Bear Dog Story

Karelian Bear Dogs are certified K-9 working dogs used to help with bear conservation and safety. The dogs are able to help biologists as they work to train bears to avoid humans. The dogs were recently used on the Isom Creek Fire near the Yukon River Bridge on the Dalton Highway to help protect firefighters from nuisance bears. Handler Nils Pedersen is the director of the Wind River Bear Institute.

“I guess more than anything, what folks should understand is that the Wind River Bear Institute specializes in non-lethal techniques to reduce bear mortality,” Pedersen said.

They use things like bear spray, radio collars and infrared to complete this goal, but he said by far their biggest tool is Karelian Bear Dogs.

The dogs are originally from Finland where they were bred to hunt bears and moose. In the U.S. the dogs are used mainly as working animals for bear conservation.

“Our approach, we are not outfitters, we are not looking to get our dogs chasing bears around, we are not sports hunters or doing anything like that. We are using these dogs for a purpose and that purpose is to find bears, get them out of places they shouldn’t be, do it in a consistent manor, teaching bears how to move around human occupied space on the landscape and preventing them from having to be killed or relocated,” Pedersen said.

He went on to explain that the dogs are selected for their natural abilities. He said only about one in four of the dogs actually have the natural abilities to bay a bear. The dogs are able smell a bear from a vehicle, can track the bears and are fast enough to avoid being hurt.

“They have the innate ability in their breed, in their genetics to dance with a bear if you will,” he said.

The handlers use the dogs to help move bears from areas where humans are.

“We walk the bears out at bear speed. What we don’t want is the bears panicking thinking we are chasing them down, afraid of us. What they need to know is it’s really easy to go back into the woods and really hard for them to come this way towards human occupied space,” said Pedersen.

It’s not just the bears that are special. The handlers are highly trained.

“All of our wildlife K-9 handlers are biologists, that’s our approach, you know, the way we think about things is how to train bears, just like you would train a dog, what do you want the bear to learn? How do we teach it that?” He said.

The dogs help them achieve that goal. Pedersen said dogs from the Wind River Bear Institute are used across North America and even in Japan to help with bear conservation.

Pedersen said he enjoyed working with the fire service and that he will continue to do so when they need him.

Bloomingdale’s Service Dog

The Bloomingdale Police Department lost one of its own this week, a four-legged warrior named Kane.

Kane, the department’s service dog, died in his sleep Tuesday at the age of 6 from unknown causes. His time as a member of the force left a remarkable impression on his handler, who said the German shepherd will be sorely missed.

Officer Levi McGhee, Kane’s handler, saw Kane as more than just a service dog but also as a genuine pet and loving member of his family.

“I feel like I’ve lost my shadow,” McGhee said Thursday. “He wasn’t just a pet, he was literally a part of me and a part of our family. His unexpected passing has been extremely tough on all of us.”

Kane began his training when he was 1 year old, the typical age dogs become trained to become service dogs.

When he was not playing around like a normal dog, he was chasing down violent offenders and sniffing out drugs and illegal narcotics, often protecting the lives of other officers in the process, McGhee said. One case that sticks out to McGhee that exemplified his service was tracking down a DUI and car theft suspect hiding under a car last December.

Frank Giammarese, director of public safety, said he plans to add another service dog to the department, though there is no timetable for when that will happen.

“It’s been a great program to train these dogs, but it’s still a tragic loss,” Giammarese said. “That dog had a bigger fan base than anyone in the community. I don’t know if you can replace Kane.”

There will be a ceremony and procession in his honor at 9 a.m. June 7 at Scottish Rite Valley, 383 E. Lake St., Bloomingdale.

Parade For Therapy Dogs

From Shelter Dogs To Service Animals

Matt Kleeman was a U.S. Navy Diver stationed in Connecticut when a nearly-fatal car accident left him paralyzed from the neck down and facing an uncertain future.

”I wondered how am I ever going to be independent again, what’s going to stop me, how much can I take things,” Kleeman said.

His determination to move forward led him to an organization called CAMO which stands for Canines Assisting Military Operatives.

