1st Female Police Dog

San Bernardino has had nearly three dozen police service dogs since the Police Department’s K-9 Unit was established about 42 years ago. But for four decades, the department never had a single female police canine.

Until now. The Police Department recently welcomed K-9 Bella, a 3-year-old Belgian Malinois from the Netherlands. She will be working to detect illegal narcotics as a member of the Narcotics Unit, according to a police news release.

K-9 Bella was certified last Friday after she and her handler finished a 120-hour training course on narcotic detention, as required by the state, the release read.

The police dog wasted no time putting her training to good use, helping officers find illegal drugs and recover money during a stop on the evening of her graduation.

“This was a great evening for K-9 Bella, as she already started her career with a find on her first shift,” Investigations Capt. Adam Affrunti said in the release. “I know she will be a great asset to our department and a huge benefit to our community.”

Since being established in 1978, the department’s K-9 unit has had 33 police service dogs, primarily consisting of working breeds such as Belgian Malinois, German Shepherds, Labrador Retrievers, Irish Wolfhounds, and American Bloodhounds.

Typically, law enforcement agencies choose males to serve as police dogs because of the high costs of female canines, as well as temperaments for breeding, the release stated.

“But K-9 Bella is here, and she is ready to serve San Bernardino!” police said.

When she’s off duty, K-9 Bella will be living with her handler and his family.

Bear Dogs

The Isom Creek Fire is burning along the Dalton Highway near the Yukon River Bridge. One of the challenges of fighting the fire has been bear sightings. The nuisance bears will get into the firefighters’ camps, damaging supplies and potentially endangering people.

The problem is not new. “Often times when we are on an incident for days, and days, eventually the bears get braver and braver and want to come in and eat the tortillas or the butter or the bread or something,” said Mike Bradley, a fire safety officer for the Isom Creek Fire.

In previous years the fire service had to kill bears that were being a nuisance. They have now been trying to find non-lethal means to deal with problem bears.

Bradley said that he heard about bear dogs in a news article and started researching if they could be used for fires in Alaska. He ended up finding two certified dogs in Fairbanks and was able to use them on the Isom Creek Fire.

The dogs can smell bears from a moving vehicle and are able to deter any bears from coming into camp. Bradley said that wherever the dogs have been on the fire, firefighters haven’t had problem with bears.

He said having the dogs on the fire helps in others ways as well. “I think they have helped just the firefighters in a stressful environment. A dog just seems to break down barriers when people are away from home, or not there for fathers day, and it just seems to warm everyone’s heart to have a dog in camp. Dogs have been camping with humans since the dawn of time and it just seems natural to have dogs in camp.”

We will be following up on this story once the dogs return from working on the fire next week.

Highland Canine Connect

A company with ties to Burke County has made a commitment to support local veterans with a special project.

Synergy Labs, a Florida-based pet product manufacturing company with a facility in Hildebran, has committed to sponsor two dogs to be trained as service dogs and then donated to help two veterans in Burke County, according to Highland Canine Connect, the nonprofit organization that will handle the training.

Highland Canine Connect is based in Iredell County and “works with the community to create fulfilling and engaging connections between dogs and people in need,” according to its website. Erin Purgason, owner of the related business, Highland Canine Training LLC, said they train 3-4 service dogs per year.

“Synergy was networking for any local nonprofits they could work with to provide a service dog for a veteran,” Purgason said. “Highland Canine Connect was mentioned as a possibility, and we were introduced in the fall of 2019. We finalized a plan at the beginning of 2020.”

She said Synergy requested the dogs provided be donated by a reputable breeder or come from a shelter or rescue.

“We were able to find one of each,” Purgason said. “Koda Bear is a 1.5-year-old German Shepherd mix that was located at Henderson County Animal Services by a dog trainer friend in the area. Alvin is about a 1-year-old Shepadoodle (a cross between a German Shepherd and a Standard Poodle) donated to us by Country Poos and Doos of North Carolina.”

She described how the dogs have responded to the training.

“Koda has been working with us about five months now,” Purgason said. “He has come so far. When we first got him, he had never been on a leash. He now performs basic and advanced obedience tasks, such as deep pressure lay and touch, and has been started on tracking. We are concentrating on keeping him out in public, since COVID-19 has limited our public outings and socialization time. His tasks will also be changed or added to once we find his forever handler. We like to really get to know them so we can customize what tasks they will need from a service dog.

