Halle Berry Trains With Dogs

 

Some of you might have noticed over the years, that I do so love them sharp-nosed, pointy-eared dogs. German Shepherd, Dutch Shepherd, Belgian Malinois, doesn’t matter. They are all outstanding.

One thing I like about the John Wick movies is that Keanu Reeves trains himself and the cast relentlessly. If there’s a shootout in a John Wick movie, you can rest assured that all participants in said shootout were put through their paces on a range, live fire, before their actions were ever backed up by blue screen.

Same with the dogs in John Wick III. As someone with a deep and abiding love for the shepherd breeds, I’ll just remark that there is no “Hollywood plus up” in the final result (linking instead of posting the video due to mild violence).

Service Dog Tasks

The most important task for service dogs of veterans with PTSD is interrupting episodes of anxiety.

A study by researchers at Purdue University found that of all the tasks service dogs perform for their veteran owners with PTSD, disrupting anxiety was the most helpful.

“We found that veterans with PTSD service dogs rated all of their dog’s trained behaviors as important for their PTSD, but the most important task that was used most frequently was the dog’s ability to respond to the veteran’s anxiety. Veterans also rated untrained behaviors, or things that any dog might be able to provide like a source of love, companionship, and routine, as equally important for their PTSD symptoms,” Kerri Rodriguez, Ph.D, author of the study and a researcher at the Center for the Human-Animal Bond at Purdue University told Theravive.

Research has proven that service dogs can benefit veterans who experience PTSD and there has been debate surrounding what sort of training PTSD service dogs need to be the most effective for their owners.

Rodriguez says the research suggests veterans use and benefit from specific tasks PTSD service dogs are trained, which set them apart from emotional support animals or regular pet dogs.

“PTSD service dogs are trained for a variety of behaviors aimed to help a veteran’s PTSD symptoms such as alerting to anxiety, waking from nightmares, and assisting the veteran in public and crowds. Our research suggests that all of these trained behaviors are important for different aspects of a veteran’s PTSD and mental health and most were used on a daily basis,” Rodriquez said.

“Veterans also perceived the dog’s untrained ability to provide a source of love, companionship, routine, and comfort as very important for their PTSD symptoms. Veterans with a stronger bond to their dogs also perceived their dogs as more important for their symptoms. This bond with a dog can be therapeutic in itself, which allows the veteran to form an emotional attachment. So, the service dog is likely benefiting the veteran in many different ways,” she said.

As part of the research, veterans were asked to rate tasks of trained service dogs. Some tasks the dogs are trained in include noticing cues displayed by veterans when they are distressed or anxious, and then pawing, licking, or nudging the veteran to encourage them to focus on the dog. Other trained tasks include noticing if veterans are having nightmares during the night and waking them up.

In public, the dogs are trained to perform tasks like looking in the opposite direction in a crowded room to provide a sense of safety and security for the veteran.

Veterans rated all of the dogs’ trained tasks as “moderately” to “quite a bit” important for PTSD. The researchers found that trained tasks were used on average 3.16 times every day.

Rodriguez says that though service dogs are not a cure for PTSD, they can make a significant difference for veterans with the condition.

“It is important to note that both our research as well as studies from other research groups have found that service dogs are not a cure for PTSD, but may help symptoms. Specifically, veterans with PTSD service dogs do report lower PTSD symptom severity than veterans on the waitlist to receive a service dog, but not below the diagnostic cutoff for a PTSD diagnosis. Secondly, PTSD service dogs should not replace or eliminate other treatments that a veteran is receiving, such as psychotherapy or medication. Rather, service dogs may be an effective integrative or complementary intervention that can benefit veterans in addition to their evidence-based treatments,” she told Theravive.

“It’s not uncommon to hear veterans talk about how they wouldn’t be alive if it wasn’t for their service dog, or how their service dog has allowed them to become a husband and father again. For years we have heard stories such as these, but now there is finally emerging scientific data to show that those changes are real. We hope our research can continue to provide the PTSD community, mental health professionals, and veterans and their families with more information about the specific potential benefits these service dogs can provide.”

Pet Care

The statewide impact of Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine’s stay-at-home order issued on March 23 is undeniable. Though some were able to revel in the fact that working from home meant more time with furry friends, owners of animal-based businesses were hard at work trying to adapt.

