News

Emotional support dog returned

April 6, 2020

For most of the summer, the Hildembrand family felt there was something missing. “It felt like there was a void,” said Sandrine Hildembrand. “We had almost lost hope, even though we were still tirelessly looking for him,” said Hildembrand. For two and a half months, Macks’ disappearance remained a mystery. Now thanks to help from […]

Keep them at home

April 6, 2020

Why are employees and customers of our three Green Valley supermarkets ignoring state and federal laws that allow service animals but forbid pets on their premises? It’s becoming a more frequent problem as people insist on taking their furry family members everywhere regardless of the laws against doing so. A manager at one of these stores […]

Service dog training helps Veterans

April 6, 2020

While serving in the U.S. Army, service members are joined by a “battle buddy” – a friend to watch out for them. For some local veterans, that friend is four-legged and furry. While serving in the U.S. Army, service members are joined by a “battle buddy” – a friend to watch out for them. For […]

Therapy Dog

April 6, 2020

One dog is training to help first responders in Kentucky. A Global Medical Response (GMR) Solution Program started in the American Medical Response (AMR) Amarillo location in June 2016 as a pilot program with two therapy dogs. However, after the 2017 Route 91 Music Festival mass shooting in Las Vegas, the team began adding additional […]

Should ESA be able to fly?

April 6, 2020

You might inwardly groan when you board your airplane and realize you’re next to a screaming child, or find yourself squirming when the person next to you takes their shoes and socks off for the duration of the flight. But how would you feel if you ended up sat next to a 70 pound, pot […]

NFL Team Adds Secret Weapon

April 6, 2020

The National Football League’s San Francisco 49ers recently announced a new teammate had joined their roster. This one is special; she can’t catch a ball, at least not a football. She can’t throw or tackle. What she can do goes far beyond the extreme physical requirements for professional football players. Zoë is a one-year-old French Bulldog, […]

Support dog helps grieving classmates

April 6, 2020

As a community prepares to say a final good-bye to Logan and Briggs Connolly, a special visitor was at the boys’ school – an emotional support dog named Scout. On Friday with their classmates still mourning their loss, Scout was spreading the love. “The dog got here this morning at about 9 o’clock and stayed […]

ESA misrepresentation

April 6, 2020

Is it time to crack down on tenants who misrepresent their pets as emotional support animals? A state Senate panel heard testimony this week that was split on this question. Housing providers and owners of property rental businesses supported the package, alleging that the problem of ESA misrepresentation among their tenants is serious and has […]

Pairing service dogs with veterans

April 6, 2020

Lawmakers are pushing to pair service dogs with veterans suffering from PTSD. Currently, the Department of Veterans Affairs does not provide service dogs for mental health conditions. Puppies Assisting Wounded Service members (PAWS) Act of 2019, introduced by U.S. Representative John Rutherford (R-FL), would create a competitive grant program through the VA for organizations to […]

Emotional Support Labrador

April 6, 2020

Hatty, age 2, will work with children as well as people with mental health issues who have been the victims of assault. It was a real dog of a ceremony this week during a swearing-in at the state’s attorney’s office in Chicago. The newly sworn-in worker is a Labrador retriever named Hatty. The 2-year-old will […]

First Cyber crime-Fighting Dog

April 6, 2020

Police in Nebraska have recruited a highly trained dog to assist them in the fight against cyber crime. Two-year-old black Labrador Quinn has joined the Bellevue Police Department as the Midwest’s first-ever electronic storage device K-9 officer. Unlike most sniffer dogs, who are taught to detect drugs, Officer Quinn has been specially trained to sniff out a […]

Smelling a cure for diseases

April 6, 2020

Dog and medical enthusiasts gathered to support and learn more about PADs for Parkinson’s. The nonprofit that trains dogs to sniff out Parkinson’s Disease held a fundraising and outreach presentation on Nov. 16 at Brickworks. “There is no definitive laboratory diagnosis for Parkinson’s,” PADs Founder Lisa Holt said. Hold started PADs in March 2016. According […]

ESA stolen in bathroom

April 6, 2020

A cat nap turned into a dognapping for a distraught Toronto woman. Venessa Shibley, 46, is desperate for the return of her beloved three-year-old Yorkshire terrier, Charlie, after, she says, her pet was stolen from Kipling subway station on Oct. 27. “He means the world to me,” said Shibley, her voice trembling. “I got […]

Funeral home welcomes ESA

April 6, 2020

Fellows, Helfenbein and Newnam Funeral Home in Chestertown has announced that its comfort dog Willow has received Emotional Support Animal and Community Emergency Response Team certification. According to a news release, John Bellocchio of Fetch and More Dog Training Services in Hackensack, N.J. trained and certified Willow in accordance with all applicable federal and state […]

Seeking emotional support

April 6, 2020

For some students, the pitter-patter of paws is a comfort left at home. Research by Ohio State University says a quarter of college students find their pets help them through difficult times. “That’s why really anybody fosters is to give these animals a second, third chance at life,” Lois Dixon, foster program coordinator, said. […]

Support dog creates dilemma

April 6, 2020

A Houston-based medical group is adopting a new policy regarding emotional support dogs after a patient brought hers to a clinic Nov. 19 and was asked to leave, reports KHOU 11. Kandi Cox brought her 82-pound emotional support dog, Bentley, to a follow-up appointment at Millennium Physicians’ oncology and rheumatology office in Kingwood, Texas. Ms. Cox, […]

Not A Service Animal

April 6, 2020

Dealing with phony service dogs is no walk in the park. Because restaurants and other businesses are required by law to admit service animals, they could end up hosting an unruly pooch simply because it’s wearing an $11.99 service dog harness available on Amazon. And people who actually need service dogs, hampered by neighboring untrained […]

Animal adoptions

April 6, 2020

“We think the increase in adoption numbers is related to the fact that people are at home. People are thinking about ways to maybe ease their anxiety and stress and we know animals can contribute to that,” Tarbox said. PHS manages shelters in Burlingame and San Mateo and also cares for injured or orphaned wildlife […]

Traveling With Your Pet

April 6, 2020

With the holiday season upon us, many people have started planning trips and choosing a vacation destination, whether it’s with their friends, family, or alone. Pet owners, on the other hand, might be struggling with the puzzling decision of whether they should leave their pets at home and hire an in-home pet service or take […]

Therapy dog handler launches campaign

April 6, 2020

A therapy dog handler has launched an alternative campaign for young hospital patients who are unable to get visits from the dogs during the coronavirus outbreak. While golden retrievers Leo, Milo, Quinn, Archie, Jessie, Hattie and Pollyanna cannot be at their bedsides, a local illustrator has produced a series of “pawtraits” for the children to […]