Schools are choosing therapy dogs

The pilot program putting fuzzy, four-legged counselors in Hamilton County schools is in talks with “several” other schools about expanding the program for the 2020-2021 school year, despite uncertainty about in-person instruction in the fall.

Currently, the Hamilton County Education Service Center and Circle Tail have placed six therapy dogs in schools, where they work as interns until the school decides to pick up the bill by hiring the dog.

Golden retriever Zooey has a regular spot in the Lakota Schools newsletter and an email address that students can write to for advice. She gives them tips to stay calm and healthy, according to the HCESC.

A pup named Cyngi makes regular Zoom appearances for students in HCESC’s Pathways to Employment program. She’s practicing manners and service skills and working on a video to show students how she is adapting to her “new normal.”

Even though students aren’t walking the halls of St. Xavier High School, 2-year-old golden retriever Evan still makes appearances on its social media pages and had a daily “Where’s Evan?” challenge.

Days before schools started the shift to remote learning because of the COVID-19 pandemic, WCPO wanted to learn more about the pilot program and the training behind it.

Evan started his training like all the others do — down a gravel road in rural Warren County.

Circle Tail in Pleasant Plain was established in 1997. Executive director Marlys Staley left a life as a physical therapist to start the organization.

“What I’ve learned is, you never know everything,” Staley told WCPO. “Dogs are as individual as people, even within a litter. You have to always work with the dog in front of you. There’s no ‘cookbook’ dog training.”

Evan was a little different from the get-go.

“Everywhere he went, everybody loved Evan,” Staley said.

“He is so beautiful and he just lights up the room when you see him,” said volunteer Leslie Kreines. “He has this ‘Evan smile.’ He has a way of lifting his head back and putting on this beautiful smile that just makes everyone want to come to him.”

Kreines coordinates Circle Tail’s partnership with the HCESC to place dogs in schools, which began in January. Circle Tail sponsors the dog by paying for everything, including food and crates. “What we’re seeing in the schools now is obviously the stress level,” Kreines said. “What we’re finding is how magical these dogs are.”

Back when schools were still open, St. Xavier senior Alex Nielsen spent time with Evan every day. They’ve been pals since the golden retriever started walking the halls in Finneytown.

“I see him every day. I have a streak with him — I call it a streak, at least,” Nielsen said.

But Evan almost wasn’t hired for the job.

“At first, I was a little skeptical,” assistant principal Jason Ahlers told WCPO. “You hear of people just sort of putting a therapy vest on a dog and saying, ‘We have a therapy dog.'”

That was until he met the folks at Circle Tail and talked to the Hamilton County ESC.

“We read the data, we saw studies that talk about how a therapy dog can help someone in crisis calm down more quickly,” Ahlers said.

Much of that research forms a scientific, physiological argument in favor of the “paws-itive” effects of a therapy dog in the classroom.

Evan mostly stays in St. Xavier’s counseling offices, but there’s no research needed to see the effect he has had on the Bombers.

“I think dogs are able to just access everyone’s emotions, no matter what they are,” Nielsen said.

Dogs at Circle Tail start training young.

Sisters Drew and Meg — named after Barrymore and Ryan — were 9 weeks old when we met them. They spend their time in a play room with different toys and surfaces.

“They stay here until at least four months or so, and then they’ll rotate into our prison program and then come out and rotate into a foster family,” Staley said. “Eventually around one year of age, they start doing some of their service and therapy skills.”

Circle Tail started its prison program in 1998 and now works in the Ohio Reformatory for Women and the Dayton Correctional Institute.

Families needs service dogs

A rescue group that trains service dogs for veterans says it’s in desperate need of foster families. Coco’s Cupboard says with the pandemic, fewer families are volunteering to foster service dogs in training, while the need for them among veterans and people with medical challenges is greater than ever.

Suzanne Aaron runs a rescue group called Coco’s Cupboard.  She has trained service dogs for years. Recently, she started her own service dog program called Tails of Hope.  It supplies dogs to veterans like Gail Johnston, who says her dog Sloan helps ease her PTSD symptoms.

“If my leg is bouncing, she will put her paw on it to let me know that I need to calm down because I do it without thinking about it,” Johnston said.

But Aaron says among all rescue groups in Georgia, right now with the pandemic there is a shortage of foster families, and it’s even worse for service dog fostering.

