Guide Dogs Goes Virtual

Leanne Wilson doesn’t go anywhere without her dog, a black Labrador retriever named Kanyon.

The dog guide is not only a beloved companion; he helps the Welland resident, who is blind, maintain her independence.

“Kanyon guides me around and helps me with things like crossing the street and navigating all the sidewalk furniture — things like signs and benches that might be out on a sidewalk,” Wilson said.

Thanks to Kanyon, Wilson no longer feels anxiety before heading out the door.

“Kanyon provides me with my independence and makes me feel safe. I would not go back to a white cane because when I am out and about with my dog, it’s so much easier.”

Wilson found Kanyon through Lions Foundation of Canada Dog Guides, which provides life-changing dog guides to Canadians with physical and medical disabilities at no cost to them.

He is the second dog that has assisted Wilson. The first dog guide Wilson had was a golden retriever named Madison, who was retired from service last year.

The foundation’s annual fundraiser, Pet Valu Lions Walk for Dog Guides, which is scheduled for this Sunday (May 31) will look very different this year. That’s because the walk will take place virtually due to restrictions in place because of COVID-19.

Participants are encouraged to show their support for Lions Foundation of Canada Dog Guides by going for a walk around the block, lifting some weights, running on a treadmill at home, dancing at home in a living room, jumping on a trampoline or doing anything physically active all while practising social distancing.

Wilson expressed her gratitude for the program, otherwise she might not have been able to afford a dog guide.

Families or individuals in need of a service dog can apply to the Lions Foundation of Canada. It’s there at the foundation’s Oakville-based facility where a person’s need will be assessed and paired with a dog.

Greg Clarke, head instructor with Dog Guides, said the Lions Foundation of Canadian has been greatly impacted by the pandemic.

“These have been really difficult times for everyone and Dog Guides is no exception,” he said.

Dog Guides start training at seven weeks with volunteer foster families.

“During this crucial time, foster families teach the dogs basic obedience skills and socialize them as much as possible (take them on bus rides, to the grocery store, to work with them,” he said.

When the dogs are a year old, they return to the foundation where they are trained for six to eight months and are matched with a qualified applicant.

“Last year we were able to train 161 dog guides and unfortunately, due to COVID-19, this year’s number will be very different,” Clarke said, speaking of the animals.

Dog Guides are trained in one of seven programs to assist people living with vision or hearing loss, seizures, a physical or medical disability, diabetes and autism, or someone recovering from a traumatic situation.

Clarke said spring and summer training classes were cancelled due to safety concerns related to the pandemic, which has an impact on 58 applicants expecting to train with their dog guides.

“They were excited to meet their dog guide and start their journey with their new best friend. However, the safety of all took priority and when we got back to normal, these applicants will finally get to meet their new dog guides,” he said.

Clarke said 120 dog guides in training were sent to foster families and sitters. Instructors also had to figure out how to continue to stay on top of the dogs’ training while remaining physically distant.

Weekly video calls, emails and phone calls were implemented in order to check in on the teams’ status and also provide training exercises for dog guides in training.

Clarke said the foundation relies heavily on donations as it receives no government funding for the programs it offers.

The cost of training each dog is about $25,000 so every penny raised by the walk will go a long way toward helping people who need it the most.

“Now more than ever, we need the public’s support so that when things go back to normal, we can go back to helping more Canadians with a medical or physical disability,” Clarke said.

“This is why the Pet Valu Virtual Walk for Dog Guides is so important; it is our most successful fundraiser.”

Since 1985, the annual walk has raised more than $18 million. The Lions Foundation of Canada Dog Guides supports 328 foster families taking care of future dog guide puppies, 120 dog guides in training and more than 1,000 graduates across Canada.

Medical Service Dog

Craig Hodgkins and his medical service dog Foxy have been together just a few days, but the Pittsburgh man said he already feels like it’s been a life-changing experience.

And a life-saving one.

“This was my last hope … She looks in my eyes and I feel relief,” he said.

On Thursday at Memorial Park in Grove City, Foxy, a long-haired German shepherd, leaned up against Hodgkins. The dog studied the man’s face, and sensed emotion.

That’s what Foxy was trained to do.

