Firefighters Need Comfort

Animal Connection Strategies

Once upon a time, long before the advent of supermarket shopping, the neighborhood general store transcended the mere acquisition of provisions. Particularly in rural areas, the institution formed the heart of a community. Residents relished the occasion to sit a spell, exchanging news and gossip over a cold drink.

Early on, many proprietors first serviced the needs of residents as roving peddlers, eventually hanging a shingle on their very own brick-and-mortar mercantile.

When advertising agency owner Pattie Zeller decided to leave her career behind to open Animal Connection in Charlottesville, Va., she drew not only on a wealth of marketing expertise and her love of pets, but on quaint memories drawn from her grandfather’s general store.

“I always liked the casual look, the feel, even the smell of that store,” she says. “It wasn’t a place where customers ran in and back out—they were there to find out what was going on in the community, to visit friends. My grandfather’s store sold homemade sausages and cheeses, and a big woodstove in the middle of the store roasted peanuts daily.”

Much like those of bygone merchants, Zeller’s enterprise began with a sense of community at its heart. In 2002, her beloved Chesapeake Bay retriever, Ernie, developed cancer.

“The vet recommended chemotherapy, telling me I would probably add another year and a half to his life,” Zeller says. “From there, I went to a holistic veterinarian for another opinion. He suggested trying raw food and Chinese herbs.”

Ernie healed and thrived, eventually living to the ripe old age of 18. Raw diets for dogs had not yet entered the mainstream of pet retail offerings, and Zeller began to hear of several area residents feeding this diet to their pets. The decision was made to stock enough product to supply those families. The operation began out of Zeller’s garage in 2002.

“I thought, ‘Gosh, I’ll be the hub,’ and every other week a big truck would drop off 500 pounds of raw pet food, and I’d make sure it got to where it needed to go,” she says.

Zeller’s garage was soon outgrown, and in 2003, the entrepreneur began welcoming area pet lovers to Animal Connection, her own brick-and-mortar establishment. Zeller felt her marketing skills would translate well to the pet world.

“For 20 years I’d been selling everything from NASCAR to furniture in the advertising business,” she says. “I knew how to sell; I just needed to know what to sell. That was the learning experience.”

When it came to the ambiance of her new venture, Zeller called on the pleasant memories of her grandfather’s establishment, adding a Zen-like twist.

“The country store vibe was like going back to my roots,” she says. “I wanted that country feel.”

Opting to forgo traditional shelving in favor of antique fixtures, Zeller sought to further enhance the general store aura by seeking the advice of a feng shui master for guidance in arrangement and color selection.

“We talked about everything from the colors that the Chinese utilize for good providence to the numerical meanings of address numbers, entrance positioning and how customers are welcomed into the store,” Zeller says.

While fixture shapes and placement encourage a flowing environment, colors take center stage in setting a charismatic tone. For instance, the majority of the store is coated in a “Provence” shade of yellow, a hue that calls to mind the warmth of southern France. In the gift section, a vibrant barn-red elicits enthusiasm. Soothing wheat-beige tones cover the walls of the grooming salon, serving as the perfect elixir for the anxious canine. Large photos of pets, along with vintage pet-related prints, adorn the walls.

“We chose the colors and display theme because we wanted to be a place where customers would spend time browsing for quality products, learning about our program of proactive pet care and becoming part of the Animal Connection family,” Zeller says.

This welcoming ambiance is enriched by stellar, well-versed staff members who nurture the spirit of community by offering a warm reception, mingled with genuine interest in both pets and their owners. Knowledge in holistic nutrition and pet care reigns.

“A customer might be coming in for food, or for help with a coat condition that their dog might be experiencing. From there we can have a conversation—what can we do nutritionally to resolve a dry coat?” she says.

Thus, sensitivity and tact are valued attributes.

“Sometimes we have to tell someone something they don’t want to hear,” Zeller says. “For instance, a pet with issues that could easily have been avoided by choosing a better food. We do a lot of role play for these types of situations.”

When considering a new hire, Zeller looks first for a congenial, compassionate attitude, combined with a thirst for knowledge.