Karen Stalnaker, owner of Karen’s K-9 Klips at 3499 Route 59, has groomed dogs for about 41 years, 22 of those at her current location in Ravenna. She mainly sees clients from Ravenna and Kent but regulars have traveled to her from as far as Solon.

Stalnaker said she was forced to close her business from early April to about mid-May. After those six weeks, she “had a mess” when doors reopened.

“My dogs were all real long and late,” she said. “Some people tried to clip their own dogs. Oh my goodness, I had to straighten out messes.”

Aside from the time her business was required to close its doors, Stalnaker said COVID-19 has not otherwise disrupted her business. For a while, she needed a friend to help her bathe the dogs in order to catch up with her client’s demand. Only recently has she reached a point where workflow has returned to normal. Typically, she grooms seven to eight dogs a day.

Because she is the only permanent employee, Stalnaker said not much foot traffic goes in and out of her business. Contact is also minimized by the crate system she uses for pet pick up and drop off. Customers place their dogs in one of the crates set up in the lobby. Stalnaker places them back there once grooming is complete. Sanitizer is also set up around the space and customers have to wear masks when in the building.

Stalnaker said her biggest concern is being forced to close again. Should another statewide shutdown occur, she is an advocate for pet grooming to be classified as an essential service. Her reasoning for such was based on the comfort of the dog. Without proper grooming, fur becomes matted and toenails become overgrown.

Nancy Brown, the “alpha dog” at Double Dog Day Care at 3770 Fishcreek Road, referred to her business as “niche.” The Stow-based facility offers dog daycare but not overnight kenneling. Grooming and in-home pet care services are also available. Though clients typically utilize the latter during vacations or long work days, home visits have sharply declined since the statewide shutdown earlier this year.

A typical day used to mean 15 to 20 in-home visits. Brown said business has largely returned to normal.

Double Dog shuttered its doors from late March to mid-May. Despite the temporary closure, the daycare aspect of the business has seen numbers typical for the summertime. Brown explained that summer is not a popular time for dog day care services because pet owners are home, the weather is decent and dogs are able to play outside.

The busiest time tends to fall around January, February and March. In fact, she said, the first quarter of 2019 was the best ever for Double Dog since it opened in January 2011. Brown said she accepted there was a real possibility that her business may not have survived the shutdown. She considers herself fortunate.

Brown’s business has been impacted by the fact that people are working from home and they’re not traveling as much. Still, she said, the need for a dog day care service is there. When her business reopened, all of her regulars returned, she said. Though most were working from home still, they wanted their dogs to attend daycare at least three days a week.

Customers have been mindful of social distancing while dropping off and picking up pets. Double Dog has always kept its space clean, Brown said, but staff is even more mindful of cleaning even the surfaces they lean on. High-contact surfaces such as phones and doorknobs are also wiped down several times a day. Staff also follows safety protocols such as taking temperatures, wearing masks and washing hands.

Memorial Animal Hospital at 2222 Route 59 in Franklin Township, like other veterinary businesses, remained open throughout the shutdown. However, for about two months, it was only able to provide emergency and illness-related medicine, according to Jason Beutel, who manages the practice. Those restrictions lasted from mid-March to the end of May. During that time, the hospital stopped providing wellness visits.

No clients are allowed in the building with the exception of end-of-life discussions and procedures, Beutel explained. For all other services, workflow has been slowed because business has been largely conducted by phone.

Clients call reception from the parking lot and a veterinary assistant writes down the animal’s history before collecting the pet from the parking lot. Doctors then typically call the client to relay information and decide the next course of action. Once everything is done, the pet is returned and payment information is taken over the phone.

The Bed and Biscuit, the hospital’s boarding service, has been far more impacted by the pandemic, Beutel said. There were times when it went weeks without seeing an animal. Part-time workers were laid off and full-time workers were reduced to part-time. Employees at the veterinary practice were also impacted by the decreased demand for staff.

Both have since largely returned to full staffing, Beutel said.

Beutel said he does not think pet owners are delaying routine care. In fact, Memorial Animal Hospital is working through a backlog of clients. People want to bring their animals in while they do not have to maneuver around work schedules, he said.

