The Police Department will become the first in Berkshire County to add a therapy dog to its force.
The dog, which will also be used for community policing, is an English Labrador retriever which is being donated by Boonefield Labradors from New Hampshire. Officer Kristopher Balestro has been selected to be the handler and the animal will be added to the department’s K9 Division, Police Chief William Walsh said in a Facebook post.
The program is funded through donations and by Balestro, he said.
The dog will be used to help reduce anxiety and provide comfort to crime victims and witnesses and help increase communications between officers and people who may have been traumatized by violence. The animal will also provide therapeutic relief to staff at the police department, he said.
“The therapy dog is also a valuable tool in fostering dialog and communications between the police department and the community we serve,” Walsh said.
The dog will be used in everyday patrol and will visit schools, hospitals, nursing homes, the library and will be brought to athletic events and children’s programs, he said.
Greenfield Police added a full-time therapy dog in 2018, a Saint Bernard named Donut. One of the department’s officers previously would use his dog, also a Saint Bernard, in situations where a dog would help victims. Springfield Police also had a therapy dog called Mango, but the dog was returned to the Fidelco Guide Dog Foundation in January after he injured a three-year-old girl at a community Christmas party.
On Friday, March 13, my dog Jonah and I were visiting a local elementary school shortly after classes had started. Jonah is a registered therapy dog and, until then, regularly visited several area classrooms each month as a reading dog. Ordinarily both staff and students welcome us with smiles and enthusiasm.
But on that day the staff members in the classroom were frantically trying to put together two-week packets of instructional materials for each child to take home, in case classes were canceled.
Jonah sat with each of the students who chose to read with him, especially Luke, who had developed a particularly close bond with Jonah. Little did we know, it would be our last day visiting school.
Jonah has been a registered therapy dog for over four years. He has participated in a number of programs working with children of different ages and in different settings. We have visited library children’s hour and evening school literacy events, and helped in the Humane Education programs at the Animal Welfare Society.
He also took part in a series of six-week programs at the Animal Welfare Society called “Jumping for Joy.” This program paired high school students on the autism spectrum with individual therapy dogs and together they worked on agility training classes. Jonah loved working with a new friend during each program. Outside of school settings, Jonah has also been a regular visitor at area assisted living facilities.
The times that we are experiencing affect us in many different ways. For Jonah it has been an alteration that he does not understand, and that I cannot explain to him.
Just about every morning he gives me the look. “Are we going to visit today?” People who are dog lovers know the sad-eyed look! And Jonah’s loss is my loss.
I have often said to people who thank me for bringing Jonah to visit a classroom or a facility that I derive as much joy from our visits as do the children and adults we visit. It reaffirms the importance of connecting with others, the kindness and gentleness that we do not always see enough of these days. And my dog Jonah is that connection.
She had missed the smells and sounds of the Carmarthenshire primary and the companionship of pupils.
Rosie – a cocker and springer spaniel mix – is one of two dogs at the school, which has been open as a hub to children of key workers during the coronavirus lockdown.
Her West Highland terrier comrade, Millie, has been on patrol at the school in recent weeks while Rosie was at home.
“She was so excited to be back,” said head teacher Karen Towns.
She said the two dogs have had a calming effect on pupils who understandably felt a bit nervous about the new layout and school day.
A multi-coloured balloon arch has also gone down well.
“You could see some of the children were a bit anxious but as soon as they saw the balloons and the dogs, they relaxed,” said Mrs Towns.
Rosie has led some of the pupils into class.
Like schools everywhere, the rural primary has lots of social distancing signs, hand sanitiser, a zoned yard and outdoor sinks for hand hygiene.
It has 230 pupils on its roll, but Mrs Towns said only 48 per cent of them were attending the current three-week period of learning, with the rest continuing to learn from home.
The staggered timetable means 56 pupils are in school on any given day, plus a further 10 in the care hub.
The first day back was also a big moment for staff.
“We were in early and were really excited,” said Mrs Towns.