The training facility is located on a two-acre piece of property in western Palm Beach County. ”It’s really grown quite a bit. The number of people it supports, the legacy it leaves behind with the dogs and the operators and those in need of the dogs, the awareness is really world wide,” said Joe Muller, a major supporter of the organization.

Founder and chief Trainer Mike Lorraine works with shelter dogs who fit the temperament to become a service animal and pairs them with veterans in need at no cost. ”For sure, getting these dogs out of shelters and then giving them really incredible training for over a year, a year and a half, and then placing them with deserving veterans is a life-long dream that for sure is the most rewarding things I’ve done with dog training,” Lorraine said.

Training these dogs to do everything from turning on a light to picking up keys and coins actually starts with chickens. Lorraine works with the birds first to see what techniques will create the desired response before adopting that approach when training a service dog.

“It’s not so much breed specific, it’s those special attributes we need to see in the dog really wide open, well socialized, super calm and with a really high food drive and if we have these combinations of attributes then for sure we’re going to have success,” Lorraine said.

As Kleeman’s current service dog, named “Charlie Brown,” is starting to show signs of aging, he and Lorraine are now working together to train a second dog, a puppy named “Cooper,”’ to be ready to serve when Charlie Brown needs to retire, though never far from his side. ”He’s my buddy, I’m with him all the time and I can’t imagine life without him,” Kleeman said.

So far CAMO has placed 30 dogs with veterans in need.

More Then A Service Dog

Take one look at the fox-red Labrador retriever sprawled across the living room rug, and you might easily mistake him for an easygoing family pet.

But Tom Garrett of Janesville knows the 92-pound dog, named Clifford, is so much more.

Just look at what happens when Garrett brings out the harness. The hulking Lab jumps to attention, and his whole demeanor shifts into work mode.

Late last year, Garrett met Clifford, a guide dog from Guiding Eyes for the Blind guide dog school in Yorktown Heights, New York.

The union was life-changing.

Garrett, who has been legally blind since childhood, depends on Clifford to safely guide him in a variety of situations.

“Clifford is literally my eyes,” he said.

The bond between him and his guide dog is much stronger than the bond with a family pet.

“A guide dog develops a real sense of protective responsibilities,” Garrett told The Janesville Gazette. “They are with you 24 hours a day.”

The dog takes Garrett around obstructions, stops at curbs and stairs, and is great at finding doors. Clifford even helps Garrett find empty chairs in waiting rooms.

Clifford also quickly learns the routes to and from places where Garrett often goes. In the grocery store, the Lab knows where the meat and produce sections are.

When Garrett is outdoors on his 2-acre rural property, Clifford helps him find key places, including Garrett’s four beehives.

In addition, 73-year-old Garrett has more independence traveling to festivals to play the banjo, mandolin and fiddle with Clifford at his side.

“He’s really superb at the job he does,” Garrett said.

Unfortunately, the public sometimes interferes with Clifford’s work.

“Every time I go out, I have to remind people not to distract Clifford,” Garrett said. “When you see a dog wearing a harness, that dog is focused on doing his job. Don’t talk to him. Don’t call him by name. Don’t look him in the eye. If he goes to be petted, he lets me run into things.”

People are more understanding of service dogs than they used to be, and many legitimate service dogs help people with diabetes, post-traumatic stress disorder and hearing impairment.

But Garrett said the law does not recognize “comfort” or “emotional support” dogs as legal service dogs.

For more than 30 years, Garrett taught earth science, biology and physical science at Janesville’s Marshall Middle School. He retired 13 years ago.

Prior to 2012, Garrett used a white cane to help him navigate in the world.

When he learned about the Guiding Eyes school and its highly trained dogs, he applied for his first dog.

The nonprofit school, which provides all services free, matched Garrett with a yellow Lab named J.J.

“My J.J. didn’t want to be more than 10 feet or 12 feet away from me,” Garrett said.

When the dog died at age 9, Garrett was devastated.

He applied to the school for a second guide dog and asked for “a big, robust and rowdy yellow Lab.”

Clifford fit the bill.

From the beginning, both were smitten.

The first time Garrett took Clifford for play time, the two bonded right away, even though Clifford’s trainer came along.

