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Dog Trainer Offers Classes

When the novel coronavirus pandemic forced longtime dog trainer Pat Rapaport to temporarily shut down her facility, she was concerned about her four- and two-legged clients.

It prompted her to offer online training classes as an option, and Ms. Rapaport said Monday it’s proven so successful she plans to continue offering them when she reopens the facility for group sessions.

“Some people are choosing this time at home to adopt new puppies but are not able to do the normal type of human and dog socialization,” Ms. Rapaport, owner of Hole in the Wall Dog Training facility, said. “Dog owners may also be faced with the possibility of dog separation issues when they return to work. Many dog trainers all over the country are offering online virtual training. It’s a little different from the face-to-face, but it is working.”

Ms. Rapaport offered her first virtual class March 25, teaching owners how to help a newly blind dog navigate its home. She has taught seven other virtual classes since. She’s also doing one-on-one, socially distanced classes at her facility.

Ms. Rapaport said she’s looking forward to when she can open her facility back up for group classes, but until then she plans to continue teaching virtually. She said she has lost about 80% of her business since being forced to close her building on Bridges Street.

“The three options I offered my clients was wait for group classes to start back, take classes virtually or do one-on-one sessions that are socially distanced,” she said. “When I do start groups back, it will only be mini groups. I have plenty of space here, but I know people will still be cautious. I’ll never make back the money I’ve lost. You just don’t make back 80 percent of your loss.”

Ms. Rapaport said she’s filed for emergency funds set up for sole proprietors, but so far has not heard back. She’s working with her landlord on rent. She, like many other small business owners, is hoping she can survive the pandemic.

“I love my profession. I love people and I love dogs and seeing them reach their potential,” she said.

Among those taking virtual classes is Geraldine Carey of Cedar Point and her dog Bentley, a 1-year-old male boxer and pit bull mix. Ms. Carey and her daughter, Addison, 11, were taking Bentley to Doggie Manners classes when the pandemic forced Ms. Rapaport to shut down her group sessions.

When Ms. Rapaport offered the option to continue virtually, Ms. Carey said she jumped on the opportunity.

“We had taken three classes in person and have done two virtually,” Ms. Carey said. “So far it has gone really well. I want to use Bentley as a therapy dog. I have three kids and would like to take him and the kids to retirement homes.”

Ms. Carey, in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserves, also hopes to take Bentley to the Wounded Warriors Barracks at Camp Lejeune.

To facilitate virtual classes, Ms. Rapaport sets up her notebook camera and uses Zoom to demonstrate dog training techniques at her facility while the dog owners observe from their homes. The owners then work with their dogs on the new techniques while Ms. Rapaport watches and makes suggestions.

Sometimes Ms. Rapaport uses one of her personal dogs to demonstrate, while other times she uses a stuffed demonstration dog.

Ms. Rapaport said she meets virtually once a week with other dog trainers from across the nation to learn new virtual teaching techniques and exchange ideas with trainers.

“The meetings are very helpful,” she said. “This is where I learned about Zoom, small business relief packages and puppy socialization tips.”

Ms. Rapaport said she’s concerned about the impacts of social distancing and saty-at-home orders on dogs, puppies and owners.

“We’ve had a few calls from owners whose dogs are having separation anxiety because the owners are away more or the dogs aren’t getting exercised as often,” she said.

“On the other hand, while it’s nice that many dog owners are home all day because their workplace is shut down, that can create another set of problems because a dog has a set routine. They are used to their owners being gone, and now all of a sudden they aren’t getting their nap or fed at a certain time. I tell owners to try to stay with as much routine as possible. If a dog is normally fed at 6 a.m., continue to feed them then. Also be aware that once you return to work there may be some separation anxiety.”

Dogs many times display separation anxiety by tearing something up.

While she encourages dog owners to continue taking walks and exercising their dogs, don’t overdo it.

“If you’re constantly walking your dog when they’re not used to it, that can be harmful,” she said.

Another issue is owners who aren’t used to being with their dogs all day are losing their tempers with their pets, she added.

For new puppy owners, Ms. Rapaport said it’s important to find ways to expose them to different socialization situations, even with social distancing in place.

“Get them out of the house a couple of times a day, even if it’s just driving around the block. This gets them used to riding in a car. It let’s them see other people and they need to see other dogs,” she said. “They need to be exposed to things in different environments.”

If an owner doesn’t have a car, they can dress up in different outfits, such as wearing hats and a raincoat, or have a neighbor come over so the puppy sees different people. Owners can also put boxes out in their house so the puppy learns to adjust to different things in their environment.