She said the school has managed to accommodate sibling and friendship groups, which has been well received by parents.
Teaching staff had been prepared to do four weeks – the original plan for schools in Wales – rather than the re-arranged three-week stint.
“They have been so dedicated and committed,” said Mrs Towns.
Rural broadband issues have meant teachers taking hours on a Sunday to download video learning material.
Inevitably, things at the school aren’t quite what they were.
Pupils bring in completed health assessment forms every day, and contingency plans are in place if a child or teacher were to show signs of the virus.
Mrs Towns said planning would be needed to help pupils catch up, and that clarity was still lacking on how the September term would look.
“A one-metre social distancing rule would help,” she said.
“Other options include looking at public buildings nearby.”
She added: “But I’m just glad to be back and see the children.”
One of my favourite movies is A Dog’s Purpose based on W Bruce Cameron’s book about a dog that is reborn over and over again. The book touches upon the following questions: What is the meaning of life and are we here for a reason?
In each reincarnation, the dog has a new purpose, with this raison d’être plot continuing to A Dog’s Journey, which has also been made into a movie, and now the new novel A Dog’s Promise.
Cameron’s inspiring stories portray the bond between human beings and man’s best friend while reminding us that every creature is born with a purpose.
A heartwarming example of a dog’s purpose in life is a yellow labrador retriever named Moose, who received an honorary doctorate in veterinary medicine in a virtual commencement ceremony in mid-May from Virginia Tech for his contribution as a therapy dog at its Cook Counseling Center.
An article on the American university’s website reports that Moose has aided more than 7,500 counselling sessions and over 500 outreach events in his six years at Virginia Tech. He was previously honoured with the Virginia Veterinary Medical Association’s Animal Hero Award in 2019.
While helping students cope with mental health issues, the darling therapy dog joins them in campus activities such as student orientations and sporting events. Moreover, Moose loves being a member of the Hokie community.
Also in May, Chiang Mai University (CMU) lost its celebrated campus canine, fondly call Pi Tia Morchor. The dog was referred to as Pi as he was older than the students at nine dog years, which translates to over 60 in human years.
His former name was Chang, meaning elephant, but because of his height, the beloved mutt became known as Tia instead, the Thai word for short.
Meanwhile, Morchor refers to the Thai abbreviation for Chiang Mai University.
His fans are still mourning his death, which remains a mystery as police investigate.
Like Moose, Pi Tia Morchor was another inspiring example of a dog with a purpose.
The mixed-breed dog was not a stray and lived with his mum and owner, a former university employee, some five kilometres away from the university. From a young age, the outgoing pup wandered to nearby places and later frequented CMU for day trips.
At first, Pi Tia used to return home after a trip to the campus but this changed later as he began to spend more of his time on campus by joining students in various activities.
The unofficial mascot was particularly famous for his participation in the traditional walk up the winding road to Doi Suthep, as part of a welcoming event for freshmen students.
Despite his short legs, the super dog walked along with students and showed pooch power in sprinting the last bend of the mountainous road, dubbed as the Spirit Curve, before reaching Wat Phra That Doi Suthep, where the tradition ends with merit-making at the temple.
Pi Tia had been a lively part of this annual event for several years and would have wagged his tail up to Doi Suthep again if he were still alive.
His Facebook page tiadogcmu posted about his disappearance since May 4, however, the sad news of his death followed three days later after his body was found dumped by the roadside in a dark alley.
A scan of CCTV footage showed a motorcyclist taking him outside the university at night, despite nearing curfew. Later on, a border patrol police corporal came forward as the man who drove Pi Tia to his death, explaining that the dog had jumped off his bike.
As a result, Watchdog Thailand and a petition on Change.org has called for a thorough investigation of this tragic case, especially since Pi Tia suffered from a brutal blunt force trauma which fractured his skull, according to a second autopsy report.
In the worst-case scenario of possible kidnapping and murder, people want to know why anyone would harm such an innocent doggie and leave him to die alone on the roadside. It has been two months since his death and his fans are still waiting for an answer.
