Service Dog Organization
Load the family, and your dog(s), into your vehicle, and head over to Dr. Fitzgerald and Associates. Check-in will start on July 4 at 9:30 a.m. Then, at 10 a.m., the Critter Cruise will head out on Williams Boulevard S.W. and eventually stop at Bandana’s Bar-B-Q on 3707 1st Ave. S.E. It will make the loop three times all told, but if you’re not able to stay with it that long, no worries. The final stop will be at Bandana’s where you can park, order food, and enjoy lunch, while social distancing. The event is a fundraiser for Deafinitely Dogs. The organization trains and places service dogs with people to help them be more independent. Their dogs are paired with individuals and families not only in eastern Iowa but around the nation. And the dogs choose who will become their owner, which I absolutely love.
Therapy Dog Zoom Visits
A therapy dog in Los Angeles isn’t letting the coronavirus outbreak pause her mission to help others. Laney, a Golden Retriever, and her owner are taking their visits virtual.
Laney is a therapy dog that’s part of the :Paws for Patients” program at the Osborne Head and Neck Foundation. The organization does free ear, nose and throat surgeries for families who cannot afford procedures.
“Patients need some sort of distraction if they’re feeling a lot of pain, so Laney is a great way to distract them,” said Aimee Galicia Torres, Laney’s owner. “What we’ve noticed virtually is that it’s pretty much the same thing.”
Laney and Aimee were preparing to visit sick patients around the world for their first medical mission trip, but because of COVID-19, they had to put a hold on traveling.
Galicia Torres decided to get creative, and instead of stopping therapy services, the pair took their work virtual.
“There are people who need help,” said Galicia Torres. “There are people who need a smile in their day, there are people we can reach and help.”
Now, it’s not just patients Laney visits–anyone can make a Zoom appointment, for free, to connect with this special pup.
“Some kids just want to see the dog, but Laney, as a therapy dog, her main skill is to provide compassion and empathy and be in tune to people’s needs,” said Galicia Torres.
Laney didn’t skip a beat adjusting to the virtual visits.
“As soon as she knows the lights go on and I have a camera, she stands behind the backdrop and sits and smiles. She’s very sassy and poses,” said Galicia Torres.
Some visits are filled with dress-up costumes and children reading to Laney, but for veterans like Jimmy Harris, the Zoom calls are a powerful release.
“Some vets, you know, they see horrible things in the military, in combat, and it can mess with someone’s mind,” said Harris, who has served in Egypt and Romania. “So, I think the connection with an animal really brings a calmness to someone’s mind.”
That escape sorely needed by so many more in this pandemic.
“She’s able to help people build those connections up they might have lost touch with because of COVID-19,” said Galicia Torres.
Even when this outbreak ends, Galicia Torres said she and Laney will continue this new kind of healing—a healing Galicia Torres felt firsthand.
“I lost my dog a year and a half ago, and I got Laney last year. Dogs have always given me help and have given me hope during difficult times, and I wanted to be able to bring that to people,” she said.
Their simple mission of a smile is like a good chew toy: too precious to ever give up.
“If we can just bring hope to people, then we did our job,” Galicia Torres said.
Veteran’s Dog Chief
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 walking, wasn’t doing nothing,” Andrews said. “I got rather nervous. As a veteran, I get paid [disability] once a month…I didn’t have any money at that time. I started calling around a bunch of vets to see if they would let me make payments on a vet bill and just about all of them I called said, ‘No, absolutely no.’”
That was until he called Burnt Store Animal Hospital.
“Dr. Justin Kerr didn’t even hesitate. He said, ‘Come on in,’” Andrews said.
That’s because Kerr is passionate about helping his heroes and their pets.
“My grandfather was in World War II on the D-Day beaches. They do so much to enable our best lives that we can just do anything we possibly can to give back at any point in time,” he said. “If I can help out a person and their pet, specifically one that’s put the ultimate sacrifice out there for us, then I’m happy to do so.”
