Emotional Support Dog

An Iowa landlord should have turned away a potential tenant with an emotional support dog, a split Iowa Supreme Court has ruled.

In a rare decision that favored not making a reasonable accommodation, the court found the landlord had already rented to a woman with severe pet allergies and that he should have prioritized her needs.

The landlord, David Clark, attempted to please both tenants by having them take different staircases and giving the woman with pet allergies an air purifier. But it did not stop her from suffering an allergic reaction. He had previously had a no-pets policy but was stuck in a “pickle” on whether he had to accommodate the pet owner, the court wrote. The landlord’s accommodation of the emotional support dog was not reasonable because the tenant with pet allergies had priority in time and the dog’s presence posed a direct threat to her health,” Chief Justice Susan Christensen wrote in a June 30 opinion.

The trial court had ruled the same but dismissed plaintiff Karen Cohen’s because of the uncertainty to accommodate support animals under the Iowa Civil Rights Act.

The Supreme Court, though, ruled Cohen was entitled to the damages she sought for breach of lease – one month’s rent.

“Our balancing in this case is not a one-size-fits-all test that will create the same result under different circumstances, such as when the animal at issue is a service animal for a visually disabled person,” Christensen wrote.

“Nevertheless, the fact that the tenant with allergies was first in time and the dog posed a direct threat to her health tips the balance in her favor…”

The issue split the court 4-3. Justices Brent Appel, Christopher McDonald and Dana Oxley dissented.

Appel said review was improvidently granted but said he would reject the first-in-time approach to weighing the needs of tenants taken by the majority.

McDonald and Oxley felt the majority denied a disabled person’s request to use a support animal because of the first-in-time approach.

“(T)he majority’s rule discourages disabled persons from seeking reasonable accommodations and discourages landlords from granting reasonable accommodations,” McDonald wrote. “This is contrary to the spirit of the fair housing laws.”

Danville Pup Becomes Therapy Dog

Zoey, an 11-week-old miniature golden doodle, is a shelter dog, but not the kind looking for a home.

The young pup, crossbred from a golden retriever and poodle, is the soon-to-be therapy dog at the Gate House shelter for the homeless just off East Market Street.

Zoey recently began obedience training and then will undergo therapy dog training, said Cindy Powers, the shelter’s program director.

Powers recently purchased the puppy from a breeder and she has been bringing the dog to the shelter for half days to acclimate her then taking her home at lunchtime. Powers’ husband, who is working from home, is taking care of Zoey in the afternoons.

The dog eventually will spend her days at the shelter interacting with residents, but will go home at night with Powers.

“She already proved her worth,” shelter Executive Director Tom Dougher said.

He said a couple of kids ages 1 1/2 and 3 living at the shelter with their family didn’t want to brush their teeth and get dressed one day.

“I told them they were not allowed to play with the puppy until they brushed their teeth,” Powers said. “They went and brushed their teeth.”

Powers said the Gate House is one of the first shelters in the area to get a therapy dog. She credited former shelter intern Stacia Whitmoyer with researching therapy dogs in homeless shelters.

“It releases a lot of anxiety,” Dougher said of a therapy dog.

He said when he meets with residents on Wednesdays to see what they have done during the week to find a job or a place to live, there can be tense moments. The dog’s presence relieves that tension, Dougher said.

He said people who don’t have a home are going through a stressful time in their lives but just playing with the puppy helps relieve some of that stress.

Powers said she came up with the idea to get a therapy dog after she saw a group of people walking dogs on the adjacent Danville State Hospital grounds. The group with those therapy dogs had been visiting patients at the state hospital. She talked with them then with Dougher. Whitmoyer, also a dog lover, then dove into the research as part of her senior project at Bloomsburg University and gave a presentation to the shelter’s board of directors.

“There is not a lot of research on therapy animals and homeless shelters,” said Whitmoyer, of Northumberland, who graduated in December with a bachelor’s degree in social work.

Whitmoyer, who now works with low income youth in her job at Central Susquehanna Opportunities, said her project for the shelter focused mostly on the trauma of homelessness. She said even people living on the street wouldn’t go into a shelter because that would have meant giving up their dog.

“People won’t give up their animals to come here,” Dougher said.

The only animals allowed in the shelter are service animals.

Zoey has her own space in the shelter’s office, where Dougher and Powers work. The pup already knows how to sit, as Powers demonstrated recently, rewarding Zoey with a treat. The rest of the time, though, Zoey, a small mass of dark brown curly hair, was all puppy, playing with a couple of visitors and trying to chew a camera bag strap and a notebook. “The breeder described her as a social butterfly,” Powers said.

