Paws of Courage
The AKC Paw of Courage is an award given to show appreciation for the work that dogs do in the service of humankind. This award recognizes dogs who serve their communities, making great impacts in the lives of their human counterparts. Paw of Courage awards can be presented to Police K-9s, Military Working Dogs, Therapy Dogs, Service Dogs and other canines that work to make the lives of the people around them safer, easier or just simply happier. In light of COVID-19, we are awarding three special dogs who have made a difference during the national pandemic with the AKC Paw of Courage.
Jackson is an eight-year-old Golden Retriever owned by Bob Wharton. Jackson has been a Certified Therapy Dog for six years and completed more than 1,400 visits. He has also earned his CGC, Trick Dog Advance, and Therapy Dog Distinguished titles. Jackson also holds Therapy Dogs International Titles of TDI Gold and Tail Waggin’ Tutors and has received a “Certificate of Recognition” from his township. He is presently a Certified Therapy Dog with Angel On A Leash, “America’s Therapy Dogs”.
In this trying time, Jackson and Bob haven’t been able to do their regular visits due to the COVID-19 crisis. However, this hasn’t stopped the duo from visiting the people who need them – they have continued to do virtual therapy visits with Independent and Memory Care Facilities and 1st graders at an Elementary School twice a week through photos and videos. Jackson is even the main character in a children’s book written and illustrated by Bob. The book has been sent electronically to the homes of the children from the 1st-grade class that they visit for the children to read to their families during this stay at home order. In such an unsettling time, Jackson and Bob continue to bring smiles and comfort to the people around them who need it most. Molly, officially known as Little Girl Molly RN THDD CGCA CGCU TKP RATN NSD, is a ten-year-old Vizsla owned by Connie Priesz. Molly has been a registered therapy animal with Pet Partners for nine years. They also belong to North Star Therapy Animals, a twin cities group of registered Pet Partner therapy animals.
Since the COVID-19 stay at home order, Connie and Molly have taken steps to stay connected in order to continue to bring comfort and joy. In an effort to change to virtual visits, the therapy dog team has made movies while reading a book, for schools, libraries and social media sites to share and have made virtual visit videos for the patients at the VA hospital they usually visit. In addition, Connie and Molly have joined the AKC PupPals program, submitting countless videos to those in need and have sent cards and pictures to all the sites they typically visit. The pair also created a Facebook group called “The Therapy Animal Space” for people with animals to stay connected and share stories during this global crisis.
These new trying times have made Connie and Molly think differently about how to help bring adventures and connections to those who need a smile. They plan to continue to serve their community and beyond by using technology to bring the effects of the human-animal bond to more people and reach even further as they work in this new way.
Phoebe, is a 10-year-old Belgian
As part of their ongoing work as an AKC Canine Ambassador, Phoebe is used to participating in public demonstrations about training, responsible dog ownership, performance sports, how to greet a friendly dog, meet the breeds, and other important topics at schools, fairs, museums, and similar venues. Of course, all those fun public demos came to a halt in March due to the nationwide efforts to stop the spread of the COVID-19 virus. But that didn’t stop Pamela and Phoebe from continuing their work as an AKC Canine Ambassador team.
The pair created several videos for the AKC PupPals program and have been regularly going on “front yard visits” to individual homes and assisted living facilities for the past six weeks. During the visits, Phoebe performs tricks and stunts while her audience is safely sheltered inside and watching from their windows. Although her Harry-Potter themed tricks are a favorite among the younger generation, the Obedience and Agility tricks – in particular, scent work (“Can Phoebe count?”), hand signals, hoop jumps, retrieving, and weave poles – are the crowd favorites! Phoebe is a big-hearted, willing dog, who works so tirelessly to bring joy, entertainment, and social connection to people’s lives during these uncertain times.
Therapy dogs social distancing
Even from behind a computer screen, man’s best friend is proving to be pretty “paw-some” in helping sick kids cooped up by the coronavirus pandemic.