Hodgkins was one of five people who received a service dog this week through Guardian Angels Medical Service Dogs, a nonprofit agency based in Williston, Fla. TANNER MONDOK | Herald Marine Corps veteran Ryan Yoder, of Harrisburg, pets his service dog Rik Thursday at Memorial Park in Grove City during a Guardian Angels Service Dogs event.

The organization, founded about 10 years ago, has paired more than 350 dogs with veterans, first responders, and people with disabilities.

Service dogs are sponsored by businesses and other organizations, so there is no cost to the recipients, said Joanne Werner, a traveling trainer.  The trainers had planned to bring the dogs and their new humans together in March in Florida, but the COVID-19 pandemic forced organizers to make other arrangements, so the group came to Mercer County.

The trainers introduced the dogs to their humans this week at the Avenue of 444 Flags in Hermitage and the pairs have been together ever since.

Over the past several days, the dogs and their recipients have undergone training, learned about each other, and visited businesses so they both could get a feel for what it’s like to be in public together.

The recipients said their dogs are great matches and they couldn’t wait to to head home with their new best friends.

“He’s a lot like me … I’m very, very happy,” said Ryan Yoder of Harrisburg about Rikki, his service dog.

He’s been calling the 1-year-old German shepherd “Rik,” and said he feels like they already share a special bond.

Yoder, who served in the Marine Corps for four years, is veterans coordinator for the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections.

He learned about Guardian Angels through his state post and learned that medical service dogs can provide assistance to veterans, especially those living with disabilities and post-traumatic stress disorder.

Yoder said he was excited to meet his new buddy, and looks forward to bringing Rik home to meet his wife and kids.

Rik is trained to help with anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder. Yoder credited the organization and Carol Borden, Guardian Angels founder and chief executive officer, for its work.

Guardian Angels is sending the recipients home with supplies, including dog food, and prevention treatments for fleas, ticks and heartworm.

Hodgkins served 21 years in the Marines. He said 5-year-old Foxy is calm and reassuring, which helps with balance and anxiety issues.

Hodgkins said he has always loved dogs – he’s had several Great Danes. But after a doctor recommended a service dog, he said Foxy came into his life at just the right time.

He was in a “low place,” and having Foxy has made him feel comfortable for the first time in many years.

Jim Grossman of Hermitage, who served in the Marines, heard about the organization from his counselor.

He said he was a little uncertain about the idea at first, but he’s now glad he decided to apply.

“He’s very calming to me. We just seem to click,” said Grossman, commander of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 5286 in Farrell, as he looked at 4-year-old Judd.

Grossman said Judd is already helping him sleep better.

Alexis Taggart of Philadelphia, who served in the Army from 2011 to 2016, spent quite a bit of time researching service dogs.

The Guardian Angels application process is long and includes a background check, but she said the wait was worth it.

“I cried my eyes out,” she said of her first meeting with Doc, a female German shepherd who is almost 2.

They have a really strong bond, and Doc helps her with panic attacks – like she has a sixth sense, said Taggart, who is studying to earn a doctorate degree in psychology.

Jay Cox of Charlotte, N.C., is retired, having worked in diplomatic security for the U.S. Department of State and as a police officer in Maryland.

Cox worked in special weapons and tactics, and as a detective, investigating homicides, kidnapping and serial murder – what he called “the absolute worst of society.”

And it affected him, he said.

Cox was seriously injured in the line of duty. During a hostage situation, another officer detonated a flash-bang grenade near Cox’s head, which left him with a traumatic brain injury.

Someone recommended a service dog, and his daughter Carly Cox, whom he calls a “hero,” helped him with the application. Cox said he prospect of getting a dog gave him something to look forward to.

“This is the first thing I’ve been excited about,” he said.

He’s excited to go home to his wife with Whaler, a German shepherd who helps him with PTSD.

The dog is intense and strong-willed, and he has already helped Cox deal with nightmares by jumping into bed at night and redirecting his attention.

“He broke that loop. I couldn’t believe it,” Cox said.

Sponsors of the dog were PNC for Whaler, Yellow Ribbon Fund for Rik, Armstrong for Judd, and the Colcom Foundation for Foxy and Doc.

Training a medical service dog can take up to two years, and the organization looks for dogs with low or medium energy and are willing to learn and work, Werner said.

