Paws In Court

Participants in Howard Superior II’s veterans court program soon will get extra assistance from a four-legged friend.

Recently, a grant program allowed Howard Superior II to procure Kadence, a 6-month-old labradoodle, who soon will undergo training to work as a post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and anxiety support dog. Kadence, or K-D for short, will work primarily with participants in the veterans court, operated by Judge Brant Parry, as well as his mental health court and even the juvenile court operated out of Howard Circuit Court.

“She’s a delight to work with already, and she’s almost 6 months old,” said Richard Cotterell, the coordinator for the Howard County Veterans Program. “She’ll start her full certification process sometime in June. Hopefully with the COVID restrictions and everything in place, we can work around that. But the idea is to have her fully trained and certified, ready to go by the end of the year.”

According to Parry, Kadence was purchased in February utilizing a grant program. Since then, she’s been coming into the courthouse with the judge regularly, often hanging around the probation department, greeting probationers as they check in.

The judge said he got the idea to purchase a therapy dog after hearing about how dogs have proven helpful to people in a variety of situations, such as while working as service dogs. From there the idea grew as he considered the roughly 20 participants in his courts veterans program.

“I would say the majority of our people deal with some sort of anxiety issue, especially when it comes to reporting to probation, coming to court, also anxiety about entering the job force and going to interviews and those types of things, and also anxiety when they have to talk about their experiences if they were deployed or saw action in service,” said Parry. “I would say another quarter of them have a specific diagnosis of PTSD. So I think the dog will be useful for everybody, to relax them when they come in to meet, to go to the groups with them.” Kadence soon will undergo training with Indiana Working Dogs, which is owned and operated by Darren Petty. According to Petty, K-D’s training will focus primarily on training that ensures she stays relaxed in group settings, such as the courtroom. Essentially, Kadence’s skillset will allow her to serve as a calming presence for those who need her services. In the case of the veterans court, many of its participants are going through their first experiences in a courtroom, which can be stressful as they work their way through the program.

“What we’re after is security for the veteran,” said Petty. “Give them that security blanket and help them get through a tough time in their life. We know that many veterans suffer through many different issues from their service. If this is a way for that veteran to get their life back on track, that’s what we’re after. If the dog can be there and let them relax and help that veteran get a more positive outlook on their life and how to get back on track, that’s what this program is all about.”

But the therapy dog won’t only be working with those in the veterans court program. Parry also operates a mental health court, where he said her services also would likely be helpful. Additionally, he said he’s had discussions with Juvenile Referee Erik May, and when she’s needed in juvenile court, she also can help calm children in the courtroom, perhaps as they are called to testify.

“There’s lots of studies about dogs that are used in courts that sit with kids when they have to testify,” said Parry. “It really helps the kids. I’m going to try to put the dog to as much use as possible throughout the entire system. Her first responsibility will be with the veterans’ court, then mental health court, and then anywhere we think she can get better results in either probation or juvenile court, and that’s what we’re going to do.”

Parry said the cost of Kadence’s veterinary care and grooming will be covered by the same state grant utilized to purchase her. The judge said agreements have been brokered with All God’s Creatures for grooming services and Kokomo Animal Hospital for veterinary care. In the evenings, the therapy dog will stay with Parry.

Saving Animals Lives

Since many fire departments are only equipped with emergency supplies to save human lives, a Scottsdale-based nonprofit is providing local firefighters with tools to help save animal lives.

The Fetch Foundation has developed a Fido Bag — a specialized breathing apparatus that is formed to fit across pet’s mouth.

This cone-shaped oxygen mask allows for a secure seal on the pet’s face to help prevent smoke inhalation. The bags also come with specialized burn sheets, bandages, rinsing saline and protective restraints.

The kits also feature collapsable water dishes and stuffed toys to accompany an inured pet on its way to a veterinarian’s office or pet hospital.

Dedicated to saving lives in both the animal and human communities, the Fetch Foundation is comprised of a family of animal loving first responders.

For last ten years, the organization has used innovative strategies and unique programs to support, equip, and train first responders on how to use the animal-lifesaving equipment.

As the Ocotillo Fire burned in Cave Creek over the weekend, Fetch Foundation Founder Marie Peck worked hard to provide firefighters in the area with FIDO BAGs.

“When we were speaking with the hot shot crews and handing out the Fido Bags, which they had never even heard of or seen before, they were sharing with us memories and experiences where they were on fires – animals left behind needing to be resuscitated, animals running with burns and smoke inhalation and they had no tools to take care of critters, but now they do,” Peck told KTAR News 92.3 FM. on Monday.