Now, Andrews is happy to watch Chief recovering from his knee injury, thanks to a compassionate clinic.
“I’m just thankful,” he said.
Burnt Store Animal Hospital also offers standing discounts for all veterans and active duty, along with first responders in our area. Kerr says they want to thank those who enable us to live our best lives through their service.
Emotional Support Dogs
Mental health professionals prescribe emotional support animals (ESAs) under the law.
Legal accommodations differ between service dogs and emotional support dogs.
ESAs are granted certain housing and air travel accommodations by law.
Emotional support animals (ESAs) refer to dogs and other pets that provide emotional support and comfort to their owners on a daily basis. ESAs legally must be prescribed by a licensed mental health professional like a therapist, psychologist, or psychiatrist.
Emotional support animals differ from service dogs in a few key ways. Service dogs have been trained to perform specific tasks for individuals, and as such, as usually granted access to anywhere their owner goes. Emotional support animals do not require any specific training, although owners should make sure they’re well-trained in public. ESAs are not granted access to establishments such as restaurants or malls like service dogs are.
Individuals with ESAs are afforded some additional rights, such as the ability to live in otherwise non-pet-friendly housing under the Fair Housing Act. Additionally, the Air Carrier Access Act allows both service animals and ESAs to accompany their owners in the cabin of an aircraft during flights. Emotional support animals provide a valuable service to those who need it, but misrepresenting a pet as an ESA is both unethical and illegal in some states.
Dog Bite Awareness Week
An age-old game of cat and mouse between postal service carriers and dogs is more true than many might think.
In 2019, there was a total of 5,803 United States Postal Service employees across the nation attacked by dogs, including three in Orem, one in Provo, two in Santaquin and one in Spanish Fork.
Last year was the second year in a row that the number of dog attacks on United States Postal Service letter carriers dropped. In 2018, more than 200 more mail carriers were attacked by dogs compared to last year’s numbers, and two years before than in 2017, more than 400 more were attacked.
While the number of U.S. Postal Service employees attacked by dogs has significantly decreased, the organization is taking time to educate patrons about ways to minimize risk for letter carriers during National Dog Bite Awareness Week.
Christopher Reid has worked with the United States Postal Service in Orem for over 15 years. Starting as a clerk, Reid made the transition to letter carrier 2 years ago and has loved it ever since.
“I couldn’t picture myself doing anything else,” he said. “I love the time I get to spend outside in the fresh air and getting to talk with so many different people.”
Of all of the hazards involved in performing his daily tasks, the one that Reid runs into the most, he said, is dogs.
Throughout his time as a letter carrier, Reid said his experiences with most dogs and their owners has been respectful.
Reid had heard and seen the aftermath of dog attacks in the past, but he hadn’t had his own experiences until months into working his routes.
On the afternoon of Black Friday in 2019, Reid was wrapping up his routes when he stopped at a home to pick up a parcel from a mailbox that was mounted to the residence.
“I guess the woman thought I was her husband coming home, so she opened the door,” he said. “Before we could do anything, the dog just went straight around and bit me on the leg.”
It was only a matter of moments before the woman was able to gain control of her dog and take him back inside, but it was long enough for Reid to be wary when approaching other residences.
“It’s just being aware of your surroundings and trying to be safe,” Reid said.
Letter carriers are trained to rattle fences or gates in an attempt to check if a dog is present and out of sight before entering a yard to drop off or pick up mail. Employees are also advised not to deliver or pick up mail if they feel threatened by a dog, whether that dog is restrained or not.
The United States Postal Service will then contact the homeowner to schedule times to pick up or drop off their mail at a post office facility until the letter carrier is assured that the pet has been restrained.
Furthermore, if a pet frequently roams the neighborhood and the letter carrier feels threatened, neighbors of the dog’s owner may also be asked to pick up and drop off their mail at a facility.
There are a number of ways that residents can help minimize letter carriers’ risk of being attacked by a dog.
