Help Your Dog

Costumes or facial coverings—even just hats—change our general appearance to the dog and we may be perceived as a threat initially. Or the dog may simply perceive [the facial covering] as an impediment to their ability to read our facial expressions and body language. I would suggest trying to desensitize the dog by putting the mask up to your face for very brief periods of time and, at the same time, rewarding your dog with something that he likes—treats or petting if your dog likes that. You will be combining desensitization with positive reinforcement. The goal is always that the dog associates good things with the appearance of the mask whether it’s on your face or not. Next, you can start to increase the time of mask wearing while spreading out the rewards or randomizing them. All of this should be done in a setting where your dog feels most comfortable. If your dog has had previous bad experiences with somebody wearing a mask, you can do the same things and think of it as a counter-conditioning exercise. Pair the presence of the mask with delicious food, at a distance and in a way that keeps your dog under threshold. They should be voluntarily moving towards you, all wiggle between the shoulders and the hips, not stretching to take food that is close to a scary mask. Dogs outside of the socialization period are not great generalizers, so masks inside the house may not translate to people outside the house; same for familiar and unfamiliar people. Wear it around the house. Wear it when feeding and during walks. Wear it, give treats, and take it off when the treats are done. Toss lots of rewards around the mask, holding the mask, putting the mask on and off. Every day, every meal. Of course, I was going to do a slow introduction to Alastor as I had to wear [a mask] in the Barnhunt blind. I didn’t do it and he almost broke my nose trying to pull [the mask] off. The puzzled look he gave me when he couldn’t see my mouth was very informative. I then made sure my eyes were “smiling” to let him know it was okay. Gave him treats every time I talked to him.  I’ve trained a behavior using the mask. I toss it and ask for a retrieve, reward, put the mask on my face, reward, and then take off, reward and toss it again. Now it’s a pretty exciting game when the mask comes out. Mask = play time and cookies. My dog has learned the different masks that I wear mean that we’re going to different places. It’s really amazing. She knows which mask means we are walking in the neighborhood, which mask means I’m leaving, and which mask means we’re going hiking. This is classical conditioning. A equals B. Make the mask mean you’re going to do something awesome. If you think about it, it’s actually a really good visual cue for a dog to know what’s happening next.  Indy knows masks equal closer contact with people at the store via curbside pickup, or at our destination. He associates things very quickly. Masks aren’t scary for him—he walks right up to people with masks on and waits to be petted. He’s a dog who adores humans. The sight of a mask makes him very happy!  Tried and true desensitization and counter-conditioning is the best. Mask on, give a treat. Mask off, no treats. Rinse and repeat dozens of times, gradually increasing length of time that you keep the mask on, and throwing in some easy training during the mask-on segments. Be sure to vary the duration of mask-off segments as well—sometimes a few seconds, sometimes 30 seconds, sometimes minutes. Practice with a few other family members and friends, and voilà, you have a dog who’s comfortable and confident with masked people! Jody Epstein is a certified behavior consultant and certified professional dog trainer. She holds a master’s degree in Animal Behavior from Tufts University. Jody has been training professionally for more than 12 years. Jody is part of the Academy of Pet Careers team, teaching the next generation of trainers.

Service Dog Needed

Cole Reavis is like any young adult. He loves the Georgia Bulldogs and is one of their biggest fans. He also enjoys being around people and brings joy to anyone who meets him.

But Reavis, 28, has more challenges than the rest of us face. He was born with cerebral palsy and suffers from grand mal seizures. When a seizure strikes, it can be traumatic and even life-threatening. He used to have a service dog who would alert his caregivers of a seizure, but the dog passed away from old age and is truly missed.

A new companion that can serve Reavis’ needs costs close to $20,000. Although a GoFundMe page has raised more than $1,400, the family needed more funds to buy and train a service dog.

That’s when the Red Knights Chapter 13 came in. The Red Knights are a group of motorcycle enthusiasts who are also firefighters, either paid or volunteer. Reavis’ parents are members of Chapter 24 and of Ellis Cross Fire Department.

The members of Chapter 13 were touched by Reavis’ story and wanted to help his family raise the necessary funds for a service dog, said Jason Mullins, chapter president.