“Alvin we received as a puppy. He has been trained to fetch items dropped, open cabinets, turn on lights and walk beside a wheelchair or walker. Again, we will add or change his tasks as well, once we find the perfect handler for him.”

Veterans in Burke County may apply to receive Alvin or Koda Bear as their service dog by visiting highlandcanineconnect clicking on “Service Dog Donation” and filling out an application. The deadline for applications is Aug. 1.

Purgason explained how Highland Canine Connect staff will evaluate the applications.

“We have a detailed application process where we learn about their day-to-day life and what they are wanting a service dog for, meaning tasks,” she said. “We explain that having a service dog is a commitment and make sure applicants are ready or prepared for the training and bond process. We also get references for character, as well as the financial aspects of food, vaccines, medicines and other care for the dog.”

Once the veterans are selected, they will be trained by the organization on how to handle their dogs.

“Once we select the handlers, they will come meet the dogs so we can make sure the personalities are a good fit,” Purgason said. “We also deliver the dog to their home and work with the handler and dog one-on-one for three to six days, depending on what’s needed. Also with everyone local, we are available anytime for questions or concerns in regards to training both in and out of the home. We also provide the handler with a take home video of the tasks and commands that they can refer back to at any time.”

She envisions the dogs becoming a vital part of the veterans’ lives.

“I am hoping the dogs will provide them independence, comfort, stability and of course, a partner,” Purgason said.

Sausage Dog Hotel

Therapy Dog Harold

Harold (known as H to his best friends) died in his sleep, at the young age of 6, in the early hours of Wednesday 17th June. Angela Calisi & her son Neo had had H for 3 years, rehoming him after his previous family became ill & couldn’t look after him, as Neo was in need of a therapy dog.

H soon became a vital and loved part of the family, calming Neo and bringing him comfort in social situations, Neo attends a SEN school has autism and the eating disorder ARFID, which often causes him to vomit at night, and H was always on hand to reassure him. Since H died, Neo has been having nightly panic attacks and suffering from extreme anxiety, often worrying that he or Angela won’t wake up the next day. Angela, who also suffers from several health issues, including epilepsy and nerve damage to her feet, was shocked to discover that recently, due to Covid-19, prices of puppies have risen dramatically.

Missing A Dog’s Connection

Like everyone else, I’ve spent a lot of time crossing things off my pre-pandemic calendar: a visit to see the California grandkids; rehearsal for my handbell choir; dinner with a pal at our favorite restaurant.

But among the cancellations that made me the saddest were the monthly visits I make with my dog, Dug, to a local nursing home, the Cape’s two hospitals, and an adult daycare center. COVID-19 put all that on hold.

Dug misses visiting too, given his heavy sighs as he flops on the kitchen floor to spend another day watching me work from home.

Dug is a rescue dog that I’ve owned for about six years. He’s around 12, but I have no idea his real age or breed. He looks like a golden retriever that’s been dipped in black ink, except for his white belly and gray-sprinkled snout, and on the days he needs reassurance, I tell him he’s a flat-coat retriever. He has long hair, lots of it, and expressive eyes that are excellent at begging for treats. He’s a gentle soul except when it comes to squirrels. He hates the beach but likes baked goods and, in his younger years, was quite the counter surfer. Given the choice of a steak or a box from Dunkin’, he’d choose the doughnuts.

Three years ago we became a certified therapy dog team through the Companion Animal Program, one of the therapy dog organizations on the Cape. We attended 12 weeks of classes, learning to ignore wheelchair alarms and, yuk, not to eat things off the floor. Dug liked it because he met other dogs and received lots of treats. I liked it because I got to meet a great group of volunteers  – and their dogs – who travel to health-care facilities, group homes, libraries and schools all over the Cape to spread cheer, connection and tail wags.

Plus, we got uniforms – a handsome blue t-shirt or vest for me and a snappy red bandana for Dug. He gets excited if I just take it out of the cupboard. We even have our own hospital ID badges.

