Guide Dog Raised By NHL Team

September is National Service Dog Month, but that’s not even the biggest news in Radar’s life.

The Labrador retriever guide dog was recently matched with his owner Anastasia Pagonis, a blind 16-year-old who quickly succeeded at competitive swimming after losing her eyesight two years ago. Two weeks after being introduced, Radar and Pagonis are residing at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colorado, where Pagonis, one of the top athletes on the U.S. Paralympic Swimming Team, is training for a chance to compete in the 2020 Paralympics in Tokyo — now rescheduled to 2021 due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Even though the pair only knew each other for 4 days ahead of the trip from Pagonis’ home in Long Island, New York to Colorado, the swimmer says that Radar handled travel “really well.” Having Radar by her side was a welcomed change for Pagonis, who had to “rely on other people” for almost everything before being paired with the guide dog. “Honestly, I couldn’t be like my own person and so now that I have him, I feel so independent,” the teen tells PEOPLE about how Radar has already rapidly reshaped her life. “I’m gonna conquer the world with him,” she adds.

Pagonis already conquered quite a bit before meeting Radar. At 11, Pagonis, then playing soccer, was starting to lose her vision due to a genetic disease, and while she could see “pretty well at the time” she had a blind spot that caused her to ” get kicked in the face too much with the ball.” Dedicated to keeping athletics as part of her life, Pagonis spoke to her doctor about a different sport she could try that was better suited to her vision loss. Her doctor suggested swimming.

Service Dog Training Program

We know dogs to be companions with unconditional love, but man’s best friend goes a much longer way for mankind.

“I’d call him a lifesaver,” said Katie Tack about her service dog, Krypton.

Krypton, a labrador retriever, was not always Katie’s partner. He was born into the ABC Breeding Cooperative, where he would train under the tutelage of Susquehanna Service Dogs.

Deb Tack, Katie’s Mother, is the Partner Coordinator with the non-profit.

“Seeing that Katie could go from being pretty homebound to graduate form high school, it’s because of him,” she said, referring to her daughter’s partnership with her service dog.

Katie was a normal girl who played sports and never missed a day of school. Deb says this changed “overnight” as she was diagnosed with postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome at age 11. She was forced to enroll in cyberschool, where she was homebound and separated from her friends. Because of Krypton, she was able to graduate high school and is ready to attend college in-person once the COVID-19 restrictions are pulled back.

Krypton was raised by a senior student at Penn State University for roughly eight weeks. He was then enrolled in a series of classes that grew more in-depth as he was evaluated. It is a full-time job for dogs like Krypton, working Monday through Friday before spending the weekend with their puppy raiser or sitter.

Not all dogs born into the program are cut out for service, however. Deb Tack says that 45% of dogs exit the program as fully-fledged service dogs, comparable to the national average. They can either partner with an individual or take residence at a hospital, courthouse, cancer center, or even prison.

For example, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia recently welcomed Dilly as their first full-time facility dog, who was also trained through Susquehanna Service Dogs.

Luckily, every dog finds his or her place. Some become in-house-only service dogs while others are scouted by the CIA, United Nations, or local police departments to become detection K9s. The remaining lot is ripe for adoption as normal house pets.

For Susquehanna Service Dogs, it costs $30,000 to breed, train, partner, and follow-up with lifetime support for one service dog. Only $5,000 of that cost is passed down to the human partner.

Since the non-profit receives no federal or state funding, they are reliant on community and corporate donations. They are also looking for volunteers in the Greater Philadelphia area to enroll in their local program that began last Fall. Volunteers can take in a dog-in-training as either a raiser or a sitter.

“Each one of those steps is truly life-changing,” said Deb Tack.

Canine Companions For Independence

Jessica Gardner rolls herself to the dryer.

But with cerebral palsy, it’s difficult to pull the clothes out. She looks down at her power wheelchair. Her best buddy comes to the rescue.

Ford, a Labrador golden retriever cross, has been by her side for four years. The two were matched through Canine Companions for Independence. Headquartered in Santa Rosa, Calif., it’s the largest non-profit provider of assistance dogs.

“I remember the day I met Ford like it was yesterday,” said Gardner, 34, of Johnstown. “It was an instant connection. I don’t believe in love at first sight, but with Ford, I do. He was drooling, and he wanted to get close to me.

“Ford is my angel, with fur, instead of wings. He and I are a match made in heaven.” To help create other such matches, a national dog friendly event called DogFest raises money and encourages volunteers to help provide trained service dogs to people with disabilities free of charge.

Because of the pandemic, this year’s event will be held virtually from noon to 5 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 13 via Facebook. It will include a live-streamed tour of the North Central Region’s new training facility in New Albany, Ohio, and also demonstrations of the work done with the dogs.

