Rescue Dog Program
A local animal shelter is training their rescue dogs to meet the needs of veterans who adopt them, all thanks to funds from a special benefactor.
A wonderful partnership is taking place at Mossy Creek Kennels where they’re pairing rescue dogs with local veterans.
El-Liza’s Dog House at Mossy Creek Kennel, on 469 Barringer Road in Cherry Valley, has now expanded. A generous benefactor has allowed them to purchase a for profit boarding kennel in Cherry Valley. The profits raised will go towards running the rescue.
The founder of the Rescue Dogs Rescue Soldiers Program and Co-founder of El-Liza’s Dog House, Mrs. Elizabeth Keller, said “Back in December we were able to participate in the Staffworks Save a Life Campaign and the additional money that we raised helped to expand our Rescue Dog Rescue Soldier operation.”
This new Rescue Dog Rescue Soldier program takes in rescue dogs, trains them, then pairs them with local veterans who need service dogs or just companionship to help with PTSD and other mental health conditions. The trainers are students going to college for this line of work. Mrs. Keller said “We were very lucky when we got here to be able to hire some young girls that are actually enrolled in the SUNY Cobleskill Dog Behavior and Training Program.”
These trainers teach the rescue dogs to behave properly before they can be adopted. One of the trainers who is a third year student at SUNY Cobleskill, Leah Manuel, said “Training I’ve been doing is basic obedience with the shelter dogs to make them more adoptable; sit, stay, down, the heel position, to tell them to get off, just basic manners.”
On the other hand, their service dogs are trained to perform behaviors tailored to the veteran they will be serving. Mrs. Keller said “And then with the service dogs, they’re specifically trained for the veterans needs. So some of them would be trained to jump up on the person depending on what their needs are.”
This is a great way for Mossy Creek Kennel to raise money to help take care of these animals and expand the facility.
Family In Need Of Service Dog
Since the beginning of the pandemic, the meltdowns have seemingly come out of nowhere for Chaise Clouser.
One minute, the 6-year-old is fine.
The next, he’s upset, inconsolable and combative as he seeks sensory input to comfort him from things that overwhelm him and may not be obvious to his parents, Justin and Ashley Clouser, of Shelocta.
And now the Clousers are asking for help from the community as they fundraise to provide Chaise with a tool they believe will help him cope with the obstacles of his diagnosis: an autism assistance dog.
Chaise’s behavior “was manageable until COVID,” said Ashley, who herself is a behavior specialist. He attended kindergarten in the Indiana Area School District, as well as a variety of therapy programs and other organized activities, throughout the week. They had a routine.
Then the pandemic hit. Schools halted in-person learning. Therapy sessions moved online.
In the second week of distance learning, Ashley said Chaise “shut down.” Incidents of biting, hitting and kicking started to increase in frequency and intensity.
“COVID magnified everything,” Ashley said.
“Before COVID, Chaise could be easily redirected” with methods such as hugs, squeezes or tickles, said Justin.
But those methods were no longer enough. The couple said they were being injured as they tried to calm and restrain him during a meltdown.
So to protect themselves, Chaise and his younger brother, Conner, who will turn 2 in October, he was admitted to UPMC Western Psychiatric Hospital in June, where he spent 15 days undergoing inpatient treatment.
Having Chaise admitted to the hospital was something the Clousers said they always thought was a possibility, but they didn’t think it would happen by age 6, Ashley said.
His journey to a diagnosis began when he was about 1, when the Clousers noticed he wasn’t reaching childhood milestones.
He was evaluated by Children’s Hospital at 18 months in January of 2016, receiving a diagnosis of expressive language disorder, as autism isn’t normally diagnosed before age 2. But the initial diagnosis opened the door for early intervention. Subsequently, an autism diagnosis — something they had long suspected — was confirmed later that year.
The Clousers “tried to get as much social interaction as possible” for Chaise without overwhelming him, Justin said. Through the use of a communication device, he learned to talk.
But his progress was halted by the pandemic.
When he was admitted to the hospital, it was hard on everyone, especially Chaise, who Ashley said didn’t understand all the visitation rules related to the pandemic.
Only one person from the family could visit — and it had to be the same person — and they were only allowed there three days a week.