On our first visits, I was stunned at how just a few minutes of petting a dog or talking about a pet could cheer someone up. Oftentimes, I was the person being cheered up. If you’re having a bad day, there’s nothing like seeing the smile on someone’s face when you walk into their hospital room with a dog.

There are all kinds of dogs in the CAP program: some are nice to hold; some do tricks; some even wear costumes. Dug is one of the laid-back seniors. He likes to amble into a room, give someone’s hand a lick, and then plunk down on the floor, happy to just hang out, like a big, black furry rug. Meanwhile I get to chat, one of my favorite activities, and learn a bit about the lives of people who live here – the farmer, the librarian, the theater director, the World War II vet.  We hardly discuss ailments or surgeries or pain, but move on to more important topics, the birds outside the window, the photos of their children, the puzzle they’re working on or the black dog they owned as a kid. For a few moments, we are just people, not patients or volunteers, just folks having a chat.

I miss that. I miss connecting with my regulars at the places we visit — David and Sam and Helen who loves dogs. The staffs who work so hard to care for them and who also appreciate the stress-relieving therapy of rubbing a dog’s belly. I miss the dogs, Felix and Mattie and Bella, and their owners, many of  whom give far more time than Dug and I do.

They are all a reminder that as much as we think of the Cape as a place, it is a community of caring hearts, both two-and four-legged.

Paws For Patients

The Osborne Head and Neck Foundation (OHNF) is a medical nonprofit providing life-saving ear, nose, and throat surgical care for families in need. Paws For Patients is our therapy dog program that improves the lives of our patients, and builds connections with the community through the power of animal therapy.

Paws For Patients was launched in March 2020, and quickly evolved into a way to provide an online outlet for those at home needing a dose of happiness during these challenging times. Through partnerships with online children’s reading groups and mental health organizations, Paws For Patients is encouraging youth to continue reading, and is decreasing anxiety and stress in our community. Need a break from work? Want to encourage your children to read? Looking for a way to bring a little joy to your day? Schedule your own online session with our volunteer animals on Zoom or FaceTime, with the Osborne Head & Neck Foundation. Laney is a Paws For Patients volunteer. She is the sweetest golden retriever you will ever meet and she might be one of the smartest too! At seven months old, Laney passed her American Kennel Club Canine Good Citizen Test. This puppy enjoys learning new tricks, and is well on her way to becoming an American Kennel Club Trick Dog. She also loves to take photos with her big grinning smile. Laney is calm and intuitive to the needs of people around her, and makes the perfect companion.

Doggie Daycare

Our pups have been amazing companions over the last few months, hardly ever complaining about having their humans constantly at home and sharing the couch with us more than ever before. In fact, some dogs even tried to get in on the WFH vibes, lending a helpful paw wherever possible. And like us, our dogs missed out on much-needed social interaction as well as their regular hair cuts and grooming sessions. Playful Paws {located at 712 Jefferson Street in Hoboken} is now open for daycare, walking, and grooming services at its new location in midtown Hoboken. So if you’re still working from home but feel your dog could use some extra attention or a chance to get the wiggles out and work on that separation anxiety, a few hours at daycare might be the perfect solution. Playful Paws is offering our readers an exclusive new client offer for a free half-day, so you and your pup can get a taste of what the fun is all about.  At Playful Paws daycare, dogs get to spend the day in a clean, safe, and controlled environment specially designed for their needs. The fun happens under the loving guidance of dog handlers who have experience caring for pets. Just as it should be, the air is climate controlled and filtered, and all dogs have access to clean, filtered drinking water as well. Dogs get to run around as if they were in a Hoboken dog park, play fetch, and spend time in a room with painted trees, a fake-grass floor, and enough space for all dogs to feel like they can take a break or play within a group. {Just like people, dogs need a little quiet time too.} Daycare services are limited to small, intimate playgroups so that the pups can get to know each other as well as the handlers in a safe environment. Playful Paws offers full day as well as half-day groups, with packages available to purchase for an added savings for those who want to send their pups on a more regular basis. Dogs get to spend time playing in a fun and inviting room and enjoy midday walks outside. Pup parents also have the option of signing dogs up for an end-of-day bath or groom so that they come home fresh, clean, and tired. Daycare is available five days a week, Monday through Friday from 8:00AM-6:00PM. {Hours will continue to be extended as the pandemic improves.} Playful Paws is different from other pet care businesses because it’s a one-stop-shop for all pet care needs. Pet parents can rely on the team for dog walking and grooming as well as daycare. A staff member from Playful Paws will pick up your pet for their grooming or daycare appointment if you live in Hoboken, which takes the pressure off having to rearrange your schedule or go outside if you’re still self-isolating. {Consider it a pet taxi of sorts.} The grooming salon offers full grooms that include a bath, deep conditioning, ear cleaning, teeth spray, and nail file + clip — and single services are also available and include a basic bath, nail clipping, and pads. You can purchase add-ons and a la carte options to get your pup looking fresh — including blowouts {yes, that’s correct}, teeth brushing de-shedding, and more.

