Snoopy The Pup

The days that followed Ray’s death were dark and sad. Faced with the question how do I go on, and choosing to live and not die a slow death, I welcomed the arrival of Snoopy, who was eight weeks old. Unknown to me, a puppy is like a new child — the food, crate, clothes, toys, training, vet appointments, and so on. He arrived in cargo at the Toronto airport — roaring and barking like a 40 lb rottweiler! Snoopy is a Coton de Tulear — a breed which originated in Madagascar in the city of Tulear. As the story goes, Cotons (French – Cotton in English) were bred for royalty…. aren’t all dogs, though?

Now in ‘the year of our discontent,’ the trauma of COVID-19 and the pain of it all, Snoopy has again provided great joy, healing and comfort, mentally, emotionally and physically. We take long walks, discover and explore new places and meet new people. He gives big cuddles, and unconditional and knowing love. With his ‘ackee seed’ eyes, and black button nose, Snoopy is hypoallergenic, spirited, charismatic, highly intelligent, playful — a people magnet all round.

My sister Suzette, the real dog whisperer in our family, says dogs take on the personality of their owners. Snoopy is hyped, sociable and extremely spoilt — oh, well! At 17 lbs his huge bark belies his size, and he is a great watchdog, as his breed is closely linked to the Bichon Tenerife Terrier. In 1974, Madagascar released a stamp with the image of the Coton, affirming their status as the nation’s “royal dog”.

Undoubtedly, Snoopy continues to help heal me and save my life.

In the best of times dogs are man’s (people’s) best friend. According to the Mayo clinic, “Animal-assisted therapy is a growing field that uses dogs or other animals to help people recover from or better cope with health problems, such as heart disease, cancer and mental health disorders, and can significantly reduce pain, anxiety, depression and fatigue.”

Wonder Dog

For those of us with dogs, we know they quickly become major parts of the family.

You live for and care for just like one of your own children, and one dog right here in Oklahoma City is beating the odds, and helping others recover as a therapy dog, despite all of the issues he’s facing of his own.

There’s one guest that Deepan Kishore, Director of Research and Surgery at Neel Veterinary Hospital says always brightens his day.

“We love Boris, all the nurses love Boris here we literally wait for Boris to get here he’s super friendly, he wants to play he wants to be happy.” Kishore said.

This is one good boy you’ve got to see to believe, but owner Molly Betensley can tell you a little more about Boris.

“Boris is half Saint Bernard and half Poodle and he will be 11 years old New Year’s Eve and he’s always been a showstopper, when I walk him people stopped to find out what type of dog this is.” Said Betensley. “He stops busses the bus lady wants to know what type of dog this is people are honking.”

Boris is also a certified therapy dog, who takes a lot of pride in his work.

“Boris latest award he’s with therapy dogs international and he got an award for 150 or more therapy dog visits.” Betensley said.

Including a major role he played in the life of someone very close to Molly.

“My mom she was very ill and she had had a procedure in Detroit, boris and I drove 11 hundred miles, he was in the backseat and we got to the hospital and shew as in the ICU and she had coded and they couldn’t wake her up and Boris went right into her hospital room and licked her face and she came too, and she was aware it was Boris and that I was there.” Betensley said.

But Dr. Kishore showed us Boris is fighting some battles of his own.

”In 2018 he had his spleen removed luckily that ended up being benign, he was diagnosed with heart disease back in 2019.” Said Kishore. “He had 6 different heart issues based on the cardiac report, he had valve failure on both sides he had issues with arrythmia, his heart was enlarged and then we call it decompensation when you have building fluid in the lungs.”

Early this year, Boris was given a few months to live, needing checkups every two weeks, but at the end of the year, he’s still going strong.

And Betensley says the secret to his perseverance and prosperity, is the amount of help he’s provided others.

“ I really think because of all the hearts and souls that he’s mended that’s why he’s here with us today.” Said Betensley. “He’s made such a difference in so many people’s lives and not everybody got to go home but I know they are shining down on him.”