The organization itself owns the dogs, and the recipients sign a contract that imposes conditions including getting the dog established with a veterinarian and securing pet insurance.

Guardian Angels Medical Service Dogs checks in on the dogs to make sure things are going well. The organization plans to open a second facility, in Moon Township, Werner said.

She also works with inmates at the State Correctional Institution at Mercer in Findley Township. The inmates are veterans, and she teaches them how to train the service dogs.

A lot of thought goes into pairing dogs with recipients, and that first meeting is always a tearjerker.

“It’s amazing … It’s very humbling and rewarding,” Werner said of her job.

Pet Owners Companionship

The social ramifications of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States involve more Americans spending time in their homes. For pet owners, this means spending more time with their pets. A recent survey conducted by Banfield Pet Hospital describes how this could impact how pet owners care for their animals going forward.

“The human-animal bond now, more than ever, plays an integral role in people’s lives,” said Molly McAllister, chief medical officer at Banfield Pet Hospital. “…This survey shows that pets are always here for us — even, and especially, during the most difficult of times — and we’re encouraged that as a result of spending more time together, people are committed to finding new ways to better be there for their pets.”

The survey was fielded between May 11 and May 15, 2020 and included 1,000 dog and cat owners across the United States.

Overall, the pet owner sentiments around spending more time with their pets is positive. According to the Banfield survey, 84% of respondents said they feel “more attuned to their pet’s health,” and 67% said they plan to change how they care for their pet.

This includes 47% of pet owners who said they plan to spend more time with their pets, 21% who are willing to adjust their work schedule to spend more time at home with their pets, and 10% who plan to adopt another pet to keep their current pet company during the day.

Additionally, 20% of pet owners surveyed said they prefer their pets as “co-workers,” 73% expressed concern for going back to work and spending less time with their pet, and 59% said they are worried their pet could suffer from separation anxiety once daily schedules return to normal.

Overall happiness and comfort among pet owners is another measure of this emphasized human-animal bond. According to the Banfield study, 39% of pet owners said being around their pet has helped reduce anxiety and uncertainty during the pandemic.

Broken down by demographic, 47% of Millennials said their canine and feline companions have provided emotional support at this time, compared to 43% of Gen Z pet owners and 43% of Gen X pet owners.

Pet behavior is another indicator. More than one-third (38%) of surveyed pet owners said their pets appear to be happier as a result of spending more time together. Another 35% said their pets are acting more playful. In return, 65% of pet owners reported they are showing increased affection toward their pets.

As shelter-in-place order keeps more pet owners at home, many are reassessing how they care for their pets. According to Banfield, 37% said they are paying more attention to their pets health, such as dental health; 42% said their pets are getting more exercise in quarantine; and 46% said their pet is more active than they would be if left alone during the day.

Additionally, 20% of pet owners said they plan to take their pet to the veterinarian more often for preventive care, and 41% said they have consulted with a veterinary professional during quarantine to improve their pets’ health.

Since the beginning of March, Banfield itself has seen a 90% increase in its Vet Chat activity, the company’s telehealth service for remote veterinary care.

Headquartered in Portland, Ore., Banfield operates more than 1,000 general practice veterinary hospitals across the United States and Puerto Rico.

Therapy Dog Teams

Therapy dogs lined up to greet workers at Sierra Vista Regional Medical Center on Thursday.

A group of therapy dog teams from the Alliance of Therapy Dogs gathered with proper social distancing to show support for the hospital workers as their shifts changed.

The support teams lined up with signs of encouragement.

“We are still thinking about them, and we are really happy and thankful for all that they are still doing for our communities,” said Denise Fitzgerald, a tester for the Alliance of Therapy Dogs.

Sierra Vista Regional Medical Center has made it a practice to use therapy dogs to offer emotional support and much needed distractions for patients.

Local Animal Rescuer

During the coronavirus pandemic, there has been a generous outpouring of people helping people get through the disruption of normal life. Pets on the other hand, have not received nearly the same attention.

Kandace Kuwahara saw the disparity of neglect for pets and sought to make a difference. Kuwahara, who runs a non-profit organization called Infinite Love Animal Rescue, made a sizable donation of pet food to the city of Gardena in early May.