Dog walking services are also available for dogs in Hoboken and Jersey, and everyone on the Playful Paws team is bonded, insured, and undergoes a background check before being hired. Clients have access to Pet Check Technology, which is a GPS check-in and check-out service that displays where, when, and for how long your pup was walked as well as pictures and a custom note. The team can even assist with training sessions so that pups come home with some new, better behaviors.

The entire staff at Playful Paws treat each dog with the utmost care and respect and are experienced in servicing nervous, elderly, or fragile pups. The salon is 100% cage-free drying and the holding areas are large and open-aired to ensure your dog’s full comfort.

Lockdown Dog Heroes

Fletcher, an adorable eight year old whippet, was crowned the winner of our competition to find Plymouth’s Lockdown Dog Hero.

But now the “cheeky” dog has been entered into the national competition, and his family are encouraging Plymouth people to vote for him.

Fletcher lives with his owner Selina Clarke and her partner Rob Arnott, who have been shielding for the past 11 weeks and haven’t been able to go for walks.

Selina says: “Fletcher hasn’t just been our emotional rock he has helped with our mental wellbeing because we have had to get imaginative to keep him occupied as well.

“Thinking up brain games for him to keep him occupied has kept us occupied too.

“Find it’ games with food for him around the garden, different obstacles and scent games all learnt through lockdown to keep two humans and a dog amused.

“I can honestly say he is what has got us through 11 hard weeks so far, he is our hero.”

Selina nominated her four-legged friend as her lockdown hero after the dog-friendly trip the family had booked was cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Fletcher found his forever home with the couple eight years ago, after his mother and her litter were brought into a rescue centre.

Since then, their furry friend has brought joy to their life, as well as emotional support.

“There have been times when we have been anxious or worried and when we have been down. He has been the one to come over and lie next to us with his head in our laps and given us a cuddle. “Anyone who has a dog will know that they instinctively know when you are feeling down and they will come over and give you a little nudge. He is what has got us through lockdown I think.” There is a total of 22 Lockdown Heroes from across Britain in the national final and the competition is fur-ocious.

We have teamed up with Butcher’s Nourishing Food For Dogs to celebrate all the lockdown love our fluffy friends have given us.

The winner will receive a year’s supply of Butcher’s Nourishing Food for Dogs and £1500 towards a well-deserved dog-friendly holiday

Stolen Service Dog Returned

A week ago, things were looking pretty grim for Bobby Linville. His van with his 8-month-old husky mix service dog inside had been stolen from a parking lot at the Oceanfront early in the morning Friday, June 12.

His dog, Baby Girl Blue, was nowhere to be found.

Our sister-station WAVY-TV met up with Linville Wednesday, June 17, so he could tell his story and make a public plea for help finding his service dog, which provides him with emotional and physical support.

“I don’t care about my van. My boss owns a car lot, I can get another vehicle. A vehicle is a dime a dozen, but my dog, you can’t replace that. My dog was my right-hand man or woman, you know what I’m saying? Like, my best friend, my everything, I’m trying not to cry as we speak,” he said as he spoke with WAVY’s Tamara Scott on Wednesday.

However, the story has a happy ending. On Friday, June 19, after a long week apart, the pair was reunited.

A Norfolk spokeswoman said Wednesday that a local shelter had custody of the dog.

Linville and Baby Girl Blue met back up in Virginia Beach just after 7 p.m. Friday.