“They don’t have to know everything about dogs and cats, but they must be focused on learning,” she says.

The interview process often finds prospective employees working on a trial basis before coming onboard permanently.

“We put a lot of time into training and want people we can work with,” she says. “It’s more than pushing a key on a cash register. My name is on the door, and I do not compromise.”

An intensive training program covers nutrition, customer service, marketing and sales techniques. In addition, each associate is cross-trained in holistic nutrition and pet care products, as well as grooming and the handling of dogs, allowing groomers and retail staffers alike to help out where needed.

“Our store manual also spells out our way of thinking, from how a customer should be greeted to how to work with them in our store,” she says.

As part of the ongoing process of instruction, staff members partake in secret shopping missions involving visits to local retail boutiques and chain stores to observe product presentation and customer service.

With a tagline of “Bark Local,” a nod to the pet-community “hub” vibe of the store, referrals are available.

“We want to be a community center, or as my friend calls it, ‘The water cooler of all things pet,’ and a source for people in need of a veterinarian, or boarding or training, for example,” she says. “We are very selective and only refer the services of those we have worked with personally.”

As “The Healthiest Pet Store in Charlottesville,” Animal Connection offers a wide range of foods and supplements. However, for Zeller, raw food is the diet of choice. Eight freezers present a broad selection.

“In a perfect world, I would have only freezers,” she says. “But we realize that because of budgets, people might not be able feed that way.”

Instead, suggestions are offered to augment food choices.

“For instance, if a customer is feeding dry food, we provide products that will add moisture—for instance, goat’s milk, fish stock or fresh meat when they can,” Zeller says. “We try to provide what we feel are the best options at a wide variety of price points, including fresh and raw foods, gently cooked, and good quality canned and kibble selections.”

While not in the initial offerings, grooming services were instituted early on.

“When we first started offering grooming, the service [was] very competitive so we began taking all the dogs that nobody else would groom,” Zeller says. “For instance, dogs that might have come from a rescue situation and were stressed out, matted coats, those that screamed or maybe didn’t want their feet touched. We took the dogs that vets or other groomers wouldn’t touch.”

The gentle, stress-free environment is a balm for the anxious canine. Additionally, Animal Connection is known for providing grooming training to puppies. Young or old, coiffed pups go home as soon as grooming is complete and do not wait in crates.

“It’s a premium service, but if we can teach these dogs to be better, we have a customer for life,” she says. “They don’t mind paying a little extra for that.” For do-it-yourselfers, two self-serve washtubs allow canines in need of a little pampering to relax into deep, easily accessible, custom-designed tubs. All accessories, such as aprons, shampoos, facial washes, ear washes, combs, dryers and towels, are provided.

With caring, well-educated staff members and a stellar mix of product and services in place, Zeller felt the need to add to her traditional advertising know-how with a deliberative update in 2018.

“I may have come from a marketing background, but I had no idea how to market to millennials,” she says.

In partnering with Jerry Miller, founder and president of VMV Brands, an advertising and events agency in Charlottesville, Va., Zeller was able to achieve this objective. Focusing on the strategy behind the use of social media, engaging, targeted content for postings was developed, including viral contests and even a check-in “selfie station” at the store.

“The selfie station is basically a cutout of me with my arm out for a photo-op,” she says.

Entertaining and informative video content attracts a broad swath of the community through “What’s Barking Local,” an hour-long, weekly program co-hosted by Zeller and Miller, in conjunction with Miller’s I Love CVille YouTube network. Local rescue groups and other pet-related institutions are showcased, supporting Animal Connection’s “Bark Local” tagline of championing area pet concerns. “We recognize that some of the smaller rescues are doing really awesome things, but they don’t always have the budget, so we bring these people on the show, let them talk about what they do and how they do it,” Zeller says. “It’s that community aspect of raising awareness.”

Another component to the marketing renovation included a revamp of the Animal Connection website, offering a more mobile approach.

“I needed more functionality to be able to respond to customers quickly for reviews and to do my blogging,” Zeller says.