On Monday morning, Phoenix firefighters saved two large dogs with the equipment after they were pulled from a house fire near 8th street and Carter in South Phoenix. Both dogs were treated for smoke inhalation but are expected to be okay thanks to the Fetch Foundation’s tools.

The Fetch Foundation’s reach goes beyond the Valley and state of Arizona. They have also donated bags to fire departments across the nation and globe.

But as the supply chain has slowed due to the coronavirus outbreak, Peck has struggled to get necessary supplies for the Fido Bags. However, her organization has continued to donate bags with whatever supplies they do have.

The nonprofit runs on donations alone and works to provide a safe place for homeless dogs that were neglected or abused.

They also work closely with other rescue organizations and shelters to identify dogs that have the potential to be trained to become Search and Service dogs or a therapy dog for veterans or people with disabilities.

Top Dogs

K9 Police Teams

The Delaware State Police and municipal K9 teams throughout the state received national certifications by the National Police Canine Association.

Both single and dual purpose K9 teams participated in the certification event.

During the week of May 11, K9 teams completed the patrol and explosives certifications through the NPCA. The K9 teams consisted of 14 Delaware State Police K9 teams and eight municipal K9 teams from Capitol Police Department, Department of Natural Resources Police, Laurel Police Department, Delaware Department of Corrections and the University of Delaware Police Department.

During the week of May 18, K9 teams completed the patrol and narcotics certifications through the NPCA. The K9 teams consisted of 18 Delaware State Police K9 teams and eight municipal K9 teams from the Dover Police Department, Newark Police Department, Bridgeville Police Department, Laurel Police Department, Ocean View Police Department, Department of Natural Resources Police, Blades Police Department and the Harrington Police Department.

The Delaware State Police K9 Units thanked the New Castle County Police K9 Unit, Wilmington Police Department K-9 Unit, Dover International Speedway and the Dover Mall for providing training locations for the certifications, and the FBI for providing additional update training for Explosive Detection K9 teams.

Think Pawsitive

Anxiety and cabin fever can stem from the stay-at-home orders impacting American lives for the past few weeks. But for nearly 85 million U.S. families, their households offer something that can reduce their feelings of angst and isolation. And it doesn’t come from the fridge.

This popular attitude-enhancer offers a sense of connection and can lower everything from stress and heart rate to anxiety and loneliness. The miracle elixir inspires outdoor exercise, boosting physical and mental health and levels of the sun’s mood-lifting vitamin D.Dog therapy increases:

It’s also cute, cuddly and dependent, pushing people out of bed in the morning and providing a sense of self-worth. A pet – especially a dog – can ease the COVID blues.

While Spader’s work with the Warrior Canine Connection (WCC) goes deeper than pandemic angst, organizers agreed that now was the perfect time for sharing her research-backed experiences from training and connecting dogs with military families in need.

Spader and colleagues use an evidence-based model in working with military veterans and service members by matching them with dogs trained to help overcome two major fallouts of combat: Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI). WCC partners with the Marcus Institute for Brain Health on campus and has sites across the country.

The emotional and cognitive effects of TBI’s make reintroduction into family and civilian life difficult for service members and veterans. Dogs help by alerting to and distracting from the disabling symptoms, whether it’s waking their owners from nightmares or nuzzling them back to the present before they sink into episodes of anxiety, flashbacks and withdrawal.

Powerful human-animal bonds are driven largely by oxytocin, often called the “feel-good” or “love” hormone, Spader said. “Oxytocin is one of the main reasons humans continue to reproduce and why mothers love their infants even seconds after the trauma of the birthing process,” she said.

Studies have found the level of oxytocin exchanged between a dog and a person is comparable to what’s shared between a mom and a baby during breastfeeding, Spader said. Oxytocin also creates the feelings of joy and bliss when couples fall in love, she said.

All animal relationships can have positive effects, but at least one study suggested dogs rule, Spader said, apologizing to the cat lovers of the world. Researchers measured increases in oxytocin in animal and owner, comparing cat owners and dog owners.

“The dogs had a drastic increase in oxytocin compared to the cats,” Spader said.

Oxytocin also inspires a tend-and-defend versus a fight-or-flight response by calming the amygdala, an emotion-regulating part of the brain. “We know especially with our veterans with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, that this is something they are constantly struggling with,” Spader said of the stress-inducing fight-or-flight response.

Spader ended with a couple of ways puppy-less people can reap the “pawsitive” effects, calling for volunteers interested in puppy parenting and puppy sitting. Puppy parents help WCC raise, train and socialize the pups it breeds for the first few years, generally during evenings and weekends. Puppy sitters fill in for short periods as needed.

