Retired Sled Dogs

Northern Virginia is nearly as far as you can get in the United States from the Northern Lights of Alaska, but Comet and Swannie don’t appear to mind swapping the Wrangell Mountains for the Shenandoah Mountains. That’s because Denise Lawson, who worked to bring them more than 4,000 miles from where they were living near the Yukon border to living near the District of Columbia border, is helping them find forever homes where they can do what so many other individuals yearn to do after a taxing career—enjoy their retirement.

In 2018, Lawson, and her boyfriend, Gordon Smith, visited a friend who worked in the dog mushing trade. They learned how to work with dogs on their own sleds and rely on the canines as teammates more than pets. Along the way, they fell in love with one of their working dogs, Black Bear. At the end of the mush season, Black Bear retired and Lawson’s friend helped get Black Bear home to Springfield.

Since then, Lawson and Smith have helped bring more than 20 retired sled dogs from Alaska (and one from Minnesota) to Virginia to find forever homes. To help pay for all the travel and veterinary costs, Lawson launched a series of books about Black Bear’s adventures. There are many misconceptions about how working dogs in Alaska are treated, and it’s part of Lawson’s mission to educate people about the healthy life most working dogs live in the Northwest territories in her books and talks. Coronavirus restrictions have limited the number of presentations and talks that Lawson and her dogs are able to share with the public, so we conducted a question and answer session with her to share her message from a socially-safe distance.

I have a neighbor who works as a mushing guide in the winter months in Alaska. She convinced me to go on a dog sledding expedition at Bush Alaska Expeditions several miles outside the small town of Eagle, Alaska, along the Yukon River near the border of Canada. This is a very remote part of Alaska that is only accessible in the winter by flying on the mail plane. Our expedition took us over jumble ice and through narrow wooded trails in a wilderness with no roads. Sled dogs are an essential method of transportation in this part of Alaska. My boyfriend, Gordon, and I had the unique opportunity to learn how to harness and mush my own dog team. We had an amazing adventure and developed an amazing bond with the people and their dogs.  It’s hard to describe the bond you develop with each dog while out on the trail for multiple days in the wilderness. Sled dogs have a remarkable bond with each other and their mushers and handlers.

We ended up adopting Black Bear a couple of months after this dog-sledding trip. Black Bear was a dog on Gordon’s dog team on our expedition. She is a retired Yukon Quest lead dog. We were fortunate that when Black Bear arrived in Virginia, we already knew her from Alaska. We understood the environment that she came from and knew how to help her adjust to a new life that included sidewalks and cars. For dogs who grew up in a dog yard in the wilderness, it is a big change to transition to suburban living.  I found that I kept telling the Black Bear story as she inserted herself into every conversation when walking around the neighborhood. I decided to write a children’s book called Black Bear Goes to Washington and use proceeds to help fund the transport and veterinary bills for other retired dogs from Alaska. Through the voice of Black Bear, this story conveys the essence of sled dog life in Alaska and lightheartedly suggests that we could all learn a little something from some old sled dogs. We started doing school, library, bookstore and pet store visits with the sled dogs. More people started asking about how to adopt a dog or how they could help. One book, led to another book, and another and now, there are four Black Bear books. The books are a great method of educating the public about sled dogs and are an important conversation starter in addition to being a fundraiser for helping more dogs.

We visit the wilderness bush region of Alaska each year near the town of Eagle. A lot of logistics are involved in getting the dogs out of the bush and bringing them to Virginia. The first leg of the journey for the dogs is to ride in a dog kennel on a sled being pulled by a snow machine (a snow machine is what we call a snowmobile in the lower 48) to get from the homestead to the airstrip in the town of Eagle. We fly with the dogs on the mail plane to Fairbanks. On this flight, we are able to have the dogs right next to us or right behind us in the kennel depending on the seat configuration. Once in Fairbanks, the dogs need to be taken to the vet for a check-up before flying. This vet certification has to be completed within 10 days of the flight to ensure that the dogs are in good health before they fly. The easiest and least expensive way to transport the dogs is when a passenger is flying on the same plane as an escort for the dogs. Almost all flights leaving Alaska go through Seattle, and depending on the layover time, sometimes the dogs need to be picked up in Seattle so they can get out, drink, eat something, and take a potty break. Then they must be rechecked for the connecting flight to Virginia.