Countless tear-inducing Youtube clips have paid tribute to Pi Tia, who is buried in a garden at the Department of Computer Science, where he was registered as one of the university’s community dogs.
Chiang Mai University has set an excellent example in the management and welfare of stray dogs through the sustainable MaCMU Project, of which Pi Tia was a sort of an ambassador.
The Facebook pages of MaCMU and tiadogcmu make frequent updates about dogs under the project as well as share stories of other dogs in need, such as those requiring medical treatment or those needing a home.
Pi Tia Morchor now has two homes at the university, at his grave showered with flower bouquets, and at the Chiang Mai Veterinary Anatomy Pathology Museum, where his skeleton serves as an educational memorial of a dearly-missed and purposeful pooch.
Kanokporn Chanasongkram is a feature writer for Life section of the Bangkok Post.
A nonprofit providing service dogs to veterans and first responders at no cost in Pittsburgh is making a real difference. Their actions and local support are making us proud to be from Pittsburgh.
At a Grove City park, five military veterans gathered after being paired with their newest support animals.
“It’s just remarkable, I cannot believe it,” said James Grossman of Hermitage.
Veterans like Grossman suffer from invisible wounds, like PTSD or Traumatic Brain Injury. With the help of dogs from the Florida-based nonprofit Guardian Angels Medical Service Dogs, they’re regaining their independence.
“I would be very sheltered. I would not feel like I would be well to be out in public. Something might flare-up, I might be anxious,” said Dustin Schneider of Pittsburgh. “I might have a breakdown with her. She doesn’t let me get that far, she just wants me to be okay.”
The nonprofit gives 90% of their dogs to veterans and first responders. Guardian Angels founder Carol Borden said they see a lot of need and support from our region.
“We have just a wonderful, wonderful base of corporate sponsors and philanthropic-minded individuals who have welcomed us wholeheartedly over the past five years that we’ve been there in their area,” said Borden. “We have paired dozens and dozens of dogs in Pennsylvania.”
Pittsburgh professional sports teams, PNC and local foundations are just a few of the groups supporting the training for each dog, which cost $25,000.
Guardian Angels employee Joanne Werner said she loves being able to give dogs to people that need them.
“Just paying back all the respect that we have for them, giving them something that’s going to give them a new normal,” she said.
The support is appreciated by Schneider and his dog Spangle.
“Pittsburgh has been a very large staple in my recovery here,” said Schneider. Borden said they plan to expand by building their first campus, which will provide more dogs to more people.
From vomiting to diarrhoea, the canine parvovirus (CPV) is a highly contagious viral infection that spreads between dogs… and if untreated, it can prove deadly.
In Gauteng, police service dogs are bred and trained at a specialised K9 facility that’s been overwhelmed by an outbreak of CPV and this year, over 30 state-owned puppies have died from the infection.
But it’s not the first time that this virus has spread through this training centre and in just eight months, almost 100 puppies have died. Last year 76 puppies were killed by the Parvovirus.
Is this gross incompetence or another under-resourced state facility? Carte Blanche investigates in a programme produced by Nicky Troll and presented by Derek Watts. Derek says: “While the country fights to contain COVID-19, there is another virus raging at a police K9 dog breeding and training facility in Gauteng. Two outbreaks of parvovirus have led to the agonising deaths of around 100 puppies in less than a year. Could implementing proper medical and hygiene protocols have saved them?”
At 10 weeks of age, puppy Harvey is the youngest team member at Integrated Disability Support Service in Bundaberg.
But there are a couple of differences between Harvey and others who work there. Harvey has four legs, a wagging tail and is the organisation’s therapy dog.
Director at Integrated Disability Support Service in Bundaberg, Kahli Olesen, said Harvey has been a hit with clients and residents.
“Harvey has been with us at IDSS for a week and he is off to the first stages of training next month,” Kahli said.
“After that he will go into a therapy puppy training program, which will take about 12-18 months before he is fully qualified.