Children’s Hospital Los Angeles is bringing dogs and their handlers face-to-face with sick children during the required social distancing. The hospital has provided at least 60 dog handlers with a video conferencing way to plop a happy pup in front of a computer for a child in need of some encouragement to get well.
Program Manager Kate Buhrmaster said it does not seem to matter that the dogs are not physically present. She said kids still react to the sight of the dogs, wanting handlers to scratch or “belly-rub” them.
Besides one-on-one meet-ups, the program provides for eight dogs to do a call-in as well.
Therapy dog policy
The Massena Central School Board of Education will wait another month before approving a new policy governing therapy dogs after a board member posed several questions during its recent meeting.
The policy, which was scheduled to be adopted on Monday, notes that a written application must be submitted to the superintendent, and will be reviewed by “a committee established by the superintendent for that purpose. The committee will include one or more canine experts.”
Among the questions board member Kevin Perretta had was, “What is the definition of a canine expert?” He also wondered, among other questions, if the custodial staff would be responsible for cleaning up therapy dog accidents indoors and outdoors, and he requested a definition of how students and adults opposed to the dog would be handled.
“Then maybe you can forward those email questions to all of us,” he told Mr. Perretta.
Board President Patrick Bronchetti agreed.
“It’s not an emergency to get this done today,” he said. “To start in the fall, we would probably have to deal with it by the next meeting. We can try to get answers to Kevin’s questions for the next meeting.”
He wondered if the Policy Committee would be answering the questions posed by Mr. Perretta. Superintendent Patrick Brady said if they were looking to make changes to the policy or suggestions for revisions, it would be reviewed by the Policy Committee.
The policy was drafted after high school guidance counselor Nicole LaPage requested that the board consider allowing her to use therapy dogs to reduce anxiety among some students. She said she would like to pilot the program during the 2020-21 school year.
According to the policy, “This pilot-program will begin with the 2020-21 school year, be reviewed throughout the year, and a determination will be made to continue or discontinue the program by July 1, 2021. During the pilot-program a therapy dog will be allowed at Massena High School under the supervision of its handler in the school counselors’ office.”
The policy notes that district officials support the implementation of the program “for the social and emotional benefit of its students.”
The therapy dog must be under the handler’s control at all times.
“The therapy dog must be under the control of the handler through the use of a leash or other tether except in rooms or areas that have a closed door and unless the use of a leash or other tether would interfere with the therapy dog’s safe, effective performance of its work or tasks,” the policy reads.
The handler will be solely responsible for supervision and care of the therapy dog, including any feeding, exercising and cleanup while the animal is in a school building or on school property.
The district is not responsible for providing any care, supervision or assistance for a therapy dog.
Therapy dogs visit residents
Some friends of the Continuing Care Center stopped by the center on Monday to do a long-distance hello; therapy dogs Gunner, Pippin, Cheyenne and Sequoia said “hi” to their friends through a window.
Gunner and Pippin are owned by Laura Finion and Cheyenne and Sequoia are owned by Lori Herbel. They are a part of the HOPE Animal Assisted Crisis response Dog Team — a national nonprofit that has been working since 2001 to bring comfort to the victims of disasters.
Trained as therapy dogs, the teams can be deployed by FEMA or other organizations to disaster areas.
The dogs have been visiting the center weekly for the last two years and Finion said the staff and residents have become family to them over the years.
“We miss them and the dogs miss them even more,” she said.
“We stayed outside and visited through windows to residents and staff,” Finion said. “We knocked at windows and did a distance hello from both us and the dogs.”
Finion said the visit was scheduled with staff from CCC and they all worked hard to do it in a way that kept residents and staff members protected. Finios and Herbel wore masks and the dog wore signs saying “Hi, we have missed you!”
Finion said that she and Herbel hope to be able to do this weekly as until they can return to their regular visits with residents in the center.
“We had not wanted to stop our visits and found a way to do it safely for us and for staff,” Finion said. “It’s such a hard time, and a time that the dogs are so needed to bring a smile to all.”