The Pittsburgh group normally attends DogFest in Medina, Ohio. It has raised $23,000 and hopes to reach $25,000. Donations will be accepted through the end of the September to be counted for DogFest.

Seeing the initial meeting between person and dog is emotional, said Derek Hought, of Bradford Woods, leader of the Pittsburgh group. He and his wife, Nanette, are puppy raisers, which requires making sure the animals are in a loving home, teaching them basic commands and taking them to formal obedience classes. Another local puppy raiser is Nicole Mroz, a junior psychology major from Buffalo, N.Y., who is also learning American Sign Language at the University of Pittsburgh. She is president of the service dog education and training program at the university, called Steph Pitt. She and a puppy, Noni, spend a lot of time walking around campus. Noni is one of four puppies being raised at the school. Mroz said her responsibility is the first step in the animal’s journey to be an assistance dog.

“It’s been an amazing part of my undergraduate experience,” Mroz said. “I would not trade it for the world. I treasure the time I have with the puppies. I know as much as I love them that they will take on such an amazing role in someone else’s life.”

Puppy raisers care for the animals from 8 weeks old to about 17 months, teaching them basic commands. The dogs receive extensive instruction for six to nine months at the training facility. Once a person and dog are matched they receive two weeks of one-on-one training to make sure the animal can do what the owner needs. “At the graduation ceremony where you see a puppy with someone with a disability, it’s so rewarding because these dogs change that person’s life,” Hought said. “They can change an entire family’s life. There is not a dry eye in the room.”

Ford changed Gardner’s life, Hought said. The dog is trained to lift a footrest on a wheelchair so Gardner can transfer independently. He also knows how to pull her socks off, open doors and grab items out of the refrigerator.

“If I drop something, he can pick it up. I don’t have to worry about asking a stranger to do it who might have ill intentions,” Gardner said. “He’s given me security, which is life changing and honestly, that is an awesome feeling.”

She said Ford has given her confidence to embrace new opportunities, such as the Ms. Wheelchair Pennsylvania competition. She was runner-up last year and will take over the crown Oct. 18 since covid-19 forced the cancellation of this year’s event. Her platform is stopping service dog fraud through education advocacy and working with legislators. “People think of it as a beauty pageant, but it’s about advocacy and empowering women with disabilities,” she said.

Veterans With PTSD

An estimated 20 veterans take their own life every day. World Suicide Prevention Day is held every year on September 10th to promote worldwide action to prevent suicide.

Since 2011, K9s For Warriors’ mission has been to end veteran suicide as the nation’s largest provider of Service Dogs to military veterans suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress, Traumatic Brain Injury and/or Military Sexual Trauma. The program has a 99 percent success rate, which is one of the highest suicide prevention rates in any organization fighting to mitigate suicidal ideations.

Each Warrior that graduates from the K9s For Warriors program has a unique story about the traumatic experience that led them to reach out for help. K9s For Warriors has gathered three graduates of the program to discuss their stories and experience throughout this life-changing program, and the achievements they have accomplished since graduating with their battle buddy.

Below are three Warriors who are telling their stories in order to spread awareness about suicide prevention.

“Before Bobbi, I had persistent suicidal thoughts. Because I was an addict, I secretly hoped it would just finish me off. Now, through Bobbi, I have found myself again and have celebrated 2 years of sobriety. I look forward to a long and happy life with Bobbi by my side.” – Becca & Bobbi.

“Before Rio, I was a cold and empty shell, but he taught me how to how to feel and love again. I still fight my battles and face my demons, but now I face them head on. Because of Rio, I no longer have suicidal thoughts; They are now only diminished to a memory.” – Will & Rio

“Donna has saved me from suicidal thoughts by being there for me when I would otherwise be alone, which is when I struggle the most with my PTSD and depression. In those times, Donna knows exactly how to get me to refocus my attention on her and calm down. Her unconditional love reminds me daily that the struggle is worth it. ” – Jodie & Donna

K9s For Warriors’ mission is to end veteran suicide. Based in Florida, we are the nation’s largest provider of Service Dogs to military veterans suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress, Traumatic Brain Injury and/or Military Sexual Trauma. Our program is unique, comprehensive, and proven, thanks to groundbreaking research conducted in partnership with Purdue University’s OHAIRE Lab. The majority of our Service Dogs come from high-kill shelters, which means that with each warrior-K9 pairing, two lives are saved. Support our mission to end veteran suicide, which is even more critical during our country’s current isolated times.

Police Dog Charger Retires

Guelph police say Charger — one of their K9 officers — is retiring after 10 years of service.