Sometimes, it is necessary to fly a dog as cargo without a passenger. Since most cargo flights also require a connection, we still need to make arrangements to have a volunteer or paid service pick the dogs up in Seattle and then re-check the dogs for their next flight.  In some parts of Alaska, the temperatures in the summer can get very warm. July 2019, for example, was a very hot month in Alaska with temperatures around the town of Eagle exceeding 90 degrees. The dogs shed their heavy winter coat as the temperatures warm up even in Alaska. The Alaskan husky undercoat helps control the dog’s body temperature in both hot and cold weather. Generally, the homes of the retired dogs have air conditioning. In retirement, these dogs enjoy staying cool inside along with their new families. The dogs can still go out to walk and exercise, but as with any dog, the owner needs to ensure the dog has plenty of water and limit outside exercise during the hottest part of the day.

The mushers and families we work with in Alaska take excellent care of their dogs. I would like to clarify and say that we do not rescue dogs. We rehome dogs that are highly trained working dogs who have been loved and well-cared for. We have had the opportunity to participate in the daily care of sled dogs at the homestead where Black Bear was born.

Gordon and I also volunteered at the Eagle checkpoint for the 1,000-mile Yukon Quest race in February. We got an inside view of the amazing vet care and the dedication of the mushers to the health and well-being of the dogs—and more importantly the bond between musher and sled dog. These dogs are loved.

A lot more goes into dog care than people realize. I do an educational program that teaches kids how to think like a musher, so kids can see everything that goes into dog care and running a dog team. It is much more than just knowing the mushing commands.

Everyday revolves around dog care duties such as feeding, scooping poop, nail trimming, and health monitoring. And each dog gets “people” time and free run time. The mushers carefully plan the nutrition, exercise, and vet care for each dog. They live on a high-quality diet of salmon year-round supplemented with performance grade kibble that is far superior to most commercial dog food that the average house pet eats. The dogs are the No. 1 priority to the musher. They are an integral part of a subsistence lifestyle as they are the most reliable form of transportation. The dogs love to run, and it is hard to articulate the serene beauty of running a team of dogs on the Yukon River.

From birth, the puppies are handled a lot and get lots of love and interaction before they even start to learn mushing commands. And once you witness the bond between dog and musher, you understand something deep and special about life in the Alaskan bush. These dogs are truly family members.

Some people ask why the mushers give up some of their dogs if they are loved so much. Working dogs are a requirement for surviving in the wilderness. They give up some dogs so they don’t end up having more dogs than they can support, and so the older dogs can have a good retirement with easy access to healthcare. It can be difficult to rehome these retirees, particularly for dogs who come from the remote bush regions of Alaska. In an area where there are more dogs than people, finding a home for a dog who can’t work anymore can be hard. This is where we come into the picture. Parting is always very hard for the mushers, and saying goodbye to their dogs is a tearful time. But we always keep in touch with the mushers and the adopting families, and we share pictures and updates on how the dogs are doing in their retirement homes.

Veteran With PTSD

Service members who have survived combat and war zones often face challenges adapting back to everyday life. Many military veterans suffer from paralyzing effects from posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

One special group in Charlottesville is helping to change lives one canine at a time. SDV starts training puppies and then places the dogs with those in need when the dogs are about 2 years old.

After seven years in the Army, Michelle says adjusting back to civilian life has not been easy.  She tells 8 News, “For me, it’s like climbing Mount Everest every time I leave my house.”

Michelle was having trouble going out in public. Eventually, she was diagnosed with PTSD.

“For example, going to the grocery store is a task that I am not able to do. I am not able to go to Target. Wal-Mart, forget about it,” she explained.

Michelle, like many veterans, has gone through a list of treatments and therapies to no avail. But then she learned about Service Dogs of Virginia.  After about a year-long wait, she was paired with Dottie, a black Labrador retriever.

“My hope for having Dottie is that I am finally able to return to a normal life again. That I am able to have a sense of normalcy back in my life,” Michelle said.

But getting a service dog like Dottie is easier said than done. It costs approximately $40,000 over a two-year period to raise, train and place a successful service dog with a person in need. That cost is never passed on to the new owner.

“I do everything I can to raise funds. I do not pass on that cost to our clients. I write grants. We have individual donors. I get corporate sponsorships,” said Sally Day, Service Dogs of Virginia Director of Development.