An unofficial count of her contribution is impressive: more than 1,705 packets of Wellness Core “Mini Meals” dog food (143 boxes); 540 Inaba Foods Chura cat treats; 450 Inaba Foods Chura dog treats; and 4 bags of pet food.

Kuwahara, a Gardena native, started collecting items to be donated on April 11. She “meditated” on how she could be of service to the Gardena community

“I was inspired when I read an article on people shopping for groceries for senior citizens who are on ‘shelter in place’ order,” Kuwahara told the GVN. “And so the idea came to me that they would probably need pet food as well. I had a friend who had a difficult time finding pet food in the beginning of the ‘safer at home’ order and that’s how I came up with the idea.”

She credits Wellness Pet Food, Best Friends/NKLA, Inaba Foods (USA) Inc. and Beatriz Martinez for their pet food donations, which were specifically intended for Infinite Love’s Pet Food pantry. No monetary contributions to Infinite Love by supporters was used for the recent Gardena donation, Kuwahara emphasizes.

With businesses shutting down and workers finding themselves with an uncertain future due to COVID-19, Kuwahara is aware that some families face the unthinkable decision of giving away their pets.

She also acknowledged that the cost of pet food has put a strain on the family food budget. Preventing the problem before it begins, she says, is a key to keeping the family intact.

“It is heartbreaking to think that some people cannot afford to feed their furbaby, which is a reality people have to face, especially now,” Kuwahara says. “For the past month, I have been calling pet food manufactures asking for donations specifically for seniors with pets. I contacted Thomas Kang, retired Gardena police chief, asking if he can recommend anyone to help me distribute the food or any pet pantries that I can contribute too. He referred me to Jackie Arcos with Human Services at the City of Gardena. She said that they are in need of pet food for the senior meals program and emergency services program that supports people who (have pets and) are financially struggling.”

While some people have had to give up their pets, others have used the ‘stay at home’ order to bring homeless animals into the household, she says.

“The heartening news is that there has been a great spike in adoptions and fosters since the beginning of the quarantine,” Kuwahara says. ”It is the perfect time to introduce a new dog/cat into the family.”

In 2017, she founded her nonprofit rescue organization, Infinite Love. The name was inspired by her late pup “Boo,” who she says taught her that love is infinite and eternal. Boo was a Jack Russell-chihuahua mix that Kuwahara rescued from the spcaLA in Hawthorne.

Boo also serves as her group’s logo model, which was designed by Kuwahara. ILAR is dedicated to finding homes for abandoned and displaced dogs, while educating the public to be more responsible pet owners, she says.

“Our goal is to help (rescued dogs) in every way we can… emotionally, socially, and physically so that the transition into their forever homes will be as smooth as possible,” Kuwahara says. “We specialize in small family dogs that are scared and shut down, provide them with the medical attention and the unconditional love that they need to blossom.”

Infinite Love identifies the needs of each furbaby for its uniqueness. The group’s foster program determines the “idea lifestyle” for each dog, she says. Does the dog enjoy a lot of activity, like to cuddle, love children?

An example would be a chi-weenie named Strudel, now available for adoption.

“She has a little separation anxiety and we think it’s because she came from a hoarding situation,” Kuwahara says. “So we are searching for a home with someone who is retired or who works from home, and isn’t away from the home too long.”

ILAR incorporates a thorough adoption process, which includes an application, phone interview, meet and greet, and home check, she says.

As a small organization, Infinite Love operates with a volunteer staff and a small budget. Kuwahara, who has spent more than 20 years volunteering with various rescue groups in the South Bay and Los Angeles, confides that it’s a challenge caring for animals in need of forever homes while simultaneously handling the administrative duties.

“Currently, we are 100% volunteer-run,” Kuwahara says. “I rescue full time, every day, all day. I do not get paid. I am currently living on my savings account. I used to work full time as a graphic designer, plus rescue full time, but that became overwhelming for me, so now I am fully committed to rescuing animals.”

Love success stories include Lotus (now Lollypop). The 10-year-old Yorkie mix had infections, mange, and stage 2 breast cancer. Kuwahara’s group provided the dog with the medical attention needed before finding Lotus with her forever home.

Another dog, Trinity, was a tri-pawd, that was limping on a leg that was fractured and never healed. “Two vets said that her leg needed to be amputated,” Kuwahara says. “So we paid for her procedure and cared for her and now she is running and thriving in her forever home.