The dog came from Little Mountain Doodles in Myerstown. Powers said Zoey is hypoallergenic and non-shedding, so she is unlikely to cause an allergic reaction among the shelter residents.

“We’ve had really great support from the Animal Care Center, Nails to Tails donated services,” Powers said.

Money from a Berwick Health and Wellness grant helped pay for the dog, she said.

The dog cost $1,900, but the shelter received a $200 discount because it is a nonprofit, Powers said.

“As a therapy dog, she will have to know all her basic commands,” Powers said. “She can’t be startled by loud noises. If someone drops something, she has to know to leave it.”

She said the shelter is working with Flying High Dog Training, of Paxinos.

She said that not only will the residents benefit from the therapy dog.

“The first year of training is basic,” Powers said. “As soon as she’s a year old, she has to pass a test to be registered as a therapy dog.”

Zoey has been at the shelter for three weeks.

Dougher said last week 15 people were living at the shelter, seven of them children, including two infants.

“The highest amount we’ve had was 29, with 13 children,” the director said.

The shelter includes five family rooms, where the number staying there can vary. There also are one male and one female suite.

During the state’s red phase early in the COVID-19 pandemic shutdown, the shelter could not take in any new residents or find current residents apartments because landlords weren’t showing them, Dougher said. When the shelter was able to start taking in residents, they had to fill out a questionnaire.

“One family had been in Florida,” he said.

They had to quarantine at a hotel. Dougher said the shelter also has funds available to help anyone struggling to pay their rent. He said they could reach out to the shelter by phone, email or Facebook.

Service Dog Attacked

Paul Rocha and his service dog, Comet, are best friends and have been inseparable since Rocha received him almost 13 years ago to be his service dog and help him get through his day to day.

The routine is much the same every day for the two best friends who live in Temple in a small one bedroom apartment, but last Friday was anything but routine following a vicious attack, unprovoked and one that Paul didn’t see coming.

Pets Everywhere

Big dogs, big findings. When is the best age to spay or neuter a larger breed puppy? The answer’s tricky. It becomes a dog dilemma for owners and veterinarians when trying to strike a balance between controlling pet overpopulation with early altering, and health concerns caused by performing the surgery too early.

Bigger Mixed-Breed Dogs Have More Joint Disorders If Neutered Early. This conclusion from a study at the University of California-Davis was published this month in the journal Frontiers of Veterinary Science. Research found mixed-breed dogs weighing more than 44 pounds as adults are at a higher risk for one or more joint disorders if neutered before one year of age. Dogs weighing up to 43 pounds had no increased risk for joint problems.

It’s standard practice in the U.S. and much of Europe to neuter dogs by six months of age. This study, which analyzed 15 years of data from thousands of dogs at UC Davis Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital, suggests dog owners should consider their options carefully. The decision of the best time to alter a puppy is complicated by humane organization goals to reduce homeless pets. During the last 20 years, many shelters and rescues began performing pediatric spay/neuters of puppies as young as six weeks so the pups will never add to dog overpopulation.

“Most dogs are mixed-breeds,” said lead author Benjamin Hart, professor emeritus at the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine. “We hope this study will influence the spay or neuter process in order to give people wishing to adopt a puppy the time to make an informed decision on when to spay or neuter.”

Again, most mixed-breed puppies are adopted from shelters and rescues, except for large breed designer dogs like Golden doodles or Labradoodles, which are mixed-breeds often purchased from pet stores. It has become regular practice now for municipal and private shelters to require puppy spay/neuter before adoption.

Pet store customers would have the option of deciding when to neuter their pup; as would people who acquire a puppy from a friend. However, “oops litters” are no longer a common occurrence on Long Island because most responsible owners alter their dogs to prevent “oops litters.” Reputable breeders often require puppies sold to pet homes rather than show homes, be spayed or neutered before the owner is given the pup’s pedigree papers.

UC Davis researchers examined common joint disorders including hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia and cruciate ligament tears (a knee injury) in five weight categories. They also looked at risks of mixed-breed dogs developing cancers based on weight but found no increased risk in any weight category compared to intact dogs.

The risk of joint disorders for heavier dogs can be a few times higher compared to dogs left intact. This was true for large mixed-breed dogs. For female dogs over 43 pounds, the risk jumped from four percent for intact dogs to 10-12 percent if spayed before a year of age.