“Right now, he is being a good little puppy and giving puppy support to everyone who walks through our doors.”
The brown boisterous pup provides emotional support, an adorable puppy face, and two floppy ears to listen to clients, residents and staff.
“He is quite calming for many of our residents and they find a lot of joy in playing with him and patting him, and because he is so soft and fluffy it’s fantastic for our clients who have anxiety or stress related conditions, because patting a dog has been shown to be particularly therapeutic,” Kahli said.
Integrated Disability Support Service is a registered NDIS provider which offers services for children and adults and provides continuous, reliable support to those isolated and vulnerable.
Kahli said IDSS jumped on the idea with research showing therapy dogs can reduce stress and provide a sense of connection in difficult situations.
“Harvey is a Tamaruke and they are specifically bred as therapy and assistance animals; they’re hypoallergenic, they don’t shed, well-tempered and very intelligent and easily trained,” Kahli said.
“I have a background in psychiatric nursing and as part of that we had animal therapy, so as IDSS grew we identified a need for it here.
“Everyone knows that when you have a pet it reduces your anxiety, your stress and it has a lot of psycho physiological effects on the body, so it reduces all those cortisol levels and releases happy endorphins.”
“In all the unknown of COVID, we thought it was a great opportunity for our residents to have something in their lives that is a constant, and animals definitely offer that.”
The COVID-19 pandemic has put a crimp in fundraising for a nationally known nonprofit agency.
As a result, Bay State Savings Bank has announced a fundraising drive to support NEADS, which trains service dogs to help people who are deaf or have a physical disability. The campus is at 305 Redemption Rock Trail.
The fundraiser ends July 22.
Bay State Savings Bank recognizes many of the fundraising opportunities NEADS relies on have been impacted by COVID-19 and decided to help support the organization. Donations are tax-deductible and all funds will go towards training and placing a service dog with an individual in Massachusetts. The bank will match donations up to $3,000.
“We had a lot of community events that were planned for this time period and obviously they were not able to happen, so being in touch with different people and being out in the community … not being able to do that has been a challenge,” said Audrey Trieschman, manager of communications for NEADS.
“Our donor base has remained loyal, and bequests and grants continue to come in, but we have seen the cancellation of several spring and fall fundraising events and fewer community fundraising efforts, activities which we depend on to support our mission,” Trieschman said.
With COVID-19 came the cancellation of planned community events and fundraising opportunities. NEADS relies on these opportunities to fund training and placement of their service dogs.
“It costs us approximately $45,000 to breed, raise and train each of our dogs,” said Trieschman.
The goal for the fundraising effort is $6,000. The annual budget for the organization is nearly $3.5 million.
When the NEADS campus closed in March, it faced a number of other challenges – on-campus dogs had to find temporary homes within 24 hours, dogs had to come out of five of the seven prisons NEADS is involved with, and three new litters of puppies were born and needed care during quarantine.
Trieschman said NEADS staff is thankful for the support the organization has received from the community during this difficult time.
“We’ve had very positive community support in spite of our inability to do the community outreach,” said Trieschman. “We’re very thankful for the donors who have continued to support us.”
Bay State Savings Bank reached out to NEADS to start the fundraiser in honor of the bank’s mascot, Benjie, celebrating his first birthday.
“They’ve just gone above and beyond,” said Trieschman. “They’ve just been really great partners and I think the fact that they’re doing the $3,000 … is a really great way to get this jump-started. They’ve just been very responsive and just a real pleasure to work with.”
Trieschman says the Bay State partnership is not unique, as NEADS welcomes community partnerships, but says NEADS is grateful for the opportunity to partner with the bank.
“We have loved working with them to get this setup and we’re really looking forward to continuing to work with them,” Trieschman said.
A jovial girl leads a caramel labradoodle around the park, they run up the hill carefree like any other child and their pet.
But there is one small clue that this relationship is different, Mack the dog, wears a blue coat indicating he is a therapy dog.