“This is the importance of receiving financial donations,” she says.

In 2019, Kuwahara had a chance reunion with Daryle Nagano-Krier, a former Gardena High School classmate. Nagano-Krier, a fellow animal lover and rescuer, joined Infinite Love Animal Rescue as a volunteer.

“She is positive, self-motivated, a great communicator, and organized,” Kuwahara told the Rafu Shimpo in a 2019 interview. “I am grateful to be able to lean into her for support and know that she will get it done.”

Nagano-Krier, a Communication Studies educator at El Camino College and Los Angeles Harbor College, has since been named Infinite Love’s program manager.

In the past year, the organization has grown exponentially, Kuwahara says. Infinite Love has participated in many community events by having adoption and outreach booths.

“This year, we were planning to expand our Humane Education programs and bring emotional support dogs to nursing homes, but that will most likely take place in 2021,” Kuwahara says. “We have also doubled the amount of dogs that we rescued from the previous years thankfully to my wonderful team of volunteers.”

Her book, “Be Your Own Sunshine,” was to be published this year.

Some of Kuwahara’s 2020 plans have been altered due to COVID-19.

“The pandemic has really slowed down my rescue and it’s been challenging,” she admits. “But it gave me the opportunity to work on the ‘behind the scenes’ tasks like partnering with more shelters (Riverside County Department of Animal Services), pet food manufacturers, and administrative duties. 

Care For Pets

The Betty Kwan Chinn Homeless Foundation announced today that it has received a $200,000 grant from the California Department of Housing and Community Development, Pet Assistance and Support Program to help house, feed and provide basic veterinary service to the pets of its clients.

Chinn, who spent much of her childhood living alone in a garbage dump during Mao Zedong’s Cultural Revolution after her mother was jailed and her siblings sent off to labor camps due to her parents’ wealth and Christian beliefs, has operated one of the few West Coast shelters to allow animals.

“Betty has long recognized the importance that some homeless individuals attach to their companion animals,” the release states. “Dogs provide emotional support, companionship, warmth and security to people living in the street. However, they also present a significant barrier to services because many shelters do not allow dogs, and this prevents some of the chronically homeless from accessing case management services geared toward regaining their self-sufficiency.”

Friends Of Library

The group raises funds for the Grant Brimhall and Newbury Park libraries through a variety of activities.

The available positions are:

The vice president of book sales is responsible for overseeing and scheduling used book sales, coordinating with book sorters and the online book sales volunteers and communicating with the board and publicity team.

This is an ideal volunteer position for someone who loves books, enjoys people and likes to use their creativity.

The publicity coordinator is responsible for posting relevant content to Facebook two to three times a week, and for filing occasional press releases.

Additional opportunities for writing are available for interested applicants. Most work can be done from home.

The ideal applicant will be familiar with Facebook, enjoy writing and be willing to post regularly.

The treasurer is responsible for collecting and disbursing the organization’s funds and keeping financial records, both year-toyear and for monthly distribution to the board.

Familiarity with basic accounting principles is essential; proficiency with QuickBooks is preferred.

Most work can be done from home. The ideal volunteer is someone who is detail oriented and enjoys working with numbers.

Training is available for all volunteer positions.

Hours are self-directed and flexible.

Board meetings are held on a monthly basis at the Thousand Oaks Library.

Training Service Dogs

Since 2012, the Retrieving Independence Serving with Canines program has partnered with TDOC to train offenders to raise and train puppies to be service animals for people with mobility disabilities, seizure disorders and diabetes.

Last summer, the program which started at Turney Center Industrial Complex (TCIX), added the Tennessee Prison for Women (TPFW) to the list of facilities with the training program. After a month away, due to COVID-19 concerns, the dogs were returned to TPFW on Tuesday.

“These dogs change these ladies’ lives, by having a companion that shows them unconditional love, and when you are loved unconditionally, it changes your way of thinking. “says Corporal Craig Hawn who oversees the program. Corporal Hawn also tells us “The reward for me is seeing them change their lives. I can tell you every single one of these women in this program have grown from when they started out.”

During the nearly 18-month program the dogs undergo an intensive training process, teaching them everything from seizure detection and wheelchair assistance, to opening and closing doors and loading laundry.  A recipient for each dog is matched early on and the training program is tailored to meet that person’s specific needs.