“Right now we have about 70 dogs and we are in need of about 20 foster families,” Aaron said.

Kim Bolan is a volunteer who fosters dogs before their service training.  She’s working with Kylo.

“He is learning to retrieve prescription medicines and even though he has no retriever in him, he is really good at it,” Bolan said.

Whitney Mattews is a volunteer and also has a service dog named Star Lord.  She says prospective service dogs need family time.

“They need to experience the hustle and bustle of a home,” she said.

So they are desperately looking for foster families for these dogs, who will spend the rest of their lives as an important partner in someone’s life.

“When you see the impact it has on the person’s life, it’s a game-changer,” Aaron said.

Coco the Reading Dog

The saying goes that a dog is a man’s (and a woman’s!) best friend. That could not be more true than it is here at Peninsula Community Library.

PCL was the first library in the District to have a Reading Therapy Dog. Furry staff members have been a part of our library family consistently since 2006. They have listened to countless children read, have been petted and adored by adults young and old, and have acted as hosts at more programs than I can count.

It is with much sadness that I tell you that one of our dear Reading Dogs, Coco Gardner, passed away suddenly on March 20. Coco was a delightful librarian dog – energetic, intelligent and loving. Only four years old, she had just received her advanced therapy dog certification. Coco’s favorite day of the week was Reading Dog Day with the kids.

Our hearts go out to Coco’s sister, Lani, also a Reading Dog here at PCL, as well as her human parents, Candy and Lee Gardner. The Gardners have asked that Coco be remembered with smiles and hugs.

Candy will be donating framed photos of all our Reading Dogs over the years for our Children’s Area and will include our first Reading Dog, Bear. Coco joins her brothers Ralph and Zeb, also once PCL Reading Dogs, who passed on before her. I am sure that she is wherever they are, listening to the angel dogs read!

Some of you have been taking advantage of the Little Free Library outside of PCL.  I am very pleased to say that people have been following the rules. Continue to remember to put on gloves before you open the box or touch any books. Wear a mask or bandana! If you don’t have gloves, put a new plastic bag over your hand. Be sure to take those protective things away with you when you leave. Only one person at a time is allowed at the Little Free Library. Wait in your car if someone is already there.

Last, but most importantly, while these little libraries are usually “take one leave one,” I temporarily declare ours “take” only! Do not return the book! Save it for our book sale way down the road, share it with other members of your immediate household, recycle it if you must!

However, DO NOT RETURN IT TO THE BOX! I will continue to fill the box from our book sale shelves for as long as it seems the rules are being followed and for as long as the books hold out. Thanks to the Traverse Area District Library, our WiFi is also up and running 24/7. Feel free to pull into our parking lot and enjoy the internet connection from the comfort of your car! From settings and WiFi connection on your device, choose tadl-patron-wireless.

I cannot yet give you an open date. While we are glad you miss us – as we do YOU – the Board and I will do whatever it takes to ensure the safety of the public and the staff. Please know that when the time comes, we will let you know what plans we have in place.

In all likelihood, we will open in phases, with no large gatherings or outside use of our meeting space taking place until after Labor Day. This means that no book sale will take place this summer. I am looking at virtual programming for Summer Reading Club, as well as a “drive-in” possibility for a program or two. Be patient with us – we will get back to normal when we are relatively sure that we can keep you safe!

Adoption rates boost due to the pandemic

For those who are considering adopting or foster a pet, this would be the perfect time to do so with so many families staying home, after city and county officials directed a stay at home order and social distancing protocols.

Pets can provide pet owners with positive health benefits and coping mechanisms, as adoption cases boost during COVID-19 pandemic. At the El Paso Animal Services, 450 pets have recently been adopted. 

For those who are considering adopting or fostering a pet, this would be the perfect time to do so, with so many families staying home after city and county officials directed a stay at home order and social distancing protocols. 

“We are extremely grateful for the El Paso community and how they responded to our call for emergency fosters and adopters,” said Michele Anderson, the public affairs coordinator for the El Paso Animal Services.  

El Paso Animal Services and rescue partners, El Paso Humane Society, temporarily closed their facilities to the public March 19 due to the pandemic, with Animal Protection Officers responding only to high-priority calls.  