Boris is on a very strict medication regimen, and even still is awake every day at 5 AM to get his first walk of the day in. Through the pandemic Boris is still doing virtual visits with folks in the hospital to help spread as much holiday cheer as he possibly can.

We want to hear about the good stuff happening in your neighborhood, send Adam a message on social media or email so we can help shine a light on the great things happening in your area.

Dogs Help During The Pandemic

Caregiving is an admirable job, and during COVID-19 it’s been even more important. But caregivers are prone to burnout. Did you know dogs can help?

Although nursing home and senior care residents have been hit hard by the illness, caregivers have been dealing with exhaustion on top of an increase in their usual duties.

After pausing animal therapy programs under tight COVID-19-related visitor restrictions, facilities in some states began late last year to welcome four-legged friends back in a limited manner.

Other facilities are expanding in-house pet therapy programs to increase staff-led animal visits that provide some physical comfort without bringing extra humans into their building.

It’s no secret that giving a dog some love can have a positive effect on one’s wellbeing. Scientifically, the simple act of petting a pup releases feel-good chemicals in the brain. This reduces feelings of loneliness and anxiety, as well as lowering blood pressure and reducing pain.

The potential consequences of COVID-19 are scary to think about, particularly for those who may already feel isolated or have existing health problems. Those who require full-time care may be feeling unusually anxious, which has the dual effect of worsening their health and increasing caregivers’ workload.

However, a simple visit from a therapy dog provides a happy escape from those worrying thoughts. Caregivers often notice an improvement in mood, an easing of anxious feelings and more motivation after a dog’s visit.

Working with patients in a relaxed state is first prize for caregivers and significantly reduces stress and exhaustion.

Caregivers need care too. Therapy dogs not only help patients, but they’re a valuable source of comfort and stress-relief for caregivers themselves.

Caregivers may be able to make use of therapy dogs themselves for anxiety-relieving purposes. In many cases, caregivers have their own pets at home who serve the purpose of comforting and providing emotional support as well as therapy dogs do.

Dogs are a shoulder to cry on when things get too much. They help keep us active. They bring a smile to our faces with their antics. Of course, in today’s times, they’re also a close and willing companion who doesn’t need to socially distance the same way humans do.

Every caregiving facility has its own guidelines for therapy dogs at this point in time. Many of them have chosen to halt the use of therapy dogs at the moment, in an effort to make conditions as safe as possible for their residents, as well as dog handlers.

Some facilities remain open to therapy dogs, understanding the soothing and supporting role that these animals can play in a time that’s rife with emotional stress.

The CDC has released guidelines for the handlers of facility dogs to determine whether visits should be allowed to keep dogs, handlers, residents and staff safe.

Residents who have come to rely on interactions with therapy dogs to calm them down and brighten their days have been hit hard by restrictions. Some care facilities that decided to suspend therapy dog visits have made alternate arrangements.

Therapy dog handler Pat Ward has been taking her dog, Baby, to visit residents of Island City Assisted Living in Michigan for the past six years. COVID couldn’t stop this pair. They now visit the residents through the window, keeping their distance but bringing joy nonetheless.

Others have since followed suit, taking their dogs for socially-distanced visits through facility windows. Although not able to cuddle the dogs, residents seem to be happier for just seeing them and knowing that they visited.

In Florida, patients with dementia and Alzheimer’s have been benefiting from interactions with robot pets. These have been shown to be amazingly effective at easing anxiety and loneliness in residents at long-term care facilities, patients in adult daycare and homebound patients receiving care.

It’s unclear as to whether this would work as effectively for patients who don’t suffer from Alzheimer’s or dementia, but it’s a safe, socially distanced way of providing some pet therapy and cuddly companionship.

Other ways dogs have still been making people happy include a socially-distanced dog parade held by Paws With A Cause, and various organizations are using video to encourage interaction between patients and therapy pets.

