetable for when that will happen.
“It’s been a great program to train these dogs, but it’s still a tragic loss,” Giammarese said. “That dog had a bigger fan base than anyone in the community. I don’t know if you can replace Kane.”
There will be a ceremony and procession in his honor at 9 a.m. June 7 at Scottish Rite Valley, 383 E. Lake St., Bloomingdale.
From Shelter Dogs To Service Animals
Matt Kleeman was a U.S. Navy Diver stationed in Connecticut when a nearly-fatal car accident left him paralyzed from the neck down and facing an uncertain future.
”I wondered how am I ever going to be independent again, what’s going to stop me, how much can I take things,” Kleeman said.
His determination to move forward led him to an organization called CAMO which stands for Canines Assisting Military Operatives.
The training facility is located on a two-acre piece of property in western Palm Beach County. ”It’s really grown quite a bit. The number of people it supports, the legacy it leaves behind with the dogs and the operators and those in need of the dogs, the awareness is really world wide,” said Joe Muller, a major supporter of the organization.
Founder and chief Trainer Mike Lorraine works with shelter dogs who fit the temperament to become a service animal and pairs them with veterans in need at no cost. ”For sure, getting these dogs out of shelters and then giving them really incredible training for over a year, a year and a half, and then placing them with deserving veterans is a life-long dream that for sure is the most rewarding things I’ve done with dog training,” Lorraine said.
Training these dogs to do everything from turning on a light to picking up keys and coins actually starts with chickens. Lorraine works with the birds first to see what techniques will create the desired response before adopting that approach when training a service dog.
“It’s not so much breed specific, it’s those special attributes we need to see in the dog really wide open, well socialized, super calm and with a really high food drive and if we have these combinations of attributes then for sure we’re going to have success,” Lorraine said.
As Kleeman’s current service dog, named “Charlie Brown,” is starting to show signs of aging, he and Lorraine are now working together to train a second dog, a puppy named “Cooper,”’ to be ready to serve when Charlie Brown needs to retire, though never far from his side. ”He’s my buddy, I’m with him all the time and I can’t imagine life without him,” Kleeman said.
So far CAMO has placed 30 dogs with veterans in need.
More Then A Service Dog
Take one look at the fox-red Labrador retriever sprawled across the living room rug, and you might easily mistake him for an easygoing family pet.
But Tom Garrett of Janesville knows the 92-pound dog, named Clifford, is so much more.
Just look at what happens when Garrett brings out the harness. The hulking Lab jumps to attention, and his whole demeanor shifts into work mode.
Late last year, Garrett met Clifford, a guide dog from Guiding Eyes for the Blind guide dog school in Yorktown Heights, New York.
The union was life-changing.
Garrett, who has been legally blind since childhood, depends on Clifford to safely guide him in a variety of situations.
“Clifford is literally my eyes,” he said.
The bond between him and his guide dog is much stronger than the bond with a family pet.
“A guide dog develops a real sense of protective responsibilities,” Garrett told The Janesville Gazette. “They are with you 24 hours a day.”
The dog takes Garrett around obstructions, stops at curbs and stairs, and is great at finding doors. Clifford even helps Garrett find empty chairs in waiting rooms.
Clifford also quickly learns the routes to and from places where Garrett often goes. In the grocery store, the Lab knows where the meat and produce sections are.
When Garrett is outdoors on his 2-acre rural property, Clifford helps him find key places, including Garrett’s four beehives.
In addition, 73-year-old Garrett has more independence traveling to festivals to play the banjo, mandolin and fiddle with Clifford at his side.
“He’s really superb at the job he does,” Garrett said.
Unfortunately, the public sometimes interferes with Clifford’s work.
“Every time I go out, I have to remind people not to distract Clifford,” Garrett said. “When you see a dog wearing a harness, that dog is focused on doing his job. Don’t talk to him. Don’t call him by name. Don’t look him in the eye. If he goes to be petted, he lets me run into things.”
People are more understanding of service dogs than they used to be, and many legitimate service dogs help people with diabetes, post-traumatic stress disorder and hearing impairment.
But Garrett said the law does not recognize “comfort” or “emotional support” dogs as legal service dogs.
For more than 30 years, Garrett taught earth science, biology and physical science at Janesville’s Marshall Middle School. He retired 13 years ago.
Prior to 2012, Garrett used a white cane to help him navigate in the world.
When he learned about the Guiding Eyes school and its highly trained dogs, he applied for his first dog.
The nonprofit school, which provides all services free, matched Garrett with a yellow Lab named J.J.
“My J.J. didn’t want to be more than 10 feet or 12 feet away from me,” Garrett said.
When the dog died at age 9, Garrett was devastated.
He applied to the school for a second guide dog and asked for “a big, robust and rowdy yellow Lab.”
Clifford fit the bill.
From the beginning, both were smitten.
The first time Garrett took Clifford for play time, the two bonded right away, even though Clifford’s trainer came along.
Garrett stayed at the Guiding Eyes school for three weeks and worked with Clifford every day until they became a team.
The school’s mission is to create and support life-changing connections between people and dogs. It relies almost entirely on donations from individuals, corporations and foundations to do its work.
The school’s guide dogs are known for their exceptional temperaments and success at helping people gain independence, according to materials from the school.
One guide dog team costs about $50,000 to breed, raise, train, match and support over the lifetime of the team’s work together.
Most guide dogs are Labrador retrievers, but a few are German shepherds. They spend six to 12 months undergoing formal training with a professional instructor.
Dogs are then carefully matched with handlers based on how fast the handler walks, how hard the dog pulls and their personalities.
Garrett couldn’t be happier with his matches.
“Clifford has the genes and the temperament to be the kind of guide dog you want,” Garrett said. “He is focused on doing his job.”
K9 For Warriors
All-Elite Wrestling performers got a show of their own with visits from K9 for Warriors service dogs.
Several professional wrestlers earned some new fans this week of the four-legged variety before taking action in the ring at Daily’s Place.
Ponte Vedra Beach-based K9 For Warriors brought a team of seven service dogs-in-training to visit with members of Shad Khan’s All Elite Wrestling in Jacksonville before Wednesday night’s AEW Fyter Fest on TNT.
There was plenty of belly rubs, puppy kisses, rolling around on the floor and even an excursion on the Riverwalk for one wrestler and Air Force veteran Big Swole and service dog JD.
“It was absolutely amazing,” she said. “I’ve always wanted to be a part of something like this and meet the rescue dogs from K9s. I was so excited that I drove three hours this morning from my home in Clearwater just to see the puppies, so I’m all energized and ready for the show tonight.”
The nonprofit strives to return American service men and women who suffer from injuries and trauma to a life of dignity and independence by pairing them with rescued and trained shelter dogs.
AEW was introduced by Khan and his father Jacksonville Jaguars owner Shad Khan in January 2019. Tony Khan, who also serves as the Jaguars’ senior vice president of football administration and technology, runs the show for AEW.
“We’re proud to bring some joy and positivity to these athletes who understand the powerful benefits of dogs,” Diamond said. “It’s always fulfilling for us to help out our amazing Jacksonville community.”
Although the dogs are trained to stay focused on their warrior and wear vests with “Do Not Pet” signs, their handlers gave the “make a friend” cue letting them know the wrestlers could interact with them.
Organizers said all the human participants were screened for the coronavirus and followed health regulations during the visit.
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