The German shepherd has been paired with Sgt. Andrew Crowe since his arrival in Guelph in July 2011 and was trained in a variety of tasks including tracking, searching, drug detection and detection of currency.

Charger has been involved in the location of dozens of suspects over the course of his career, police said in a news release.

He’s also received several citations from the United States Police Canine Association for his successful tracks and has won awards during dog trial events.

In various events, Charger has ranked first place in tracking, second place in evidence search and third place in agility.

In November 2019, Crowe and Charger competed at the national level event in Florida.

The service said Charger will be living out his retirement years as a member of Crowe’s family.

News of Charger’s end with Guelph police follows the retirement of another Guelph police canine, General, earlier this year.

The police service has announced two new police dogs, Titan and Jett, who have been paired with two officers.

Const. Jason Hall is partnered with Jett and Const. Neil Moulton is partnered with Titan. They are currently on active duty.

Guelph police’s K9 unit started in 1998 with Nero, a purebred German Shepherd from Czechoslovakia.

The new pups are the service’s ninth and 10th police dogs.

Bringing Service Dog Home To Owner

Long Island’s Paws of War has worked to bring a service dog to the U.S. to help a veteran — but a paperwork error could send him back overseas.

Staff Sgt. AJ Kirrish is a military veteran who is desperate to get his dog, Harley, home.

“She’s such an important part of my life, all we want is to do whatever we can to get her home,” says Kirrish. “The feeling is helpless and it is not a feeling I feel all too often.”

Harley was a stray dog that he befriended while deployed in a combat zone in the Middle East. She was then adopted by the military base.

“She would be so excited to see us, we would go on runs and she would go with us, and she would play and it was just great to have her,” says Kirrish.

The Paws of War organization arranged for Harley to come home to the U.S. and live with Kirrish and his wife, but that all changed when the dog arrived at the airport last week and was not allowed to leave because of a mistake in her paperwork regarding vaccinations.

“Time is really of the essence and I was able to get the entire Long Island delegation, my colleagues that represent the rest of Long Island to stand up and say this is ridiculous,” says Rep. Kathleen Rice. “This is a piece of red tape that can be easily waved with no special conditions.”

Rice was among those to write a letter to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, demanding immediate intervention to save the life of the dog. If she is not released, there is a flight scheduled to bring her back to Jordan in two weeks, where News 12 is told there is a high chance of her being euthanized.

The upsetting issues have only added more turmoil to the family, who are also dealing with fertility issues.

“We haven’t been blessed with any children of our own, so Harley and our dog Zoey… they are our children, they are everything to us,” says Kirrish.

Service Dog Refused On Bus

New Fire Dog

Black Labrador Thor has become a qualified fire investigation dog after he passed his assessment in Sheffield last week.

Thor will now be able to assist the fire service in investigating the causes of fires alongside his partner and fellow fire investigation dog, Reqs.

The service said that both Reqs and Thor perform a vital role in helping to discover how fires may have started by using their sense of smell to find flammable liquids once the fire has been extinguished.

Thor and Req’s handler Nikki Harvey said: “Thor is an amazing search dog who from day one has continuously displayed the required characteristics of becoming an excellent fire investigation dog.

“I’m really looking forward to working with him through his career and hope that he is able to follow in the paw prints of his predecessor’s to achieve the many successes that they have.”

Evidence that Thor finds during his investigations can also be used in a court of law through criminal proceedings.

Although Thor will eventually replace Reqs, the service’s older fire dog will still carry on working on investigations while being continually assessed.

Cabinet member for community safety Terry Hone said: “Thor has been excellent throughout his training and shown from the outset he has what it takes to be a fire investigation dog in Hertfordshire.

“I look forward to both Thor and Reqs helping to keep the residents of Hertfordshire safe and I am incredibly proud of what they have achieved and will go on to achieve in the future.”

Autism Service Dog

A festival this weekend will help raise money to train an autism service dog. The puppy will go to an 8-year-old girl in Elkhart County. It costs about $20,000 to train the dog.

Lexi Cheney was born with a myriad of medical issues. Her parents later found out she had autism, ADHD and a mild intellectual disability.

Lexi is a sweet girl, who loves markers, crayons and her “baby riley,” a stuffed whale she got as a baby.

Lexi’s mom, Rhonda Cheney, says Lexi’s cheerfulness can change in a second.

“She has two directions. It is either very unhappy or very happy,” says Cheney, “there are times when it is firing fast and she just makes choices and decisions based on what she wants at that second.”

That makes it difficult to take Lexi in public because she can wonder off and she has other behaviors typical of someone on the autism spectrum.

That’s where a service dog will come in.