This delay in spaying presents another concern about when to spay a female dog because of the risks of mammary cancer. The following has been the medical thinking for a long time: Less exposure to female sex hormones has been shown to be protective against breast cancers in dogs, which is the second most common form of dog cancer. Mammary cancer can be nearly eliminated by spaying a female dog before the first heat. (Typically, the first heat arrives at six months of age and recurs about every six months until late in life.)

Spaying provides less protection for canine breast cancer with every passing heat. Studies have shown that dogs spayed before the first heat have a 0.05% risk of developing mammary cancer, when compared to intact female dogs. If the spay happens between the first and second heats, female dogs still have quite a bit of protection, with only an eight percent risk. If the spay happens between the third and fourth heat, female dogs have a 26 percent risk. Spaying also prevents uterine and ovarian cancers. Neutering a male dog eliminates his chance of testicular cancer.

There is a double-edged cancer sword. Early spay/neuter may protect against reproductive organ malignancies, but recent evidence shows early castrations raises the risk of more aggressive canine cancers. Less exposure to sex hormones increases a dog’s risk for osteosarcoma, bladder transitional cell carcinoma, prostate cancer, lymphoma, and mast cell tumors.

Neutering Policies May Need to be Reviewed. “The joint issue study raises unique challenges,” noted coauthor Lynette Hart, professor at the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine. “People like to adopt puppies from shelters, but with mixed-breeds, it may be difficult to determine just how big the dog will become if you don’t know anything about the dog’s parents.”

Purebred dog owners may have less trouble deciding the best age to alter the puppy. Those who plan to participate in performance sports like agility, dock diving or rally would be concerned about protecting their pup orthopedically and perhaps postpone neutering until the dog matures.

Neutering prior to adoption is a common requirement of humane societies, animal shelters and reputable breeders. The UC Davis authors suggested the policy be reviewed and modified appropriately. They say shelters, breeders and humane societies should consider adopting a standard of neutering at over a year of age for dogs that will grow into large sizes. I feel this would be difficult for shelters to enforce.

Lynette Hart said the study is especially relevant for people and organizations raising service dogs.

Service dogs such as guide dogs are large breeds, particularly Labs, Goldens and Shepherds. “They need to take a serious look at this,” said Hart. “Joint disorders can shorten a dog’s useful working life and impact its role as a family member.”

Aggressive cancer can shorten a dog’s life too. The key is placing intact dogs into the hands of responsible owners to protect an individual dog’s health and prevent unexpected litters.

Therapy Dog Program

A Greater Johnstown School District administrator is proposing a Therapy Dog Project for the district, using her own dog.

Nicole Lent, director of special education, public services and special programs, gave a recent presentation on the idea to the Board of Education. No formal action was taken by the board.

Lent showed off her dog, Max, and said he could be the “star” of a new dog therapy effort in the school system. She said the district previously had a similar dog, Ross, that went into classrooms at Warren Street Elementary School where she was the former principal. At Warren, she said she saw the “impact” that Ross had. “Since then, we have a new addition to our family, Max,” Lent said.

She said she and her family discussed having Max be a new therapy dog for the district and thought it was a good idea.

Her daughter, senior Hannah Lent, told the board her dog would fit in well with students.

Nicole Lent said that therapy dogs are different than other service types of dogs, such as those that work with the blind.

“The dogs are trained to provide comfort, support and affection while they are providing a service,” she said.

Hannah Lent said there are many proven benefits for students from being in contact with therapy dogs. They include improved reading scores, decreased anxiety and increased attendance.

“It’s a good time, obviously right now,” Nicole Lent said.

The district administrator noted that there is currently some increased anxiety for students coming back to school buildings during the COVID-19 situation.

In the case of Max, Lent said her dog would be certified through an accredited program. She said she has taken her dog to school already with her to work and he is getting use to the buildings. Insurance for the therapy dog would be through the Lent family, she said. Max is also a hypoallergenic breed dog, meaning no allergies.

“Max is probably the least scary dog you would ever see,” Lent stated.

She said the way the program works is to have structured visitation, and training with both students and faculty.

“We’re going to work on tracking this,” said Hannah Lent, and findings will be presented to the board.

Board President Christopher Tallon asked about the process of accessing the therapy dog.

Nicole Lent said she would provide information to the teachers that Max is available. She said students can read to the therapy dog as one activity. She said students can also “earn time” with Max. She said the district could open the schedule up and allow access to Max at any grade level.

