Maryland’s First Detection Dog

Harford County Sheriff Jeffrey R. Gahler on Thursday announced the addition of the Harford County Sheriff’s Office’s (HCSO) newest law enforcement canine, K-9 Sata.

K-9 Sata is certified as an electronic storage detection (ESD) canine and derives his name from the Serial AT Attachment, a computer bus interface that connects mass storage devices and a commonly used connector in digital forensic examinations. ESD K-9s are dogs who are specially trained to detect the presence of electronic media storage or other digital evidence, such as hard drives, USB drives, and cell phones.

ESD K-9s came to prominence with the investigation of Subway pitchman, Jared Fogle, who was sentenced to 15 years in prison for having sex with minors. An ESD K-9 named Bear detected key evidence in Fogle’s home, aiding in his conviction. K-9 Bear was trained by Jordan Detection K-9, who also trained K-9 Sata. K-9 Sata is the 35th out of 37 ESD K-9s trained by Jordan Detection K-9 and deployed around the country. K-9 Sata is the first ESD K-9 in Maryland.

The cost of procuring K-9 Sata and the initial two-week handler training was generously donated by Neighborhood Electronic Detection K-9 Inc., a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization formed by a group of community minded individuals from the Indianapolis, Indiana area to fund and provide fully-trained ESD K-9s to law enforcement in order to remove child predators from our streets.

K-9 Sata and his new partner, Detective Carey Gerres, are assigned to the Harford County Child Advocacy Center’s (CAC) Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Unit, whose focus is rescuing victims and arresting perpetrators of child sexual abuse material (CSAM – what is legally defined as child pornography) via the Internet and other related technology facilitated crimes against children.

ESD K-9s can also be cross trained for other missions and K-9 Sata will also be utilized as a therapy or comfort dog to support child victims and their families in the field or who visit the CAC to receive services. K-9 Sata will continue the work of Kilo, the HCSO’s first therapy dog, who sadly passed away in October of 2019.

“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 Gahler. “Access to this cutting edge opportunity greatly enhances our abilities to protect the most vulnerable among us – our children.”

New Dog Therapy Policy

Golden Retrievers Help Deliver

A brewery on Long Island is delivering more than just beer during the coronavirus pandemic. It’s delivering joy brought by two golden retrievers carrying beer cans.

Buddy and Barley are the resident dogs of the Six Harbors Brewing Company in Huntington. Like everyone else, COVID-19 forced the company to do only pickup and delivery. So the owners decided to bring their best buds on all the delivery stops and brighten the day of those who are in quarantine.

The delivery dogs have beer cans wrapped around them (don’t worry, they’re empty), and they have been bringing craft beer and huge smiles to people’s homes for the last two months.

“People were saying, ‘gee, I miss your dogs.’ So we started bringing the dogs on some of the deliveries and we said, ‘hey, why don’t we make this a permanent thing. Why don’t we get the dogs out there in the car with us?'” said brewery owner Karen Ravn-Heuwetter.

Ravn-Heuwetter says she’s getting a lot of requests for surprise gifts and special occasions. “People are having us send our dogs to their friend’s house, or their son’s 21st birthday this past week, and as anniversary gifts,” she said.

The furry helpers have the time of their lives riding in the delivery truck, bringing the empty cans to the front door, before the real beer follows.

“This is the first time I’ve ever had beer delivered by a couple of dogs. It makes the beer extra special,” customer Ken Knowles said.

Another customer couldn’t control her laughter and was nearly brought to tears when she was surprised by Buddy and Barley on her birthday. “This is the funniest thing I’ve ever seen. They’re so sweet,” she said.

It’s an easy job for the dogs and they weren’t hard to train because they love and miss people just as much as customers miss them, Ravn-Heuwetter said.

Buddy and Barley became unofficial therapy dogs, delivering the kind of mid-pandemic cheer you can’t put a price on.

“With what we’re dealing with right now, it’s 5 minutes of happiness which I think a lot of people need,” Ravn-Heuwetter said.

Leveling Up Animal Care

A new contract between the West Columbia Gorge Humane Society (WCGHS) in Washougal and the Humane Society for Southwest Washington (SWHS) in Vancouver is helping give the local animal shelter more stability while providing a higher level of care for stray animals coming into the Washougal shelter from the cities of Washougal and Camas.

Under the new, three-year contract, which went into effect on March 1, the Washougal shelter will be able to operate as more of a full-service provider when it accepts stray and lost dogs.