“She will be able to corral. She is probably going to be large enough to stop, physically stop, Lexi from moving. If not she will have things she is trained to do to distract Lexi,” says Cheney.

Lexi picks at her skin. The dog will be able to see that happen and district her.

The dog will also help comfort Lexi and help her live her day to day life.

The family got a black poodle puppy for free from a breeder. She was born on Memorial day.

Her full name is Lady Liberty but everyone calls her Libby.

It will cost about $20,000 to train Libby, which takes about 18 months.

Right now, Libby is in the beginning stages of that training at Top Notch Service Dogs in Elkhart County.

Eventually, Libby will be Lexi’s constant companion — offering comfort, guidance, intervention, and most importantly, friendship.

“It is a gift. It is a precious thing for her to have somebody who is not judging her base on her behavior or looks or the way she operates. It is just a friend,” says Cheney.

The family is having a huge fundraiser this Saturday, September 5th.

The “A Friend for Lexi” event is at their Elkhart County property at 29330 Salt Lick Trail, Elkhart.

The outdoor festival starts at 5 p.m. and ends with fireworks.

It is free to attend. There will be food and craft vendors, a silent auction and bake sale.

K-9s For Warriors

Army veteran and Lexington resident, Tanesha G. recently returned home with her new service dog, Spoonie. Spoonie is trained to help Tanesha manage symptoms of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder that resulted from her military service.

On why she applied to K9s For Warriors, Tanesha said, “I saw a graduate and asked about the program. I thought it would be a great way to get me back into society and out of the house. I wanted a more independent life, one that allowed me to spend more quality time with my children, doing different activities and just enjoying life again.”

Upon arrival to K9s For Warriors, Tanesha was paired with Spoonie, a rescue dog from Kentucky Animal Control, who had already completed formal service canine training in the months prior. In the COVID-19 environment, the training program has been modified to comply with CDC guidelines, implementing new sanitizing and PPE protocols for all staff and Warriors. Along with the other members of their class, Tanesha and Spoonie trained in public every day wearing PPE, received instruction on matters of Service Dog access, dog health care and more, and established a bond that would facilitate Tanesha’s healing from military-related trauma.

K9s For Warriors CEO, Rory Diamond, explains the program’s mission:

“The rate of veteran suicide in our country is unacceptable. These are the people who volunteered their lives so that Americans can enjoy their everyday independence. But PTSD steals their independence, and worst of all, suicide steals their lives. K9s For Warriors is here to give both back to them through a new, loyal battle buddy – a Service Dog.”

K9s For Warriors is a national nonprofit that procures eligible shelter dogs and trains them to be Service Dogs to mitigate symptoms of PTSD, Traumatic Brain Injury, and/or Military Sexual Trauma for servicemembers and veterans. It operates from two facilities in North Florida that procure and train the canines, pair them with an incoming veteran, then train the veteran and canine pair together. After three weeks with his or her new Service Dog, the veteran has learned how to reintegrate into society and, most importantly, reduce suicidal ideation.

Ozzie’s K-9 Ceremony

The Delaware County Sheriff’s Office paid tribute to their late K-9 Osman Steele (“Ozzie”) with a ceremony Monday at the headquarters in Delhi, NY. A plaque was unveiled to remember K-9 Ozzie and all fallen K-9 officers. Ozzie died in April due to a number of health issues. Sheriff Craig DuMond says “the bond between a K9 and their handler is eternal and a trust between them in a nameless language”.

Ozzie’s handler was Major John Demeo, who described his relationship and partnership with Ozzie as “an inspiration to me as well as many others in Delaware County”.

All K9s are highly trained special dogs who are required to not only track down suspects but to regularly visit with children in schools and must stay calm while kids pet them and possibly pull on their ears, much like a therapy dog. Switching back and forth between those two “modes” of behavior is difficult and makes a K9 special. K9 Eli (pictured below) is currently in training with Deputy Karcher.

Battle For Little Girl’s Service Dog

The federal Department of Justice and the Gates Chili Central School District have settled litigation over a student’s use of a service dog while on campus — a fight that began in 2012 and prompted a federal lawsuit against the school district in 2015.

In that lawsuit, federal Department of Justice officials argued that the school district had violated the Americans with Disabilities Act, or ADA, by requiring that the student’s family provide a handler for the dog. School officials did allow the dog on campus, but contended that their responsibilities ended there.

The long-fought case appeared to be headed for trial this year, before a January hearing before U.S. District Judge Charles Siragusa, at which each side staked out its positions. At that hearing, Siragusa urged the two sides to work toward a resolution.

“If we can’t resolve this, we’re ordering a trial,” Siragusa said, according to transcripts. “I think if you both step back — and I don’t mean to put words in your mouth — but I think you both feel this is a case that can be resolved in a fair fashion.”