Coronavirus and your pet
For many of us, our everyday lives have changed dramatically, suddenly, as the coronavirus pandemic has swept the world, crossing continents, invading communities large and small.
Although there are hundreds of existing coronaviruses in humans and animals, this brand-new “novel” coronavirus has never been seen before and has proven to be highly contagious among humans.
It is only natural that people question if their dogs and cats are also at risk. Diseases spread from animals to people are called “zoonotic.”
At this time there are no confirmed reports of pets becoming sick with COVID-19 in the United States. There is no information that suggests dogs or cats might be a source of infection to people.
In case you might need to be home-quarantined, please keep at least two weeks of pet food and your pets’ medication(s) on hand at home.
Veterinarians are essential workers and most clinics are open to help you. Call your veterinarian if you need advance medication.
Should you test positive, have arrangements in place to limit your contact with your pet(s) just as you would limit contact with other family members. It is recommended that you not pet, kiss, hug, or share food with your pet during your quarantine period.
If you have a service animal (please refer to CDC guidelines for definition of service animals) or you, yourself, must care for your pets, please wear a cloth face covering and try to minimize contact, washing your hands well before and after pet contact.
You should not share any dishes, drinking glasses, towels, clothing or bedding with your pets during this time.
The coronavirus is primarily spread from an infected person’s bodily fluids, like saliva or mucous when they cough or sneeze.
Secondary transmission is possible if you touch a countertop or surface that is moist with infected sneeze or cough droplets. A smooth, nonporous surface like a countertop transmits better than a porous and fibrous surface like pet fur.
Again, at this time, per the CDC, there is no evidence that companion animal pets can spread the coronavirus to people. Pets are an important part of our lives and give joy and comfort, especially during a time of home isolation.
There is no reason, at the moment, to remove pets from a coronavirus positive house unless the owner becomes too sick to care for the pet and no other family member is available.
Should the owner be unable to care for a pet, and has no family to take it in, then the community will need to step in to help. Contact your veterinarian, a local Humane Animal group or your local Animal Shelter for service under these extreme circumstances.
Therapy Dogs from Children’s Hospital
These pups won’t let a pandemic stop them from bringing a smile to young hospital patients.
At the Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, the dog therapy program has adapted to make sure their lineup of 127 four-legged friends can still visit patients, families and staff, even if via a computer screen. For the organizers — who haven’t missed a day of service in the past five years — the work-around was a must for their mission to continue.
“Our CHLA community was anxious, and we turned to innovation to help us provide something meaningful for them,” program manager Kate Buhrmaster said in a blog post, adding that the dogs use Webex video conference calls to chat with people.
So far, over 60 of the 127 dogs and their handlers have been set up with equipment to do these socially distanced visits, which have been a hit with the humans on the other end of the call.
“They were oohing and aahing at their screen,” Buhrmaster said. “Then the questions started: ‘Can you scratch him behind his ears? Can you give him a belly rub for me?’ Just seeing a relaxed doggie face on the screen looking back at you does wonders.” In the past, the L.A. program was again forced to get creative on how to reach patients they couldn’t share the room with. When they weren’t allowed to make in-person visits with those in the bone marrow transplant unit of the hospital due to strict isolation rules, they came up with an alternative.
Police welcomes new recruit
An idea years in the making finally became a reality this week when the Claremont Police Department announced that a new furry officer will join the force later this year — a comfort dog from Hero Pups in Portsmouth.
In a public Facebook post on Wednesday, April 22, Claremont Police Department said that a male Black Lab mix, whose duties consist of “supporting victims of all crimes, engaging with families and children during difficult times, and being a resource that the community as a whole can access,” will arrive at the station ready for work in the next four to five months, according to Claremont Police Chief Mark Chase.
Chase believes having a service dog who can provide comfort and support to members of the community and first responders will be a vital resource for the team’s response to a myriad of calls.