And so, Saturday’s poker run for Cole was organized. Although the group is based in Statesville, the Poker Run included participants that not only spanned across county lines but also state lines. Some participants came from as far away as the northeast to help raise funds.

“We had motorcycle riders from South Carolina, New Jersey, Winston-Salem, Lenoir, Sherrills Ford and several motorcycle clubs present too,” Mullins said.

One of the other motorcycle clubs was the Red Knights Chapter 24. After the Poker Run, they sponsored a raffle for a Henry Golden Boy 22 Caliber Rifle. All of the proceeds went to Reavis’ family.

With their engines roaring and pistons thrusting, approximately 70 bikers made their way from Northside Drive.

“We made our way from Northside Drive, and then the riders went to D&D American Performance in Mooresville, and then to Blue Collar Cycle Company in Salisbury, South Main Customs in Kannapolis and ended at Shepherds Volunteer Fire Department,” Mullins said.

They also were able to cool down with Hawaiian shaved ice.

The poker run was a major success, Mullins said.

Between the bike run and raffle, approximately $7,100 was raised. Those funds will be instrumental in helping his family buy a new service dog.

Mullins said the dog was already secured from Hickory and Reavis went there Friday night to meet his future service dog.

“He thought he was going to look at dogs but he was going to meet and see which dog bonded with him,” Mullins said.

With the dog secured, the poker run and raffle will help with the costs of training the dog to alert to Reavis’ seizures.

“Training the dog can cost anywhere from $5,000 to $20,000,” Mullins said. So that’s why he stepped in to help organize the ride in conjunction with Chapter 24 members.

And thanks to those who spent their Saturday taking part in the ride, Reavis is much closer to getting the companion he needs.

“We got close to our goal to help Cole get his service dog,” Mullins said.

Housing Act Relative To ESA

While many housing providers, including community associations, have been required to allow individuals to bring emotional support animals into their communities even though pets are not permitted, recently adopted legislation aims at limiting abuse of this type of reasonable accommodation. As of July 1, 2020, the Florida Statutes have been amended to differentiate between emotional support animals, governed by the Fair Housing Act, and service animals, governed by the Americans with Disabilities Act. Emotional support animals do not require specialized training and, in recognition of this, the statute as amended specifically provides that no emotional support animal registration of any kind is, by itself, sufficient to establish that a person has a disability-related need for such an animal.

In addition to finally providing a definition of “emotional support animal,” the legislation identifies when a request for a reasonable accommodation to a housing provider’s pet rules can be denied, and when additional information can be requested. A reasonable accommodation request can be denied if the animal identified in the request poses a direct threat to the safety or health of others or poses a direct threat of physical damage to the property of others where the threat cannot be reduced or eliminated by another reasonable accommodation.

A housing provider may request additional information when the requesting party’s disability or disability-related need for the emotional support animal is not readily apparent. However, the housing provider may not require that the requesting party provide the actual diagnosis or severity of the disability or any medical records related to the disability, but the requesting party may voluntarily provide it. Additional information may also be requested when a request is submitted for more than one emotional support animal but information regarding the specific need for each animal is not provided. Notwithstanding the right to specifically request this information, the housing provider cannot require the requesting party to fill out a particular form or notarized statement or pay extra compensation for the animal. A request cannot be denied for failure to follow the housing provider’s routine method.

Guidance relative to the adequacy of the information supplied has previously been lacking. The new legislation fills in this gap by identifying the following as sufficient for establishing the presence of a disability:

A determination of disability from a federal, state, or local government agency.
Receipt of disability benefits or services from any federal, state, or local government agency.
Proof of eligibility for housing assistance or a housing voucher received because of disability.
Information from a health care practitioner or other similarly licensed or certified practitioner or provider, which may be an out-of-state practitioner only if the out-of-state practitioner has provided in-person care or services on at least one occasion.
Information from any other source that the housing provider reasonably determines to be reliable.
A health care practitioner or other similarly licensed or certified practitioner or provider can also provide the requested information relative to the disability-related need for the emotional support animal (as can a telehealth provider), and there is no need to establish that the practitioner provided in-person care or services. Rather, it is only necessary to show that the practitioner has personal knowledge of the person’s disability and is acting within the scope or his or her practice in providing the requested information.