Prior to the contract, when a stray dog came into the Washougal shelter, WCGHS staff needed city of Washougal approval to access basic and even emergency veterinary care.

“Everything we did for stray animals had to go through the city,” WCGHS Executive Director Megan Dennis recently told the Post-Record. “(The city) would choose whether or not we could or should provide those services.”

The shelter staff could not provide stray animals with vaccines or transport them to an emergency veterinary clinic without city approval.

The new contract with HSSW changes that arrangement by utilizing the larger Vancouver organization’s veterinary care and financial expertise. WGCHS will continue to shelter stray, lost and abandoned dogs, while HSSW acts as a back-up facility and as the stray sheltering program administrator.

“We have basically become a full-service provider,” Dennis explained. “Instead of the city having control over what care we can provide, we as the experts are able to determine whether an animal needs care.”

Stray dogs coming into the Washougal or Vancouver shelters from Camas-Washougal will now be able to receive needed medical care, such as deworming treatments and vaccines, and can be transported to a veterinarian if necessary.

“It’s upleveling the care of animals in Southwest Washington,” Dennis said, “and will benefit the community.”

“Our animal sheltering services contract will not only provide food, shelter and basic care for lost, abandoned and hurt animals, but also enhanced veterinary care; lost and found redemption services; licensing, and administrative and fee collection services to (Camas-Washougal),” WCGHS and HSSW leaders explained in a recent opinion column about the benefits of the new contract.

Micki Simeone, president of the WCGHS Board of Directors, said people who come to reclaim a lost animal at the Washougal shelter also will reap the benefits of the new contract.

“When citizens came to reclaim their animal, they had to go to the city to make a payment and then come back to us,” Simeone said. “It wasn’t convenient.”

The new agreement with HSSW will cut out that middle step and allow citizens to make a payment at the Washougal shelter when picking up their lost pet.

Simeone said WCGHS leaders have been reevaluating the shelter’s arrangement with the city of Washougal for the past few years.

“With more recent board members, starting in 2013 and more recently in 2015, there has been a whole new mindset of, ‘Hey, you know, this is a great service we’re providing to the community, but the protocols in place are limiting us from providing the best practices.”

WCGHS leaders worked with city of Washougal officials to come up with a solution.

One piece of that solution involved the transfer of the Washougal dog shelter building, which was in need of nearly $80,000 in repairs and upgrades, from the city to the WCGHS.

“Having the building gives us more control to make it the way it needs to be for our animals,” Dennis said. “It also gives us more security. When it was owned by the city, the city could have taken it away from us. Now it’s our building.”

A new long-term lease — five years versus year-to-year — with the Port of Camas-Washougal for the land under the shelter building also gives WCGHS leaders more security about the local humane society’s future.

“Before … we felt we were at risk. Now, we’ve really been able to secure a better future for ourselves,” Dennis said.

The local animal sheltering services cost WCGHS an average of $350 per animal — one of the lowest costs per animal in the Portland-Vancouver metro region, according to Stacey Graham, president of the HSSW.

“It’s important to know that $350 cost per animal is an incredibly low cost,” Graham told the Post-Record. “Both of our shelters try to keep our costs as low as we can … and we’re cognizant of wanting to keep our costs as low as we can to municipalities because we know they’re struggling, especially in this (COVID-19 crisis) environment.”

In the past, Camas and Washougal have paid WCGHS $120 per animal for sheltering services. That meant that donors were footing much of the bill for caring for people’s lost and stray animals.

To help lessen the cost for donors and help pay for the enhanced sheltering services, the contract between WCGHS and HSSW will increase the flat fees charged to the cities of Camas and Washougal.

The three-year contract increases the flat fee each year, increasing from the former $120 to $150 per dog in 2020, $170 in 2021 and $190 in 2022. WCGHS leaders estimate that the total annual fees for Camas and Washougal combined will be $28,875 in 2020, $34,000 in 2021 and $38,000 in 2022. The estimates are based on the number of dogs impounded from each city. In 2018, 54 dogs from Camas required stray-sheltering services. In 2019, there were 41 dogs impounded from Camas.

Cities recoup impound fees paid when animal owners pick up their lost pet.

Even with the increased fees, however, the cost to the cities doesn’t cover the full cost of sheltering and caring for a lost animal, Graham said.