Keep in mind that any kind of animal interactions that benefit residents will also likely give staff a much-needed emotional boost.

Dogs are so much more than just goofy, tail-wagging fluffy friends. They’re a vital part of health and healthcare, for both patient and caregiver. Isn’t it about time every healthcare facility recognized their potential and started making more use of them?

Service Dog Joins Team

While saving lives, paramedics and EMTs often find themselves providing emotional support to people on their worst days. So when the job is done and they’ve returned to their stations, they may need some comfort as well.

Enter Indie: a smart and cuddly St. Bernard who recently joined East Baton Rouge Emergency Medical Services to provide relief for paramedics in distress after hard calls. She is a nationally registered ADA service dog and PTSD dog, her handler said.

“A lot of times we don’t want anybody to see our weaknesses because we’ve got to remain strong,” said Leah Constantino, one of Indie’s handlers. “With her, you can just be sad, and she’s gonna try to make you feel better.”

Constantino began ruminating on the need for an EMS emotional support dog after the tumultuous year of 2016, which saw the police shooting of Alton Sterling, widespread civil unrest in response, a deadly police ambush and a rare flood event that crippled the city.

Paramedics were at the forefront of each disaster, and some were badly traumatized by the experiences.

Constantino, who has been with EMS for 26 years, said paramedics are accustomed to putting their mental health on the back burner because they have to focus on their jobs. Not coping can manifest in a number of ways, such as developing depression and anxiety.

“It’s time that we take care of ourselves so we can take better care of other people,” she said.

Indie began on a trial basis in early summer for a little more than a month.

“The stars aligned, I don’t know,” Constantino said. “The difference was remarkable in a couple of days.”

She is now a uniformed officer with EMS. Her call number is Indie 500.

Constantino said Indie takes the emotions paramedics have pushed aside or tamped down and allows them to process.

“We will compartmentalize our emotions on tragic events and do what we’re trained to do, do what’s necessary, and generally it hits us after the call,” she said.

Indie, who Constantino characterizes as smart and caring, will “almost immediately” approach the person who seems to be in the most distress after a bad call. She follows orders quickly, listening to her handlers with rapt attention and focus. Average training for a dog like Indie takes a year, Constantino said.

Ready to respond to paramedics who need comfort during debriefing sessions, Indie lives at EMS headquarters. She has set hours where she needs exercise and sleep, although these are adjusted when she is needed to step in for a paramedic in need — as long as those lost hours are made up later. Her wellbeing is critical, Constantino said.

Indie doesn’t go on calls, but she responds after calls. And she goes on social visits to other stations to boost paramedic morale.

After a recent traumatic call, Indie stepped up to help a paramedic struggling to process the night’s events.

It was late, and Indie was curled up on the floor. The paramedic joined her, lying down and closing her eyes beside the dog.

At some point, the paramedic grew emotional. As if sensing her sadness, Indie immediately picked her head up and rested it on the paramedic’s shoulder.

“She’s gonna love you,” Constantino said. “It’s unconditional love, non-judgmental love.”

Scott And Charlie

Cherokee Middle School students may do a little more “doodling” second semester starting this month (January), but also will improve their attendance marks because of a special attraction at the school, courtesy of Principal Scott Aden.

Aden, an effective, caring administrator, has acquired and will house and handle a young female Golden Doodle (Charlie) that he is more than happy to train to serve as the CMS “therapy dog,” a popular trend in schools that provides vast benefits for students, faculty and staff.

In a meaningful letter to the District in September in which Aden’s request was overwhelmingly approved, Aden wrote:

“I am asking the Cherokee School Board to consider supporting the use of my therapy dog, a Golden Doodle, in the Cherokee Middle School.

“Our schools have students who come from homes experiencing poverty, single

parenting situations, forms of abuse, neglect and other disadvantages. These

experiences cause trauma in students which in turn can lead to them being in a state of dysregulation. Traumatic experiences can lead to anxiety, depression and other forms of mental illnesses. The brokenness our students experience follows them to school, and the implications that arise because of these hardships can have a significant negative impact on behaviorand can lend to a lack of focus in our classrooms.