“It’s going to be neat to have a dog around here that we can pat and destress ourselves at times but it’s mainly to hopefully break the ice and comfort people who are going through a traumatic time in their life that we can’t fully understand unless we’re standing in their shoes,” Chase said. “ So we are excited.”
The thought of acquiring a comfort dog for the benefit of the community and department began in 2017 when Chase became chief of police. In an effort to strengthen the connection between law enforcement personnel and local residents, one of his initial goals was to start a K-9 program. After conducting some research, Chase was able to find a grant for a police K-9.
But this was only the start of what would be a long and enlightening journey.
It soon became evident to Chase that while a K-9 is essential in certain situations, their ability to provide much needed support is not something they are trained to provide.
That is when the concept of a comfort dog — a service dog of a different skill set — was brought once again to the surface. It wasn’t until Chase attended the CHaD Battle of the Badges Baseball Classic in 2019 that he met with Hero Pups, a New Hampshire-based nonprofit organization run by volunteers that trains shelter and rescue dogs to become service dogs for veterans and first responders, who was there with a puppy being trained for the Dover Police Department.
Chase then realized the trend of comfort dogs as part of local law enforcement departments is no stranger to New Hampshire. Police in Concord, Franklin, Hancock and Manchester, as well as the Cheshire County Sheriff’s office, are just some of the agencies where comfort dogs may be called to put their wagging tails to use.
Fundraiser for dogs
An online trivia game is going to the dogs.
After several of its fundraising events were postponed by COVID-19, BC and Alberta Guide Dogs needed to get creative with ideas for generating revenues online. A Virtual Trivia Night live game on Saturday, April 25 will allow people to maintain physical distancing and still help the charity raise much-needed funds to provide life-changing guide dogs, autism service dogs and PTSD service dogs to those in need.
“Our in-person Trivia Nights in Calgary and Delta are so much fun and are our most attended events in both provinces,” Joni Wright, director of development and communications,” said in a press release. “We want to re-create this positive atmosphere for our supporters online.”
Tickets are $20 each and can be purchased online at www.bcandalbertaguidedogs.com. People are instructed to sign up early to receive game tips and information before the event
The live game link will be sent to participants’ emails an hour before the game starts – there’s no app to download, so participants just click and play. Players from across the country will compete for the 2020 Virtual Trivia Champion title, as well as puppy sponsorship prizes, such as naming a future puppy.
B.C. players will start playing at 6 p.m. Pacific time on Saturday, April 25.
Through BC and Alberta Guide Dogs, Willie, Spoof, Dougie and Rubix are currently living in New Westminster with their puppy raisers.
Longtime New West resident Lynn Radbourne will be among the folks taking part in the fundraiser.
“Willie is the dog living with me and is sponsored by the New Westminster Youth Ambassadors,” said Radbourne, founder of the New Westminster Youth Ambassadors, in an email to the Record. “Dougie is sponsored by the Lions Club and Rubix is in the puppy sponsorship program, and anyone can send a donation directly to sponsor him or any of the others.”
BC & Alberta Guide Dogs is a registered charity that breeds, raises and professionally trains guide dogs for people who are blind or visually-impaired, Autism service dogs for children aged three to 10 with autism, and PTSD service dogs for veterans and first responders. It takes two years and upwards of $35,000 to produce one certified dog, provided free of charge to the recipient.
Therapy dog reading program
St. John Ambulance was gearing up for the Winnipeg launch this spring of an innovative program where therapy dog teams go into schools with the handlers reading to children who have difficulty reading. Although the COVID-19 pandemic has put the living readings on hold, organizers have decided to launch virtually anyway thanks to the efforts of volunteers like Claire Mackley.
Mackley had been putting videos on YouTube of her reading with her 10-year-old border collie Tanner by her side before the pandemic hit. With social distancing measures keeping people apart, continuing online seemed the perfect fit.