In 2012, Devyn Pereira, then a kindergarten student, attended school with her guide dog Hannah, a white Bouvier des Flandres that has since died. Her family maintained that Devyn, a student with special needs, could handle Hannah; school officials said she could not do so all day.

Devyn has Angelman syndrome, a neuro-genetic disorder that causes developmental delay, lack of speech, seizures and problems with walking and balance. Hannah helped her with balance — standing and sitting —  and also could detect life-threatening seizures.

Court records show that school officials argued that Devyn could not control the dog at all times, while her family and Justice Department lawyers said she could. Records show that Hannah was particularly attuned to Devyn, often recognizing immediately when she planned to stand or move from her seat.

Hannah sometimes prepared for class to end moments before it did so, records show.

“She was a very well-trained service dog and a unique dog,” Department of Justice attorney Megan Elizabeth Schuller said at a hearing.

Under the settlement, the school district agreed to provide some assistance in cases with a service dog, such as helping with water and tethering and untethering. The District also is paying $42,000 to the family for out-of-pocket expenses and emotional distress payments.

“The ADA guarantees individuals with disabilities equal access and equal opportunity in all areas of community life, including in schools,” James P. Kennedy, Jr., U.S. Attorney for the Western District of New York, said in a statement. “This agreement is an important step forward in ensuring that students with disabilities can fully participate at school and in all educational programs.”

In a statement Thursday, the Gates Chili Central School District said: “The resolution of the case confirms the district’s position that there was no discrimination. The settlement agreement between the district and the Department of Justice reaffirms that the district is not, and will not be, responsible for the care or supervision of a service animal.”

Devyn’s mother, Heather Pereira, and Devyn have moved to the Hilton Central School District. In a 2019 Democrat and Chronicle story, Heather Pereira said Hilton school officials have been accommodating and helped her daughter “reach goals we didn’t know were possible before now.”

The Democrat and Chroniclereported in the story that, at that time, the Gates Chili Central School District’s legal costs had topped $600,000. The family initially sought a $25,000 reimbursement in the lawsuit.

“Invoices obtained via a Freedom of Information Law request show the district’s lawyers, largely with Harris Beach PLLC in Rochester, billed at least $609,000 in connection with the matter between October 2013 and December 2018,” the Democrat and Chronicle reported. “About 85 percent of that was paid by the district’s insurer, but out-of-pocket costs for Gates Chili taxpayers so far exceed $90,000 in a legal war sparked by a request from the child’s parent for a $25,000 reimbursement.”Court records show that there were earlier possible proposed resolutions from attorneys that did not meet the approval of the School Board.

A Service Dog’s Journey

When the phrase service dogs comes to mind, many people immediately think of a dog that is serving someone with a visible disability. Most people think of military veterans, individuals who suffer mental disabilities, or individuals who have Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. The fact is, there are many people who have service dogs who do not have a “well known” disability or even a disability that is apparent to the public.

Service dogs are not only for individuals who are suffering in one form, but they can also be for individuals who feel they need a service dog for a variety of reasons. One such person who owns and trained her own service dog is Patty Grotberg. Grotberg has been training dogs since the age of ten when she found she enjoyed the process. “I became interested in Service Dogs several years ago, when it became apparent that I would benefit from having one,” said Grotberg. “Service Dogs are expensive. It is common to pay twenty-thousand dollars and up for a fully trained Service Dog. This was not in my budget, so I looked at alternatives and became involved with an owner-train program. This is where a dog and handler go to classes once a week with a professional Service Dog Trainer. They learn new skills each week and practice daily homework. These classes can last one to two years as the training of a Service Dog is extensive and time consuming. This more economical approach was a good fit for me since I have a background in training dogs and was willing to put in the work.”

Grotberg’s journey has led her to interact with other people who own service dogs and gain extensive knowledge about the service dog world.

“I have had my current Service Dog for nearly a year. Bailey is a 1.5-year-old Labradoodle,” said Grotberg. “He is still in training. This stage is known as SDiT, Service Dog in Training. In NC, SDiT have the same public access rights as Service Dogs. Puppy training, Obedience Training, Public Access Training, how to behave anywhere and everywhere, from the mall to a restaurant, and Task Training, the actual work the dog will perform to mitigate the disability of handler, are all part of the dog becoming a service dog.”

For individuals interested in service dog training, or a service dog of their own, the process is extensive and requires an ample amount of time and training. There are several tests that are used for the Service Dog assessment. The CGC (Canine Good Citizen) and the PAT Test (Public Access Test) are two of the tests that the training dog must pass to become a certified service dog.