These approaches produced an incremental increase in revenue, while branding Animal Connection as the epicenter for everything pet.

“I have been extremely happy with the changes,” she says.

Zeller’s association with VMV Brands and the production of “What’s Barking Local” has also proven instrumental in the growth of Zeller’s major fundraising push, Dog Fest: Charlottesville’s Most Fun Outdoor Party For Dogs, an annual event.

“VMV Brands has relationships with print advertising, television and radio,” she says. “Through their promotional efforts, we jumped from 2,000 attendees to 3,000 to 4,000 people in one year.”

The happening takes place at Charlottesville’s IX Art Park, where Animal Connection also partners with Three Notched Brewery, creator of Big Dawg Blonde Ale, the signature brew for the event. A portion of the proceeds from every pint sold is donated to Charlottesville-Albemarle SPCA. Attendance is free.

“It’s a huge event,” Zeller says. “Last year, we had 45 pet-friendly and pet-related booths, 12 rescue groups, costume contests, pet adoptions, live music and more. It is set up to benefit the entire rescue community, and we allow these groups to collect donations.”

Animal Connection’s own booth, touted as the “World’s Largest Treat Bar,” occupies eight attached tents chock-full of treat-sample baskets. Folks browsing the lineup are supplied with a logoed bag to gather canine and feline delicacies while chipping in with funds designated for local rescues and shelters. Collected monies are used to purchase supplies.

“Lately, rescues have been short on food, so we’ve been using these funds to supply food in cooperation with our manufacturers,” Zeller says. “We’ve also been taking canned and dried food to the local pantry to help those who are out of work or otherwise struggling.”

In-store, a special Pet Community Fund allows residents in need to drop in to obtain pet necessities, free of charge.

Staying mindful of pet community requirements is a jumping off point to the “Bark Local” credo. For instance, while the store remained open during the COVID-19 pandemic shutdown, demand for curbside and delivery services increased. Preplanning created a seamless shift.

“We realized it was only a matter of time before this virus impacted our community, so we had a plan in place,” Zeller says. “We were deemed essential and made a big deal of that. Our curbside service has been huge.”

Little extras for curbside patrons often feature a unique twist. For example, Zeller relies on the National Day Calendar to promote both products and fun. When Pizza Party Day rolled around, furry back-seat revelers savored a lip-smacking good time.

“For our curbside delivery, we make little boxes of samples or treats to give away, and for this day we combined doggie pizza treats with a sale on cookies and toys shaped like pizza slices,” she says.

Earth Day observances at Animal Connection find the store’s logoed fabric bags playing a role in promoting recyclability, environmental awareness and bargains.

“We tell our customers, ‘Hey, whatever you can fit into your bag will be 20 percent off today,’” she says. “We encourage our customers to use our bags around town, and if I see someone at the grocery store or farmers market carrying one, I hand them a 10 percent-off coupon.”

Ever aware of the benefits of unique marketing strategies, Zeller recently implemented two VIP membership programs. Dog Scout Club is a retail-focused package that includes self-serve dog washes, socials and birthday recognition. Dog Star Club spotlights dog training clients, covering family manners and therapy dog work, and store add-ons are included. Looking ahead, Zeller is excited to announce the Sept. 1 opening of a new, 1,000-square-foot location adjacent to IX Art Park. The downtown location is anchored by restaurants, a brewery, upscale retail, offices, and the large outdoor art park and music venue. Expanded offerings will include a doggie day care facility, birthday cake bakery, dog training and adoption events. A grassy, fenced space will serve as an off-lead play area available via monthly membership, with priority given to downtown neighbors.

“We will be right smack in the middle of the action,” Zeller says.

Golden Healer

“The healing power of dogs is incredible,” Jill Kesler said. The Draper art teacher and cancer survivor adopted her English Cream Golden Retriever, Gus, shortly after she was diagnosed. Not only did the then 8-week-old puppy bring some much-needed joy to Kesler’s family, but Gus seemed to intuit when Kesler wasn’t feeling well and would sit with her and comfort her.