Garrett stayed at the Guiding Eyes school for three weeks and worked with Clifford every day until they became a team.

The school’s mission is to create and support life-changing connections between people and dogs. It relies almost entirely on donations from individuals, corporations and foundations to do its work.

The school’s guide dogs are known for their exceptional temperaments and success at helping people gain independence, according to materials from the school.

One guide dog team costs about $50,000 to breed, raise, train, match and support over the lifetime of the team’s work together.

Most guide dogs are Labrador retrievers, but a few are German shepherds. They spend six to 12 months undergoing formal training with a professional instructor.

Dogs are then carefully matched with handlers based on how fast the handler walks, how hard the dog pulls and their personalities.

Garrett couldn’t be happier with his matches.

“Clifford has the genes and the temperament to be the kind of guide dog you want,” Garrett said. “He is focused on doing his job.” 

Pet Population

Animal welfare groups say the pandemic is exacerbating the overpopulation crisis for cats and dogs.

According to Lisa Lange, senior vice president of communications with “People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals,” more than six million cats and dogs enter shelters in the U.S. each year. And with COVID-19 safety protocols in place, she explains shelters are unable to let people come in for pet adoptions, or host off-site adoption events.

“And yet there’s still a flow of animals coming in, made worse by people being out of a job,” says Lange. “So, we’re getting reports from around the country that people are giving up their animals because they can’t afford to keep them anymore.”

A Survey conducted before the pandemic estimated that 44% of Missouri pet owners struggle to afford their pets.

Lange says prevention is the best solution, and her group encourages spaying and neutering for cats and dogs. According to PETA, one female dog and her puppies can result in the births of 67,000 dogs in just six years.

Instead of purchasing a pet from a breeder, Lange urges Missourians to always adopt from animal shelters. Right now, many are holding appointment-based adoptions.

She notes a silver lining to the pandemic has been the uptick in people becoming pet foster parents, which takes pressure off the shelter system.

“Really, in the best of all possible worlds, shelters should have a small number of animals,” says Lange. “But we shouldn’t be seeing animals breeding anymore. We have far too many homeless animals, all of whom are deserving of good homes. But we need to bring that number down. ”

She adds that low-cost and free spay-and-neuter programs, often available through humane societies or veterinarians, are key to the overpopulation crisis. And she says people should encourage their local governments to subsidize these programs.

Firefighters Are Coping With Stress

The newest members of the Hanford Fire Department aren’t fighting fires – instead, they’re helping firefighters fight off the stress of the job.

“The one in the red harness, this one’s Tiller. The other one’s Asher,” said Connor Kurtz as he pointed at two English Cream Retriever puppies laying in the fire station. He and Matthew Martinez are both firefighters at Hanford and have recently been tasked with training the two pups.

The dogs are there to work as a distraction from the stresses of the job.

“After we come back from a bad call, if we could just kind of relax get our mind off the call and what happened… it’s nice just to come back home, maybe get your mind off, pet a dog, and kind of relax and get our minds off things,” Kurtz said.

Kurtz got the idea after seeing how firefighters reacted to a dog at a wildfire.

“It’s actually learning our stressors even right now… they can still read the different stress between stress to going into an incident and then stress coming back from an incident,” Martinez explained.

“You hear a lot about first responders committing suicide. And that’s something that we want to battle,” Kurtz said.

“There’s a lot that’s been going on lately between the virus and everything else going on, but one beautiful thing with these dogs is, everybody just comes together with these dogs, everybody supports them, it just gets your mind off of things,” Martinez said. “So, hopefully, it’s one of those things that just kind of helps to, you know, bring us back together again.”

The puppies were provided by the Visalia-based California Service Dog Academy. The team there also helps local veterans by providing them with service dogs for free, or by helping to train their dogs to become service animals.

Chris Dushane is a Navy veteran who was stationed in Lemoore. The academy helped train his dog Dodge to become a service dog.

“Emotionally, he really pulled me out of a dark place. With him, he gives me more confidence to go out and about when he’s with me. He’s a comfort,” Dushane said.