“I’m sure the students will love it,” Tallon said.

Missing Service Dog

Sargent JR Luis is a Marine veteran from New Jersey who is missing his service dog in training, Apollo. JR believes his puppy Apollo, training to be his service dog, was stolen from Ideal Beach in Middletown on August 9. He lives an hour away from where the puppy was taken and has been traveling one hour to sleep in his car, trying to find his dog in the shore area. JR has been all over the news begging for the safe return of his precious Apollo. Apollo. There is a $2500 reward for the three month old Belgian Malinois. He is much more than a pet and his loss has been devastating for Sgt. Luis. See the missing poster here.

If you’ve ever lost a treasured pet, you know what pain and anguish it can cause. It’s been over two and a half weeks and his search is getting desperate. If you notice someone with a new Belgian malinois puppy that suddenly appeared two weeks ago, contact the police. The dog is pictured here in the flyer. They’re beautiful dogs that resemble a German Shephard. For those of you that live in Monmouth County, please keep an eye out. For the rest of us around the state, we can be on the look out as well. If it’s the reward money you’re after, that’s fine, but the good that you will do by helping in the return of this service animal to a brave Marine veteran is far more valuable. Let’s hope we can reunite Apollo and Sgt. Luis by the end of the week!

 

Staycations For Dogs

If you’re a dog lover, then duh, you know every single day is National Dog Day. But, since today is officially the declared holiday, we’re highlighting some fun ways to celebrate our best friends. From the looks of social media, many of you now have a pandemic puppy to shower with love — and let’s be honest — we owe our dogs BIG for being our emotional support during the lockdown. For those who want to social distance, but still mingle from afar with other dog lovers (wearing masks, of course), celebrate National Dog Day at The Lincoln Eatery in South Beach with an outdoor yappy hour today from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Humans can sip specially priced cocktails by La Esquina de Tony, while dogs nosh on chicken jerky from farm-to-table sandwich shop Necessary Purveyor. XO Espresso Bar is also serving complimentary puppuccinos to dogs whose owners order a coffee. Pick up cute dog swag from pop-up shops like Boho Pups. If you’re running out of places to walk your dog (yes, your neighbors are tired of seeing you walk by every hour), enjoy an al fresco dog date on Thursday evenings from 5:30 to 7:30 at Fairchair Tropical Botanic Gardens.Through September, you can stroll the stunning gardens — think 83-acres of social distancing — with your (leashed) pup and then enjoy yappy hour at the Glasshouse Cafe. Pups get complimentary water and treats, and humans can opt for cafe snacks and specially priced adult beverages. Watching the sun set together in those lush gardens – you’ll forget that he chewed up your favorites shoes! Admission is $12 for adults.

Not into happy hours with others? Pop some bubbly and toast to your best bud while sheltering in place at the W Fort Lauderdale. The oceanfront hotel has rolled out the “Dogs Are a Girl’s Best Friend” staycation package which includes a bottle of Pet Winery’s Dog Pawrignon Champagne or Rose (yes, that’s a real and fabulous thing) and Barking Bacon doggie ice cream for the pups, along with a bottle of Prosecco and sweat treats for humans. The package starts at $249 a night and is available through December 31, 2020. Use the code HOTPAWS.

Head to Gloria and Emilio Estefan’s relaxing Costa d’Este Beach Resort & Spa in Vero Beach where the hotel is offering a “Humans Stay Free” package. Get it? Dogs are welcomed with toys and food and water bowls; the no-kibble fans can indulge in a pet menu; and at night, they’ll snuggle up in a plush doggie bed that comes with a nightly turndown amenity (a bone-shaped treat). The most glamourous part: dogs receive a beachside massage. Rates start at $184 per night – no charge for humans. And, if you want some inspiration on what this dog vacation looks like, check out this cute video the resort made. The Confidante Miami Beach has a strong new pet program, and furry guests are greeted with a Confidante dog tag and take-home gift of a pop-up water bowl and baggie dispenser. Paw-some amenities include the use of a faux fur, memory-foam pet bed by Paw.com during their stay. When it gets too hot, head to The Backyard, the hotel’s pool and outdoor lounge area, for all-natural “pup-sicles” made with peanut butter and watermelon flavors from Cielito Artisan Pops. When locals book any of the hotel’s drive-in packages, pet fees are waived. If you’re one of those people pulling out your designer clothes to prance around alone in the living room or to cheers with friends on a Zoom happy hour, we see you. Your dog is probably just as stylish. Enter Brodys Bandanas, a bandana company for well-dressed pups started by South Florida resident Poppy Mongkolsin, when she couldn’t find a bandana for her dog Brody to wear on St. Patty’s Day. “The material we use is like no other,” says Mongkolsin. “I personally love how stretchy and soft our material is. It’s very lightweight, and it won’t bother your dog’s neck or make them hot.” The Fort Lauderdale designer creates her own prints — you’ll find every trendy theme and holiday print imaginable — and collaborates with artists to make new designs. Pet owners can also twin with their dogs with matching masks. Find the adorable bandanas on Etsy, follow them on Instagram,  and they also offer local pick up in Fort Lauderdale.