That intuitive nature and sensitivity is characteristic of the dogs at Golden Healer Service Dogs who are bred and trained to become therapy and service dogs. Some, like Gus, become beloved pets. Kesler adopted Gus from Golden Healer Service Dogs founder Mike Carlson last year. “Mike’s program is amazing,” Kesler said.

“There is no other organization like ours in the area,” explained Carlson. “There are organizations that help vets and people who train dogs, but no group that breeds and trains therapy and service dogs.”

Carlson started breeding and training Labrador Retrievers as pets over 25 years as a hobby. In 2008, during the economic downturn, he lost his business and had to regroup. “That was the only time in my life I didn’t have a dog,” he said. “Roughest years of my life.”

In the ensuing years, Carlson held various jobs, including one in the field of behavioral health which he found rewarding. “It’s a great field to really help people,” he said. “I asked myself, ‘What’s my passion?’ I wanted to do something that had more meaning in life. I love animals and really enjoy being around them. I thought about what I could do to bring that to others.”

Back in the business of breeding Golden Retrievers, Carlson came across the English Cream Golden Retriever breed in 2014. He learned that many of them are used as emotional support and service dogs due to their temperament and disposition.

Golden Healers Service Dogs was officially founded in 2019 and the nonprofit’s first batch of puppies was born in February of that year. Currently, the program has around 30 dogs in various stages of training.

According to their website, Golden Healers can offer clients service dogs to assist them with a variety of issues. There are dogs that are specifically trained to help people of all ages with autism, PTSD and mobility issues. Dogs can be trained to alert family members when someone is about to have a seizure or experience changes in blood sugar levels due to diabetes. There are also emotional support and therapy dogs.

Carlson explained that emotional support dogs are trained in basic obedience while service dogs receive an additional six to 12 months of training in performing specific tasks. “There is no one size fits all scenario in this business,” he said. The needs of each individual are taken into consideration.

Golden Healers relies on volunteers to help with everything from puppy sitting and raising to training. Raquel Mills became a puppy raiser last spring during the quarantine. “We were home and had an older dog. That cute puppy just brought life to our whole house and joy in the midst of uncertainty,” she said.

The family named the new pup Chrystal and Mills decided to train her to become a therapy dog. She was inspired by the story of a woman in Las Vegas who brought her dog to visit first responders in the aftermath of the 2017 mass shooting. The power of animals to calm anxiety in humans is well established by science.

“We’re going through the training to be on a pet therapy team,” Mills explained. “We’ve visited hospice patients and nursing homes.”

Utah State University student Kiara D’Amico also started out volunteering as a puppy raiser in December 2019. “Puppy raisers basically take the dog everywhere,” D’Amico explained. The idea is to thoroughly socialize the puppy.

“Every month we have a big group training which all the dogs come to,” she said. “We take the dogs different places. Last time we went on TRAX to get them used to trains. We’ve been to the mall. The goal is to keep the dogs focused in different environments.”

D’Amico enjoys taking her dog, Violet, to interact with people living in nursing homes. “That’s really rewarding,” she said. “It’s the best part.”

Around the same time that she started working with Violet, D’Amico was diagnosed with POTS (postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome) which causes problems with breathing and other serious symptoms. D’Amico has decided to train Violet as her service dog.

“Violet has made me realize how lucky I am, that I am still able to get around,” she explained. “It helps to have the responsibility of caring for someone else. Having to take her out gets me out of the house.”

D’Amico also suffers from a failing kidney and will learn in September if she is a candidate for a transplant. “If I get the transplant, I’ll need Violet a lot more because I’ll be bedridden,” she said. D’Amico plans to start training her dog to do tasks such as bringing her medication and alerting family members if she needs help.

Volunteers such as Mills and D’Amico are central to the success of Golden Healers. Mike Carlson explained that it can cost between $30 to $40K to care for and train a service dog. “We don’t ask the client to pay that, just assist with fundraising,” he said.

Golden Healers’ website features profiles of service dog recipients and invites the public to contribute funds for the dogs care and training. Also, in honor of National Service Dog Awareness Month, Golden Healers will conduct an online auction September 21-30.