“Each day, students with emotional issues sit in school reluctant to participate in class or group activities, withdrawn from peers, acting out with behaviors or go to the nurse to receive attention. Some isolate themselves and have attendance issues. These

students DO NOT go unnoticed! My heart aches for them, and I believe a therapy

dog would be another tool that would help us reach these students, build

relationships with them, and provide another means of comfort for them.”

Therapy animals are known for helping people to improve self-esteem, develop social

skills, and provide comfort to those who have anxiety. Their presence is soothing and

has been documented to lower blood pressure, heart rate and anxiety.

Working with a therapy animal has also resulted in behavioral improvement in children and a reduction in depression for elderly. Pet therapy is gaining significant respect in the area of counseling and a variety of clinical settings.

“I realize a therapy dog will not solve all problems, but I do know that this could be an

extremely helpful and valuable tool for us to help the kids we love and care for every

day,” added Aden.

•Golden Doodle’s Certifications and Training:

Goldendoodle– a cross between a Golden Retriever and a Standard Poodle. Because of their temperament, Goldendoodles are often chosen for use as therapy dogs. They are widely known as companion dogs with temperaments that are described as friendly and outgoing, strongly human-oriented with a love for pleasing their human friends. Their kind, friendly eyes express character, intelligence, and are very inviting which helps to relieve fear of dogs that some students might experience.

Aden will certify the dog through a therapy/service dog training organization. The certification will consist of a battery of tests completed by a certified evaluator for the American Kennel Club (AKC) Community Canines.

The testing took place in a hospital facility and involved the following:

Accepting a friendly stranger

Sitting politely for petting

Appearance and grooming

Out for a walk – walking on a loose lead

Walking through a crowd

Sit and down on command and staying in place

Coming when called

Reaction to another dog

Reaction to distraction

Supervised separation from handler

AKC Good Citizen Test (will be completed)

AKC Advanced Canine Good Citizen Test/Therapy Dog Training Test

(will be completed)

Therapy dog training costs:

Aden will continue to incur the financial responsibility of the Golden Doodle costs.

Initial cost of dog $750 (Education Foundation agreed to pay up to $1000); Annual vet bills, vaccines, grooming costs, food, etc.; Therapy Dog Handler Certification workshop/testing; AKC Good Citizen Dog Evaluation fee Costs.

Possible ways GoldenDoodle will be used at CMS:

Create a focus group for students with behavioral, emotional and attendance issues

Assist with calming an angry or upset student (example from Omaha school- time and

time again they see the presence of a dog de-escalate situations)

Earned time with the dog as a reward

Teach responsibility—grooming, feeding, walking and vet care required

Basic dog training- the process and techniques —TLC students

Reading to dogs (Reading Pups)- can be used to assist students with speech and

reading difficulties and build their confidence

Write a letter to the dog (example from Omaha school- elementary student shared with

the dog she was being bullied. Parents and teachers weren’t aware it was happening.)

Concerns – those with allergies and fear of dogs – August Student Registration (2021-2022)

According to Aden, student registration would be a good time to share general information concerning the training and certifications for GoldenDoodle and how she will be used in the school.

In conclusion Aden said, “Having a therapy dog would be a tremendous benefit to the students of Cherokee Middle School. A dog will help many students feel loved, provide companionship, and give staff another tool for assisting our students. I have done much research in the area of pet therapy and believe in its benefits.”

2020 For Your Furry Friend

We’re all so happy to kick 2020 to the curb. With the turning of a calendar page, we have renewed hope that we end the pandemic and will soon be able to gather again safely outside the home with friends and family.

While that’s great news for us, our dogs won’t be so thrilled.

There’s a comic circulating on social media where a couple of people and a couple of dogs look back on 2020. Their views are starkly different.