Adoptions During Coronavirus

The phones started ringing, and emails came pouring in, at shelters for abandoned dogs and cats around the region in mid-March. The inquires have been coming ever since, as families and single people stuck at home decide the time is right to welcome a furry friend into their lives.

It’s one of the more unexpected turn of events in the coronavirus era, animal shelters have been placing dogs and cats in new homes at an unprecedented rate.

“There’s been a major increase in interest,” said Samara Enders, a shelter spokeswoman. “It started right when all the social distancing started to happen, when people were at home, looking for something to do. Having a dog gives them something to do, and it helps out a shelter dog in need.”

Like many shelters, Adopt-A-Dog allows people to take in a dog for a trial period, in a “foster-care” arrangement for a week or two to make sure it’s a good fit for all involved, before moving to a permanent adoption. The shelter, founded in Greenwich in 1981, has also been getting additional support on social media and through financial contributions during the pandemic, Enders said.
There appear to be winners on both ends of the deal.

“The people seem to be happy, and the dogs are happy, too,” Enders said. “Quality time with dogs is good for mental health.”

Jessica Del Guercio, a dog-trainer and consultant who works with Red Leash Rescue in Stamford, said she’s been especially busy during the pandemic. She also runs PAWS of Greenwich, which advocates for animals and assists in adoptions. Interest in adoptions has been soaring in every section of the region, she said: “Shelters have been cleared in a lot of different states. Adoptions are up across the board.”

Del Guercio, who also works with new pet owners to facilitate the new addition to the family, says dogs have plenty to offer during the shelter-in-place setting.

“It’s such an amazing bonding experience,” she said. “Dogs offer comfort, they also offer responsibility, for families especially with children right now. They’re all therapy dogs. They give a sense of structure when everything is chaotic. It’s a learning experience — I give the kids a task to do, training commands. Getting kids involved in that, it’s educational, and they feel like they have some control in a world that’s out of control. It builds self-confidence and engagement.”

Help Prevent Attacks

The Postal Service continues to fulfill its mission to provide essential services that process and deliver information, communications, and goods vital to residents. To ensure the safety of our delivery personnel, the Postal Service is asking dog owners to keep their animals secured when deliveries are being made.

The Postal Service offers the following safety tips for dog owners:

When a carrier delivers mail or packages to your front door, place your dog in a separate room and close that door before opening the front door. Dogs have been known to burst through screen doors or plate glass windows to attack visitors.

Parents should remind children and other family members not to take mail directly from carriers in the presence of the family pet. The dog may view the carrier handing mail to a family member as a threatening gesture.

One bite is one too many. When your mail carrier arrives, make sure your dog is properly restrained or…better yet…just moved inside and secured.

Pets In A Pandemic

Dogs and cats — as well as livestock — appear to have little to fear from the coronavirus pandemic.

While the outbreak is believed to have started when mutated viruses spread from infected animals — likely bats — bats to humans in a Chinese wet market last year, there is almost no evidence to suggest the new virus poses a significant threat to domestic animals.

According to the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), only three pets in Hong Kong (two dogs and a cat) and three in the U.S. (two cats in New York state and a dog in North Carolina) have tested positive for the coronavirus. Additionally, eight big cats in the Bronx Zoo — five tigers and three lions — have tested positive.

Health authorities believe that in each case, the animals became infected through contact with infected owners or zookeepers. Each animal experienced a mild respiratory illness and recovered.

“The evidence is overwhelming at this point that COVID-19 is a people problem,” San Francisco-area veterinary practice owner Dr. Carrie Jurney says. “Animals are a very, very, very minor footnote in this story.”

Authorities typically hasten to add there is no evidence to suggest that pets or livestock can transmit the virus to people; however, because dogs, cats and other domesticated animals have long been known to be susceptible to other strains of coronavirus, AVMA veterinarians recommend:

Animal owners without symptoms of COVID-19 should continue to practice good hygiene during interactions with animals. This includes washing hands before and after such interactions and when handling animal food, waste or supplies.

Owners should not let pets interact with people or other animals outside the household.

Cats should be kept indoors when possible, to prevent them from interacting with other animals or people.

Dogs should be walked on a leash, maintaining at least 6 feet of distance from other people and animals. Avoid dog parks or public places where a large number of people and dogs gather.

Until more is known about the virus, people infected with COVID-19 should restrict contact with pets and other animals, just as they would humans.

Reduced contact can pose a challenge for disabled persons who rely on service animals. In those cases, only basic care should be provided for the animal, with little to no petting, hugging, snuggling or sharing of food.

Authorities advise against routine testing of pets or livestock for the novel coronavirus, and they discourage putting masks or other protective gear on animals.