Service Dog Walk

On Saturday, October 3, BluePath Service Dogs will host their fourth annual walkathon – this year virtually. The event, which begins with an online kick-off at 10:00am, will raise funds in support of BluePath’s mission to provide autism service dogs, offering safety, companionship and opportunities for independence.

As with many nonprofits, BluePath Service Dog’s mission continues despite the uncertain times. The virtual walkathon, which is open to all ages, will help ensure that the organization’s important work extends beyond the pandemic. Following the online kick-off, participants will head out to walk in their own communities and at their own pace – all while doing their part to support children with autism and their families.

According to the Centers for Disease Control, one out of every 54 children born today will develop an autism spectrum disorder. It is the fastest growing developmental disability in the United States.

For the Rosenbaum family in Purchase, BluePath Autumn has helped their daughter Lindsay to lead a fuller life. The four-year-old Golden Retriever Lab cross not only keeps Lindsay safe, but also fosters meaningful social interactions, giving the Rosenbaums a renewed sense of hope and empowerment.

“Lindsay has a lot of anxiety when traveling, and Autumn calms her down and keeps her safe,” said Lindsay’s mom, Kim Rosenbaum. “When they’re together, people often come up and ask about her dog, providing nice opportunities for Lindsay to practice her communication skills. She also feeds and walks Autumn daily, which has helped her learn about responsibility. The love between the two is evident; BluePath Autumn has been the most wonderful addition to our family!”

Founded in 2016, BluePath has established a robust network of supporters throughout the country. Individuals and families serve as puppy raisers, fosters and administrative volunteers and comprise more than 95 percent of the organization’s workforce. The generosity of donors, volunteers and industry partners allows BluePath to provide its service dogs to families free of charge.

“We are all connected somehow to an individual with autism,” said Tricia Zarro, BluePath’s Board Chair. “Our family’s autism service dog has meant my son’s journey is full of more joy, more safety and more social experiences then I could have ever imagined. BluePath has made such a meaningful difference in our lives, and in the lives of so many others.” “Elopement is a critical safety issue for individuals with autism,” noted BluePath President and CEO Jody Sandler. “Our service dogs act as an anchor for children who wander and dramatically reduce danger. This year our walkathon may look a little different, but it is every bit as essential. The need for our services doesn’t stop, and neither will we. I encourage all those interested in BluePath’s life-changing mission to get involved.” BluePath Service Dogs, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2016 to provide autism service dogs, offering safety, companionship and opportunities for independence. The organization transforms lives by providing families with expanded opportunities to unlock life’s potential. BluePath relies on the generosity of donors and volunteers to fulfill its mission.

Service Dogs Need Homes

Service Police Dog

A highly decorated U.S. Forest Service police dog suffered nine stab wounds during a marijuana raid in Northern California. But he survived after he was airlifted to a veterinary clinic, the agency said Friday.

What’s more, it’s the second time the dog, an 11-year-old Belgian Malinois named Ice, recovered after being seriously injured on the job.

Ice was wounded Aug. 27 in the Klamath National Forest south of the Oregon border when he was released to catch a suspect who had fled down a steep hill to escape the raid that unearthed more than 5,500 marijuana plants. He kept hold of the suspect even after he was stabbed, while his handler, Patrol Capt. Christopher Magallon, made the arrest.

Magallon then gave his dog first aid while calling in a helicopter, which flew Ice more than 70 miles to the Veterinary Specialty Center in Medford, Oregon. The dog, which had been wearing a protective vest, was released later that afternoon, and federal prosecutors are still considering charges.

He received the 2016 Law Enforcement and Investigations Director’s Award for Valor and Heroism after surviving the earlier assault. He was also honored then as a “Top Dog” award winner in the international category by American Humane Hero Dogs, appearing in a nationally televised award ceremony in 2017.

Veterans With PTSD

Non-profits and organizations have been struggling during the pandemic to give those in need the services they provide.

1 Veteran Foundation is no different — the foundation provides services to veterans who suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Veteran Affairs says eleven to 20 percent of veterans who served in either Operation Iraqi Freedom or Enduring Freedom, struggle with PTSD in a given year.