“Owning a Service Dog is a huge privilege, and I am so thankful for mine, because these highly trained dogs mitigate individual disabilities and can greatly improve quality of life. They are also a lot of work,” stated Grotberg. “A Service Dog must be clean and well groomed at all times, training must be ongoing to keep behavioral standards high, the dog must be given opportunities to relieve itself before and after each outing and often during as well. For example, when I go clothing shopping, I often leave the store for a potty break for my dog and then head back in again. I must consider the needs of my dog at all times and must train him to wear unusual equipment for a dog, such as protective boots to shield his feet from summer’s hot pavement. I do not believe that most people would keep a service dog long term unless the benefits outweigh the negatives for them. They are just too much work.”

One thing that should be known to the general public is that there are many different types of support animals. Emotional Support Animals, Therapy Animals, and Service Dogs are all different and they all play a different role with their owner. Emotional Support Animals require no special training, only have rights through HUD, and they have no special Public Access rights. Therapy Dogs have special training to visit places like hospitals, seniors homes and prisons. They typically must be tested and licensed for insurance purposes. Service Dogs perform specific task work to mitigate disability for one person. They are highly trained and have full public access rights. They are legally considered medical equipment.

“There is a great deal of public confusion regarding SD in the USA. Many people are confused between Emotional Support Animals, Therapy Dogs, and Service Dogs,” said Grotberg. “This confusion can cause a great deal of difficulty for service dog users because the public and businesses may not be aware of their legal access rights. I have experienced such issues. Generally, the only public places service dogs may not legally access are sterile environments, such as hospital operating rooms. Service Dogs are considered required medical equipment under the law. Basically, anywhere a disabled person would be allowed to bring or use their wheelchair, a service dog would also be allowed.” “Businesses are, however, protected against abuse of their property by poorly behaving service dog teams. According to ADA regulations, they may ask a SD team to leave the premises if the dog is defecating on their property or if the dogs’ behavior is unsafe or disruptive (i.e. barking, lunging, jumping).” Along with the public misunderstanding the different types of service animals, there is also a proper etiquette that is construed when the public sees a service dog. If a service dog appears without his or her owner, one should immediately follow the dog. The service dog has been trained to find the closest help possible if they are unable to perform the task needed. Do not try to corral the dog or catch the dog, simply follow them to the location of their owner.

“The Public Access issue is probably the biggest concern for the service dog community. We are often given a hard time or even denied access illegally, when our dogs are behaving exactly right because the public is unaware of ADA regulations,” stated Grotberg. “General public response is also very challenging at times. Proper etiquette for the public is; no talking, no touching, and no looking at Service Dogs. The dogs are working and need to concentrate. Interact with Service Dog users just as if their dog was not there. Do not ask why a person has a Service Dog. You are unintentionally asking them for their personal health information.” “It is very common to have people want to talk to Service Dogs, bark at them, call to them, try to pat them, follow them around stores, and ask the handlers about their personal health information,” stated Grotberg. “I personally try to be patient, friendly and educational with people who are interested, but it is really difficult to be harassed by people following us and barking or grabbing at my dog as we walk by. My favorite responses are from the people who ignore us, address only me, or just smile. I really appreciate that.”

UK’s Police Dogs

A national charity to support police dogs has been launched, with retired police dog Finn, a Britain’s Got Talent finalist, named as the official ambassador.

Finn, who appeared in the 2019 series of BGT, alongside his handler Dave Wardell, wowed the celebrity judges, including Alesha Dixon and Simon Cowell, with his magic tricks and mind-reading skills.

Tips For Your Service Dog

It’s crucial that your loyal support dog accompany you wherever you go, but it’s even more important that your animal is safe riding in your accessible van. You can’t simply let the pet hop into the vehicle and sit wherever they want. You need to properly secure your service dog in your vehicle before you strap your wheelchair in. Here are some reasons and ways to do that.

Mobility assistance dogs are very beneficial for wheelchair users. They can retrieve items, bark when you’re in danger, and provide emotional support in uncomfortable situations. When you’re driving, though, you don’t want your animal to get in the way. Although your service dog may be well-trained to behave in the majority of situations, riding in a car can be a very different experience.

For your safety and theirs, it’s important that you secure your animal when transporting them. For any pet, wandering unrestrained through a vehicle cabin can be deadly. A sudden stop can throw them against the windshield or hit them with a powerful airbag.

The most secure option is to lock your dog in a travel kennel that’s strapped to the floor of the cabin. That way, if the van rolls or is in a collision, the animal won’t be tossed around. If you can’t do this, at least harness the dog with a short tether that keeps them restrained to sit or stand on a car seat, essentially functioning like a seat belt. This still limits their movement and keeps them within the car were the door to open in an accident.