Day says fundraising has been difficult, due to the coronavirus pandemic, but the organization is determined to continue the good work that they’ve been doing for over the past 10 years. She says “When the organizations began, they started with a waiting list because there was so much need.”

Michelle says that she hopes that by sharing her story other veterans will be inspired to ask for help. She reminds people that, “Not all wounds are visible.”

K9s For Warriors

 K9s for Warriors was founded in 2011 to provide service dogs to disabled American veterans. The dogs who are paired with veterans are meant to help them overcome PTSD, traumatic brain injuries, and/or military sexual trauma. Since 2011, K9s for Warriors has rescued over 1,000 dogs and has had over 630 graduates of their 3-week Veteran Training Program become paired with a pup. The goal of the program is to empower their Warriors to return to a life of dignity and independence. Once in the program, a PTSD service dog is provided to the veteran at no cost. Pairing these individuals with service dogs provides them with a partner in a life-changing journey, not only saving the veteran but finding a forever home for a dog in need.

After serving time in the military, coming home and adapting to everyday life can be difficult for veterans. With a K9s for Warriors dog, veterans can gain the emotional means to repair their relationship with themselves, their families, and friends.

“With each graduate pair, we save two lives; we rescue the dog, the dog rescues the Warrior”

A perfect example of that is Greg Wells and his service dog Utah. Greg is a graduate of K9s for Warriors Class of 2015. Since graduating, Greg found a new purpose in life alongside Utah, becoming K9s for Warriors’ Program Manager.

Greg and Utah join Lisa Germani on Community Connect to talk about the life-changing effects that K9s for Warriors can have on the life of a dog and a veteran.

Service Dogs Support

People like John Dugas know how life-changing service dogs can be. Dugas, a St. Albert resident and the chairman of Courageous Companions, uses his own service dog, Bailey, to help him with mobility assistance and symptoms of PTSD.

Dugas is also a 30-year veteran who served as a combat engineer. Eventually, Dugas’ work life weighed on him to the point where, every day on his way home, he would pull into a gas station parking lot and sleep for 10 minutes.

“You’d put this mask on, I call it, to kind of hide what’s going on,” said Dugas.

“I found I just became a recluse in my own house, I would stay in my garage and wouldn’t engage anyone.”

After a doctor suggested he try working with a service dog, Dugas applied to the Courageous Companion program and was placed with his first dog, Mia, three months later.

Dogs play an incredible role in so many people’s lives. Sometimes, they’re even considered as best friends or part of the family. Service dogs, however, play another engaging role: as a support system for those who live with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), such as veterans and first responders.

Last weekend, Walk for Veterans, an event supporting veterans throughout Canada, gave its support to service dogs by donating its proceeds to Courageous Companions, a non-profit organization that provides service dogs to first responders, men and women in the military service, and veterans.

“This year, we’re putting (the proceeds) towards Courageous Companions so that people can get the dogs they need, because these (dogs) are so important. And this year especially, we wanted to do something that was centred around not only veterans but veterans and first responders,” said Chance Burles, Edmonton’s organizer for the walk.

“Out of all years, we saw just how important first responders are to our lifestyle and we wanted to really highlight that.”

Charitable initiatives like Walk for Veterans play a huge role in supporting organizations like Courageous Companions.

“It’s vets helping vets, help vets,” said Burles. “That’s really all we want to do.”

Courageous Companions is an organization completely supported by donations, and service dogs can cost up to 20 to $30,000.

“Some legion branches will fund a (service) dog, some will not. Veterans Affairs won’t fund any dogs, the government won’t fund any. So they leave it up to charities to go out there and raise the money to do that,” said Dugas. “It’s always a challenge. You can have a barbecue and raise $600 but at 20 grand a dog, that’s a lot of barbecues.”

A secure support system is imperative for those who deal with the everyday challenges of PTSD. Now a retired master corporal, Burles is a veteran who served for eight years in the military. He was diagnosed with PTSD in 2012, and after a year of exhausting doctor’s appointments, he finally found the right fit with one doctor practising equine therapy. Burles grew up around horses and working with them made perfect sense.

“When you’re working with a horse, they can see and feel the immediate changes in your chemistry,” said Burles.

“One of the neat things is you could be doing a walk-through with your doctor on one of the traumatic events that you’ve been through, and the moment that you start to fade into a flashback, or you start feeling the emotion start to pick up, that horse will engage.”