“We’re not recovering (the total costs of stray animal sheltering) from any municipality,” Graham said. “We do have to subsidize with donor funds.”

The shelter leaders say they hope to work with city leaders in Washougal and Camas to help educate them on ways they might help fund the increased sheltering fees.

“Even though we know the price increase is significant, we’re working with the cities to help them get back some of the funds,” Graham said. “We feel that there is a really good way for them to increase their revenue by passing (the costs) along to the pet owners who have to utilize this stray shelter. The people who need it should have to help cover the cost.”

The shelter leaders have encouraged city officials to reconsider lifetime pet licensing fees that are not in line with the annual or bi-annual pet licenses implemented by most other Southwest Washington municipalities.

“It’s very rare to see a lifetime license,” Graham said. “Licensing a dog or pet is intended to help raise money to fund the animal control program. A (lifetime license) does not really cover the costs for animal control.”

Pet owners in Camas-Washougal will likely be relieved to know that, under the new sheltering agreement, if their dog does run away and is found by local animal control officers and taken to the WCGHS, local residents will be able to pick their pet up in Washougal and know their animal is receiving best-practices care from trained staff.

“It is a good thing that we were able to keep WCGHS as the primary shelter,” Lisa Feder, HSSW’s vice president and director of shelter operations, said. “We heard a very clear message from citizens (that they wanted to retain a Washougal animal shelter). “The (new contract) has more to do with efficiencies and quality of care. Reclaiming a dog (in Washougal) will be far easier and much more in line with the way normal shelter contracts work.”

Connecting With Canines

After serving in America’s armed forces, Stanford’s student-veterans shifted their focus to academia and research. But since arriving on the Farm, some have continued to heed the call to serve with help from some animal companions.

In partnership with the non-profit organization Warrior Canine Connection (WCC), student veterans volunteer to train dogs to be service companions for other veterans living with mobility or cognitive challenges. Although a stark contrast from their military service, the students say the volunteer work is incredibly fulfilling. They also hope to expand the program to include non-veterans at Stanford once the campus reopens.

Before COVID-19 forced the Stanford community to disperse, the student-veterans gathered about once a week at the Office for Military-Affiliated Communities (OMAC) to meet dogs – brought to campus by a local WCC trainer – and guide them through training activities.

“We help them practice things like staying still and calm or how to focus on one person at a time,” said Nestor Walters, a Stanford junior majoring in mathematics and a 10-year Navy veteran.

Since shelter in place orders, the veterans have kept up with training through videos and live cams shared by the WCC. In addition to teaching the dogs commands and practical skills, such as how to retrieve objects, the students also show them how to recognize signs of distress and be supportive companions to veterans with emotional or psychological trauma. The students say that training the animals is a rewarding process that’s helped them find community and purpose as they’ve transitioned from military life to academia.

Walters first met Frankie, a golden retriever, when he was just a pup, small enough to hold in his hand. At the time, Walters was recovering from knee surgery and was on crutches and painkillers, but still managed to teach Frankie simple tasks.

“We started by rewarding him every time he looked at me,” Walters said. “Since then, I’ve watched Frank – named in memory of Army Air Corps 1st Lt. Francis Misciagna – grow into a slobbering, playful, beast of a hairball.”

Walters has been training Frankie to open doors and pick up objects. He’s even taught him how to identify and disrupt body language that indicates anxiety and depression – feelings common to veterans who have experienced trauma.

“As much fun as it is to basically play with a dog and have it count as public service, it’s also a sobering reminder [that] Frankie is preparing to join a final veteran who is mobility impaired, possibly battling combat trauma or mental illness,” Walters said.

Mechanical engineering PhD candidate and Navy reservist John Alsterda met Arthur – a Labrador – at an OMAC barbeque and immediately felt a connection. Alsterda participated in weekly WCC training sessions at Stanford. He said training and working with WCC canines has been a rewarding experience that also provides some respite from the demands of being a Stanford student.

“It feels like I’m making a contribution to help train a service animal that could make a real difference in someone’s life,” Alsterda said. “As an added bonus, I get to learn about animal training and experience a joyful connection that provides a balance to schoolwork.”

Sophomore Joel Johnson is a five-year Marine Corps veteran studying symbolic systems. He said that as a student, it can be difficult to connect to the outside world and to the broader veteran community. The transition from active duty to student life presented a struggle to find purpose and impact.