“All of the local veterinarians are doing the best they can to be there for when they’re needed for either illness or wellness visits,” Beutel said. “A lot of people have been very understanding and patient of the changes in the routines of what veterinarians have had to go through.”

Perfect Pawtners

You make your way around the drive-through at the Auburn Way S McDonald’s. You order, pay, and get your warm bag of food. Little do you know, there was an adorable, alert Labrador Retriever also working the drive-through you just got your tasty McNuggets and fries.

Meet Joell Nylund and Andy: McDonald’s employees who happen to be a service dog team. Andy may look adorable and ready for belly scratches at any moment. Still, he is working – and not just for McDonald’s.

According to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), a service animal “is a dog that is individually trained to do work or perform tasks for a person with a disability.” Considering the diversity of the human race, the number of unique circumstances and disabilities is vast. A majority of these disabilities can benefit significantly with the use of a service dog.

While similar to service dogs, emotional support animals are not trained to identify and assist with different tasks and functions specifically. ESA’s primary duty is to provide emotional comfort- simply by being

With the recent increase in individuals using the rights of service dogs and emotional support animals (ESAs), there is unfortunate uncertainty between the two.

On a brisk Sunday in October of 2008, Joell Nylund woke up with a headache. By Friday, she was diagnosed with a brain tumor in her right frontal lobe. Four days later, she was undergoing surgery.

The right frontal lobe of the brain handles critical functions related to multitasking, memory, attention, and motivation. That’s where Andy comes in. Born and trained at Brigadoon Service Dogs in Bellingham, Andy’s specific training was catered toward mitigating the symptoms Nylund was left with from the tumor.

Service Dog breeders look at temperament, health, and behavior when selecting a dog for the handler. They found Andy to be an excellent match for Nylund, and he certainly has proven that to be true. “He and I are a team; we are partners,” said Nylund. “It’s not owner, not master- we are equals.”

Because of Andy, Nylund says she can get out of the house and work a job she normally wouldn’t be able to.After a substantial job search, accompanied by many rejections, Nylund accepted a position at McDonald’s. She struggled with obtaining a job while being partnered with a service dog but states she is so grateful that McDonald’s gave her a chance.

“We are going to make this work,” Operations Supervisor Ann Beurskens told Nylund upon offering her the position. “Andy is just a part of hiring Joell (A cute part!)”

Beurskens states she diligently works toward removing stereotypes and fallacies in the workplace. “I have always looked at hiring people with physical or cognitive challenges,” said Beurskens. “Some have worked out fantastically and others not so well, just as any other potential new hire.”

“Our people are the heart and soul of our organization,” said McDonald’s Owner Operator Stan Pennock. “As a local McDonald’s owner, I remain dedicated to accommodating [all employees’ needs] to create a comfortable and dynamic workplace for them where they can feel empowered to offer our customers the experience they have come to expect from McDonald’s.”

Having a fair and inclusive workplace is rewarding, but does come with its unique challenges. Some have voiced their concerns over hygiene and a dog’s role in a restaurant. Before hiring Nylund, Beurskens verified the different rules and regulations with the Health Department. Not only is Andy groomed daily, but “he [also] is not walking around the restaurant the entire time,” adds Beurskens. “Joell may place him in a down/stay position while she works in an area.”

Before the restaurant seating closures as a result of COVID-19, Nylund and Andy worked the dining hall, providing customer service to the patrons. “Joell has a fantastic personality, and I knew she would be great with our guests!” said Beurskens.

Seeing a dog in public is naturally exciting for kids and young children. Some do not understand he is working, and not there to play and be pet. Nylund typically sees this as a learning experience and seeks to educate the importance of service animals and the role they play in the community. To supplement this, Beurskens has made and hung informational posters around the restaurant. She has been told this was helpful.

Nylund is now training at the drive-through window, with Andy working right beside her.

Under the ADA, service dogs are permitted access, with their handler, almost anywhere the general public is allowed. This access applies to restaurants and businesses. Unlike a service dog, an ESA does not have public access rights (except for air travel).

“The disabled want to be treated just like everybody else,” says Nylund. Some businesses have turned Nylund and Andy away, on the pretense that dogs are not allowed in the establishment. While that may be true, service dogs under the law are considered medical equipment, not pets.