David Gardner is one of those veterans, but with the help of his service dog, he’s coping with the disorder.

“Since day one, she’s been my ride or die and she goes pretty much everywhere I do, unless I’m on a motorcycle,” he said.

Gardner served seven years in the Army and deployed to Iraq in 2006.

“I recognized I had PTSD — probably a good five-six years ago. But, you know, like being a father. I kind of put myself on the back burner on taking care of myself. And like I said it wasn’t until I met Brian, that this became the best option for me,” he said.

Gardner found 1 Veteran Foundation, the group gave him the opportunity to train his service dog to help him combat PTSD — through his motorcycle association.

Brian Latta, the Vice President of the foundation says since 2015 more than 20 veterans have been paired with dogs. However, like many organizations, donations are dropping and 1 Veterans Foundation has another seven vets on the waiting list.

When Mark Lacy, the founder of Southern Arizona Musicians for Healing, another PTSD organization, heard about the need he stepped up to help the cause. He raised thousands of dollars for Gardner.

“We’re all in this together, and it doesn’t matter the tax id number, etc. because we’re all here to help one. We’re all here to help veterans. We’re here to help military and we’re here to help first responders, no matter police officers fire department, a nurse, doctor,” said Lacy.

As Garnder awaits his companion’s month away to undergo training, he shared his advice to other veterans who might find themselves in the same situation.

“I sat on it for five-six years before I even decided to do anything. The stigma is there but you got to worry about yourself. You got to take care of yourself first and foremost. Most military guys, we want to help people,” said Gardner. “If you’re going through some me definitely need to talk to somebody, reach out. I got lucky and he reached out to me.”

Dogs Terrorized

Pahokee native Ray McDonald, 35, an all-pro NFL lineman whose career was cut short by allegations of domestic violence, is now facing a lawsuit alleging his two 115-pound Corso dogs terrorized residents at the Foxe Chase development.

The lawsuit alleges McDonald’s dogs were allowed to roam freely through the gated community of 43 single-family homes west of Delray Beach. One of the dogs, Brutus, attacked Brandon Susser on Dec. 19, 2017, forcing him to seek medical attention. A property owners association board member was attacked three months earlier, barely escaping serious injury, the lawsuit alleges.

On behalf of his son, Brandon’s father, Gary Sussser, sued McDonald and Jeffrey Cohen, president of the Foxe Chase Property Owners Association (POA), along with Superior Association Management, the company that oversees the community.

The lawsuit claims McDonald lied to the POA about the history of his dogs, Brutus and Tank. McDonald told the POA that no one had ever complained about either. However, Brutus was labeled a “dangerous dog” in May 2015 by animal control officials in San Jose, Calif., where he attacked two people over a two-week span. Both victims required medical treatment. Two years later, McDonald bought a six-bedroom house at Foxe Chase for $2.5 million. He brought Brutus and another dog, Tank, with him.

McDonald was a starter for the San Francisco 49ers from 2011 through 2014, when he was released following sexual assault charges. In 2015, he signed with the Chicago Bears but was released two months later after his arrest on domestic violence and child endangerment charges.

Because of his arrest record, the POA had reservations about approving McDonald’s application to buy a home at Foxe Chase, but the threat of a lawsuit resulted in the POA approving the transaction, according to the lawsuit.

However, attorney Susser has been unable to pursue the lawsuit because he can’t locate McDonald, who moved in 2018 and sold his Foxe Chase house in April 2020. Susser has taken the unusual step of serving McDonald through the Florida Secretary of State because McDonald continues to hide his whereabouts.

West Palm Beach-based Buccaneer Realty, McDonald’s real estate agent, is facing contempt of court charges for refusing to provide information to Susser. McDonald’s father has also been subpoenaed.

McDonald played on a state championship team at Glades Central High School in 2000 and helped the University of Florida win the 2007 national championship.

“We will find him,” said Susser. “This suit is not going away. McDonald needs to know that. What kind of man would do what he did and then not even apologize? McDonald is playing a game of hide and seek. It will not work.”