“WCC gives me the opportunity to address both of those issues; I’m working for a good cause, which is hugely beneficial to my overall well-being, and volunteering with the dogs really scratches the ‘service to community and country’ itch that I often feel isn’t adequately stimulated as a student,” Johnson said. “Also, working with dogs is shown to release oxytocin in humans, and that just feels good.”

The students’ volunteer-training lasts until the dogs are ready to be paired with a veteran, with whom they live permanently.

Through OMAC, Stanford student-veterans have been collaborating with WCC for several years. Although the program currently consists of students who have served in the military, Walters said that they hope to open the program up to other Stanford community members once restrictions on gatherings are lifted.

“We’d like to get non-veterans involved in some way,” he said. “Possibly through workshops or meet-and-greets so people can engage with the animals, which is good for mental health.”

Paws Of Honor

Some eastern panhandle residents have found a charitable way to match their love for dogs and ties to law enforcement and service veterans groups.

These special canines have served with handlers in the military and law enforcement on dangerous explosives — or narcotics — detection assignments. But the day comes when we all have to retire. And for black lab, Duffy, and Yellow Lab, Buddy, and Shepherd-mix, Remi, that day has come. Their tours of duty in Iraq and Afghanistan are behind them. But they are in the loving care handlers who raise funds for these retirement years when vet bills can become expensive. Paws of Honor (www.pawsofhonor.org), founded right after 9-11, has delivered more than a million dollars in veterinary care to these dogs.

Group organizer Elaina Maze said, “most people don’t realize that when these dogs retire from service they’re decommissioned with no benefits, unlike their human counterparts.

Paws of Honor has more than 200 dogs in its care right now.

Newton Pups

Currently on furlough due to COVID-19, Annie, Piper and Taco are chomping at the bit to return to their volunteer work.

The three tiny Papillons, owned by resident Jo-Edith Heffron, miss working with the patients at Good Shepherd Continuing Care and seem eager to return.

Heffron explained more about how the trio became therapy dogs and their plans for the future.

When did the trio become therapy dogs? Can you tell readers more about what they do as part of their volunteer work?

I have been involved in pet therapy (formerly animal assisted therapy) since 1990. Their “work” involves companionship – and providing the tactile sensory feelings that animals nurture. They also, in many instances, bring back pleasant memories to patients.

When each dog was acquired they began to train to become therapy dogs. They start with basic obedience before therapy training can begin. Not all dogs like this work and that should be determined before proceeding further.

What inspired you to have the trio begin to work as therapy dogs?

I started in therapy work to give something back. As an animal person, I have seen the benefits that this work does.

During this pandemic more people have adopted animals for companionship and for the love that they provide – unconditionally [with] no strings attached.

When did the dogs start working at Good Shepherd Continuing Care in Newton and when did they have to stop due to COVID-19? Have you seen evidence in their behavior that they miss going out to socialize with the people there?

We started working at Good Shepherd in March 2017 and visited our first client in April 2017. Due to COVID-19, our last direct visit was March 4, 2020.

I think that the trio miss their weekly visits and all of the happiness that surround them.

Once it is safe, do you intend to have the dogs return to work at Good Shepherd? What do you think the dogs mean to the people there?

Once we get the OK I am sure that we will be up and running again. I hope that everyone has stayed well during this siege.

Pet therapy visits are by request and just to see the clients “light up” when they see and pat the dogs makes it a wonderful experience.

We can only visit with one dog at a time so the girls are rotated in their visits.

Protecting Houston Pets

As more Americans stay home during enforced quarantines — such as the stay-home extension ordered by Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo — a dark trend has emerged. Reports across the country reflect an increase in domestic violence, which experts blame on isolation, stress, and anxiety.

One reason why individuals stay in abusive households is to protect children or pets, according to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence. Here in Houston, a local organization has launched a new program to create a safe space for pets in dangerous environments.

Houston PetSet, a local nonprofit, has launched a free pet boarding initiative for survivors of domestic violence, dubbed Pet Protect. The program is meant to aid individuals flee dangerous environments safely with their beloved companion animals.

While there are Houston-area programs offering boarding for animals during traditional work hours, Pet Protect aims to bridge the gap by offering a survivor the ability to board their animal at a safe location at any time of the day, according to a release.

Houston PetSet has partnered with Westbury Animal Hospital to offer boarding for pets when survivors of domestic violence are looking to leave their current situation Monday – Friday after 5 pm and before 8 am, and on weekends and holidays.