Say the word “treat” in my house, and my stubborn beagle who pretends that he never hears me is miraculously freed of his burden. Since it’s a dog holiday, your pet needs ALL the treats. Try Pup and Pantry, a new handcrafted treat line by Miami social media maven Aubrey Swanson, who first created the soft and chewy goodies for her beloved rescue dog Rebel. The treats are crafted in Miami Shores with all-natural ingredients using house-milled flour inspired by Steve Santana, Rebel’s dog dad and Taquiza chef whose famous tortillas are made of stone-ground corn. The treats are free of known pet allergies like corn, wheat, and soy, and currently there are six different flavors including one spiked with CBD for those nervous or aging pups with joint problems. Prices start at $12.

Remember, loving and caring for a dog is cool all year round. See you on the leash!

Tallulah And Khari

This update on Tallulah is long overdue. It was delayed, like so many things, by the pandemic. Tallulah is the golden doodle service dog that was raised by the WBRC newsroom as a puppy. Through Service Dogs of Alabama, she was matched with 17-year-old Khari McCrary, who suffers from severe seizures. Tallulah is trained as a seizure alert dog and has been a great help to Khari over the past year.

RRUFF Dog Park

Rocklin Residents Unite for Fido (RRUFF), a nonprofit organization that helped build and maintain the RRUFF Dog Park at Johnson-Springview Park, was one of five recipients nationwide to receive the 2018 PetSafe® Bark for Your Park™ Maintenance Grant.

The $5,000 grant allowed RRUFF volunteers to complete several maintenance projects over the last 18 months that would have otherwise been deferred, including refreshing the organic cedar bark ground cover and installing four new benches, along with other small upgrades. A virtual grand reopening is in the works to celebrate the new installations.

“With support from the city of Rocklin Parks and Recreation Department, this generous donation has established the RRUFF Dog Park in Rocklin as the premier dog park in the greater Sacramento region,” said Vicki Curtis, RRUFF Dog Park founder.

The dog park opened in late 2011 as the result of a joint effort between residents and the city of Rocklin.

The city was able to fund various park elements, such as fencing and part of the canopy. RRUFF raised the rest of the funds to add amenities such as turf in the special needs dog area and the dog-safe ground cover throughout the dog park. Residents helped by donating several memorial benches as well.

The city is responsible for maintaining the park throughout the week as well as repair and replacement of major project components, such as fencing or water issues. RRUFF is responsible for replacing amenities such as toys, hoses, and agility equipment, and ongoing weekend maintenance.

“We’ve known our community is incredibly family-focused and that has always included their four-legged family members too,” said Phil Lewis, Rocklin Parks and Recreation director. “Working with RRUFF has been a great partnership that allows Rocklin to continue to support a healthy lifestyle for humans, as well as their dogs.”

RRUFF Dog Park is the home for rescue group adoption days, obedience dog training classes, service dog training classes, including 4Paws2Freedom classes for disabled American Veterans (funded by the RRUFF Healing Heroes Program), and Canine Companions for Independence and Guide Dogs for the Blind puppy raisers. Its three distinct areas for small, large, and special needs dogs make it the ideal off-leash dog park for dogs to stretch their legs and socialize.

The dog park is open from dawn to dusk daily, rain or shine, for park-goers and their pets.

Zama Veterinary Team

Staff at the Camp Zama Veterinary Treatment Facility have always worked diligently to gain the trust of their clients, and today under COVID-19 restrictions, those efforts are paying off.

“I trust them,” said Carolina Chong, shortly after handing over her two dogs’ leashes to Cpl. Madison Green, an animal care specialist, so they could go in for their appointments without her Aug. 25.

The facility’s waiting and exam rooms are too small to accommodate proper social distancing under COVID-19 restrictions, so staff members check in pets at the curb and bring them in without their owners, said Dr. (Capt.) Mary McLean, the officer in charge of the facility.

