News

Journey The Service Dog

January 5, 2021

Several weeks ago, News Center 7 introduced you to a woman named Dottie Podiak, who’s service dog in training, Fate, died after ingesting rat poison. Podiak was worried that her current service dog, Blessing, was getting too old to help train another dog before he passed. However, that changed Tuesday when Podiak got to meet […]

Retired Service Dog

January 5, 2021

Horry County Police Department announced Tuesday the death of a retired service dog. Bloodhound Shelley died Monday morning at 11.5 years old, the department said. “It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of retired HCPD Bloodhound Shelley, who crossed over the rainbow bridge Monday morning at 11.5 years old,” the department tweeted. […]

Vets Suffering From PTSD

January 5, 2021

It’s estimated that anywhere from 11% to 30% of military veterans experience post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) following their service, depending on the individual’s branch, years served and in what capacity. One way to help those struggling can be through the assistance of a service dog. To help serve the nation’s heroes, U.S. Xpress Enterprises Inc. […]

Service Dog Joins Team

January 4, 2021

While saving lives, paramedics and EMTs often find themselves providing emotional support to people on their worst days. So when the job is done and they’ve returned to their stations, they may need some comfort as well. Enter Indie: a smart and cuddly St. Bernard who recently joined East Baton Rouge Emergency Medical Services to […]

Service Dog Goes To School

January 4, 2021

When Remington Lewis rides the bus to Walton Middle School in DeFuniak Springs on Wednesday, he won’t be alone. This time, next to the sixth-grader will be his best friend Willow, a 1-year-old German shepherd. The Daily News ran an article in July about the Lewis family’s fundraiser to pay for Willow’s training as a service […]

K-9 Officer Retires

January 4, 2021

MARION, Va. — This retiring Marion Police Department officer has 120 arrests under his collar and was recognized last week for the lifesaving work of his career. While he may be slowing down now, retirement didn’t stop K-9 Cooper from continuing to serve as an MPD ambassador during his recognition. Last week, the Marion Town […]

A Helping Paw

January 4, 2021

A Girl Scout project that calls for making a lasting improvement to the community has generated a young local author and an educational children’s book that she hopes will pass on some of what she has learned. Catherine Bezio, a high school senior who lives in Erving, has been training service dogs since she was […]

Veterans Service Dogs

January 4, 2021

PHOENIX – Staff Sgt. Terry Stallings served in the Army for 23 years. He was stationed across the globe, including posts in Iraq, Balad, Kuwait, Desert Storm, Mexico, Central America, Alaska, Portugal and Germany. After six combat deployments overseas, he returned home and was diagnosed with post- traumatic stress disorder. Veterans often rely on medications, […]

RCMP Police Dogs

December 31, 2020

Alberta RCMP police dogs captured over 900 suspects in 2020, and were kept busy in part due to their work tracking rural property crime suspects. RCMP said in 2020, police dog teams responded to 2,800 calls for service which included about 650 calls involving firearms or other weapons; 570 calls for violence-related offences; 450 calls […]

Police Officer And His Dog

December 31, 2020

A police officer was forced to shoot his own dog after it turned on him while on duty. Keith Larson, a veteran officer from Massachusetts, had to kill his German Shepherd, Nico after it attacked him at a crime scene. He was responding to an early call on Tuesday where a suspect had fled the […]

Pets Being Recognized

December 31, 2020

It has long been established that dogs are “man’s best friend,” but animals in general have been a part of human society since the dawn of humankind thousands of years ago. Domesticated animals helped our fledgling species in so many ways: cats reduced rodent populations allowing for safer food storage and disease prevention; dogs served […]

Service Dogs

December 31, 2020

ECAD, Educated Canines Assisting with Disabilities held two team training sessions in October and December, placing five service dogs and two facility dogs in new homes. The sessions were unusual, because the five service dogs placed were successor dogs – five amazing canines stepping into the paw prints of the five amazing service dogs who […]

Service Animals On Planes

December 30, 2020

Those days of taking peacocks and pot-belly pigs as service animals on airplanes are over according to the Department of Transportation. Tony Stokes trains dogs everyday, one wagging tail at a time. They sit, jump and come. “Dogs can be very easy to train because they are constantly seeking reward, just like we are,” said […]

K9 Officer Passes Away

December 30, 2020

A K-9 officer with the City of Lenoir Police Department passed away Tuesday after a battle with cancer. Police K-9 Axel served the department and City for six years, “providing his handler and family six years of love and companionship.” The department put out a release about Axel’s passing and years of service on Wednesday. […]

Service Dogs Helping Out

December 30, 2020

Four years ago, my daughter developed a rare condition known as autoimmune encephalitis, or “AE” for short. Any time she gets sick, rather than making antibodies that fight infection, her body makes antibodies that attack her brain. Doctors have described it as “her brain on fire.” It’s as cruel and debilitating as it sounds. She’s […]

New Service Dogs

December 30, 2020

Newmarket resident Amanda Robar has had epilepsy her whole life and has relied on the assistance of her service dog when she goes about her daily life outside of her home. Now she needs a new one and has turned to the community to help cover the considerable training cost. Local residents and businesses have […]

RCMP Police Dog

December 30, 2020

Alberta RCMP Police Dog Services (PDS) had an incredibly busy 2020. Although many Albertans spent a majority of their 2020 experiencing some stage of lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic there was no shortage of work for Alberta’s Police Dog Service teams. In 2020 PDS responded to 2,800 calls for service and captured over 900 […]

K9s For Warriors

December 29, 2020

K9s For Warriors, whose mission is to serve disabled veterans, held an unveiling ceremony Monday revealing the new name of the organization’s main campus. In a ceremony, a new sign was revealed reading “The Shari Duval K9s For Warriors National Headquarters” replacing the old campus name “Camp K9” as the official title of the organization’s […]

Man’s Best Friend

December 29, 2020

In this story, the term “man’s best friend” takes on a whole new meaning. It’s a story about two very special pals, determined to stay with each other even if it means overseas flights, and one of them, going from wild and free to a new home that’s much more tame. This is Sunny and […]

Service Dogs

December 28, 2020

Carol Lansford was in her final semester at Valdosta State University in 2012, “pretending to pay attention in class,” when a Facebook post jumped out at her. Her high school buddy Justin had been wounded in Afghanistan. The details would dribble out in excruciating increments. She was a psychology major, with designs on exploring animal […]