Tara Highnam is calm and focused as she leads Mack around, but this is unusual for the autistic girl that – as her mum Ash says – ‘lives at the tip of an iceberg’.
Small things can trigger Tara’s sensory overload which can lead to a full-blown meltdown of screaming, crying and sometimes throwing things.
It can be the classroom being too noisy, having a lot of people around her, or being told not to sort the crayons into colours that cause her to “explode like a shaken up bottle of Coke”, says Ash.
Seeing Tara with Mack fills Ash’s heart with joy.
“She’s calm, she’s present. She’s doesn’t have everything going crazy in her mind so she just wants to run and get away from it.”
Mackie – as Tara likes to call him – isn’t her therapy dog, they are playing to see what type of dog will be suited to her needs.
Tara says her dog hasn’t been born yet but she will get one.
Ash just needs to raise $13,500. She has a Givealittle page and has received a $2500 grant from the Mazda Foundation.
Once Tara receives a dog it will enable her to live more like a child without disabilities and hopefully go to school full time, says Ash.
The eight-year-old does half days at school because the environment is too much for her.
“It will enable Tara to reintegrate back to the community, because she struggles a lot now, even just to go to the supermarket.
“It becomes too much, too much noise, too many people, the sounds are very overwhelming for her and are huge triggers.”
Ash says the term reintegrating makes it seem like Tara has come out of prison and in some ways her condition is like that.
Tara has ADHD, global developmental delay and sensory processing issues along with autism.
Each dog is trained specifically to suit the needs of their owner says Therapy Dogs New Zealand director Wendy Isaacs.
“The aim is not to produce a service dog that performs tasks per se, but to produce a companion, a friend, because these kids don’t make friends and they don’t get invited to parties and it’s really hard.”
The dogs are also trained to help calm their owner and promote sleep by sitting on a person’s lap and being patted which brings them back to the present.
“They’re relaxed and they’re able to keep the child relaxed.
“They’ve got to have really good obedience, really good social behaviour. A dog they can take with them everywhere because if they have a dog in the home that provides really good therapy, but when they have to leave their home the anxiety increases and they can’t bring it down [themselves].
“There’s just something between a child and a dog that we can’t understand. There’s a connection and something that happens and it just works.”
Mack and Tara’s quick rapport is evidence of this and Ash hopes to have a therapy dog for her early next year.
Iowa’s Supreme Court this week sided with the rights of a tenant with severe pet allergies over those of a tenant with an emotional support animal.
The ruling said an Iowa City landlord should not have exempted a tenant with an emotional support animal from the apartment complex’s no pet policy. However, the justices were careful to say the ruling was specific to the circumstances of this situation and likely would not apply to service animals.
“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,” the ruling reads.
“We are not holding that a visually disabled person with a service dog should be denied access to a “no pets” apartment building whenever a tenant with dog allergies is already living in that building and would suffer allergy attacks from the presence of the dog,” it continues.
Karen Cohen had sued 2800-1 LLC after it allowed another resident to move in with an emotional support animal for a chronic mental illness with a note from a psychiatrist.
After Cohen alerted the manager to her allergy, the manager sought guidance from the Iowa Civil Rights Commission and even offered to move the tenant into an apartment that allowed animals. However, the Iowa Civil Rights Commission said that was not a reasonable accommodation. Instead, the landlord attempted to mitigate Cohen’s allergies by using separate stairwells, purchasing an air purifier for Cohen and exploring installing an “airlock” to reduce the pet dander circulation. However, Cohen still had allergic reactions.
A small claims and district court each dismissed Cohen’s claims, determining the landlord made sufficient efforts to accommodate Cohen’s allergies and the service animal. But the Supreme Court disagreed.
“Frankly, it’s clear that Cohen and Clark cannot satisfactorily coexist in the same apartment building,” the ruling states. The Supreme Court said because Cohen had moved in first, her allergy concerns should have taken priority over the need for an emotional support animal and the landlord should have moved the tenant with the support animal into one of its units that did allow pets.