Or, for a virtual boost from the COVID blues, anyone can check out the WCC puppy-cam, which Spader said has seen a “huge” increase in viewers since social distancing began. The site offers 24/7 real-time views of WCC’s puppies in their first eight weeks. “It will provide you with hours and hours of really cute, cuddly puppies.” But watch out. “It’s addicting.”

Local Therapy Dogs

Olive, a therapy dog from Jefferson City, and Sobee, a service dog from Holts Summit, have advanced to the semifinal round of the 2020 American Humane Hero Dog Awards, a nationwide challenge to recognize dogs bettering the lives of those in need.

Both Olive and Sobee are in the top three of their respective categories with Olive advancing in the therapy dog category and Sobee advancing in the service dog category.

In a news release, Sobee and Olive’s handlers are asked the public to help by casting a daily vote in each of the Hero Dog Awards seven categories.

“Olive and Sobee need your vote to help shine a light on the needs of comfort while abused/neglected children navigate the judicial system, and PTSD veterans/victims in our nation who need their stories heard and needs met,” said Lisa Bax, Olive’s handler. According to the release, Olive began serving as a courtroom therapy dog for Capital City CASA in 2016. Since 2016 Olive has served over 300 abused and neglected children in the Circuit Court of Cole County’s courtroom.

“Court can be very traumatic for children whose lives have been turned upside down by entering the judicial system at no fault of the child,” said Jennifer Berhorst, a local child welfare professional who works alongside Olive. “Nothing makes it easy for them to face their situation, but Olive has a huge impact in lowering the stress/anxiety for these kids facing adversities.” Just two days before Sobee was scheduled to be euthanized in a Georgia kill shelter, the release said K9’s on the Front Line rescued her for Jason Howe, a man who ended up being Sobee’s handler. Howe is a combat veteran who suffers from PTSD. Howe said Sobee helps him deal with his PTSD. “When suffering from a panic attack Sobee is trained to bring me back to present moment,” said Jason Howe. The winner of each category will be featured on Hallmark Channel USA.

Service Puppies Start Their Training

The coronavirus pandemic has brought many aspects of life as we know it to a grinding halt, including air travel, which affects not just ordinary travelers, but those for whom getting to another location is crucial for their jobs. Canine Companions for Independence provides service dogs to people with disabilities free of charge, and the organization normally relies on commercial flights to transport dogs from its base in Santa Rosa, California to temporary homes across the country, where volunteers train them to become service animals.

In the face of a major lack of available commercial flights in recent months, volunteer pilots have stepped up to bring 108 puppies to their trainers homes in southern California, Idaho, Oregon, Washington, Montana and Texas.

Martyn Lewis, Josh Hochberg and Jeff Stewart are three private pilots who fly out of an airport in Sonoma, California and have volunteered to help these dogs get to their first step in their vocations as assistance animals for people with disabilities.

“Not only are they giving their plane, but their time, their fuel,” Michelle Williams, public relations and marketing coordinator at Canine Companions for Independence, told Insider. “They’re going out for full days … it’s just incredible.

“Yesterday, volunteer pilots flew 29 adorable @ccicanine puppies to their volunteer puppy raisers around the country to start their journey to become assistance dogs for people with disabilities,” the caption reads.

Rescue Dogs Companionship

When Dave Fleming got ‘matched’ with his dream dog from a rescue charity he was thrilled.

There was just one hitch though — the logistics of getting Bumble on the 150k journey to his ‘forever home’ with Covid-19 restrictions limiting non-essential travel to 2, and then 5k.

Bumble was being well looked after in Kerry but Dave was keen to get him settled as a key family member and was also aware that all the enforced free time would be great to use for walks.

So Dave, an Abbey actor who’s currently in lockdown at his partner’s family’s farm in Laois, put out an appeal on Twitter.

He asked if there were any essential workers travelling that particular route who would be willing to help out. His post was shared hundreds of times and he spoke to a few good samaritans.

Now Bumble is home and enjoying being walked and praised and being top dog.

“He’s a very handsome dog alright and he has settled right in here. We’re delighted with him,” says Dave.

Bumble is a collie mix and Dave believes he may have been up for adoption due to not making the grade as a sheepdog: “We quickly realised that he has eyesight problems — cataracts.

“He’s able to find his way around alright so it’s not a huge problem. He hadn’t been mistreated as he has a very easy-going temperament so we reckon he was just rounding up the wrong things!”

A bright new ‘vest’ alerting passers-by to Bumble’s sight difficulties will help people understand any clumsiness.

Even in ‘normal times’ the process of matching dogs with owners can take some time if prospective owners are keen for a pet of a particular breed or age.

Agencies rehoming pets have to interview owners and assess their home for any dangers or escape routes that a new owner might not have spotted.