“The dogs for the first responders are more of therapy dogs, where their presence is supposed to help make everybody feel better. With our service dogs that we train for our veterans, they are specially trained to mitigate the disability that the veteran has, so maybe go get their bag of medicine for them if they need it or turn the lights on if they’re nervous about going into a dark room,” said Rebecca Corso with the California Service Dog Academy.

Kurtz says he’s also pitched the idea to other first responder agencies in the area.

K9 For Warriors

All-Elite Wrestling performers got a show of their own with visits from K9 for Warriors service dogs.

Several professional wrestlers earned some new fans this week of the four-legged variety before taking action in the ring at Daily’s Place.

Ponte Vedra Beach-based K9 For Warriors brought a team of seven service dogs-in-training to visit with members of Shad Khan’s All Elite Wrestling in Jacksonville before Wednesday night’s AEW Fyter Fest on TNT.

There was plenty of belly rubs, puppy kisses, rolling around on the floor and even an excursion on the Riverwalk for one wrestler and Air Force veteran Big Swole and service dog JD.

“It was absolutely amazing,” she said. “I’ve always wanted to be a part of something like this and meet the rescue dogs from K9s. I was so excited that I drove three hours this morning from my home in Clearwater just to see the puppies, so I’m all energized and ready for the show tonight.”

The nonprofit strives to return American service men and women who suffer from injuries and trauma to a life of dignity and independence by pairing them with rescued and trained shelter dogs.

AEW was introduced by Khan and his father Jacksonville Jaguars owner Shad Khan in January 2019. Tony Khan, who also serves as the Jaguars’ senior vice president of football administration and technology, runs the show for AEW.

“We’re proud to bring some joy and positivity to these athletes who understand the powerful benefits of dogs,” Diamond said. “It’s always fulfilling for us to help out our amazing Jacksonville community.”

Although the dogs are trained to stay focused on their warrior and wear vests with “Do Not Pet” signs, their handlers gave the “make a friend” cue letting them know the wrestlers could interact with them.

Organizers said all the human participants were screened for the coronavirus and followed health regulations during the visit.

Breeds For Your Zodiac

Every dog breed has it’s own personality Finding a good pup can sometimes be a challenge. Using zodiac signs, lets find the best breed for every sign. When it comes time to get a furry companion or four-legged son or daughter, there are a lot of things to consider. How much energy a dog has, the size, the temperament, how well they can get along with other dogs/animals, how much exercise they may need. Everybody has a different schedule and lifestyle, some people are homebodies and just want a companion to snuggle up next to and feel safe at night, others want a guardian who intimidates everyone the look at, and some just want a family member that will always be by their side. Using Zodiac signs, let’s find the perfect dog breed for every sign.

Aries- Labs

Aries are known for being competitive and impulsive, always wanting to be first in everything and making a competition out of everything. They are determined, enthusiastic, and confident, usually the smartest in the room, or at least working towards being the smartest in the room. Labs capture that determination and passion to be good at everything by being the go-to for most canine-related jobs, like seeing-eye dogs, bomb-sniffing dogs, and therapy dogs. They are among the smartest breeds and have enough energy to keep up with any other dog breed.

Capricorn-German Shepherds

Capricorns often get a bad rep for appearing too serious or being condescending but deep down are very caring people who have a hard time lightening up. They represent time and responsibility and very independent, often planning their lives to the teeth. Like Capricorns, German Shepherds often get a bad rep for being too serious and not playful enough due to their hardworking pedigree and intelligence. Like a Lab, German Shepherds are most often used for a lot of canine-related jobs, and they often excel. At home, German Shepherds are very easy to train and are very hardworking, meaning you can use them as a guard dog, help with daily life, or simply a companion.

Pisces-Boxers

Pisces are very friendly and social people, often surrounded by friends and loved ones due to their compassionate and selfless nature. They can easily make friends and they hate being alone, so they can literally strike up a conversation with anyone. Boxers are among the friendliest and most energetic dog breeds, well known for their crazy amount of energy and fun-loving nature. You won’t ever have to worry about Boxers being aggressive as they tend to socialize with most people and creatures. Like a Pisces, Boxers hate being alone and make the perfect companion for someone who always wants someone around.