Whether you’re a veteran with an emotional support dog or a wheelchair user with a new puppy, you need to make sure that your animal is just as secure while travelling as you are.

Woman Refused With Guide Dog

A visually impaired young woman was left horrified and embarrassed last week when two taxi drivers refused to take her guide dog into their cars.

Allie Reilly (30) was trying to get a lift home with her guide dog Evie when she approached the taxi rank in Navan, Co. Meath where the two drivers flatly refused to take her fare because of the specialised trained dog.

Allie is totally blind in her left eye and only has between 20 and 40 per cent vision in her other and getting Evie last March has completely transformed her life.

However she says she was heartbroken when the taxi drivers refused to take her expertly trained and gentle-natured dog.

“Myself and my partner Noel Farrelly went to get a taxi last Thursday evening and the first taxi driver at the top of the rank just said he didn’t take dogs, end of story,” she said.

“The driver in the next car along the rank also just waved no with both hands and said he didn’t take dogs.

“At that point, I felt so saddened and I just couldn’t believe it. They would have left me stranded.

“Thankfully Noel noticed a taxi driver at the back of the rank who had obviously seen what had happened and was flashing his lights and beckoning to us.

“He was delighted to take us home, saying that he couldn’t believe either that anyone would refuse a guide dog.

“I’ve never been refused a taxi before in my life. I was embarrassed and horrified at the time but I’m absolutely disgusted now .

“Evie cost €53,500 to train. Did they think she was going to get sick or go to the toilet in the car? I’m sure she’s much better behaved than some of the customers coming home from a night out.”

Allie whose mum is from Kilcloon in Meath lived in Celbridge, Co. Kildare before moving to Navan and reached the finals in the Kildare Rose of Tralee competition three years ago.

She pointed out that she underwent stringent evaluations before getting Evie.

“I applied for Evie in 2018 and had to go through a litany of assessments before they matched me with a guide dog earlier this year.”

“She has changed my life. She is my eyes and she has made me feel more confident when I’m out and about now.

“I really think taxi drivers should be made more aware of the huge lifelines that guide dogs are and the intensive training that they undergo before they are matched with anyone who is visually impaired.”

According to a spokesperson for the National Transport Authority: “A guide dog or assistance dog may accompany their owner free of charge.

“It is a legal obligation to accept a passenger with a guide dog or an assistance dog. All guide dogs wear a harness that indicates the type of guide dog they are: guide dogs for the blind have a white and yellow reflective strip (older harnesses may have an orange reflective strip); assistance dogs (for families of children with autism) have a blue harness.

“Guide dog owners and assistance dog owners will often carry an ID card giving their name and the name of their dog. “We would definitely encourage anyone to report incidents like this to the NTA.”

According to Léan Kennedy, Advocacy and Policy Officer for the Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind: “People who are blind or vision impaired, travelling with their guide dog, should not face difficulties when getting a taxi or hackney service.

“The door to door service they provide is a basic means of transport for people with disabilities. It is distressing to blind or vision impaired people, with a guide dog, when they are refused a service by a taxi or hackney driver.

“Taxi and hackney drivers are lawfully entitled under the Taxi Regulation Acts and the Equal Status Acts to travel by taxi without discrimination and at no extra charge for their guide dog, their essential mobility aid.

“The guide dog is highly trained and hygienic, lying in the passenger foot well, alongside its owner’s feet.”

Rodeo Queen And Her Dog

Most people have a strong bond with their dog, but Hayven Chase, Bonner County’s reigning rodeo queen, has a unique connection with 6-month-old pup Scentinel.

Hayven, of Athol, has Type 1 diabetes. When her blood sugars are low, the service dog lets his young owner know so she can take care of the matter.

“I wear a continuous blood sugar monitor on my arm. He can catch it about 15 to 20 seconds before my monitor does,” said the 16-year-old daughter of Reed and Roxanne Chase.

The golden labradoodle is devoted to Hayven. During the nighttime while she’s sleeping, Scentinel has been known to awaken Hayven to tell her she needs to take care of her sugar levels, the teen said.

Scentinel’s mother was a Goldendoodle and her father was a lab. Goldendoodles are friendly, quick to learn and loving, and labs are an athletic breed that is happiest when they’re working.

“The breeder bred Scentinel’s mother with a lab — for a little more drive,” she said.

Scentinel’s training began early. As young as one month, Scentinel started his training with Hayven at Lily Grace Service Dogs in Sandpoint, learning to detect low blood sugar through the breath and through saliva samples in little tins with holes in them. One saliva sample would be a normal blood sugar reading and the other one a saliva sample taken when Hayven’s blood sugar was low.