When a letter carrier arrives to deliver to or pick up mail at a residence, homeowners should place their pets in a separate room with the door closed before opening the front door, Reid said. This is because dogs have been known to burst through screen or glass doors to attack letter carriers.
Additionally, parents should remind their children and other family members not to accept mail from letter carriers in the presence of a family pet as a dog may view a United States Postal Service employee as a threatening presence.
“The dog could see that as a hostile action and come and charge us, as well,” Reid said. “Normally, we’re not supposed to hand mail to children anyway, but we don’t necessarily hand it to any family member if there’s a dog out.”
Technology is also helping carriers stay safe while completing their routes. Mobile delivery services, which involved the handheld scanners carriers use to confirm customer deliveries, include a feature that allows others to indicate the presence of a dog at an individual’s address.
Another software, called the Informed Delivery, alerts residents that mail is on the way to their homes, which allows the residents time to plan for the carrier’s arrival by securing their dogs in another room.
Reid said, through everything, he does not blame dogs for wanting to protect their homes and families, but dog owners should be aware of these behaviors to ensure the safety of all of those involved letter and package hand offs.
Pet Industry
As economists have declared that the United States is officially in a recession, many people are wondering what industries will be able to withstand the economic impact of the pandemic. One Florida-founded franchise has taken strides in expansion over the last few months thanks to the recession-proof attributes of the pet industry. Scenthound, a wellness-based grooming concept, has been able to continue expansion and sell 11 new units during the pandemic, including its first out-of-state deal.
The wellness-based groomer has four locations open in their home market of Palm Beach County, Florida, and now 21 units in development across three states. During the pandemic alone, the brand has sold six units in the Atlanta area, three units in the Las Vegas area, and one unit in Parkland, Florida. Other units in development are in Boca Raton, Palm Beach Gardens, and Miami, Florida.
The brand believes its recent growth speaks to the strength of the pet industry. Despite economic downturn, many Americans decided to adopt pets during the pandemic and clear out shelters across the country. People have continued to invest in their pets and have proven that the pet industry is not only “essential,” but recession-proof.
“We are proud to be in an industry that will continue to remain strong,” said CEO Tim Vogel. “The pet industry has been thriving because people depend on pets for emotional support and improved quality of live. We believe that all dogs are therapy dogs, and seeing the animal shelters cleared out while the country was in quarantine showcases that. Our new franchisees chose to invest in us because they know that not even a pandemic could stop them from caring for and loving their dog.”
Scenthound was founded in 2015 after CEO Tim Vogel spent more than 10 years running both a mobile grooming business and local grooming “Scenters” and seeing first-hand the shortcomings within a booming pet industry and the lack of education surrounding dog grooming. Vogel began a mission to give dogs and their owners a fast, easy, and affordable grooming solution Scenters that provide a haircut, but more importantly, focus on a dog’s health.
“Everything that we do is with your dog’s health in mind,” added Vogel. “We are excited to continue on our growth path so that we can educate pet parents across the country about how grooming is so much more than just a haircut.”
Embedded in the name, Scenthound focuses on the five core areas of maintenance: Skin, Coat, Ears, Nails and Teeth. Their Scent Techs are fully trained to give each dog the care it requires—regardless of breed—and the membership program allows for dog parents to have the peace of mind that their fur family is cared for on a routine basis.
With all of the new pet parents thanks to the COVID-19 adoption surge, Scenthound is taking initiatives to educate them so that they understand the importance of preventive care to keep their furry friend healthy. The “Scenthound Salutes” campaign launching next month will be inviting new pet parents in for a free grooming and educational session to learn about how preventive care can change their new dogs’ life. The brand is excited that with nationwide growth comes more opportunities to teach people about the proper care their dog needs.
Dog Bite Awareness
There’s a week or a day for just about everything – from National Loofa Day to National Splurge Week.
This week happens to be National Postal Service Dog Bite Awareness Week. Turns out, it’s legit.
The USPS says there were over 5,800 attacks on postal workers throughout the nation last year. That includes 21 dog attacks in Idaho, with five of those in Boise.