With some help from state Sen. Joe Pittman and his wife, Gina, who had contacts at the hospital, Justin was also allowed to visit Chaise, but only separately from Ashley.
After two weeks, Chaise was discharged.
THE IDEA for the autism assistance dog came from a friend in a similar situation whose family recently finished the fundraising portion for a dog for their autistic child.
One of the older dogs, a German shorthair pointer named Swoop, is of special comfort and tries to help calm him during meltdowns by laying with him, on him, or licking his face as a distraction.
“I feel like a trained dog will be that much more beneficial to Chaise,” Ashley said. “I hope he can assist my son in providing him with the best quality life.”
Justin hopes the dog will be able to help with Chaise’s behavior so he can cope in school and in all the other situations he encounters.
The journey to obtaining a dog is not a fast one.
The application process alone took weeks as they gathered references, filled out paperwork and got doctors to complete health forms.
They were approved for a dog on Aug. 28.
According to 4 Paws For Ability, an autism assistance dog costs $40,000 to $60,000 to train. Because the organization is nonprofit, the cost to the family is about $17,000.
The Clousers have set a fundraising goal of $18,000 to help with fees taken by different fundraising platforms.
Other fundraisers are in the works, including a gun raffle and money raffle organized by officials at Horizon Stables in Apollo, where Chaise attends horse therapy.
Checks can also be mailed to 4 Paws for Ability in Honor of Chaise Clouser, 253 Dayton Ave., Xenia, Ohio 45385, but note that Chaise’s name must be on the memo line of the check.
There is a waiting list of around two years for a dog, as they are bred and trained based on demand.
The family started fundraising upon approval, and have collected nearly $2,000 so far.
Chaise’s dog will be trained in tethering, behavior disruption and sensory input.
According to 4 Paws for Ability, the dogs are trained to work with the child and an adult handler or parent.
To disrupt behavior, a dog is trained to respond to a parent’s command or to the behavior of the child and to redirect attention, for example, by placing a paw on the child, or comforting them with pressure by laying across their lap. The tethering feature helps keep children from wandering.
But Justin and Ashley believe the dog will provide another important aspect as well: companionship for at least the next decade.
“Above all, the dog will be Chaise’s companion and safe space to cope with his feelings and frustrations,” Ashley wrote in the introduction for the fundraiser page.
The Clousers said they are thankful for support they have already received and for the donations to come that will help make their dream of a service dog for Chaise a reality.
“Chaise may be different, but not less!” Ashley says on the fundraising page. “His smile is extremely infectious and his love for life is contagious! … Your contribution will make an impact, whether you donate $5 or $500. Every little bit helps in assisting Chaise to obtain his goal of receiving his very own service dog!”
Dogs Go To Court
A child goes into an imposing and unfamiliar place and has to talk to strangers about a traumatic event.
Attorneys ask her difficult questions about unpleasant topics.
There is no one to hold her hand. No one to pat her on the head and whisper quiet encouragement to her. No hugs.
But, she is not alone. Throughout the court process, she has had a companion.
One who does not judge her… does not doubt her.
And that companion is allowed to sit with her in the witness box.
Warren County Adult Probation is in the process of bringing a facility dog to the Warren County Courthouse.
Probation Officer Matt Gernold has received approval from the county, confirmation from Susquehanna Service Dogs, and confirmation from entities that will help with funding. It will be a while yet.
“When I was put on the waiting list in April, they said it could be anywhere from a year to a year-and-a-half,” Gernold said.
When a suitable Labrador or golden retriever, or a mix, is selected and trained, Gernold will be called for his own training. He will be trained to be the primary handler for the facility dog and will work with it for more than two weeks before returning to the county.
“A facility dog is a trained dog, just like K-9 Nic or Dina,” Gernold said. “The difference is, a facility dog is a therapy dog. It assists victims — both juveniles and adults – in testifying. Anyone who has any kind of trauma.”
Gernold went on a trip to Seattle and attended the International Facility Dog Conference in 2018.
“There had to be 100 to 150 handlers there,” he said, from all over the United States, as well as France and Canada.
“Getting to go to that conference and talk to the handlers was really eye-opening and a really great experience,” he said. “I thought it would be awesome for our county to have one.”