The major challenge for pets is a familiar one: Who will care for them if their owners fall ill.

Shelter To Soldier

The current stay-at-home order is greatly adding to the anxiety of many veterans’ suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder.

“The financial toll, the job losses, [and] the stress,” said Graham Bloem from the nonprofit Shelter to Soldier. “There’s been a lot of information shared by multiple foundations and programs doing research on veterans and how this is further impacting veterans, especially those that have a diagnosis of post-traumatic stress.” Graham’s charity trains service dogs and then gives them to veterans, free of charge. Over the past several months, News 8 has been following the progress of Buddy, one of the dogs in the program. Buddy was rescued from a local animal shelter last summer and has been training to help a veteran in need. Buddy was progressing right on schedule, but the current stay-at-home order has definitely caused him to take a few steps backward. He can’t be around crowds or in tight spaces with other people, which are key skills he needs to work on to be a great service dog.

“Buddy was at that point where the most important piece for him was real life distractions, new environments and take all of his awesome foundation work on vest out into the real world,” Graham said.

Unfortunately, Graham said Buddy’s timeline for matching with a veteran suffering from PTSD has been pushed back, but his trainers have been doing their best to keep him as on track as possible. Their dogs go to veterans who desperately need the companionship. Many don’t want to leave their home, have tried to commit suicide, and experience horrific nightmares on a regular basis. Under the current conditions, all of the nonprofit’s matching has been put on hold.  “We had veterans who were at the finish line. We had teams that were half way through, and we had teams that had just started, and all of them have communicated with us that this has been really difficult for them,” Graham said.

Shelter to Soldier is also feeling the stress of the situation. Many of their sponsors have had to cut back or cancel their regular contributions. Graham understands their situation and is thankful for the donations from individuals that have been extremely generous during this difficult time. The donations are allowing them to continue focusing on their mission – saving lives.

“Buddy brings joy and smiles everyday, so we look forward to the time he can do that for a veteran. We’re not discouraged by the delays. We’re more excited, I think, than anything,” said Graham.

Living With Your Emotional Support Animal

In British Columbia, the Strata Property Act governs the relations between stratas and their owners/tenants. This law says very little about what a strata may or may not do in relation to pets. All it says is that if you live with a pet in a condominium at the time a pet prohibition/restriction is passed, you and your pet will be “grandfathered.”

Common problems between stratas and owners/tenants include demands to remove pets by a certain date, owners/tenants being targeted because of the size or breed of their dog (especially “pit bulls”), and certain pet owners being picked on while other pet owners in the building are left alone.

Section 8 of the BC Human Rights Code prohibits stratas from enforcing or applying their bylaws in a way that discriminates against a person based on, among other things, a disability.

In a recent decision of the BC Human Rights Tribunal, the Tribunal clarified the law correctly and progressively, when it ruled in favour of a young girl to keep her emotional support dog, despite the strata bylaws containing a pet prohibition.

It is up to the person claiming the disability to prove that (a) they have a disability and (b) not having her companion animal would have a negative effect on her because of that disability.

In order to prove a disability, it is critical to have a doctor’s report confirming the disability and explaining what that disability entails. The individual’s own testimony about their disability is also considered.

It is also critical to have a doctor’s report that confirms that keeping the emotional support animal can, and does, improve the individual’s disability. It is also a good idea to have the doctor explain how the animal helps with the disability (for instance, reducing stress or blood pressure). The individual’s testimony about how important the animal is to them is also important.

It is then up to the strata to raise a defence that shows there is a reasonable justification to impose the pet prohibition, despite any negative impact on the individual.

The bad news is that pets are still considered chattel (i.e., property). The good news is that even though pets are “property,” Tribunals and Courts are recognizing that pets are a special kind of property.

In the context of condominium living, courts have recognized that the law and societal attitudes have evolved to give rise to new concepts as to what are reasonable rules for community living and to a greater appreciation as to how pets can appropriately fit into a close-knit community.

Some people believe that they are entitled to buy into a pet-free environment and that it is reasonable to expect every purchaser to obey those rules, including a rule that prohibits pets entirely.

Courts have recognized that life, particularly in today’s society, is not always that simple. There may be changes in circumstances of unit owners wherein it might be reasonable for them to keep a pet. A person becomes older and may lose a spouse, and for the first time in his life, he is living alone. Should that person be forced to give up his condominium if he tries to avoid depression or loneliness by acquiring a four-legged companion? Or a unit owner may have an accident or illness and becomes housebound or wheelchair-bound and, at that time, begins to feel a need for comfort that can be provided by a companion animal. Should this person be penalized for now having a companion animal?

