News
Dispatch’s Emotional Support Dog
June 4, 2020
Bella is a 6-year-old British bulldog that was found abandoned in a car after her previous owner fled the scene of a crash. The city of Webster’s dispatch center adopted Bella as an emotional support dog in late 2019. Most days at the City of Webster’s dispatch center are chaotic, according to Assistant Chief of […]
Life Is Better With An Animal
June 4, 2020
Mental illness is a prevalent struggle in many people’s lives, myself included. To deal with anxiety and depression, I rely on my dog, Maui, to make it better. He’s just like any other dog upon first glance: goofy, loyal, loving, and unapologetically cute. But one thing separates him from your average pet: he’s my emotional […]
Dog Comforts Protesters
June 4, 2020
A woman brought her dog to the Peaceful demonstration at the Governor’s Mansion in St. Paul, Minnesota Monday, where the dog helped comfort many grieving people during the sit-in. Approximately 2,000 people gathered for Monday’s peaceful protest, calling for more aggressive charges the former Minneapolis police officer charged in the death of George Floyd on Memorial Day. […]
A Veteran’s Service Dog
June 4, 2020
Port Charlotte Navy veteran Thomas Andrews says his dog, Chief, helps him get through the day. “I’m one hundred percent on disability. I’ve got PTSD through the military so he’s actually a comfort dog to me,” he said. So when his usually playful pup stopped moving around over the weekend, fear set in. “He wasn’t […]
Lifesaving Dog
June 4, 2020
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. Thursday at Memorial Park in […]
Attorney’s Office Gets ESA
June 4, 2020
An emotional-support dog is joining the staff at the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office. Barrett joined the office in late December and is its first emotional-support animal, the office said in a news release. “Having an emotional-support animal like Barrett in our office will provide much-needed stress and anxiety relief to our staff members, as well […]
Hero German Shepherd
June 4, 2020
A mom’s reaction to being reunited with her lost child – found by Küsse, a German Shepherd rescue dog – was to smother both with kisses and hugs. Indeed, the name Kusse – German for “kisses” – fits Corey Speegle’s rescue dog to a “T.” With her innate ability to find lost people, Küsse has earned […]
2020 Therapy Dogs
June 4, 2020
Graduation is being celebrated by many, but one special group hasn’t been able to show Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Seniors how much they mean to them– until now. Therapy dogs have had a large presence on campus since the horrific tragedy on February 14, 2018. The four organizations assisting the school are Canine […]
Puppy Love
June 4, 2020
They started out in rough circumstances, some born in the dirt under a truck, with most of their littermates dying in their infancy. But three little Labrador retriever pups have flown into a future where they are going to make a difference in the lives of people who need their help. About nine weeks ago, […]
Lockdown Bringing Owners Closer To Pets
June 3, 2020
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 […]
Emotional Support Animals Help Students
June 3, 2020
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 […]
Stay-At-Home Orders Affect Pets
June 3, 2020
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 […]
Raising Money For A Service Dog
June 3, 2020
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 […]
Vermont’s Police Dog
June 3, 2020
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. […]
Canine Companions
June 3, 2020
Right now, we’re all looking to find as much good news as possible. All the better if that good news comes in the form of sweet, adorable puppies. Well, dear readers, today’s your lucky day if you’re looking for some adorable puppy photos and to learn some inspiring news about man and woman’s best friend. […]
This Dog Is A Lifesaver
June 3, 2020
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 […]
Service Dog Training
June 3, 2020
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, […]
County Animal Services
June 3, 2020
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 […]
Adopting A Pet Can Be Comforting
June 3, 2020
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 […]
Military Dog
June 2, 2020
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 […]