While most of us will easily categorize it as the worst year ever, our canine pals thought it was the bomb. Their humans didn’t leave for work. Their tiny humans didn’t go to school. That means so little time alone.

Everyone has been stressed, so there has been lots of snuggle time as every dog (and cat and bunny and hamster) takes on the role of emotional support animal. Because people have extra hours in the day, that means more playtime and walks. Everybody has been eating in or carrying out a lot so there have been tantalizing smells and maybe table scraps.

So many rules have probably been bent. Maybe the pup can now curl up on the couch or sleep in the bed if that wasn’t allowed before. All in all, it was a pretty amazing year. Rescue groups and shelters had a surge in adoptions and foster requests since the pandemic began. People figured since they were going to spend so much time at home, they might as well spend it with a pet that needed a family.

In addition, as adoptions increased, the number of strays and homeless pets declined.

Shelter Animals Count, a national database of shelter animal statistics, issued a COVID-19 Impact Report this summer tracking information from 1,270 organizations. It showed that 548,966 pets entered the shelters from March to June in 2020. compared to 840,750 during the same period in 2019. That’s a drop of about 35%.

There have been stories through the pandemic about animal shelters being empty as all pets were adopted or fostered. I know that some of the rescues I work with at times received many requests from new people wanting to foster for the first time or who were looking to adopt.

But now that these first-time dog owners or even long-time dog owners have lavished attention on their pets, what happens when the world goes back to some semblance of normal, hopefully soon?

Dog trainers and behaviorists will tell you that it’s important that you give your pet lots of alone time. If your dog didn’t have separation anxiety before, there’s a chance it will develop after you’ve been hanging out so much over the past many months.

If you haven’t been going into work and think you’ll start soon, be sure to gradually spend more and more time away from your dog. Take gradually longer outings without them and always leave things to keep them occupied like peanut butter-stuffed Kongs or indestructible toys that they only get when you’re away.

But I have two setups for them: one in a large pen in my office, and another downstairs. They get time playing and sleeping next to me and with my dog nearby, and then they get time in their other pen without people around so they entertain themselves.

I also make sure to play with each of them separately outside and inside so when they are adopted and will be separated from each other, hopefully that transition will be easier for them.

Service Dog Goes To School

When Remington Lewis rides the bus to Walton Middle School in DeFuniak Springs on Wednesday, he won’t be alone.

This time, next to the sixth-grader will be his best friend Willow, a 1-year-old German shepherd.

The Daily News ran an article in July about the Lewis family’s fundraiser to pay for Willow’s training as a service dog. Remington, who his family calls Remi, needs a service dog to help protect himself and others during outbursts.

Remi, now 11, was diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder at age 5, and has been prescribed a long list of medications and diagnosed with a slew of other illnesses that cause behavioral issues. Among them are disruptive mood regulation disorder, bipolar disorder, depression and anxiety.

The GoFundMe campaign raised enough money — and then some — to certify Willow, said Remington’s mother, Rachel Lewis. Willow started training this summer and recently passed all of her certifications.

“He has been waiting for this day,” Lewis said of her son. “He’s been telling his friends. He calls her his baby girl. He says that his baby girl is gonna be with him. He’s just really happy that she’s going to be with him.”

Willow underwent service dog training with trainer Chase Shankle at Total Dog Training. Shankle really knows what he is doing, Lewis said. “The past three months we’ve been able to take her out in public everywhere we go — restaurants, football games — wherever we go,” Lewis said. “We’ve never had any issues. She’s more behaved than any of my children, so I don’t mind taking her.”

The training is extensive, Lewis said. While Willow knows basic commands, such as sit and stay, she now also knows more in-depth commands.

“She can place, which is a placemat we use,” Lewis said. “If I tell her to place, she will not get off that mat. She doesn’t jump up or try to engage with anybody. Somebody can look up and whistle at her, she’s not moving. We do have a pact that says, ‘Don’t touch,’ but that’s up to Remington.”

Willow also is training to block an exit if Remi tries to leave the room.