A person who falsifies, or knowingly provides false, information or written documentation required by this new legislation, or otherwise knowingly or willfully misrepresents himself or herself as having a disability or disability-related need for an emotional support animal commits a misdemeanor of the second degree. In addition to the statutorily prescribed punishment applicable to second degree misdemeanors, those who are found guilty must perform 30 hours of community service for an organization that serves persons with disabilities or for another entity identified by the court within 6 months after conviction.

Though the statute provides much needed guidance, it is still recommended that you consult with the association’s legal counsel before denying a request for reasonable accommodation of any kind, including one for an emotional support animal. The penalties associated with wrongfully denying such a request can be harsh.

Casper The Therapy Dog

Casper, the aptly-named friendly therapy dog, is helping distribute 10,000 meals to frontline medical workers who are protecting communities in Seattle and beyond during the current coronavirus pandemic.

The golden retriever and his guardian, Rachel Elliot, are giving back to heroic doctors, nurses and hospital staff with the aid of non-profit organization Fueling The Fearless, which partners with struggling restaurants to prepare and distribute healthy meals to those most in need.

Recently, Casper and Rachel delivered to Emergency Department staff at the Swedish First Hill Hospital, Metro bus drivers, and the Life Flight helicopter crew at Harborview Medical Center.

It’s not just the meals people are after; Casper’s friendly personality is proving to be quite a hot commodity.

“I’m still getting texts from people that we visited at Swedish,” Elliott said. “Like, ‘Can you come back? We’d like to see you.’ They’re not talking about the food. It’s the connection, like, ‘I see you, I hear you, I’m here for you and, you know, you can pet a dog’ kind of thing.”

Elliott adopted four-year-old Casper when he was just eight weeks old, and she believes he was born to help.

“Any dog, any breed can become a therapy dog,” Elliott continued. “It’s more of the personality, obedience, things like that. That’s what’s great about therapy dogs. You can’t train a personality. He is who he is. He really knows his surroundings and what’s going on. It’s also getting them used to different surroundings. So right now with COVID, everyone’s wearing a mask. It doesn’t faze Casper at all.”

Thank you, Casper and Rachel, for giving your time and positive energy back to the community.

Therapy Pets Of Larchmont

Wrigley takes his job as a therapy dog at Children’s Hospital Los Angelas (CHLA). “very seriously,” says his owner, Kate Buhrmaster.

The eight-year-old Bernese mountain dog is among 127 “volunteer” dogs in the therapy program at CHLA.

“He’s visited with — and hopefully helped lift the spirits of — thousands of people over the past six-plus years, and currently does virtual visits,” said Buhrmaster, a S. Windsor Blvd. resident and head of the program at CHLA.

Before the pandemic, the four-footed, furry therapists trotted from room to room, drawing smiles and sharing cuddles along the way. These days the dogs get belly rubs and share comfort and joy via computer screens.

“Even though they’re not here, I can still see them, and do everything I was able to do except for pet them,” says an 11-year-old girl on a video call with one of the dogs from her hospital bed.

She, along with other children, parents and the dogs —mutts and breeds alike — can be seen in an episode about the dog therapy program which recently aired on “NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt: Kids Edition.”

“The dog therapy program is invaluable …. It just really lightens up his days,” says a parent of a four-year-old boy fighting cancer.

The dogs are so popular that their affectionate, furry faces are featured on trading cards that are collected by the children.

The dogs seem to intuitively know to be gentle and give the children what they need, Buhrmaster said. They are also well prepared before joining the program, have obedience training and take a test before they are accepted.

A onetime rescue dog, Wrigley, 8, was something of a C student initially. “We had to take our time” with the training, recalls Buhrmaster. But now he eagerly wears his uniform — a purple scarf and ID badge — before going to “work.”

His pack mate on S. Windsor, Kacey, also a Bernese mountain dog, is still learning the ropes. “She’s a superhero with the infant humans in our house, though … who love her to pieces,” says Buhrmaster.

“It’s not quite the same” as in-person visits, Buhrmaster notes on the show. “The one thing you’re missing is petting,” she agrees. “But all the other benefits — the companionship, the support, the relaxation that comes from seeing the happy, adorable face on the other side of the call, that is all still possible.”

The dogs are so popular that their affectionate, furry faces are featured on trading cards that are collected by the children.