When Scentinel chose the “low” sample, he received a treat. He associates the “low” smell with a reward and is now able to detect Hayden’s blood sugar levels even when he’s many feet away from her.

Training is now underway for detection of high blood sugars, Hayven said.

When Scentinel detects a “live low,” he sits and paws her to get her attention.

A service dog is expensive; Hayven’s family and Bonner County’s horse community held fundraisers to assist with costs.

Hayven is a busy young person. To earn her title as 2020 Bonner County Rodeo queen, she competed in horsemanship competitions, participated in opportunities for public speaking, attended a Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association queen clinic, and attended clinics with Miss Rodeo Idaho and Miss Rodeo America. She had to demonstrate an extensive knowledge of rodeo and model fashionable western attire. Multiple judges, some with strong horsemanship backgrounds and some with strong rodeo backgrounds, were on the judging panel.

Hayven, who lives with her family on 10 acres, where they have a few cows and horses, will attend Timberlake High School as a junior. She’s an active member of Future Farmers of America and enjoys barrel racing, learning to rope, O-mok-see racing — a timed pattern racing event — running flags, and leathercraft. She is an instructor for the Mica Creek Horse Club and has earned several championships for O-mok-see racing.

“I am passionate about agriculture, the western way of life, the sport of rodeo, and advocating for people like myself — with hidden disabilities,” she wrote in an online report on the Bonner County Fair website.

“Having been diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes at 8 years old, I’ve never let it stop me from attaining my goals. Instead, I have turned it into motivation to help and hopefully inspire others,” she wrote.

And now she has the support of a best friend “who also knows when I need help,” she said about her beloved service dog, Scentinel.

Supporting Our Veterans

In honor of National Service Dog Awareness Month, Purina Dog Chow is launching its third annual “Service Dog Salute” campaign. A service dog can be life-changing in helping veterans with PTSD and other post-combat challenges. Unfortunately, due to the cost and time it takes to train a service dog, less than 1% of veterans in need can obtain one. Dog Chow is on a mission to help change that. The Service Dog Salute campaign supports the care and training of more service dogs for America’s military veterans — so that every hero in need can find a canine hero of their own.

Psychiatric service dogs are not the same as emotional support, therapy or companion dogs. Like service dogs for the blind, deaf and physically disabled, psychiatric service dogs for veterans must be specifically trained to help their handler perform tasks they cannot otherwise perform on their own. The training process can take from one to two-and-a-half years to learn to perform tasks such as:

Placing body weight on the veteran to promote a sense of calm during panic attacks
Waking the veteran from upsetting dreams or night terrors
Reminding the veteran to take medications
Alerting the veteran when someone is approaching from behind
Patrolling the perimeter of a room for triggers and threats
Over the next year, Dog Chow will follow the journey of several service dogs in training that are currently preparing to serve a veteran in need.

To help spread the word about the benefits of service dogs and how dog owners can help, radio and TV personality and avid military advocate Bobby Bones is joining forces with Dog Chow’s Service Dog Salute campaign for a second year.

“Service dogs provide so many benefits for military veterans, but it can cost over $20,000 on average to train one service dog – and less than 1 percent of veterans who need one can get one,” said Bobby Bones. “When our veterans come home from service, they may not be equipped to live their life without these dogs. I’m honored to be a part of a program that is helping more veterans get the service dogs they need.”

Dog Chow continues to help fund organizations that train service dogs for veterans with PTSD. From September 1, 2020, through Thanksgiving (November 26, 2020), for every purchase of a specially marked bag, Dog Chow will make a donation to its two partnering veteran service dog organizations, up to a total of $100,000. The donations will be split equally between the Pets & Vets program at Tony La Russa’s Animal Rescue Foundation (ARF) and Got Your Six Support Dogs. Over the last three years, Dog Chow has donated over $700,000 to support the training of more service dogs for military veterans.

“As a veteran, I am sensitive to the many issues fellow veterans face as they transition after their service; those who faced combat often have the greatest challenges” said Steve Degnan, Chief Human Resources Officer for Nestlé Purina North America. “It’s a privilege to be able to help my fellow service members, and I am proud that Dog Chow supports our nation’s military veterans in such an important and needed way.”

Purina and Dog Chow are also working with members of Congress in support of federal legislation to provide training and service dogs for veterans. The PAWS for Veterans Therapy Act (HR4305) will create a pilot program in the VA to give veterans access to treatment derived from working with service dogs. The bill has been approved by the House, but still awaits passage in the Senate. To support this legislation, Dog Chow is asking supporters to visit DogChow.com/service to send an email to their state senators urging them to pass the bill.