Remi and Willow have had a special connection from the beginning, Lewis explained in her first interview with the Daily News.

“From day one she slept in his room,” Lewis said. “She was supposed to be my dog, really. She’s always been more with Remington. He feeds and waters her. He always puts her outside. She sleeps with him or next to him. She’s never slept anywhere in the house except next to Remington.”

Their bond is still strong. Remi’s behavioral issues have been better lately; he has had only one major behavioral episode, Lewis said. He had to be sedated.

“When he woke up, he was asking for Willow,” Lewis said.

They had a first birthday party for Willow in October.

The school faculty has embraced the service dog and held an assembly to inform the other students.

“The assistant principal said, ‘Any time (Remi) is having a bad day, honestly all I have to do is start talking about Willow and he opens right up and then we’ll get talking about what happened to make him upset and it’s just a lot easier,’” Lewis said. “When we bring her up is when he starts talking.”

Lewis said she wants to thank the people who contributed to the fundraiser.

“Even when I stated we had enough money, people just kept donating,” she said. “So we do have extra funds available if we need anything for Remington and her. For school, I had to get her another kennel, placemat and vest. We’re extremely grateful. I can’t say that enough, really.”

K-9 Officer Retires

A Helping Paw

A Girl Scout project that calls for making a lasting improvement to the community has generated a young local author and an educational children’s book that she hopes will pass on some of what she has learned.

Catherine Bezio, a high school senior who lives in Erving, has been training service dogs since she was in eighth grade. She has volunteered for the local organization Heroes, Horses and Hounds, and J.M. Animal Training and Rescue, which both train rescue dogs to become service dogs.

Bezio has trained several dogs since then. Some of the dogs she has trained now work with people with unique needs, including a veteran with PTSD. Another dog, which liked people too much to ever work as a service dog, was adopted by Bezio.

At the beginning of 2020, Bezio was up for her Gold Award — the highest award in Girl Scouts. Thinking of a concept for a project, she naturally gravitated toward her work with dogs. For her Silver Award, she had documented her training of a dog.

But the Gold Award has different requirements than the Silver Award: it emphasizes finding a lasting way to address some shortcoming or need in your community, Bezio said.

While training dogs, Bezio noticed that other people often don’t know how to respond to seeing a service dog. Many people may not know, for example, not to pet a service dog who is working.

“I have seen firsthand how little people know about them. People will come up and try to pet the dogs,” Bezio said. “They just don’t know how to respond to them.”

A book, she realized, could be the perfect way to tie the different pieces together. It would be a medium for sharing her knowledge; and, since a book can outlast its author, its impact might even continue into future generations.

Starting work on the book at the beginning of 2020, she envisioned it as an illustrated children’s book that would somehow incorporate elements of the local community.

The book, titled “Dogs — Lending a Helping Paw,” would cover service dogs, therapy dogs and comfort dogs, and explain the differences between each.

She had planned to write it in March. When the pandemic arrived, the book became a priority for her.

“I found myself with an abundance of free time. I could put a lot of effort into putting the book together,” she said.

For illustrations, she contacted local organizations like the ones she had volunteered for, requesting donations of photos. Using image editing software, she made the photos look like hand-drawn illustrations.

“I thought that would add a nice personalized touch to what the dogs do,” she said.

By midsummer, she had finished the book, including having the book reviewed for accuracy by her mentors in dog training.

She found a publishing arrangement to print individual copies of the book and sell them on Amazon. It is still available to buy.

She also bought about 15 copies of her own book and donated them to local elementary schools and libraries, including Erving Public Library and Ja’Duke preschool.

In the plan she had laid out at the beginning of the year, Bezio would have visited local elementary schools to present her book and talk about it with students. But because of the pandemic, those visits had to be canceled. Instead, she held a few virtual readings online and found other ways to publicize the book.

Now, Bezio is preparing a report of her project, which will be considered in determining whether she will be awarded the Gold Award.

Veterans Service Dogs