Supporters of pet prohibition bylaws also rely on the allergies argument (i.e., some people are allergic to pets). This argument can be met by reasonable restrictions rather than by an outright prohibition. This is particularly true where the ventilation system is a modern one that precludes the spread of antigens from one unit to another, or when the animal has not interfered with the use or enjoyment of others in the condominium complex – all of which has been recognized by courts.

Another issue a person should consider when faced with a strata problem about their companion animal is whether the strata board followed its own bylaws when deciding what action to take against the pet owner. Review the bylaws to see what type of procedures the strata board must follow. Were minutes of the meeting taken? Was there the appropriate quorum when making the decision in relation to the “accused” pet? Was the vote recorded? Courts can strike down a strata’s decision based on procedural grounds, such as a strata board not abiding by its own bylaws.

Pet owners also wonder about meeting with the strata board to give their side of the story. Sometimes it is best to wait to be invited to speak to the strata board – either in writing or attendance at a meeting. According to the Strata Property Act, a strata board must give the owner or tenant the particulars of the complaint, in writing, and a reasonable opportunity to answer the complaint, before imposing a fine or requiring a person to remedy a contravention (i.e., removal of a companion animal). Otherwise, a court may set aside the strata board’s decision.

The bottom line is that companion animals are part of the family. A strata owner and/or tenant should familiarize themselves with the strata bylaws before they move into the condominium. If there is a total pet prohibition or a breed-specific restriction, consider whether moving into such a community would be the right fit for you and your beloved furry companion.

Pets Provide Companionship. Consider Adopting a Pet Who Needs You

Recent news reports featured rows of empty kennels at animal shelters, telling of more happy endings for homeless animals. Adoptions have definitely increased while homebound Americans seek pets to help them deal with isolation and stress.

Pictured here is rescue dog Charcoal (now named Coal) who was recently adopted from Loving All Animals by CeCe Campbell and Janet Hardie. While you can’t see the women’s smiles behind their masks, Charcoal beamed joyfully at getting his second “second chance” home.

Campbell was the good samaritan who first found this pup running loose in the streets. The couple brought him to Loving All Animals, as they already had one dog and Hardie was still working full time. Charcoal was eventually adopted by another family, but sadly returned. Campbell often thought about the little guy, wondering if he might become available again; periodically, she checked Petfinder. It was serendipity when one day she saw him and immediately called to adopt. Hardie was now retired, and their 8-year-old dog, Sugar, was thrilled. Campbell reports, “Having a second dog keeps us all more active. It brings us renewed happiness to see how happy and active Sugar has become with a playmate. The four of us take more walks and have more playtime.”

“During this difficult time, Loving All Animals is managing to still find homes for dog lovers,” says Tracy Habijanac, one of the organization’s managers. “We have people with time on their hands, and it couldn’t be a better time to care for and love a pet. This is the perfect time to acclimate the doggies to their new environment before people go back to work.”

In these dark times of uncertainty, millions of people need relief from anxiety, depression and loneliness. At the same time, we have millions of homeless pets languishing in shelters. The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals estimates approximately 3 million animals are euthanized in public shelters every year. Other homeless animals, abandoned or lost, roam our neighborhoods hungry and alone. These two separate problems, humans in need of companionship and comfort, and millions of animals in need of homes, can help ease the other.

Science has now proven what we animal lovers knew all along: Many studies indicate that the companionship of dogs and cats can lower blood pressure, reduce stress and improve both our mental and physical health.

Pets help us to stay in the present moment and push out invasive worries from our minds. Organizations such as Dogs for the Brave rescue dogs from shelters and train them as service dogs to help military veterans with PTSD, traumatic brain injury or military sexual trauma. Other service dogs alert their humans when they detect changes in the human body prior to an epileptic seizure. Heart attack patients with a cat or dog have a longer survival rate. Service dogs help people with chronic anxiety, enabling them to travel to work and stay calm.

Many of us have experienced the relaxing contentment that comes from having a purring cat sit on our laps. Now scientists have discovered one reason why cats keep us healthy and happy. Cats create purr vibrations with a range of 20 to 40 Hz, which is medically therapeutic for many illnesses. Their purring lowers stress, reduces the chance of heart attacks and reduces the symptoms of dyspnea, according to the Journal of Vascular and Interventional Neurology. Their playful antics and loving companionship provide respite from loneliness, depression and other psychological ailments.

Now is a great time to consider adopting a new furry family member. A comprehensive website promoting rescue pet adoption (petfinder.com) helps you find the specific type of pet you seek. Did you know that 25% of the animals in shelters are pure breeds?

