Introducing Joy

CPS found Joy through a partnership between themselves, Victim Services of SDG&A and Koala Place. Joy has undergone extensive training to provide physical, social and emotional support for those she interacts with, particularly those who have undergone stress or trauma.

Property/Exhibit Manager and Quartermaster for the CPS, Danielle Lauzon has been Joy’s handler since 2019 and prepares Joy for interactions with children, victims, or witnesses who may have experienced trauma.

“Joy is used to bring a sense of calmness and comfort to victims or witnesses of crime,” said Lauzon. “She helps alleviate some of the discomfort when having to speak to a police officer about a traumatic or unfortunate circumstance.”

Missing Service Dog Reunited

On Thursday we brought you the story of a veteran’s service dog who had gone missing and was found four days later with gunshot wounds. The dog survived and was reunited with his owner this weekend.

For local veteran Tony Eadus, his dog Lucca, is more than just a pet.

“Lucca just keeps me calm and takes care of me,” said Eadus. “And when I start getting all anxious and stuff he comes right over and puts his head in my lap and just looks at me.”

Not only does Lucca monitor his Eadus’s health, he keeps him company.

So when Lucca disappeared from home last week Eadus was beside himself.

“I was outside for about 6 to 8 hours walking all over the apartment complex and everything looking for him and I’d get up in the morning and look over to where he normally sleeps and he wasn’t there and I’d freak out,” he said.

Nearly 4 days after Lucca had gone missing Animal Control received a call about a dog wandering around Cote Lane. That dog was Lucca, and when they picked him up, they found he was injured badly with multiple gunshot wounds to the shoulder and head.

“I can’t imagine a person doing that. Why would you steal a dog and take him clear across town and shoot him?” said Eadus.

But Lucca survived, and has since been reunited with his owner. “Really emotional, I can’t believe he survived all that.”

In the coming weeks Lucca will be in and out of the Missoula Vet Clinic for checkups, but as for the medical bills, well they won’t be a problem as they’ve already been covered by the generosity of the community.

Eadus told MTN it blew his mind that so many people did that for Lucca. After a whirlwind of a week, Eadus says he’s just ready to get his pup back home. “Probably feed him and hug him and play with him for awhile and toss his ball around.”

If you have any leads on Lucca’s case you should contact Missoula County Animal Control.

Therapy Dogs Helping

Our friends at the National Dog Show shared this with us.

This picture from Heel2Heal Therapy Dogs in Florida made the national news and went viral in the early stages of the national initiative to battle Covid19. The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel in the top row “Are” photo is a member of the Philadelphia-based National Dog Show Therapy Dog Ambassador Team.

Service Dog Running For Hero Dog Of The Year

Some have four legs, fur, and help veterans.

Meet Nick: Nick was paired with Jody, a veteran of the United States Army and Navy in January 2019. Jody suffers from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and Nick, his service dog, helps him mitigate the symptoms.

Nick was raised, trained, and donated by Guardian Angels Medical Service Dogs, a 501(C)3 located in Williston, Florida.

“Guardian Angels is proud to have two additional service dogs nominated for this year’s American Humane Hero Dog Awards. This award is known in the service dog industry as one of the highest honors available, particularly for an organization like ours which trains these dogs,” said Carol Borden, CEO of Guardian Angels Medical Service Dogs. “Our dogs play a critical role in providing our recipients with a ‘new normal,’ where they are able to reintegrate into society and navigate life with their disabilities in a way that was not possible before their pairings.”

After Nick was paired with Jody, his blood pressure dropped by 80 points and was able to sleep for six consecutive hours, something he hadn’t been able to do in months.

Two months later, Nick was able to get the alert out that Jody was having a heart attack. Then months after that, he alerted medics of an impending stroke.

Since being paired with Nick, Jody has now been able to excel at work, take public transportation, and spend more time with his family.

Nick is up against another Guardian Angels Medical Service Dogs dog, Rhino, who is in Grand Junction, Colorado.

Having A New Dog In Your Home

As a dog lover, you probably treat your pet like a member of the family, or maybe they’re the only roommate you’ve got. Your canine friend provides good company, but for this to happen, you have to take care of them.

This means you should provide for both their emotional and physical needs. Before bringing a new dog into your home, you ought to understand that they need more than love and food; they also need a safe and comfortable home. A dog room can provide that comfort and safety.