The dogs seem to intuitively know to be gentle and give the children what they need, Buhrmaster said. They are also well prepared before joining the program, have obedience training and take a test before they are accepted.

A onetime rescue dog, Wrigley, 8, was something of a C student initially. “We had to take our time” with the training, recalls Buhrmaster. But now he eagerly wears his uniform — a purple scarf and ID badge — before going to “work.”

His pack mate on S. Windsor, Kacey, also a Bernese mountain dog, is still learning the ropes. “She’s a superhero with the infant humans in our house, though … who love her to pieces,” says Buhrmaster.

Life-Saving Service Dog

A Kentucky elementary school surprised a 7-year-old student and her mom by including a portrait of the student’s service dog, Ariel, beside her young owner in the kindergarten yearbook.

St. Patrick Catholic School in Louisville, Kentucky, student Hadley Jo Lange suffers from epilepsy, a neurological disorder that causes seizures. Hadley Jo’s service dog, Ariel, a 4-year-old Labradoodle, is trained to recognize when she is having an episode so that she can be attended to quickly.

Hadley Jo’s mother, Heather Lange swears that Ariel has saved her daughter’s life. She praised the pup for providing a “huge sense of security,” CNN reports. “I don’t know how I could ever thank Ariel as a mother,” Heather said. “She goes with her everywhere, to school, rides the bus with her, goes to her dance classes and soccer practice. She always has her eyes on my little girl.” Hadley Jo’s mother thought it was “neat” to see hers and Ariel’s photos side by side in the yearbook on May 15. Heather took to Facebook to share that she felt “beyond blessed,” adding, “It means the world to see your child have a home and ‘a family’ at her school that love her like we do.”

St. Patrick Catholic School’s principal, Nathan Sturtzel told CNN that it was an easy decision to find a place for Ariel in the yearbook. “It’s important for us to do all we can to foster our relationship with families and do what we can to support students,” he said. “[I]t was a lot of fun to include her. We loved it.”

Hadley Jo had her first seizure as a 17-month-old toddler while dining at a McAlister’s Deli with her family. “She was on my lap while I was eating,” Heather recalled, “and out of nowhere my baby fell into my arms and her eyes rolled back into her head and she was jerking … [I]t was terrifying.” “She stopped breathing,” Heather continued, “and there I was, a mother who thought she was about to lose her child.” Hadley Jo has dealt with seizures ever since.

The Langes decided to invest in a service dog after a eureka moment at Hadley Jo’s babysitter’s house. A big German shepherd belonging to the sitter’s son began behaving strangely, trying to pull Hadley Jo onto the floor; Heather believes the dog detected the onset of a seizure, reports The Record.

“That was a turning point,” she said.

If a seizure occurs at school, it is Ariel’s job to alert Hadley Jo’s teacher by barking. The dog then lies down beneath the 7-year-old in order to prevent her from falling and injuring herself.

Heather told CBS News that most of Hadley Jo’s seizures occur in the classroom because fine motor skills, critical thinking, and math trigger her epilepsy. As such, a teaching assistant at St. Patrick Catholic School has undergone formal training to become one of Ariel’s handlers.

According to Heather, Ariel is the only known service dog in the family’s district of Louisville, owing to the fact that service dogs can cost anything between $20,000 and $60,000; the Lange family acquired their life-changing Labradoodle thanks to a six-month community fundraising drive.

Heather, who is a vocal advocate for children with epilepsy, wants to help others secure the service dogs they need after watching her daughter thrive with Ariel. She launched a nonprofit, “Hope for Hadley Jo,”  in partnership with the Epilepsy Foundation of Kentuckiana, which continues to raise vital funds for families with similar needs.

The mom praised St. Patrick Catholic School for making her venture more visible, calling the inclusion of her daughter’s service dog in the yearbook on both the kindergarten page and faculty page a “big deal.”

“I really want the message to be out there that it’s okay that not everybody looks the same way, not everybody learns the same way, and other schools can do this too,” Heather told the Louisville Courier-Journal. “The compassion is there.”

Dog-Friendly Beaches

Trying to find a beach that will allow you and your best fur-friend to soak up some sun this summer? We’ve compiled a list of dog-friendly beaches throughout northern Indiana and southwestern Michigan.