“Anyone can benefit from the dog — 90 percent of our offenders that are on probation have some kind of trauma in their past,” Gernold said. The dog may help “anyone who would come for a probation appointment … if they feel like they can open up better with their probation officer. The dog is also going to go up to Treatment Court and help all those people as well.”
“For children in the county that have to testify or go through forensic interview, having that non-judgmental presence can make a real difference,” he said.
The first step in the justice system can be a very difficult one for children.
The dog could be there with them during a forensic interview at the Children’s Advocacy Center.
“Everyone knows what a dog can do,” he said. “Having a dog around, whether you’re a victim or not, just helps people open up and talk more.”
The facility dog’s services will be offered to all who might need them.
“We’ll let them know,” he said. “Anyone that feels like they would benefit from that option will be able to use it.”
“It’s totally voluntary,” Gernold said. “If they feel they would benefit, they would be totally welcome. On the other side, if they feel they don’t need one or don’t want one, they would not have to.”
There is no requirement that someone would have to have the dog present. Some people are afraid of dogs. Some are allergic.
The research indicates that having a dog in the courthouse is not going to cause allergic reactions in people that do not have close contact with it, Gernold said.
Therapy dogs generally have limits on how long they can be asked to do their work.
“A facility dog doesn’t have a time limit,” Gernold said. “If the trial takes four hours, five hours, the dog can be there the whole time.”
Like the humans in the courtroom, the dog will need breaks.
But, if the dog is in the witness box with someone who needs it, the dog will stay there faithfully and quietly.
Typically, if the dog is to be in the witness box, the jury will be excused while the witness and the dog are brought in.
“The dog will sit at the witness’s feet,” Gernold said. “They’re more than content to sit there. The jury never even knows that the witness has a facility dog.”
Gernold will be trained as the handler, and there will be a secondary handler, but the dog will be able to do its work in the absence of both of them.
The dog will live with Gernold – and Susquehanna will be checking the dog’s new housing before final approval.
The Warren County Canine Foundation has approved spending the $5,000 that it costs to have the dog trained and provided to the county.
Gernold said the animal’s food will be provided by Purina through the same program that provides food for Nic and Dina.
Russell Veterinary Clinic has agreed to donate all veterinary care, Gernold said.
County dollars will be used to pay for Gernold’s training-related expenses.
Gernold initially tried to secure a facility dog from a program that gives them, free of charge, to qualified applicants.
“We applied at a place called Canine Companions for Independence,” he said. “They give you the dog for free.”
But, many agencies apply there and Warren County’s application was denied.
He looked for another fully accredited provider and found one in Pennsylvania.
“We ended up going through Susquehanna,” Gernold said.
The entity wants to make sure its dogs are going to places where they will be able to help and where they will be treated properly.
Gernold had a virtual face-to-face interview with the head of the organization, he said. That went well and the county was placed on a waiting list.
“They are going to come up to Warren with the facility dog,” he said. “They will tour the courthouse, tour my house. Meet with department heads.”
If they are satisfied after the meetings and the tours, the dog will start working in Warren County after Gernold’s training.
Dogs Understanding
The findings were recently published in Animal Behaviour and may also be used to determine the best future working role for Canine Companions puppies.
At Canine Companions’ national headquarters in California, 168 Labrador, Golden Retriever and Lab/Golden cross puppies from 65 Canine Companions litters were assessed in more than a dozen cognitive and temperament activities at around 9 weeks of age. Specifically, some tasks required the puppies to use communicative cues, such as human pointing, to locate a hidden treat. Based on the puppies’ success levels during these games, results confirm the early emergence of sensitivity to human communication in dogs.
We are in a unique position at Canine Companions that allows us to have ongoing follow up with every puppy born within our exemplary breeding program, says Dr. Brenda Kennedy, director of canine health and research at Canine Companions. Finding these early indicators of cooperative-communicative gestures between our puppies and humans may inform the process in which Canine Companions dogs are trained or evaluated for working roles in the future – ultimately helping us place more expertly trained service dogs with more individuals with disabilities.
Canine Companions, the first and largest provider of service dogs for people with physical disabilities, has held the top spot in canine cognitive and behavioral research within the service dog industry for over a decade. Additional studies with the Duke Canine Cognition Center, the Arizona Canine Cognition Center, DARPA and more, have provided valuable insight into the canine brain and cognition. With more than 6,500 service dog placements since its founding in 1975, Canine Companions is dedicated to ensuring happy, healthy puppies with a purpose are placed in the best roles for the dogs’ temperament and skillset. Each service dog and a lifetime of follow up is a $50,000 investment by the organization; however, Canine Companions service dogs are provided entirely free of charge to clients.