“Before Spring Break started and we thought we were going to be back in school in just a few weeks, I just started fooling around reading stories on YouTube with Tanner for my students to enjoy,” said Mackley, a teacher at Ecole Viscount Alexander who previously taught in Starbuck. “(It was) Just for fun and also because I teach in a French immersion school and sometimes getting French materials can be a challenge. When we came back from Spring Break, the whole world basically changed.”
Therapy Animals Involved in Literacy Skills (T.A.I.L.S.) is a motivational, confidence building, low stress canine-assisted reading program for children who are experiencing difficulties with reading. T.A.I.L.S. allows children the opportunity to read aloud to a dog in a non-judgmental, less intimidating reading environment.
Originally launched in Yellowknife 13 years ago, the program was first introduced to Manitoba in 2018 starting at the Jake Epp library in Steinbach.
The online program is being presented initially to interested schools who have benefited from St. John Ambulance’s Special Paws for Special Kids program – a long-standing initiative which was developed in Winnipeg and features therapy dog teams providing focused attention on a small number of high needs children in schools – in hopes that this can provide them with some extracurricular programming throughout the COVID-19 crisis. The virtual launch provides multiple video links of therapy dogs teams reading stories for children.
While it’s not the same as reading with the students one-on-one, it will do for now.
“I think it’s different for the kids and the dogs when they are actually together,” said Mackley, who has had Tanner since he was a puppy. “Tanner is a typical dog. You go about your day and he’s fairly compliant. If I ask him to do something, he’ll be like, ‘I’m a dog and I’ll try to help you out.’ But the moment that they’re actually out in the field working with people, their whole demeanor changes.
“All of the dogs in the program figure out that this is their job and they take it very seriously.”
Tanner, who turns 11 in a few weeks, and Mackley have volunteered at Grace Hospital, Winnipeg Regional Health Authority flu clinics, the University of Manitoba’s Dog Days and orientation sessions for new St. John Ambulance volunteers, among other events.
In addition to the newly developed community service initiatives for schools throughout this pandemic, St. John Ambulance therapy dog teams have been providing virtual therapy dog visits to personal care homes and assisted living facilities as well. One volunteer spent a half hour outside the windows of a care home while the residents enjoyed their Easter lunch. She and her dog did tricks and provided entertainment which was appreciated like never before, organizers said.
“The dogs also become friends to the kids,” she said. “The kids become attached to the dogs and this becomes part of their routine and right now with COVID the sense of normal for a lot of people and a lot of kids is missing. Even though they’re not going to build the same relationship, we’re hoping that it’s just one more way of reaching out to the community because that’s what St. John Ambulance has always been about.”
Veteran and service dog
U.S. Army Veteran, Nick Myers of Grand Haven has seen his email and Facebook blowing up with messages ever since we brought you his story on Friday.
“I’ve received probably close to 40 or 50 emails from people that want to help out,” Myers said.
Myers served in Afghanistan and is diagnosed with PTSD. He had to give up his service dog recently due to financial hardships during this pandemic.
“We ran out of money,” he said, “we were on our last 50 dollars and we have a house to pay for and we can’t lose our house, we have kids.”
His dog, Zelda is a year and a half old and has been helping him cope with different stressors. Not to mention, she has been a great friend to his young kids.
“I’ve never seen a dog that is that well around kids that was also trained to be a dog in the police force and a service dog,” Myers added, “she’s really well rounded.”
After Friday’s story aired, dozens of people called our station, took to Facebook and emailed asking how they could help Myers bring his dog back home.
“The help has been such a blessing,” he said, “it feels really good to know that there are still really good people out there.”
Myers says it will take about a thousand dollars to get Zelda home who is currently back with her breeder, who happens to be a great friend as well. However, thanks to the incredible people of West Michigan, Myers has met that financial goal.
“My message to people that have helped out is that my family and I thank you all very much,” Myers added. “It makes me speechless, honestly.”
Nick says Zelda should be back with his family within the next three days and says he will personally send everyone who helped him a thank you card and a photo of his family.