Houston Dog Ranch has also joined Pet Protect to offer boarding for animals that will come into the program Monday – Friday from 8 am to 5 pm. Pets at the Houston Dog Ranch also receive behavioral assessments, training, and play group experiences, when appropriate.

Pet Protect will serve as a pilot program to survivors of domestic violence and their pets at no charge for upwards of 30 days.

“Since the stay-home, work-safe order was enacted, we’ve seen an increase in reports of domestic violence,” said Tama Lundquist, co-president of Houston PetSet, in a statement. “Unfortunately, we know that oftentimes an abuser will use a pet as leverage to keep their victim in the home. We hope that by launching the Pet Protect program, survivors will have peace of mind knowing that they can safely escape with their pet, and their companion will be cared for until the survivor can make their next transition in life.”

Houston PetSet is currently working with the Harris County Sheriff’s Office, the Houston Police Department, the Harris County District Attorney’s Office,  and the Houston Area Women’s Center to provide this program to survivors with animals. Those who need assistance should visit houstonpetset.org/pet-protect for more information.

Animals On Campus

Scarlet is precocious. At just 12 years old, she’s four months into her first year at the University. She has curly, sandy-colored hair, loves her roommate, K Stiefel ’20, and lives in the Pink House at 99 Alexander Street.

Scarlet also has four legs, loves to play catch, and serves as Stiefel’s emotional support animal (ESA).

Scarlet provides Stiefel with unconditional love and helps to structure their day. The responsibility of caring for an animal means Stiefel has to care for themself, whether that means going for a midday walk or taking a break from work to give Scarlet some attention.

Scarlet and Stiefel aren’t the only interspecies roommates on campus. The Office of Disability Services approves ESAs for select students in order to “mitigate the impact of the disability which can help the student to better navigate their academic and social settings,” Director Liz Erickson wrote in an email. The number of campus ESAs is unclear; approved students sometimes opt to leave their animals at home.

“I literally cannot express enough how helpful it’s been to have him,” said Ann Webb ’22, who lives with Scout, her seven-month-old feline ESA. “It’s so nice to have that source of joy and love and comfort that you just know is going to be there anytime.”

Most students with ESAs have either a dog or a cat, and students are free to live in any dormitory building on campus, provided that any roommates also agree to having an ESA. To qualify for an ESA, a student must provide documentation of a disability and an addendum document from a treating therapist or other medical professional that establishes why the animal is a necessary part of the student’s treatment protocol and how they would benefit from the opportunity.

If the Office of Disability Services approves the request, the Office of the Dean of Undergraduate Students requires proof of the animal’s vaccinations and sets out the requirements and responsibilities of having an animal on campus. For instance, ESAs are not allowed in public University buildings or spaces. Students must return to their rooms throughout the day to provide their animals with adequate care and attention.

For both Stiefel and Webb, the application process proved simple and straightforward. The task of caring for an animal on campus can prove less so.

Students with dogs, like Stiefel, visit their rooms as many as five times a day to walk their animals.

“It can be difficult to make sure they’re getting all the love and attention they need,” Webb said. “It’s just something that each student has to work through and figure out, like divvying up their time and making sure they’re making time for the animal in the same way the animal is making time for them.”

For Webb, caring for Scout has been simplified by having three other roommates. When Webb is busy with extracurriculars, knowing that Scout has companionship puts her mind at ease.

Scout has full roam of the two bedrooms and common room of Webb’s quad. Friendly and affectionate, he often jumps up into beds — any beds — at night to cuddle, and he is well-known among Webb’s friends.

“I remember at the beginning of the year, sometimes I would just forget that we had a cat living in the room, and I just woke up with a warm body next to me,” said Rayyan Sarker ’22, Webb’s roommate. “Every day I wake up, and I get re-surprised that, in a college dorm, I have the opportunity to spend time with another animal.”

Scout’s presence has had a tangible impact not just on Webb, but also on her roommates. He provides a homey atmosphere — the residents of the quad enjoy relaxing with him in the evenings and taking him for walks when the weather is warm — and a sense of excitement.

“It’s funny because people will, like, knock on our door and be, like, ‘Oh, I just came to hang out with the cat,’” Webb said. “He’s famous. He definitely gets tons of love and affection.”

“Sometimes it’s so easy to forget … [that] we’re always so busy running around, doing things on campus, and a lot of the time coming back to our room just meant going to bed,” she explained. “It’s nice to have someone else or something else that we all can sit with [and] play with, and it makes our room more lively in general when he’s running around.”