Guide Dogs
Imagine walking into a restaurant and being told, “You can’t come in,” or being stranded at an airport because none of the taxis will take you home, or making a room reservation, only to have it cancelled by the hotel because you’re not welcome.
This has been my reality for 30 years. You’d think I’d get used to it, but every time it happens, I’m no less shocked than I was the first time it happened.
It’s humiliating and degrading. It’s my right to be accompanied by a guide dog because my dog is my mobility aid. It’s no different than refusing someone with a wheelchair — or because of their religious beliefs, ethnicity or sexual orientation.
It’s discriminatory and it violates my human rights. Many people don’t realize that it’s not only rude, but it’s illegal to deny access or refuse service to a person who’s working with a guide dog in Canada. Yet, it happens every day.
In all provinces and territories, legislation prohibits discriminating against a person with a disability who’s working with a service animal. Discrimination includes denial of access to any premises to which the public would normally have access. So, if it’s against the law, why does it keep happening?
Like so many other forms of discrimination, it’s deeply rooted in ignorance. In many cases, businesses don’t realize they’re breaking the law by denying access or refusing service to a guide dog team.
Business owners have a responsibility to ensure the rights of guide dog teams are respected —meaning business owners can’t deny access or refuse service to guide dog teams — or it could be costly for them.
Penalties under human rights legislation in Canada range from $100 to $10,000.
But there’s more to it. Business owners need to know the laws and educate their employees. They need to understand that there’s only one circumstance when it’s legal to ask a person accompanied by a guide dog to leave their premises, which is when the guide dog’s behaviour is inappropriate and out of control, like barking after being told not to or jumping up. And, although it’s not illegal, it’s unacceptable to ask for proof that a dog is a guide dog, unless it’s behaving inappropriately.
It’s best practice to assume the dog is a qualified guide dog with an important job to do if it is wearing a harness with a handle.
We live in a fast-moving, ever-progressing world. At a time when communities are focusing on accessibility and inclusion — and smashing the barriers that stand in the way of Canadians with disabilities — now is the time for businesses to step up and do their part. You can do your part, too.
If you see discrimination against a guide dog team, speak up and offer your support to the person who is blind or partially sighted. They may not know what’s happening around them — and providing visual information such as the taxi number or other visual cues will go a long way towards helping guide dog handlers to self-advocate.
Guide dogs belong everywhere. It’s the law.
Dogs Trust
Dogs Trust’s national contact centre is celebrating answering its two-millionth call from members of the dog loving public.
Dogs Trust is the UK’s largest dog welfare charity and the contact centre handles calls for its 50 public phone lines, including the charity’s London head office and its 20 UK-based rehoming centres, which care for around 14,300 rescue dogs every year.
The landmark call was taken at 9.58am on Monday, September 7, from a dog-lover hoping to give a forever home to 13-year-old Jack Russell, Bella, at Dogs Trust Manchester.
The team handle 1,500 calls every day and manage approximately 45,000 interactions into the contact centre each month.
Contact Centre Manager, Paul Roelake, said: “The two millionth call is a huge milestone for us and I am delighted to say that beautiful Bella has now been reserved and will be heading off to her forever home very soon.
“We opened back in September 2014 and now have a team of 65 handling over a thousand calls every day.
“Most calls we receive are about rehoming a dog, which is wonderful, and more than once during lockdown we have received over 1,000 calls from people wanting to rehome a single dog, which is just unprecedented.
“Sadly we also receive many calls from people wanting to handover their dogs as they can no longer take care of them.
“In these extraordinary times we know that circumstances can change in a heartbeat.
“Experience tells us that in the coming months, and years, more dogs than ever will face the risk of relinquishment so we expect calls to keep rising, and we’ll be here to help however we can to change the tale for dogs in need.”
As well as answering calls, the team now also manage six key public facing e-mail accounts, provide a post-adoption outbound call service supporting people who have adopted from Dogs Trust, and manage social media direct messages.