Before bringing home a new dog, you ought to learn how to dog proof their living space. Your pooch needs to be safe around and outside the house.

Many home accidents happen in the kitchen and bathroom because these rooms house dangerous chemicals and items. Keep all cleaning items, food, and cutlery away from your dog’s reach.

Do not allow your dog to play with house plants, which can be dangerous. You can also move house plants out of reach or put them in the yard.

Ensure that your TV, stereo, and other electronics don’t have dangling wires. Cover all electrical outlets and cords.

Protect your pet from choking hazards by removing buttons, batteries, and jewelry from dressers or any other surfaces where the pooch might reach. Hide or cover the trash to protect your dog from eating chemicals or spoiled food.

Our dogs are special to us; they not only provide companionship, but they are loyal, and love us without judgment. Every pet parent wants to make their pets happy and comfortable.

Since our canine friends are family, they deserve space where they can relax without interruptions.

If your home has enough space, you can create a room for your fur buddy. This is a great way to ensure that your pet stays active, comfortable, and doesn’t destroy your home while they’re alone.

Try to choose a room with a floor of sealed concrete or tiles because they’re easier to clean. If you don’t have a room like that, you can replace the flooring of an existing room to a more easily maintainable material.

One of the best indoor dog room ideas is to use semi-gloss paint free from organic volatile chemicals or non-toxic satin paint. These paints make it easy to wipe away paw prints compared to glossy paints. After a long day of being a loyal pet, your pooch deserves a comfortable bed to sleep and take naps in. The good thing is that your canine friend is not picky and will find a mat or pillow comfy. But you can also buy a dog bed that can provide an extra level of comfort. Bringing a new dog home is exciting because it means you’ll have a loyal friend for life. However, pets need love, care, and physical and emotional support. A dog room provides comfort, safety, and privacy for your pet.

Lucy Hales Emotional Support Dog

Lucy Hale believes she knew her dog Elvis in a previous life because they are “entirely too connected”.

The Pretty Little Liars star adopted the Maltipoo in June 2016 and the canine has become so famous that he even has his own Instagram account. And in an “Ask Me Anything” video interview with Elle U.S., Lucy made the surprising admission that she believes she and Elvis were somehow connected in a past life.

In response to the request to complete the sentence, “In my past life I was…”, Lucy replied: “Absolutely in my dog Elvis’ life. I don’t know if I was his owner, or if he was my owner, or if we were friends. I totally believe in reincarnation and I know for a fact that I’ve known Elvis in a life before because we are just entirely too connected – he’s the best.”

The 30-year-old actress has been in lockdown with Elvis, who she considers her “emotional support dog”, during the coronavirus pandemic, and she “simply doesn’t know” what she would have done if she didn’t have her dog to keep her company during these unprecedented times.

And while she’s thinking about getting another pooch to keep Elvis company, she isn’t sure whether or not to make the leap.

“I’m thinking about possibly getting another one. But I just don’t know how I could love another dog as much as I love him. It just doesn’t seem possible,” she grinned.

Coast Guard Mascot

A beloved member of the U.S. Coast Guard’s St. Ignace crew has advanced in the ranks thanks to her loyalty and good work.

Onyx, a 13-year-old black Labrador retriever, received a shiny new pin — a gold anchor with a gold star — denoting her advancement to Senior Chief Petty “Pawfficer” for her service as a station mascot and morale dog.

The pin was placed on Onyx’s pink collar in an advancement ceremony on Friday, May 1. The ceremony concluded with the newly pinned officer receiving a treat.

The station’s Chief Petty Officer Tyler Benson said it had been about three years since Onyx’s most recent advancement, meaning it was time for her to once again rise in the ranks.

“We notified the headquarters in Washington, we went through the chain of command, and they said it’s well-deserved and due,” Benson said.

Born in February 2007, Onyx joined the Station St. Ignace crew in June 2008.

While she isn’t trained to perform search and rescue, the pup has long accompanied fellow crew members to events to teach people about water safety, and continues to provide comfort and companionship to the station’s crew, their families, and the community.

She is also something of a literary star, as the main character in a children’s book series, The Adventures of Onyx, written by Benson.

Since the COVID-19 pandemic stay-home orders began last month, Benson has been reading the Onyx books to children via Facebook Live, often along with Onyx herself.