This list is not meant to be a complete list of dog-friendly beaches in Michiana and will be updated periodically.

Beaches that allow dogs inside of park limits but not on the sand or in the water are not included in this list, including Weko Beach and Silver Beach County Park in Michigan.

Many of the beaches on this list require that your dog is on a leash and that you pick up after it.

According to the American Kennel Club, not all dogs are born knowing how to swim and some may require assistance or the use of a life jacket when around water.

MICHIGAN

Deerlick Creek Beach(South Haven)

Dog friendly but dogs must be on a leash.

Grand Mere State Park(Stevensville)

Pets are allowed on the entire length of the Lake Michigan shoreline (one mile). Pets must be on a six foot leash and under an owner’s immediate control at all times. All pet waste must be properly disposed of in trash receptacles.

Hagar Beach(Coloma)

Dog bag dispenser available at park.

Roadside Park(Coloma)

Dog bag dispenser available at park.

Warren Dunes State Park(Sawyer)

Pets are allowed north of the northernmost swim buoy at the beach, providing two and a half miles of Lake Michigan shoreline. Pets must be on a six foot leash and under an owner’s immediate control at all times. All pet waste must be properly disposed of in trash receptacles.

INDIANA

Indiana Dunes State Park beaches(Chesterton and Porter)

Pets must be restrained on a leash no longer than 6 feet (2 meters). Owners are responsible for removing pet waste everywhere in the park. Pets are not allowed on the Pinhook Bog Trail or the equestrian portion of the Glenwood Dunes Trail system, but are allowed on the Pinhook Upland Trail. Service animals are an exception to these rules and may accompany their owner to all park locations.

Pets must be on a leash at all times, even when swimming in the lake. Handlers allowing pets to chase birds or otherwise harass wildlife are subject to a citation. Pet handlers are responsible for carrying waste off the beach.

Pets are allowed year round on all beaches with the following exception: Pets are not allowed in the lifeguarded swimming area at West Beach from the Friday of Memorial Day weekend through the Monday of Labor Day Weekend.

Kemil Beach(Beverly Shores)

Pets are permitted on a leash that is no more than six feet long.

Lake View Beach (Beverly Shores)

Pets are permitted on a leash that is no more than six feet long.

Support For Service Dog

An update on a very sick service dog and the generosity of FOX 5 viewers who are helping to pay for his very expensive vet bills. Caspian is a six-year-old service dog to a 13-year old Fayette County boy with nonverbal autism.

Just one of Caspian’s many vet bills was over $5,000. A bill that can be paid now through the generosity of FOX 5 viewers.

Caspian has a special mission. He is the companion and service dog to 13-year-old Gavin who has nonverbal autism and frequent seizures.

Caspian when healthy alerts Gavin’s family to oncoming seizures and stays by his side.

In June, Caspian began to have severe bloody noses. At the same time, Gavin’s seizures increased in frequency.

Desperate, Gavin’s family has taken Caspian to emergency vets and specialists. They are waiting on a pathology report on a biopsy from his nasal passage. It’s all very, very expensive. Since our first story on Caspian, FOX 5 viewers have generously donated more than $8,000 to a GoFundMe page to support the family’s vet bills.

No one knows the importance of Caspian’s job better than Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta’s Marcus Autism Center. They tell FOX 5, therapy dogs, like Caspian and their facility dog Flip, help kids with autism to socialize better with their peers. They ease anxiety. They also help nonverbal children like Gavin by forcing them to vocalize their service dog’s commands.  And of course, they are a companion who helps to improve development and provide comfort.

The other good news is that so far Caspian appears to be feeling better, but they are anxiously waiting on the pathology report. Caspian is currently unable to detect seizures. But he is still very much on the job in the other important ways that he helps Gavin.

Book About Police Dog

“Kane’s Tale” is about Kane, a yellow Labrador retriever that operates with Moose Jaw Victims Services.

One of the Moose Jaw Police Service’s four-legged officers is the subject of a new book that talks about how the canine can provide comfort during stressful situations.