Paul added: “Obviously the team has faced lots of challenges in recent months, not least as we are all working from home rather than at Dogs Trust Manchester which is our usual base, but we have continued to provide the service that the dog lovers of the UK deserve.
“If we were at Dogs Trust Manchester I know we would all be waving a fond farewell to Bella as she heads off to enjoy life with her new family.”
Dogs Trust estimates that up to 40,000 more dogs could be at risk of abandonment in the fallout of the coronavirus crisis.
Help change the course of events and continue to be there for more dogs and their owners when they need us most.
Please give what you can by visiting: www.dogstrust.org.uk/changethetale
Whilst Dogs Trust rehoming centres are not open for public browsing, since the start of lockdown new processes have been put in place to adopt a dog, which include a virtual matching service and socially distanced appointments to help keep everyone safe.
If you have space in your heart to give a dog a new home, visit the Dogs Trust website to see who is up for adoption.
K9 Police Officer
Officers from several law enforcement agencies helped escort the body of a Gwinnett County Police SWAT K9 killed in the line of duty.
K9 Blue, the department’s first full-time SWAT K9, died Thursday when he was shot during gunfire between police and a suspect. Blue tracked down the suspect in the woods before police said the suspect fired at officers. The suspect was also shot and killed.
Friday afternoon a long line of police cars and motorcycles escorted Blue’s body to his final resting place at a pet cemetery.
“When you have a K9 partner, that is a special relationship. These dogs are relied on as a work partner but it’s hard, it’s impossible to not get attached,” said Lt. Jason Teague, the assistant SWAT commander. “He paid the ultimate price, he sacrificed himself to save those SWAT officers, that’s next level.”
Five-year-old Blue had been with the Gwinnett County Police Department for a little more than a year after they conducted a nationwide search. He went through years of extra training to be a SWAT K9. He’s described as very sociable and was selected for his demeanor.
“His key attribute was the ability to work in a team environment under control by just about anybody on the team,” said Teague.
The SWAT team will miss their teammate, but Teague said they learned a lot from working with Blue and look forward to continuing to have SWAT K9s.
“They question nothing and in the end that dedication from the K9 and the dedication from the handler putting all the work into the K9, it saved everyone’s lives yesterday without a doubt,” he said.
A memorial service is planned for Blue next week. Until then, an officer will remain with his body around the clock.
Donations in Blue’s name can be made to the Georgia Police K9 Foundation, which raises money to buy protective equipment for police dogs.
Veterans With PTSD
Nineteen years later, Tom Bowen is still reliving the physical and mental pain he endured as a first responder on 9/11 in New York City.
He was one of the heroes – a firefighter from West Virginia – who volunteered to assist NYC first responders who dug for endless hours, days and weeks through “The Pile” at the site of the World Trade Center after it was attacked by terrorist-piloted planes, sifting through the toxic rubble in search of humans, dead or alive.
But the father of three suffered not only bone fractures and bruises during that time, but long-lasting mental and emotional trauma, including PTSD.
At one point, he said, his wife told him, “You’re not the man I married. You’re not the father you could have been to our children.” Bowen knew he needed help to deal with his night terrors and post traumatic stress disorder. One of the ways he found it was through a Labrador retriever named Bragg. The service dog came to live with Bowen and his family in 2015, through the service dog training nonprofit, Paws & Effect, whose founder and executive director, Nicole Shumate, lives in Black Mountain. “She said, ‘this dog is not going to heal you, this dog is a tool in your belt. You have to also take care of yourself,’” Bowen said of Shumate. “A service dog isn’t going to make you all better. It’s a tool in your belt. There’s therapy, doctors, medication, staying fit, working on your diet, learning to trust your friends,” he said. But he would put Bragg at the top of his list.
“Bragg for me has been life changing,” he said.
He wasn’t sure how to explain lugging an 85-pound dog with him everywhere he went because he wasn’t blind or deaf.
“It forced me to have conversations with my parent and friends that I had never had since the (9/11) attacks. This is something in my life that can help, and it has four legs and fur,” he said.
“It’s a very serious illness, a serious struggle for a lot of people. Up until this point I haven’t slept through the night in 14 years. Having Bragg all the time, I feel more comfortable talking about it. For my parents and close friends, it’s allowed them to come to me and ask me questions. It’s caused them to do things and say prayers and send positive feelings and support my way.”