Having an ESA on campus is a new experience for both Stiefel and Webb this year. Both of them have noticed positive changes in their lives.

For Webb, the support Scout brings helps her navigate anxiety and any other mental health concerns, making it easier for her to function.

“I think it’s something that creates more equity for students who have disabilities or any kind of mental illness — to have this support system is incredibly, incredibly helpful,” she said.

The responsibility of caring for Scarlet means Stiefel commits to being back in their room at 10:30 p.m. and taking more breaks — a healthy necessity for both of them. But as much as Stiefel takes care of Scarlet, they insist that Scarlet takes care of them.

“When I’m really stressed out or I’m having a bad day emotionally,” said Stiefel, “I can just hang out with her for a little bit, especially given that sometimes I have trouble interacting with people. Having a dog where there’s no expectation of having to be social but I can still get that nice contact. That oxytocin flowing has been amazing.”

National Rescue Dog Day

On May 20th, National Rescue Dog Day recognizes all the benefits of allowing a four-legged canine to adopt you into their immeasurably lovable life.

According to the ASPCA, approximately 3.3 million dogs enter shelters every year. When these abandoned and abused animals find their way to a shelter, each one needs a forever home and their potential is limitless. They’re rescue dogs.

Rescue dogs provide a variety of therapeutic benefits. Children, teens, and adults with autism may benefit from services provided by trained rescue dogs.

As emotional support companions, rescue dogs help to relieve anxiety, depression, and PTSD among the military or those who suffer from mental illness.

They make excellent teachers, too. Rescue dogs show children about caring and kindness.

Rescue dogs can even be trained to rescue us from dangerous situations or help to investigate the cause of a fire.

There are more homeless animals than people.  In fact, according to volunteer website DoSomething .org, there are five homeless animals on the street for every one homeless human.

Most dogs entering shelters are still young. Research published in the Macedonian Veterinary Review found that, in 2013, the average age of a shelter dog was under two years old, proving that there are dogs of all ages available for adoption.

Of the 6.5 million animals that enter animal shelters nationwide every year, 3.3 million of those are dogs.

one study conducted by researchers at the University of Florida found that having a pet dog around allows children better cope with stress, setting them up for success in the future.

According to the pet adoption website PetFinder, approximately 60 percent of shelter dogs nationwide are put to sleep every year because they can’t find a home.

Because so many dogs are brought to the shelter having already lived in a home environment, it’s more than likely that you’ll find that your new pet already knows some of the basic commands.

According to one study of 3.4 million individuals published in Scientific Reports, single dog owners were 33 percent less likely to die compared to their pet-free pals.

It costs taxpayers roughly 2 BILLION bones a year to round up, shelter and euthanize homeless animals.

Did you know adopting a pup can help you lose weight? Dog owners are more active than their pet-less counterparts. (Sneaking in exercise through walks and fetch doesn’t hurt, either!)

1 out of every 10 dogs born will find a permanent home.

According to Slate, one survey found that “82 percent of people [felt] more confident approaching an attractive person if they had their dog with them.”

Another study cited by Slate found that in the modern world of dating apps, people with dogs look more approachable and happy than those who are dogless.

There have been several studies on the best ways to calm dogs in kennels. Classical music seems to work well, but a 2016 study found that compared to other “auditory conditions,” kenneled dogs were more relaxed while audiobooks were playing. Cesar Milan then did his own tests and found that 76 percentof his volunteer dogs were more relaxed at home while listening to audiobooks—and teamed up with Audible to create a specialized audiobook service.

I’s not just adults who experience health benefits from having a dog; another study found that child dog walkers played outside more and were more likely to walk in the neighborhood.

The Newfoundland breed has a water resistant coat and webbed feet. This dog was originally bred to help haul nets for fishermen and rescuing people at risk of drowning.

It’s rumored that, at the end of the Beatles song, “A Day in the Life,” Paul McCartney recorded an ultrasonic whistle, audible only to dogs, just for his Shetland sheepdog.

Dogs chase their tails for a variety of reasons: curiosity, exercise, anxiety, predatory instinct or, they might have fleas! If your dog is chasing his tail excessively, talk with your vet.

Dalmatian puppiesppies are pure white when they are born and develop their spots as they grow older.

Dogs’ eyes contain a special membrane, called the tapetum lucidum, which allows them to see in the dark.