Cancer-Havanese

Cancers are another sign that are very hard to read due to them closely guarding their emotions. Cancers care deeply for their loved ones and family and are very intuitive, often feeling their loved ones pain and they do anything they can to make them feel better. Havanese are well known for being intuitive and reading human emotions well and catering to their owner’s needs. They are friendly, small dogs that get along with just about anyone, so we wouldn’t recommend getting a Havenese as a guard dog. But don’t let that fool you, they would be willing to give their lives to fight off anything that messes with their owner.

Leo- Golden Retriever

Leos are the life of the party, born for the spotlight. They are the most social, charismatic, and lovable people on the Zodiac signs. They are selfless, heroic, and although they may be a bit arrogant, they can accomplish a lot with their can-do attitude and unwavering optimism. In just about every movie or show with a dog, the most common breed is the Golden Retriever. They are almost the perfect dog breed, their size, their temperament, their intelligence, and their good nature. If charisma and swagger could translate into a dog breed, the Golden Retriever would have a lot of it.

Scorpio- Doberman

Scorpios are very emotional people and often act on their emotions when making any sort of decision. Their passion can be seen as assertive or aggressive, but they are extremely loyal and loving to their friends and family. They are intimidating due to their confrontational nature, but once you get to know them, they can be your best friend. The Doberman Pinscher gets a bad rep due to their intimidating size and look but they can be good companions who can warm up to their owner or other animals with time and patience.

Taurus- Husky

Tauruses are very practical and reliable signs, well known for their hard work and determination. They may be stubborn, but this is what they use to their advantage to get the job done. Taureans are also well known for enjoying the beauty around them. Huskies were bred for hard work, known for their ability to sled through the snow and work together. They are also very energetic dogs who enjoy several walks a day in nature and beautiful parks. They can be hard to train due to their stubbornness, so it takes a patient and stable Taurus to train them.

Virgo- Greyhound

Virgos are often hard to read because they heavily guard themselves and are highly independent. They don’t things to chance and are often the most analytical of the Zodiac signs. They take pride in their predictable life and don’t take a lot of chances. A perfect dog for the shy and reserved Virgo is the shy and reserved Greyhound. Greyhounds are very cautious by nature and prefer a stable and predictable household, training, and food, leaving nothing to chance.

Sagittarius- Springer Spaniel

Sagittarians love adventure and are some of the biggest travelers in the Zodiac signs. They are outgoing, fearless, and idealistic, always looking form their next challenge. They sometimes promise more than they can deliver but they have the means to do anything they set their mind to. The Springer Spaniel is one of the most adventurous and social dog breeds ever. Originally meant for duck hunting, the spaniel will go anywhere and everywhere and is ideal for any living situation. They love making friends and they love being outside and trying out anything that looks like fun to them.

Libra- Australian Shepherd

Libras are always looking for their next partner or friend as they value symmetry and balance. They hate being alone and often look for companionship with anyone who they can feel comfortable around. The Australian shepherd is one of the most loyal and reliable dog breeds who work hard and provide great companionship for their owners and like a Libra, hate being alone. These are ideal pets to get when you already have another dog or pet, as they can get really lonely and suffer from separation anxiety.

Gemini- Boston Terrier

Geminis are hard to read because they are constantly changing their emotions and demeanor and they are often seen as spontaneous. They are adaptable to any situation and can quickly learn and grow from their experiences. The Boston Terrier is the perfect dog for just about anyone. Their temperament differs from dog to dog and they require very little walking so they are ideal for small apartments or big houses. They are easy to train for the most part but have known to purposely make training harder for their owner.

Aquarius- Shiba Inu

Aquarians are shy and quiet at first but are energetic and eccentric once you get to know them well. They are among the most progressive of the Zodiacs as they try to see everything with no prejudices or biases. They are deep thinkers with a love for helping others. A Shiba has a lot of Aquarian characteristics such as their cold and introverted nature that warms up to their owner after a long time of socializing. They are also very loving and protecting the members that make up their family and are ideal for any sort of living situation.

Pet Therapy

Southern California nonprofit Pet Prescription got creative with its pet therapy sessions at nursing homes, hospitals, jails.