It takes a special kind of animal to offer the right connection and support needed by those who live with mental and physical disabilities. That’s why the training process at Courageous Companions is thorough to ensure handlers and their dogs are perfectly matched.

Training is specialized to accommodate the handler’s needs, and a dog must be able to perform at least three tasks to become a service dog. Tasks can include grounding, space management, distraction and even waking handlers from a nightmare or detecting high blood pressure.

Burles recalls a time when, at a Walk for Veterans event, one veteran stood backed up against a tree, wide-eyed, with his service dog by his side. The dog was touching the veteran’s hand to distract him. Burles walked up to shake his hand and thank him for coming out, when the veteran told him it had been the first time out of his house in two years.

Burles explained it was the service dog, and being surrounded by other veterans, that kept the man centred enough to be there.

“It was difficult, but it was still within his realm of accomplishment and management by having that dog there,” said Burles.

For many of those who deal with the effects of PTSD, being in crowds and public places can take a great amount of courage. The Walk for Veterans event offers an encouraging environment for those individuals to take that brave next step, and to talk comfortably about their experiences.

“When you sit and you start talking about really dark things, the world starts to close in on you and you’re stationery, and it’s that much more challenging. But if you’re up and walking and people are moving with you and they’re talking and nodding, it becomes a much more fluid, easier way to talk,” explained Burles.

This year, the Walk for Veterans was virtual. Participants walked from various spots across Edmonton not only in support of each other but also in support of the service dogs that help change so many lives. The tally for this year’s fundraiser hasn’t been posted yet.

Guide Dog Puppies

Two adorable Labrador puppies have been named Bonnie and Henry in a tribute to BC’s provincial health officer.

BC & Alberta Guide Dogs said staff chose the names because Dr. Bonnie Henry embodies qualities they think the dogs should have.

“Dr. Henry has been a wonderful presence of calm and guidance through the COVID-19 pandemic, and our organization felt that it was a fitting tribute to name these little puppies after her, as they will one day grow up to provide those same qualities of guidance and support to someone in need,” Bill Thornton, CEO of BC & Alberta Guide Dogs, said in a news release. Dr. Bonnie Henry said she was touched by the gesture. Bonnie and Henry were born into a litter of 10 puppies. All the siblings will train to be certified as guide dogs, so that when they grow up they can help people who are blind or who have visual impairments. Some of the puppies may also go on to become service dogs for people with autism or PTSD service dogs for veterans and first responders.

Ember The Therapy Dog

There’s a new staff member walking the halls at Whitmer High School. Her name is Ember and she is a purebred black lab from the Assistance Canine Training Services in New Hampshire. Her assignment: to calm anxieties and spread cheer at the Toledo school.

“She was raised in a school so she is extremely familiar with the school environment,” says Katie Peters, an English teacher at Whitmer and Ember’s owner. “She is very receptive to people who need her. Often times she will go up to staff members and love on them and afterward the staff member will say ‘I’ve been having the worst week the worst luck,’ and Ember just has the intuition of knowing who needs her. “

Peters says it took close to two years to get a service dog for the school, and it took community support to finally purchase her.

Ember is intelligent and trained to do many different tasks around the school. Therapy dogs have proved to be helpful in school buildings, even more so with all the uncertainty and stress caused by the ongoing pandemic. Ember hasn’t had a chance to interact with students yet, but with in-person learning scheduled to resume on October 27th, she’s ready to get started.

“She has added so much joy to a building that’s been struggling to find it without students,” says Peters.

The two-year-old dog is already a beloved member of the staff. She even has her own mailbox … filled with treats, of course.

“I love Ember and I can’t wait to see how she reacts when the kids come here,” says counselor Seth Evearitt. “She makes the rest of us happy when she comes in.”

Therapy Dogs Helping Staff

Dogs in the classroom are more than welcome in Alta-Aurelia schools, especially now in the age of COVID.

Just a short time into the school year, students and staff already consider the four therapy dogs in school as family members and know them by name – Milo and Liberty in Aurelia, and Skye and Goldie in Alta. Their breeds are Goldendoodles and a Golden Retriever.