So the very good pups at Adventure K-9’s obedience class in Boise are taking this week very seriously.
Jennifer Lackie sent us a photo showing a group of “students” looking intently at a sign that reads, “Keep Calm When the Mailman Comes. Lesson 1.” But if your pup maybe isn’t the most well-behaved dog on the block, USPS suggests keeping him or her inside. And if a mail carrier comes to your door, you’re asked to put the dog in another room.
Protecting Service Animals
A north-east MSP has welcomed new laws creating the criminal offence of harming or killing service animals.
Regional Conservative MSP Liam Kerr began campaigning for Finn’s Law in 2018, and a petition to implement it was signed by almost 57,000 people.
The bill has now passed the final hurdle in the Scottish Parliament and it will now become enshrined as part of the Animals and Wildlife (Penalties, Protections and Powers)(Scotland) Act.
Prior to the new law, criminals who harmed service animals such as police dogs or horses could only be charged with property damage. Now they could receive a jail sentence of up to five years.
It follows a campaign by police officer Dave Wardell, whose German Shepherd Finn was stabbed while chasing a suspect in 2016.
The pair went on to feature on the TV show Britain’s Got Talent.
Mr Kerr said: “This is a great day for Dave Wardell and his team, for Finn and for all the members of the public who supported our campaign to protect police animals.
“The Scottish Conservatives brought the Finn’s Law campaign to Scotland because the law needed to be updated and we wanted to give brave service animals the legal protection they deserved.
“Thanks to Dave and Finn’s tireless campaigning, along with so many other dedicated campaigners, this will now be a reality, and Scotland will now catch up to England and Wales in this important area.
“It is a massive relief to get this legislation through.
“From now on service animals will have better protection under Scottish law and criminals who harm them will be given serious punishments, fitting the harm they have caused.”
Sniffing Dog Retires
A “cool” bomb-sniffing dog for Transportation Security Administration (TSA) who spent at least 8 years in his career has now retired. The pooch graduated in the third class of passenger screening canines trained at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas. In a video shared by TSA on Instagram and regional spokesperson Mark Howell of the brave canine TTirado, his handler Keith Gray can be seen celebrating his accomplishments at a private ceremony at IND on the last day of his job that has won the pooch praises all over the internet.
“TTirado is ready for retirement and thinking of investing in tennis balls. They have a high return rate,” TSA wrote in a post on Instagram while sharing the TTirado’s last detection on the job that stunned the social media. Footage shows the moment pooch indicates his last luggage set up, dozens of coloured tennis balls fall from above. Named in honour of New York Engine 23 Firefighter Hector Luis Tirado, who died in service on 9/11, the nearly ten-and-a-half-year-old dog is one of the few last dogs on the TSA-bred puppy program who joined in 2012. While celebrating his last day with vibrance and joy, handler Gray said, “I am thankful for such a fantastic partner in TTirado as my first dog. He has taught me a lot over the years, and I have been amazed in his growth and how far we have come.”
Improving Your Pets
We all love our pets and their well-being is of the utmost importance. The precious bond between humans and dogs is especially unique – dogs provide unconditional love through all of life’s ups and downs, and in return we do all we can to keep them happy and healthy.
But pet well-being goes beyond proper food and exercise. That’s why Merck Animal Health is bringing you the BRAVECTO Cares program which focuses on overall wellness and the many different ways to keep dogs healthy.
In addition to supporting day-to-day pet health, this program is also helping to support NEADS, an organization that trains world class service dogs for people living with disabilities.
On Thursday, Dr. Mark Pelham, DVM and major in the U.S. Army’s Veterinary Corps joined NewsChannel 7 at 4, to talk about preventative care and maintaining wellness so dogs can stay happy and healthy.
Dr. Pelham was joined by Becca Hill, a NEADS service dog trainer, who talked about the unique needs of service dogs and how they must be in good health to do their jobs every day. Together they can shared valuable information and tips for all canines – from new household pets to highly trained service dogs.