Nylund said it can be nerve-wracking, leaving the house daily with Andy, continually preparing for access denial. “When it comes to access denials, I do work on educating them, even after I’ve been thrown out.” Joell explains, “I will call or print out ADA fun facts and send them in the mail. Most of the time, employees will apologize and say they were not aware of the laws.”

Service Dog Event

The term “service dog” is new to some and part of the daily vocabulary for others, and getting the word out about how service dogs can help humans is the goal of an upcoming event.

Service dogs can help so many people in a number of ways: the veteran with PTSD, the 20-year-old girl with diabetes, the 70-year-old grandmother with mobility issues. Many people in the United States who are disabled have acquired a service dog to help mitigate the effects of their disability, and the trend is growing.

On Sept. 26, 2020, we’re expecting to have the second-annual event called “Task Dogs: A Service Dog Expo” at the Purina Event Center in Gray Summit, Missouri. The event initially was conceived to help veterans learn how they can get a service dog to help with PTSD, but since the first event last year, a number of others with disabilities have taken interest.

As of June, we plan to have service dog organizations for veterans and non-veterans, and we have vendors interested in selling items like dog harnesses and other related equipment.

We also have several guest speakers lined up, but a complete list may not be available until just before Task Dogs 2020. The virus going around has a lot of events in flux.

One returning guest speaker is Army veteran Justin Tucker of Waynesville, North Carolina, owner of Roxy the PTSD Service Dog who won the service dog category of the American Humane Hero Dog Awards in 2018.

Because my late yellow lab duck dog, Belle, was the inspiration for this one-day event, I began to wonder if anyone had a service dog with which they also hunted, and after a few inquiries, Alyssa Curtis of Retrieving Freedom in Sedalia, Missouri, said their other location in Waverly, Iowa, was responsible for helping Army veteran Trent Dirks and his PTSD service dog, Tracer, learn how to duck hunt, also. Basically, Tracer helps mitigate Trent’s PTSD, but he also gives Trent the freedom to go ducking and retrieve the ducks for Trent.

Please go to Facebook.com/taskdog and read the pinned post about Trent and Tracer. It’s Trent’s personal account of his struggles with suicidal thoughts and alcoholism, showing how ultimately, Tracer saved his life. It’s a wonderful story.

For this year’s event, we hope to have nearly 40 vendors and organizations available to help educate the public, and we also have a number of guest speakers, including 22-year-old Ashton Gurnari who has 160K followers on Tiktok. She and her service dog, Moose, plan to discuss mental health issues. Did I mention they’re coming all the way from Connecticut?

We also expect speakers and vendors from California, Colorado, Kansas, Iowa, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Illinois, Michigan, possibly Texas and more.

Donations are down because of the virus disruption, but if you want to donate and help make this event a success, please visit the Task Dogs GoFundMe page at: gf.me/u/x5sw8i. Any contribution will be helpful, and we need all we can get, especially to help pay for a videographer.

Animal Shelter Upgrade

The recent upgrade to Kāpiti Coast District Council’s animal shelter is enabling the public spaces and animal management team to provide a greater standard of care to animals who come into their care.

The renewal project included improvements to the shelter’s drainage, heating and insulation, housing and workspace in the existing enclosures.

It also included the creation of a new space for veterinarian treatment, improved access and safety for arriving and departing animals, and an upgrade to fencing to prevent escape.

Environmental standards manager Jacquie Muir said the welfare of the animals was the catalyst for the renewal project.

“To meet the Code of Welfare of Temporary Housing of Companion Animals, guidelines and standards which sit under the Animal Welfare Act 1999, we needed to make improvements to the shelter.

“We worked closely with a local architect designer and contractors to create a space that is truly a home away from home for the animals who come into our care.

“In fact, sadly for some of the animals we manage, it will be a great improvement.

“As part of the design process we got some great ideas from other agencies, like rolling pipes running horizontally along the top of the fence preventing dogs from leveraging themselves over the fence and escaping.

“We even considered the dogs when choosing the paint colours, we went with colours that are bright for us – but perfect for them, due to their limited colour perception.