The El Paso Animal Services has then been operating the pet adoption and fostering programs, lost pet reclaims and the pet food bank through virtual and contactless delivery services. On March 24, the organization announced an emergency call on social media in hope of finding fosters and adopters for the countless animals that were under custody. 

“We received over 400 new applications of those wanting to foster, and we’ve since sent out 450 animals out to fosters or forever homes as lost pet reclaims and transfers to rescue partners,” said Anderson. “We now have over 1,200 animals out in foster care, which is amazing. We currently still have about 350 pets in our care at the shelter and are still welcoming new applications to adopt or foster.” 

Pamela Vigo Sanchez, 26, was amongst the El Paso Animal Services foster applicants. The UTEP alumna and her mother decided to foster an 11-month-old husky named Halo, who was rescued by West Texas Tails from being euthanized. The dog was considered a cruelty case after his previous owners did not treat the dog’s injured and infected leg, resulting in an amputation after his owners voluntarily surrendered him to Animal Services.  

“My mom wanted to help pets be spared from a hard life in the shelter, thus why all of our pets, past and present, are rescues. Not until this year did fostering come into play,” said Sanchez. “We couldn’t say no to his sad, wounded face, so here we are three weeks later.”

According to ESA Doctors, animals can have a monumental impact on the health and well-being of people, especially those who have health conditions or mental disorders. Studies on human and animal interaction have shown many positive benefits, which include exercise, cardiovascular health and decreased stress levels, stating that “While pets do not mend conditions that are present, the support they provide can be used as a coping mechanism to help with difficult life situations.”

The foster applicant described how these furry friends have made social distancing easier during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“While we can’t see our friends, we get to be with our pets all day. It’s never a dull moment here in the Vigo Sanchez household. Whether it’s Bella and Mishu chasing each other, Oreo using Halo as a bodyguard or everyone still trying to figure out why the new guy is missing a leg, something is always happening,” said Sanchez as the family’s rescue pets have kept them active through daily walks and play that has helped them step away from the nonstop COVID-19 coverage.

“In addition, all pets coming to greet my mom, who has long days of seeing patients or doing hospital rounds, it helps her destress from the chaos immediately,” said Sanchez, who highly encourages people to consider fostering or adopting an animal from the shelter. “Fostering and adoption can save a life and help a pet start a new, happy life.”

El Pasoan Alba Dominguez, 29, made her first adoption four years ago and recently applied to foster a pitbull named Lulu. Dominguez, who is currently working as a nurse, and her boyfriend decided to adopt Lulu after getting attached to her and resulted to be of great company to their eldest rescue dog, Gunther. “I definitely feel like my dogs are a huge part of why I feel sane during the quarantine. They’ve got so much love to give and they’re not afraid to show it, Lulu especially since she just got here; she’s already picked up on some of my work-related stress and anxiety and will come to cuddle me and let me hug her for as long as I need to,” Dominguez said. “It’s a very healing relationship and we are both taking care of each other.” “No one should social distance alone. I think it’s a great opportunity for those that had to transition working from home or taking online classes to have some company still while they are self-isolating,” Anderson said. 

Canine Companions

In these uncertain times, many of us look to our four-legged helpers for stability and companionship. For those who rely on service dogs, the animals can bring an added level of comfort during the pandemic

At St. Augustine Rehab Specialists, 3-year old Harley has big responsibilities. Every day, Harley works to make life easier for those living with Parkinson’s Disease. A major part of his job is to help patients with their physical therapy, but the personal impact he has is just as important. Especially during this pandemic.

“He immediately clears their mind,” Lomaglio said. “They’re not thinking about coronavirus when they walk through the door. They’re thinking, ‘oh, there’s Harley!’”

Harley and his human, physical therapist Melanie Lomaglio, were matched through Canine Companions for Independence a year ago. They’ve gotten close in that time. In many ways, he’s gotten close with her patients, too.

“Parkinson’s causes what we call non-motor symptoms which is depression, anxiety, and apathy,” Lomaglio said. “So, when something like coronavirus comes along, all of those things are exacerbated.”

Lomaglio says Harley’s ability to connect with patients can ease their symptoms.

“Harley, just by his nature, is able to reduce some of those things,” Lomaglio said.