It’s one of the many ways Onyx continues to excel at her “duties” of bringing joy and warmth to people as an emotional support dog.

“When the guys come back from a rescue case, she greets them at the door,” Benson said. “She’s keen at sensing when people are down or stressed, even during this COVID crisis. She’ll put her head on their lap or watch TV with them.”

While Onyx may no longer be as spry as she was during her early years at the station — her muzzle is graying, and she spends much of her days now napping comfortably on a couch — she’s still very much deserving of the honor of her new rank, Benson said.

“It’s neat to see her working through the ranks like the rest of us,” he said. “She’s slowing down now in her older age, but she’s really good at just being there for the crew.”

RCMP Service Dog

There was no time to ask Dr. Bonnie Henry for a special exemption from social distancing as police service dog Griff caught a suspect in the middle of a break and enter at a ranger station at the Chilliwack Lake Provincial Park.

“On May 2, Griff was conducting foot patrols with his Integrated Police Dog Service human police partner when the pair heard a loud bang coming from the Ranger Station which had been the target of a recent break-in,” according to the RCMP in a press release.

“The IPDS was in the area to do pro-active patrols because there had been a break-in at the station,” said Corporal Mike Rail, spokesperson for the UFVRD, according to the news release. “An investigation into the source of the noise led Griff in a close face-to-face with a man allegedly attempting to break into the station. The 46-year-old man was quickly arrested by police.”

The man was later released from custody and all circumstances of the investigation are being forwarded from the RCMP to the BC Prosecutors Service for their assessment of criminal charges.

“From one hero to another, Griff begs Dr. Bonnie Henry’s forgiveness for the social distancing faux paw, just this one time,” according to the release.

Activities For You And Your Pet

It’s no secret that pets provide love, loyalty and affection. This is even more apparent now that you’re spending more time at home with them. In fact, according to the 2020 Purina Pet Ownership Survey, 94% of pet owners rely on their pet for emotional support, which is particularly important during times of uncertainty.

You may be tempted to spend your time snuggling with your furry friend, but there are a lot of fun new things you can do to engage your pet mentally and physically while you are at home together. Now is a great time to integrate enrichment activities that will keep both of you healthy, happy and engaged.

“Setting and keeping a daily pet care routine to feed and walk your pet is important in alleviating stress for your pet. But scheduling play and incorporating enrichment activities into your pet’s day can also do wonders in keeping them happy and healthy,” says Alex Johnson, senior designer & pet enrichment specialist at Purina.

Johnson shares her favorite at-home pet enrichment tips and ideas:

Making it new: It is important to expand your pet’s world by providing opportunities for exploration. Try creating temporary indoor spaces to explore with boxes and paper bags or closing off a bedroom for a week to give your pet a space to rediscover. Hide some treats or favorite toys in the room before reopening it. Remember to keep toys in rotation to help create newness.

Treat time: While at home all day, it can become difficult to track when your pet gets a snack, so try adding a treat time to your schedule. Keep in mind, pets should get no more than 10% of their daily calories from treats. If you have kids, let them earn the reward of treating the pet that day by cleaning their room or finishing homework early.

One-on-one time: Having everyone constantly at home together can be stressful for pets. Provide opportunities for pets to have time on their own in addition to one-on-one time with family members. Spending 15 minutes together in a quiet space with no distractions can allow you to focus on engaging and bonding with your pet.

Exercise: When stuck inside, it’s important to find indoor activities to help pets burn energy. Try tug toys, laser pointer play, or playing tag or hide and seek. If you live in an apartment building, try throwing toys up or down steps in the stairwells or down hallways (if your landlord permits). If you’re spending more time watching TV, consider keeping a drawer or basket close by with some of your pet’s favorite toys, feather wands, tug-toys, balls, lasers, cat dancers, mechanical toys and stuffed animals. These toys allow you to interact with your pet from the comfort of the couch.

Box of invisibility: Providing pets with safe spaces is a great way to give them some downtime while still being close to everyone. For example, set out a box or sign in the family room, and when the cat is in the box or the dog is in the designated area, have the whole family pretend you can’t ‘see’ them, as if they were invisible. If the rule is followed, your pet will learn they can enjoy downtime in these spaces.

Canine Therapy Visits

There is nothing like a big smooch, gentle touch or a wet nose nuzzle with a happy dog.