“The shelter is now safer for our public spaces and animal management officers with the addition of adjustable containment cages to help them manage aggressive animals in a way that is comfortable for both the animal and officer.

“We also improved access to the shelter so officers are able to transport dogs in and out of the shelter safely, and they have the ability to feed dogs without entering the cage.”

Public spaces and animal management officer Lee Greedus said the team are better equipped to look after the 300 plus animals who come through the shelter each year.

“Our officers are committed to ensuring the best outcomes for the animals that come into our care.

“While they’re with us, we treat them as our own, we make sure the dogs are exercised, we walk them and let them play in the large outdoor areas with ropes, balls and platforms to jump from.

“We also now have a bath and vet area where we can clean dogs and administer worming and flea treatments if we need to.

“We make sure the animals are kept warm or cool – depending on the season, and we keep them fed and well-watered.

“We get to know and understand the animals fairly quickly and they get to know us too.

“While most dog owners love their dogs dearly, they’re not always aware of their responsibilities or the level of care required to properly care for a dog.

“Unfortunately the reality is that there will always be a need for an animal shelter, hopefully our proactive efforts will reduce the need over time, but in the meantime, the animals that come into our temporary care will always be comfortable and well cared for.”

Dog Grooming Outside

When Busy Bones Pet Studio owner Misty Porter learned how to groom her standard poodles, she enjoyed it so much she decided to start a business out of it.

“I’d had a love for dogs for many years,” she said. “I’ve owned standard poodles for six years now, and it came to a point where I knew I wanted to learn how to groom them, and then I realized ‘hey you’re actually pretty good at that,’ and I enjoy doing it, and my mentor who has been training me, he kind of nudged me along, like ‘let’s do this.’ So being out in Gary, I thought this might be a good service for those who are remote, so people don’t have to go into town.”

Kane’s Tale

For children, police stations can be scary. That’s where facility dog Kane comes in.

For five years, the nearly eight-year-old yellow lab— who partners with Moose Jaw Police Service Victim Services co-ordinator Donna Blondeau — has been comforting both children and adults alike.

While his work with adults — including members of the police service — is crucial, his interaction with children can work magic.

To help children understand more about what Kane does and how he can help them should they need to come into the police station, Blondeau has written a book entitled Kane’s Tale. Geared toward elementary school-age children, Blondeau intends to hand the books out to students in the Moose Jaw public and Catholic school systems in the fall.

“The book was written with the message that some of these children may have to attend to the police service for one reason or another,” said Blondeau. “That can be a pretty scary prospect for a lot of children … We want them to know that Kane may be available here for them, so it’s a friendly face.”

Combining Kane’s story with pictures of the photogenic canine, the book introduces Kane — a facility dog from B.C.- based Pacific Assistance Dogs Society (PADS) — as “your furry four-legged friend.”

“If you need to come to the Police Station, I may be there to help …,” reads part of the book. “I am here to comfort and support you.”

Paired with a picture of Kane snuggled up against a child, the book says, “I can give you comfort by staying close to you. I want you to feel safe.”

Blondeau’s office walls contain the expected photos and certificates, but it holds something else: four paper paw prints. As Kane sprawls on the floor, work vest off and belly up for a rub, Blondeau explains the prints were gifted to her and Kane by a child who’d once come into the police station to provide a statement. But for Kane, the girl later said, she wouldn’t have been able to get through it. That’s Kane’s gift, said Blondeau — one the 26-year victim services veteran has witnessed again and again in police interviews and in the courtroom. Like other trained facility dogs— including Merlot in Regina and Beaumont in Weyburn — Kane gravitates to those who are anxious or scared, then lends a gentle paw to comfort them.

“Kane is a soft touch,” said Blondeau. “He’s very gentle, very quiet, and he knows when people are upset and he presents himself. He will just be there with that person, whether it’s in court, whether it’s in an interview.”

Blondeau hopes — the COVID-19 situation permitting — to go into schools with Kane in the fall and read the book to children, before providing each with their own copy to take home and read with their parents or guardians.

The book will be free so all kids can get one, regardless of their family’s financial means.

“I want to ensure that all children in those age groups get the books,” she said. “I think it’s extremely important because I don’t think it’s worth anything if only a few people are able to obtain that book.”

Service Dogs

Firefighter Dog Hallie