Despite the virus, CCI is working to make more success stories. Normally Robyn Bush would train McCall at the training center near her home in Orlando. Instead, she works from home to get him ready for his future human.

“We get to see kind of their pet side, like what they’re like at home,” Bush said. “Just gathering so much information about their personality and their temperament.”

McCall is adapting well, too. When things finally do return to normal, those in need of a service dog can feel confident in knowing some are ready to help now, and others are well on their way.

Dogs could get separation anxiety

Fido may get frantic when the coronavirus quarantining ends.

While isolated humans can’t wait until the end of work-from-home culture, canine experts say that lifting shelter-in-place restrictions could conversely cause “extreme separation anxiety” in the millions of dogs who’ve grown accustomed to their owners’ constant companionship during lockdown.

“With such an overload of quality time with their families, dogs are building up a huge reservoir of over-dependency,” animal psychology expert Roger Mugford tells the Times. Mugford, who’s known for training Queen Elizabeth’s corgis, adds that the pampered pooches could “suffer when mums and dads suddenly return to work and the children go back to school.”

Dr. Karen Sueda, a veterinary behaviorist added in a statement to Insider, “Dogs thrive on consistency and predictability, as we all do, so any time there’s an abrupt change, it can cause stress.”

The mental whiplash could cause formerly doted-upon doggies to engage in a range of erratic behaviors, including defecating, urinating, howling, chewing or trying to escape, reports the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. Some panicky pups could even practice coprophagia, where they defecate and then consume their own feces.

“Put a webcam on your dog, and you’ll see howling and pacing and other distress signs,” Mugford tells the Times.

Separation anxiety isn’t just psychologically damaging. The ASPCA reports stressed pets could attempt “to dig and chew through doors or windows, which could result in self-injury, such as broken teeth, cut and scraped front paws and damaged nails.”

It’s a frightening proposition as approximately 20% to 40% of dogs referred to animal behavior practices in North America are diagnosed with separation anxiety, even when not isolating with their owners, according to the American Veterinary Medical Association.

While there is no remedy for canine conniptions, dog experts do advise acclimating pooches to separation prior to the end of lockdown, à la conditioning applied by famed researcher Ivan Pavlov.

“Allow your pet to have some alone time,” says Sueda. “You have your space, and they have theirs.” For those who live in cramped quarters with their canine companions, the ASPCA prescribes training your dog to perform out-of-sight “stays” by an inside door in the home, such as the bathroom.

Separation anxiety specialist Malena DeMartini-Price tells Insider, “It’s a gradual process of using small absences that start to teach the dog that absences are safe.” Still, abandoning one’s fur babies for even short periods could prove a tall order for the millions who are relying on — and even buying — dogs to keep themselves sane during lockdown. Especially when Fluffy’s so happy to see their master that he sprain their tail from wagging it so much.

That’s why canine specialists also advise keeping man’s best friend engaged via enrichment activities such as crate training, interactive toys and more, the ASPCA reports.

Dog-appeasing pheromone (DAP), white noise and medications such as Zylkene or Anxitane might also help Lassie avoid separation anxiety, according to Sueda.

Stay-at-home service dog training

Puppy serves as comfort dog

Therapy dog offering online appointments

A therapy dog more often called upon to treat ex-armed forces and service personnel with PTSD has been seconded to aid battle-weary healthcare workers.

Ricochet has already made a name for herself. She’s gained fame by her ongoing work with people suffering PTSD, anxiety and phobias working with Pawsitive Teams’ Canine Inspired Community Reintegration (CICR), a partnership program with the Naval Medical Center San Diego. Ricochet’s forte is innate. Usually she works with war veterans with PTSD, but she is also called upon to assist those with varying disabilities. In addition she helps autistic children and those with life-limiting conditions. Often, merely by her physical contact with patients, is she able to turn the tide of mental anguish.

In association with CICR, front-line healthcare workers can now make an appointment with Ricochet via Facetime for some quality staring time.

The team behind the idea cite the claim that to stare into a dogs eyes for 30 to 60 seconds releases oxytocin, a hormone responsible for a feeling of wellbeing and calmness.

Therapy dogs struggling not seeing patients

Caring Canine Sizzle, a standard poodle, has been visiting Poole Hospital’s Portland Ward, which is for patients with acquired head injuries, for over four years.