The Cork Society for the Prevent of Cruelty to Animals (CSPCA) had to close its door for the past two months but is now aiming to restart viewings by appointment only from June 3.

Manager, Vincent Cashman, said: “This, of course, will depend on how things are working regarding the Covid-19 outbreak and governmental advice and will be subject to change if we deem it necessary.

“This is a big change for our normal way of operating — as many of you know, you could just walk in for viewings previously but we need the full cooperation of you the public for this to work.”

However, his big concern is that people who bought a dog on a whim due to being home from work or to help keep children entertained during lockdown will not want to keep it once they return to work and children’s sports and school activities resume.

“We have only had eight dog surrenders over the past two months. Normally we would have that many in a week. And other animals too such as cats, goats, rabbits and even Giant African snails.

“But we do fear that it may suit some people to have a dog around now and that they won’t keep it once this is over. I need to say this: you don’t need a dog to just go for a walk. You don’t need ‘an excuse’.”

Unusually, the CSPCA doesn’t have any cats for rehoming at the moment: “That’s probably because people are selling then online to whoever instead.”

The new pet adoption arrangement plans include bringing the dog to meet the prospective new owner in the exercise run.

Home inspections or will be carried out on a limited basis — if the garden is accessible through a side gate for example.

“All this is totally dependent on the latest safety guidelines and everything can change depending on expert advice,” warns Vincent.

Pet Services

If you are a pet owner, you may or not know the devastating process of saying goodbye to a beloved pet. It is a stressful process for all involved. The family, the vet, and especially the animal. And while it may be an awful experience, it should be done in the most peaceful and private manner.

Sherrill native and veterinarian Dr. Abby Regner is now offering a unique service to pet parents during one of the most difficult times of pet ownership.

She has opened Parting Paws to offer in-home, personalized euthanasia service for families saying goodbye to their beloved pets. She will come to the home, as prearranged, and help families say goodbye in the place and privacy of their choosing. Cremation services are also available if desired.

“There was no rush, no noise, no pressure, no hospital.  It was in this moment that I knew every pet-parent deserves this parting.  My wish is to make one of the most difficult moments in life just a little bit more comfortable for you and your pet.

“My promise is to allow everyone a chance to be in their own space, with their own privacy, to part with their beloved pet in their own way.  I will do my very best to make this process as stress-free as possible.”

Regner, founder of ‘Parting Paws’ grew up in the local town of Verona. She attended vet school at the University of Cornell and has been practicing for eight years. When her dog became ill and it was time to say goodbye, she was nervous.

“I was honestly afraid,” Regner said. “The thought of bringing my dog to the animal hospital, then saying goodbye to him, was not the feeling I wanted in that moment. It’s already a hard enough decision.

“Then I have to put him in the car and bring him to the hospital. It is cold. So then I made the decision to do it at home. I’ll do this at home for him. We went out in the backyard and my family was there. And afterwards, I was thinking, wow that was so much better than it could have been.

“And then I thought there was no way I’m the only pet owner that doesn’t want to bring their pet to the hospital one last time. So then I got the ball rolling to make this available for every pet owner.”

When it is time to put your pet down, it is more beneficial to have the process done in the place of the owner’s choice. Relieving as much stress as possible is what is best for not only the family, but the animal as well.

And with Parting Paws, every pet owner will have that sense of comfort. While it is never easy to say goodbye, Parting Paws will do its best to make that moment a little easier to bare.

Parting Paws was created in January of this year. In the face of the coronavirus pandemic, Regner is still offering her service, but will be taking each case into consideration based on the severity of the animal’s condition.

Regner added that she will not be entering the home or responding to homes where anyone is sick with any symptoms, quarantine, or has been exposed to anyone with the coronavirus.

“Emergency veterinary services are an essential business so I will do my very best, but I am taking many measures to protect myself,” Regner said.

Rescue Dog Becomes Service Dog

A local organization called “Medical Mutts” rescues animals with potential and trains them to become service dogs for people with medical conditions like diabetes.

That includes Sly, the German Shepherd.

Sly was rescued after being left in the cold, starving, and frostbit with another dog who passed away in those conditions.

Jennifer Cattet, the executive director of Medical Mutts, found Sly at Indianapolis Animal Care and Control and tested him.

“He was still very resilient. And super loving and playful and still loves people even after what humans did to him,” Clint Adams, a service dog trainer, said.

“Despite all of that, he’s just a really really good, sweet boy, really friendly, loves to learn, great in training, and we are so happy today that we are finally going to be able to place him as a service dog,” Cattet said of Sly.

Sly has become a service dog with a young woman named Paige, who suffers from a medical condition. She drove from Maine to Indiana this week to work with Medical Mutts before taking him home.