Ten-month-old therapy dog Skye, a Goldendoodle, roams around all day in Ashton Peterson’s first grade class two days each week at Alta Elementary School as she comforts, befriends and amuses students. “Therapy dogs can be very beneficial for all students,” Ashton said. “If a student is having a bad day, therapy dogs can be there to support them and help them feel some sort of comfort. Therapy dogs can help to lift moods in classrooms and put students more at ease who struggle in social situations. When students walk into my room and see Skye, they immediately have a smile on their face. I can’t wait to see Skye help many students throughout our building.”

She said students in her class are not afraid of Skye, although some students in school have a fear of dogs.

Skye’s owner is Roxanne Peterson, the Classroom Associate in Ashton’s class. Ashton and Roxanne agree that Skye gives students a break from their schoolwork and calms down those who become worked up. Skye is at times used as a reward, and when a student needs a break or wants to walk, Roxanne, Skye and the student will walk the hallways.

“We’ve been wanting to do it for awhile,” Roxanne said of the project. “We had to do a lot of research before it was approved,” adding that a lot of training is involved to get the dogs exposed to people and accustomed to them.

Alta-Aurelia School Superintendent Williams Walters is fully supportive of the project. “Therapy dogs help calm anxious and stressed students,” he said. “They come two to three times a week. Kids are dealing with more now than ever. If we can provide them with an outlet to help them relax and be more successful at school we are going to do that. Right now with the health situation our kids need as many of these outlets as possible available to them.”

Aurelia Elementary and Middle School Principal Jeannie Henningsen said the therapy dogs are working out well, students are excited to see them and they are helping several students in many different ways.

Alta-Aurelia High School Counselor Belinda Shea sees first-hand how therapy dogs can help improve stress and anxiety in students. “They have a calming effect. They can be beneficial with individual students or entire classrooms. They can help calm when students might be experiencing certain behaviors. They can help develop responsible behaviors and assist students to enjoy school even more,” Shea said.

Teacher and dog obedience trainer Melissa Fahr said, “When I get to school every morning the students, and the staff are always happy to greet the dogs and the dogs are so excited to see the students and staff. I have some students that come to my room just to see which dog I have and to stop and pet/play with them on almost a daily basis.”

Her dogs are usually in her classroom as she teaches which calms the students down considerably, she said. “They usually will sit or lay by students and just give and get love which many students need. A few students who might have been potential behavior problems have not become so as they have an outlet for releasing that energy,” Fahr said.

She said the school nurse, who all would agree has a very stressful job right now, is a regular visitor to her classroom to visit the dogs. She has also been a very strong supporter in the program, believing that they bring stress relief.

“I many times will let my dogs roam a little more freely before and after school and they will invite themselves into rooms and the giggles and laughter you hear plus the calls of their names being called out is so joyful. That alone is wonderful to hear,” Fahr said.

The dogs have been trained and usually are very respectful of rules and come when called, and are gentle with the students overall. “If we happen to be walking down the hall and some of the elementary students see the dogs, they are all excited to come pet them,” she said.

A future plan is to start more individual work with students, such as escorting reluctant students to class which she and the dogs have done a few times already.

The timing is right to have therapy dogs in the schools. “I did consider not bringing my dogs to school for awhile due to the COVID issues, but decided that they are needed now perhaps more than ever.”

Fahr said the last five months of school closures has been hard on everyone, and the dogs are a positive influence. Staff members stop by her classroom to see the dogs. “They look forward to seeing them just as much if not more than the students do. They have been under a lot of stress getting ready for the school year and all the constant changes due to the current situation that they need the diversion as much if not more than the students.”

Another consideration is that some students have experienced traumas in their short lifetimes, and being able to interact with animals and dogs in particular has been shown to help those students to not only relax more but to be able to interact more with the world around them, Fahr said.

The dogs are working towards their official therapy certification, and three of them have attended Fahr’s dog obedience classes during the spring, summer and fall. The puppies will be certified upon reaching the age of one.

Molly The Therapy Dog

At Kempsey East Public School there’s a four-legged friend helping to support students throughout their school day.

Molly the therapy dog can be found walking the school grounds during play and class time with her owner, principal Penny Chow.

“In our personal best room, Molly enjoys relaxing, chewing her toys, listening to a story and is always willing to play,” Mrs Chow said.

It’s rare for staff not to see the crowds of students petting Molly as she makes her way through the school grounds.

11-year-old student Sophia said Molly adds enjoyment to the school day.

“Molly is an important part of our school. Without her, it wouldn’t be the same,” she said.