Bragg was trained by puppy raisers and then Shumate was his “finish trainer,” she said. He was the first service dog to be placed with a Ground Zero worker, she said.
“Bragg was named to both recognize Fort Bragg, the home of the Army’s Special Operations and Warfare Center as well as a specific soldier who graduated from West Point and subsequently lost his life in Afghanistan.”
She has placed 60 dogs with combat veterans, but on Sept. 7, Shumate placed the first combat operational stress dog, named Scout, on a military base, with Command Chaplain O’Lear at the Rock Island Arsenal in Illinois.
Since Shumate started Paws $ Effect in Iowa in 2006 as a speech and physical therapy dog service for children, she has expanded it to serve veterans and first responders in light of the growing incidence of PTSD and other mental health issues among these populations and the research showing the powerful healing effects of the human-animal bond.
A lawyer who also has an undergraduate degree in psychology, Shumate started out her career training search and rescue dogs in Breckenridge, Colorado. The focus of her legal work has been policy and legislation, and serving as an expert witness involving service dogs.
Shumate moved to Black Mountain in 2016, and maintains an outpost of the original company based in Iowa.
Puppies, mostly Labrador retrievers, are bred in Iowa, then sent to “puppy raisers” who train the dogs in their homes. The work is intense and takes about 18 months, Shumate says.
“The training is all positive reinforcement and clicker training. That is a type of training they use in commercial facilities like zoos and aquariums. It’s where an animal hears a unique noise when they have presented a behavior that you want them to present again,” Shumate said.
“We use a clicker, which is a unique sound in the environment, to let them know that they have performed the physical behavior that we prefer, like learning how to open doors or resting their chin on somebody’s leg. We work with the dogs to modify their physical behavior, but do it very humanely,” she said.
Once the dogs have graduated training, Paws & Effect gives them to individuals who show a need and an ability to take care of the dogs. But the nonprofit maintains ownership and pays for liability insurance, which can be more than $3,000 per dog. The clients must pay for the dogs’ food and veterinary care.
The way service dogs work with people who have PTSD is by keeping people in the present, Shumate said.
“Sometimes just the idea of a dog resting its chin on somebody’s thigh, or having the dog kind of stand behind somebody so that person isn’t approached by other people who get too close to them,” she said.
“The dog serves the role of helping their mind not drift, so that they aren’t concerned, and they aren’t bringing back up memories from having been in combat. The dogs are also very good at alerting veterans to an oncoming panic attack. That’s helpful if they can manage their panic attacks sooner.”
The dogs are trained to do this by tapping their nose into somebody’s hand in a super subtle way where no one else would notice. That’s the person’s alert that a panic attack is coming, and they can excuse themselves from a meeting, for example, Shumate said.
She had also placed a dog with Army veteran Wade Baker, of Clyde, who died by suicide in 2015.
“We’re very forward about that. Suicide is a possible outcome,” she said, mentioning that September is Suicide Prevention Month. “PTSD is comorbid to suicide.”
First responders in Asheville are also reaping the benefits of Paws & Effect.
In January, Shumate placed a service dog with the Asheville Fire Department, a Black Lab named Denali, who now resides at Station 7 in North Asheville.
Shumate says the pairing made sense, considering the rise of PTSD among first responders across the country. “Denali is a vital part of our station,” said Station 7 B-shift Capt. Mark Jameson. “She lives at the station for 20 days and goes away for 10 days. When she’s gone, there’s something missing at the station.”
After a pilot run, all members of the station filled out a survey saying they wanted Denali to stay, he said.
“She’s 100% a member of our family. We’re on 24 hours a day, so she can affect 15 people – five people per shift – and play a role in positive mental effect,” Jameson said, adding that Denali has received hundreds of hours of training in how to do that. We see some horrific stuff. You get back from a call and she’s there wagging her tail. She brightens the day. No matter how crappy your day was, no matter what happened. She makes it just a bit better, if not substantially better.”
But the study notes that very little attention has been given to subthreshold, or subclinical PTSD, that is, those who show symptoms but have not been fully diagnosed with the disease.