McLean said she understands why some owners may have reservations about separating from their pets, but the facility’s team does everything possible to make patients feel comfortable.

“We utilize low-stress handling techniques, have a wide variety of special treats to offer, and have been known to just sit on the floor and cuddle with a dog for a few minutes until we gain their trust,” McLean said.

Chong said she felt no anxiety letting Layla, an 8-year-old beagle, and Roxy, a 7-year-old shepherd mix, go in without her because they have been visiting the clinic for about a year and have bonded with staff members.

“Layla absolutely loves it here,” Chong said. “She comes in and she tries to jump out of the car. They’ve just been great. You can tell that the staff really love the pets.”

Not all pets, however, are happy to visit veterinarians, and Luna, a 5-year-old Lab mix, is one of them.

Josie Salcedo, Luna’s owner, said Luna’s behavior has nothing to do with the clinic itself—she just gets anxious.

“Every time we come it’s an ordeal, but [the staff are] always really good with her … and just giving her as much love as they can while she’s here,” Salcedo said. “They make her as comfortable as possible.”

Maryn Nakasone, a veterinary technician, did exactly that with Luna during her visit, petting her and spending time with her, which allowed the dog to calm down.

McLean said the clinic has remained open throughout the pandemic, but for safety reasons, personnel made evolving adjustments to some services based on staff and equipment availability.

“When a majority of our staff was forced to work from home, we began offering telemedicine appointments when appropriate,” McLean said. “Because our patients can’t tell us what’s wrong, veterinarians rely heavily on a physical exam, so veterinary telemedicine may have more limitations than our human counterparts.”

The best way to accommodate physical exams was the curbside check-ins and pet-only visits inside the building, McLean said, and they have worked well.

The clinic is a part of Public Health Activity – Japan, which falls under Public Health Command – Pacific and Regional Health Command – Pacific, McLean said. The clinic’s primary mission is to provide full-service veterinary care to Military Working Dogs across all branches of the Department of Defense.

Usually, however, MWDs are a healthy population, so for the team to keep their veterinary skills sharp, the facility relies on military pet owners to trust them to care for their animals, McLean said.

“The more experience we can gain from treating a variety of ill animals, the better prepared we will be to care for our MWDs if they become sick or injured,” McLean said.

The facility offers a variety of services, including routine preventative care through annual exams and vaccinations, health certificate exams, quarantine exams, laboratory services, surgery, radiology, acupuncture and dental care, McLean said.

Personnel see pets by appointment only on a space-available basis, McLean said, and since the clinic operates through non-appropriated funds, or revenue other than taxes, clients must pay standardized fees so the clinic can operate.

Three Soldiers and three civilians staff the facility, McLean said, and two staff members, including herself, are veterinarians. The other, Dr. Isao Yoshikawa, is a Japanese local national.

“Dr. Yoshikawa has been a huge help finding specialists to refer some of our patients to,” McLean said. “Most commonly we make referrals to oncologists for chemotherapy or radiation therapy, or cardiologists for an echocardiogram if a heart abnormality is heard.”

While the facility mostly treats dogs and cats, occasionally they will see a rabbit or exotic pet, McLean said.

“Veterinarians are trained to treat all species, but our clinic does not always carry the gold-standard equipment and medications some species require,” McLean said. “We will always try to help, but may have to refer some pets to one of the better equipped, more specialized veterinarians in the community.”

The team also includes military food inspectors who are responsible for ensuring a safe and wholesome food supply by performing inspections of food vendors, such as commissaries, child care centers and dining facilities, McLean said.

Although the main offices are on Camp Zama, personnel also provide support to Naval Air Facility Atsugi, Sagami General Depot, Sagamihara Family Housing Area, and Camp Fuji, McLean said.

Gloria Maxwell, who has been visiting the clinic for three years with her 13-year-old Shih Tzu named Puaiki, said if she has any reservations about letting her dog go inside without her, it’s only because she would like to be there for educational reasons.

“The staff has been really, really great,” Maxwell said. “Dr. Mary [McLean] is great; she really cares for the fur babies.”

McLean said she particularly enjoys working at the clinic because of the connections staff members get to make with members of the community from every unit on base.

“From the joys of a new puppy to a heartbreaking diagnosis, we have to be ready to help our clients through a variety of emotions,” McLean said. “Every day offers unique challenges, and I love watching the Soldiers and civilian staff work together as team to accomplish our unique mission.”