Six-year-old Fletcher said seeing Molly at school is the best part of his day.

“Molly is so cute and I love having her in our class. I wish we could have her in our class more.”

Research shows that being around animals can have a positive impact on children and adults.

“It improves our well-being and therefore our time at school,” Mrs Chow said.

Molly is a valued four-legged friend at Kempsey East Public School and students and staff count themselves lucky to have her.

Molly has had extensive training at the Australian Pet Boarding and K9 Training Centre.

Therapy Dog Program

Pet Therapy

For millions around the world, life during this pandemic has become the “emotional strain of the century.” Regardless of how we discern our level of stamina, mental fortitude or faith, the demonstrative toll these past months have truly exposed everyone’s frailty — at least once.

Having a pet in your home brings a certain level of serenity to this chaos that surrounds us. Pets eradicate the loneliness we feel due to social distancing and can erase the foreboding clouds of change we fear could easily be around for an indefinite period of time. Living with therapy dogs during this COVID-19 season has increased my clarity regarding the powerful impact their presence provides to us humans.

At 92 years of age and battling dementia, my mother and my then three-year-old Goldendoodle Harley, forged a Velcro-type relationship that lasted until her death at the age of 97.

My mother didn’t like dogs, but she was enamored with him. Harley remained by her side when she was with us, exaggerating his movements to her benefit. He was cautious and attentive, patient and loving.

Their delicate relationship both inspired and motivated me to pursue pet therapy. Tail-wagging tutor programs and living assisted facilities occupied our days until we moved to Charleston. Acceptance into the Medical University of South Carolina’s Pet Therapy Volunteer Program was a dream come true. Eight-year-old Harley and I would roam the halls of the Children’s Hospital Tuesday mornings, making friends with patients, family members and of course medical personnel.

In 2018, I accepted the Pet Therapy Coordinator’s position and felt blessed to participate in one of the most rewarding opportunities of my life. Both Harley and Jaxson (my younger certified Goldendoodle) accompany me to work. They each work two days a week, and I keep one day to myself.

In less than two years the program increased from 32 therapy dogs to more than 90. Dedicated volunteers Uber their incredible dogs regularly to dozens of facilities both on and off-campus. The halls of MUSC are filled with tail-wagging happiness every day.

On March 27, our fluffy pawed volunteers were asked to exit all buildings due to the pandemic. Ten days later, Harley, Jaxson and I were temporarily furloughed. I understood, but they were thoroughly confused. Each morning after breakfast, instead of grabbing a leash and car keys, I made coffee in my slippers and sat down to watch CNN. I can only imagine what raced through their heads.

Up until now, their daily routine involved constant interaction with dozens of people. Harley spent most of his time between pediatric pre-op and adult NSICU. He’s a professional at snuggling and calms humans of all ages. Jaxson is excellent at lowering blood pressure in post-acute care units and assisting recreational therapists with stroke rehabilitation patients.

As weeks rapidly became months, I slowly realized how much my husband and I relied on them as our paw-sonal therapists. They restructured the mundane lifestyle we were forced to adopt. Even as a steadfast optimist, I experienced those exasperating moments adjusting to what we’ve now labeled “our new normal.”

Our first grandchild was born earlier this year. Summer is winding down and he’s six months old already. I held him once when he was four weeks old. My husband has only seen him through photos and videos. He lives in Washington DC. We must wait. It’s simply too dangerous to travel, which at times is too hard to fathom.

Both Harley and Jaxson are masters at deciphering a human’s emotional confusion. They are gifted with empathy. Over the years I’ve observed them detect sadness, fear, and loneliness. Jaxson’s bi-weekly friendship with chemo patients has helped remove anxiety during those hours of treatment. Countless times Harley has ridden the gurney with a young child into the operating room or sat with a very anxious patient waiting for test results.

The human components in our department are scheduled to return later this month. The therapy dogs have not been cleared to restart. Work without one of them sharing my office with me will feel, well, a bit strange.

As illness, loss of life, employment and financial devastation continue to blanket our country there is some value in this valley. I believe collectively, we (as a nation) are stronger, kinder, and becoming more amenable to a simplistic lifestyle. And after 20 weeks as the recipient of canine therapeutic intervention, I am electrified with ideas on how to enhance the pet therapy program. There is much to be learned from observing your pets.