“This is where I think Paws & Effect has the largest opportunity to have an impact, to keep firefighters from experiencing the symptoms that would qualify them for a full PTSD diagnosis,” Shumate said. She said a new litter of “9/11” puppies were just whelped Sep. 9 in Iowa and will be heading to Asheville at the end of October to start their training.
Firefighter Therapy Dog
First responders and staff are having their coffee with Donuts for a few days, but Donuts is a golden retriever to bring them some love.
“Her purpose is strictly for the firefighters and the staff. It’s to bring a little bit of home here,” said Tony Pighetti, who’s the Santa Barbara County Regional Support Team Coordinator.
Donuts is a two and a half-year-old therapy dog. She’s trained specifically for veterans and first responders with PTSD or high levels of anxiety. As the Creek fire blazes on, her handler, Tony Pighetti, and the sweet pup hope to provide some relief.
“Trying to make sure that firefighters are strong and healthy, mentally as well as physically and so the dog is one component of that.”
Donuts is part of Employee Support Services–a peer support program available to Cal Fire.
“You put a dog in between you and all of a sudden it’s like oh, you have a dog, I can tell you anything you want to know.”
Pighetti, now retired, gave 30 years of fire service and is honored to give back. He shares why he continues to serve in a different capacity.
“To see the suicide death higher than the traumatic line of duty death–that’s just not acceptable and so that’s what we’re trying to do is to reach people before they get to that point,” Pighetti said.
The two have been together since June, working hard on keeping first responders strong, but it’s not all work with no play.
“When I take the vest off, she is a two and a half-year-old maniac, just like any other dog. She runs around, she does these zoomies, she’s tearing up the garden, I mean she’s a true puppy.”
It’s unknown how long Donuts will be at this location, but so far it’s been a “pawsitive” visit.
Chihuahua Comforts Patients
Few people enjoy going to the dentist. But the patients at one dental office in California have a lot more to look forward to than just root canals and cavity fillings.
Kismet, a 13-year-old Chihuahua and a big fan of treats and back scratches, spends her days at Corte Madera Family Dentistry, where she offers cuddles to patients who could use a little stress relief while having their teeth worked on.
Dr. Cameron Garrett, the office’s dentist, and his wife, Debra Garrett, the dental hygienist, adopted Kismet in July. Since then, she’s been a great addition to their family practice in Corte Madera.
“After working so long in the industry you begin to understand quickly you’re just as much of a psychiatrist as you are a dentist,” Cameron Garrett told CNN. “Everybody brings some anxiety or baggage into the dental environment, and the science is very clear. Interacting with an animal, having physical contact with a pet really lowers the blood pressure and heart rate and makes it a much calmer moment.”‘
The sweet dog, who never barks and loves to be held, was a stray rescued by Muttville Senior Dog Rescue. The nonprofit invested thousands of dollars in Kismet, who was diagnosed with heart disease, had a cancerous tumor removed, a hernia treated and had all of her teeth extracted due to periodontal disease.
Her new owners also suspect she was abused at some point in her life — but nothing has stopped her from giving all of her love to everyone she meets, especially children who often come to the office nervous and afraid.
While Kismet is special in her own way, she isn’t the first therapy dog that the Garretts have bought to work.
Five years ago, the couple adopted Karma, a senior dog who eventually became a dental dog for almost four years at the practice. Karma passed away more than a year ago — but before she died, she helped comfort hundreds of patients, starting with a 9-year-old boy.
The child was a patient at the office who was terrified of getting his teeth worked on. So one day, Cameron Garrett asked him if he wanted to hold Karma during his treatment.
“Everything immediately changed. He was so happy, and since then he’s been excited to come to the office to be with the dogs,” Cameron Garrett said. “Seeing the amazing response in him inspired me to look at other people and see if they’d respond in the same way as he did. When dog lovers see Kismet they immediately light up and it takes them away from the stresses of the moment.”
Although Kismet is kept in a cage when people who are scared of dogs visit the office, the majority of patients welcome her with open arms. They especially appreciate her company during these times of heightened stress, the Garretts said, referring to the coronavirus pandemic.
But their patients aren’t the only ones happy to have her in the office.
“Kismet is such a delight. She is the sweetest little thing,” Debra Garrett told CNN. “She makes me so happy. It brings us joy to be working on a patient and see her with us. It makes it nicer for us going to work, too.”