“Good Boy” Movie

Hulu’s latest entry into their holiday-themed Into the Dark horror movie series might leave you side-eyeing your newly adopted pup. On Thursday, May 28, the trailer dropped for the newest Into the Dark installment, Judy Greer’s new horror comedy Good Boy, which is set to premiere June 12 on Hulu. The movie is tied to Pet Appreciation Week, but it presents a unique take on the owner-pet bond that’s way deadlier than you might expect.

Greer stars as Maggie, a woman who is dealing with an excess of anxiety and stress in her life. In hopes of improving her state of mind, she adopts an adorable terrier to be her emotional support animal, but the little guy takes his job a bit too seriously. As shown in the trailer, her 10 pound dog responds to her stress by killing anyone he perceives to be causing her any pain or emotional distress — and she might actually be OK with that.

In the trailer, Maggie’s friend marvels that her new dog has “made all of your anxiety disappear.” Maggie’s chilling response? “Like magic.” Despite Maggie’s emotional support animal taking the term overprotective to a whole new level, dog lovers shouldn’t worry about Maggie’s pup being the villain of the movie. After all, the tagline reads: “there are no bad dogs, just bad owners.”

ood Boy is especially timely given the coronavirus pandemic, when pets are providing more emotional support than ever before. As shelter in place orders were put in place across much of America, people stepped up to adopt and foster animals in record numbers with the ASPCA seeing the number of animals being fostered increase by nearly 70% this year over last year’s numbers, as reported by CNBC. More and more people seem to be inviting pets into their homes, and new pet owners are still adjusting.

Greer, a dog owner herself, signed on for the role because she knows firsthand what it’s like to adopt a dog. In an April interview with Variety, she shared that she related with Maggie’s “desire to have a companion dog,” and end up with a pet that wasn’t exactly how she imagined. Like her character, Greer also adopted a terrier, Mary, in hopes of having an animal that could travel with her. However, it turned out Mary needed her pet mom more than the actor could have anticipated.

“She’s so awful to everyone that I can’t let anyone take care of her because if she bites anyone they’ll totally sue me, so I can’t really take her with me when I go places and she’s not emotionally supportive,” Greer said of her dog. “In fact, she stresses me out so much because of her nature and how troubled she seems and how f*cked up her life was before I met her. So I feel like I really am her emotional support human.”

It seems Greer knows firsthand that every pet adoption story is different, but even a dog with a complicated past can still bring joy to your life. Good Boy seems to have the same message at its heart — it’s just presenting it in a much more heightened, murdery way.

Sheriff’s Office Has A Sniffing Dog

Harford County Sheriffs Department has added a new canine member to its police force. It’s very common for police departments to have dogs on the force to sniff out bombs, drugs, and people, but this K9 is the first of its kind in the State of Maryland.

Sata, a beautiful, fluffy black dog, is trained as a Electronic Storage Detection canine (or ESD). Sata can sniff out all kinds of electronic data storage devices like flash drives and cell phones. The dog and his human handler will be assigned to Harford County’s Child Advocacy Center Internet Crimes Against Children Unit.

The dog was brought to the department to help investigators find digital storage, often a crucial piece of evidence in crimes involving sexual offenses.

“K9 Sata will allow the Harford County Sheriff’s Office to expand our investigative capabilities to address the growing number of cases involving digital media,” said Sheriff Jeffrey R. Gahler.  “Access to this cutting-edge opportunity greatly enhances our abilities to protect the most vulnerable among us, our children.”

Sata is also trained as a therapy and comfort dog and will replace the department’s beloved therapy dog Kilo, who passed away last year. Therapy dogs can be used by law enforcement to comfort children and adults in stressful situations. Interaction with animals can help humans lower anxiety and blood pressure and take their minds off the situation. Sata is joined by her human handler, Detective Carey Gerres, and will help the department bring justice to the victims of child pornography and other sexual abuse crimes.

Sata was trained by a renowned K9 training company made possible by a grant from Neighborhood Electronic Detection K-9, a nonprofit dedicated to training dogs for ESD detection. Funding was also provided by the Governor’s Office of Crime Prevention and the Harford County Task Force.