Susser says he has three private investigators looking for McDonald. The Sussers lived next door to McDonald at Foxe Chase. The lawsuit claims McDonald failed to repair a gap in his fence that allowed Brutus and Tank to move throughout the community from March 2017 to May 2018.  The Sussers care for their nearly blind, quadriplegic son Adam, who was terrorized by the dogs when his aide would place him in a transport car. The dogs would sometimes perch themselves on the driveway, scaring the disabled Susser and the aide. When he lived in California, McDonald was required to keep Brutus in an escape-free pen or kennel. A similar condition was eventually imposed at Foxe Chase by Palm Beach County Animal Care and Control officials, but that was after the attack on Brandon Susser. The county concluded that both Brutus and Tank were a nuisance and that Brutus was a “dangerous dog,” as had San Jose. Brutus has since been euthanized.

The lawsuit describes in detail the confrontation of Brandon Susser and his mother, Judith, with the two dogs on Dec. 19, 2017.

Brandon and Judith were in the driveway when the two dogs attacked Brandon. First, Brutus bit him on the thigh, forcing him to the ground, then dragged him across the driveway. Then Brutus and Tank started to move toward his mother. Brandon kicked Brutus in the head to fend him off and was bitten on his ankle. Judith took off her shoes and threw them as far as she could. The dogs ran after them, giving the Sussers enough time to get back into their house. Animal Control cited McDonald for failing to control his dogs following the incident.

Seven days earlier, HOA property manager Sheri Scarborough sent a letter telling McDonald he had 10 days to repair his fence or face legal action. The fence was never repaired, and the dogs continued to be a nuisance until May 2018, when McDonald moved. Superior Association Management ordered McDonald on April 14, 2018, to get rid of the dogs but the order was never enforced.

The lawsuit cites Jeffrey Cohen, the current HOA president at Fox Chase, and Superior for failing to enforce the HOA rules and regulations against McDonald. The lawsuit says Cohen, who became president in early 2018, ordered the management company not to take action against McDonald following the December attack on Brandon Susser. The lawsuit alleges selective enforcement, claiming that the HOA cited numerous homeowners for minor infractions while ignoring the conduct of McDonald’s dogs.

Cohen’s lawyer, Adam Handfinger of Miami, said his client denies all of the allegations in the lawsuit. Efforts to obtain comment from Superior Association were unsuccessful.

Gary Susser’s family has had issues with other residents at Fox Chase who allegedly failed to control their dogs.

He filed a lawsuit alleging that another couple allowed a 154-pound mastiff to attack his wife and their service dog in July 2018, about seven months after the McDonald incident.

The suit alleged that the owner let go of the leash and allowed the dog to attack Judith Susser wife and their much smaller dog that acted as a service dog for their son Adam. The mastiff had no muzzle. The suit was filed on behalf of Adam Susser, alleging his service dog failed to function the way it had been prior to the attack. Animal control cited the dog’s owner for allowing it to become unleashed. The case was settled last August.

Susser said the POA needs to adopt rules and regulations regarding the control of large dogs. But some neighbors say Susser is overly litigious.  “If that means I sue to object to reckless behavior, then I guess I am litigious,” he said. “I will continue to be, especially when it involves members of my family.”

Furry Partner Freddy

Life-Saving Service Dog

September is national service dog month.

In honor of national service dog month, The Miracle Flights organization helped a boy get his own life-saving canine.

Seven-year-old Owen O’Bryan was born with an extremely rare form of epilepsy called Dravet Syndrome.

O’Bryan’s seizures were so severe he could not be alone or sleep in a bed by himself, until now.

Miracle Flights flew Owen O’Bryan and his parents nearly 5,000 miles from Alaska to Kansas for free to meet Juno.

Juno is a seizure-alert dog from The Cares Foundation.

For 35 years, Miracle Flights has provided free plane tickets to help families reach specialized or distant medical care.

Melissa O’Bryan said, “To be able to not have to worry about getting there, to not have to worry about the cost of it, so we’re able to fly in and just have that taken off our stress level, was a lot. It was awesome.