Former Dog Handler for D.A.’s Office Settles OT Wages Lawsuit For $113K

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — A former comfort-dog handler for the Staten Island district attorney’s office who maintained he wasn’t paid for the time he spent caring for the pooch off-hours has settled his lawsuit with the city and the D.A.’s office for more than $113,000, court records show.

Kevin Ivany, who worked as a detective investigator, had sued the city and D.A.’s office in Brooklyn federal court in July 2018. Ivany contended he was stiffed on overtime hours he put in daily, weekends and holidays as a handler.

Settlement papers state the agreement is not an admission of liability by the defendants.

Ivany, 55, was employed by prosecutors as a senior detective investigator from February 2008 to December 2017, said his civil complaint.

Starting in May 2012, while the office’s DNA Program coordinator, he was assigned the additional duties of a comfort dog handler, his complaint said.

Victim advocate Mary Santamorita was the other handler of the canine, named Bronksey.

A black labrador/golden retriever mix, Bronskey was donated to the office under former District Attorney Daniel Donovan by the nonprofit Canine Companions for Independence in the spring of 2012.

Michael E. McMahon succeeded Donovan as the borough’s top prosecutor in January 2016.

A tail-wagging bundle of love, Bronksey was a welcome sight around the Island, cheering up kids at Family Court, comforting domestic-violence victims, and making the rounds at local schools to teach youngsters about animal care and wellness.

Bronskey was retired in December 2017 at the age of 7, considered typical for service dogs of his breed and position, McMahon said then.

He had previously undergone surgery to remove several growths.

According to Ivany’s complaint, his day didn’t start at 9 a.m. and end at 5 p.m.

Ivany exercised, groomed, walked and fed the pooch before and after work, said his complaint.

Bronksey stayed at Ivany’s home because the D.A.’s office couldn’t house him.

All that time added up, Ivany contended.

In addition to his normal work hours, he typically spent 20 hours a week traveling to and from the job with Bronksey and 25 hours a week (including weekends) walking and grooming the canine, the complaint alleged.

For most of 2017, Ivany logged an extra 3.5 hours a week exercising Bronksey on a treadmill at home, said the complaint. The Pooch pep-up program was required by the dog-training school, said the complaint.

McMahon told the Advance then the course is standard for comfort dogs like Bronksey after they’ve been in the program for four or five years.

VE Day: A tribute to the heroic dogs of the Second World War

Bravery is to be commended in many forms, but some of the most unusual examples during the Second World War came from more than 3,300 of our four-legged friends. From sniffing out mines or ferrying messages to being parachuted – yes, literally – over enemy lines for search and rescue missions, dogs played a crucial role in the Allied war effort.

Particular tribute should be paid to the 18 dogs who received the PDSA Dickin Medal, the animal equivalent of the Victoria Cross – and the highest honour that can be given to a creature in military service. Recipients included Beauty, a wire-haired terrier, who found and saved 63 animals during air raids, and Judy, an English pointer, who survived a Japanese prisoner of war camp. About half the dogs made it home, but all were heroic in their own way.

 

Going Viral: Day 40 under COVID-19 Lockdown

As we all know from reading and listening about Covid-19 these past weeks, one of the big issues is trying to figure out who has it, who is capable of transmitting it, and where indeed the bugs for this virus might be lurking.

So, I was more than delighted to read that dogs might be able to sniff out coronavirus – just as they are trained to sniff out some cancers, those carrying drugs, or those trying to snuggle other contraband natural products.

I’m also a huge fan of service dogs having had one pooch, Bear, who was a rascal most of the time but once you put on her service vest, she would turn on the woof charm and was used in a seniors’ care home a couple of times week.

But I digress. Back to the development coming out of Ajaccio, the capital of Corsica, the French island in the Mediterranean Sea. There, dogs are being trained by the emergency services department and the local fire brigade to see if they can detect people who may be infected with coronavirus.

Firefighters in Ajaccio are doing this by using sweat samples from Covid-19 patients who have agreed to be part of the trial.

“Dogs are known for their capacity to recognise other diseases including cancers, such as breast and prostate cancers and even diabetes, although it has not been officially proven,” said Corporal Mar Anto Costa, a firefighter based in Ajaccio. “What remains to be proven is whether the Covid-19 molecule emits a particular odour.”

The samples are placed in particular places to see if the dogs can then detect them.

“It’s simply a plastic tube by which the smell is placed, leaving the smell-emitting molecules,” said Brice Leva, another Corsican firefighter. “And then, with these plastic tubes, we train the dogs.”

If this test is successful and the results are confirmed, it could allow rapid screening very effectively.

Another reason, I guess, why dogs are man’s best friend!

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