“Kane’s Tale” is about Kane, a yellow Labrador retriever that operates with Moose Jaw Victims Services and is accredited to work in any justice-related building such as courthouses or police headquarters. A canine-assisted intervention dog, Kane has been with the Moose Jaw Police Service (MJPS) since 2015. He was chosen for his role due to his personality traits such as calm temperament, stable demeanour and willingness to engage with people of all ages.

Written by his handler, Donna Blondeau, “Kane’s Tale” is an eight-page flip-book that informs adults and children that Kane can help them if they need assistance, can provide them with comfort and support, can help them feel safe, and is a trustworthy companion.

MJPS hosted a book launch on June 30 with Kane, Blondeau, representatives from both the public and Catholic school divisions, and other dignitaries in attendance. The plan is to distribute the book for free to families with children in pre-kindergarten, kindergarten and grades 1 and 2 this fall if schools return.

Kane has worked hard these past five years to support the community, Blondeau said. He has brought joy and hope to people young and old, especially those who have been traumatized.

“One of the other things I find extremely important is he is available for us here at the police service,” she continued, “and the days when things maybe aren’t going so well, and you just need to give Kane a pet. He just seems to be there. So we do our daily and weekly rounds if we can and ensure people get to meet him.”

While working in Victim Services before Kane arrived, what became apparent to Blondeau was that she was encountering many children and adults who had been hurt by events. She thought it would be great to have something to support them, so she approached the school divisions and other officers about producing a book that was small enough for kids and could have food smeared on it.

However, the book had to have a message; while Kane was well-trained and good looking, Blondeau didn’t want a simple picture book even if that would have brought happiness to kids. Instead, she wanted something with a message that children could take home and enjoy with their families.

“I still believe that parents (and grandparents) … (still) sit down and read storybooks to children,” she said. “I think it’s important to have that.”

It can sometimes be frightening to come to the police station since uniforms can be intimidating, Blondeau continued. She hoped that if the public knew about Kane, it could make a difference when they come in after a devastating event.

Kane “has had a definite impact” on the thousands of people he’s met, whether in this community, in other communities such as Humboldt, and even at 15 Wing Air Base, she pointed out. While this book was important to her, Blondeau credited other members of the MJPS for helping put together the book.

“This was my passion. It was easy to do,” she added. “I’ve already written another book on Kane. And I will continue to do so.”

Lori Meyer, learning superintendent with Prairie South School Division, praised the timing of the book and how necessary it is. She pointed out the student services department works with counsellors and psychologists about how to handle traumatized students.

“There’s lots of little kiddos that will come from different situations and come into (different situations),” she said.

While the target of this book is children, it can also help adults, said Lois Saunders, co-ordinator of student supports with Holy Trinity Roman Catholic School Division. Children can sometimes have interesting insights about a book, which can help adults with their healing.

“(This is) another piece of trauma-informed work we can bring into our schools,” Saunders added, “and really support those kids and families that we’re concerned about.”

Hero Police Dog

A hero police dog is retiring from the long-arm-of-the-PAW following a seven-year crime-busting career with the Counter Terrorist cops.

Rico the nine-year-old Dutch Shepherd became a legend on the force for helping to bring down some of Poland’s most dangerous crooks, including drug dealers, murderers and organised crime mobsters.

As part of the Independent Anti-terrorism Police (SPKP) responsible for high-risk arrests, search warrant execution services and hostage rescue operations among other things, the ulti-MUTT crime buster became known for his characteristic attire of goggles, bullet-proof vest and special dog shoes. 

Announcing his retirement on Instagram, the police said: “We don’t have to introduce this ‘gentleman’ to you.

“Rico – the most experienced service dog in the Polish Police who took part in the arrests of the most dangerous criminals.

“In the SPKP team in Warsaw he was treated as a family member and best friend. His service is now over.”

Police spokeswoman Anna Kędzierzawska said: “Policemen know that they can count on him in the most dangerous situations. 

“It is Rico who often goes with high-risk police officers. It is difficult to count how many times he went with them – 300-400 times, maybe more?

“He is a unique member of the Warsaw anti-terrorist team.

Rico’s handler added: “He always wanted to be a step ahead of us, as though he wanted to defend us.

“He is one-of-a-kind and frequently made it easier for us to make decisions as we knew we could always count on him, should we come into contact with the suspect.” 

“Looking back on the years they spent together, we could not have imagined a better ending.”