Respect For Animals

Jo-Ann Roberts is the interim leader for the Green Party of Canada and a resident of Halifax. Roberts has endless positive energy, an engaging laugh, and she genuinely cares about people. She works 12 to 14 hours a day, dedicating all of her initiatives to making communities better for families. Roberts is married to Ken, and they raised four terrific children: Christopher, Claire, Alyson and Meghan.

A little known fact about Roberts is that she has a deep love and respect for animals. Her affinity for animals started in her childhood, and her devotion to them has not diminished.

When her children were young, Roberts dearly wanted to add a dog to the family, but her four-year-old daughter Alyson was fearful of dogs. Alyson would hold her breath when she saw a dog. Friends kept suggesting they get a dog to help her young daughter, but Roberts was reluctant until the best possible dog came along. Friends informed Roberts about a dog at the New Brunswick SPCA that might be a good fit, considering the circumstances.

The dog arrived at the SPCA from an abuse seizure. The dog was chained outside, and the shelter discovered she was pregnant after the seizure. The puppies were quickly adopted, but the mother dog remained at the shelter, waiting for adoption.

The Roberts family went to meet the dog.

Roberts said,” It was a scene from one of those Chevy Chase movies as we had a large brown station wagon, wooden panels included. We pulled up to the SPCA, parents in the front seat and children riding in the backseat! All we were missing was the luggage on a roof rack!”

The family met the sweet mother dog, and Roberts recalls the little dog won over her fearful daughter immediately. They took Frosty home for the weekend, and she never returned to the shelter. Frosty became a loving, cherished and valued member of the Roberts family.

Roberts’s daughter, Alyson, currently owns a deaf dog, and the dog owned by her daughter, Meghan has passed the Therapy Dog program. All of Roberts’ children are responsible, animal owners.

Roberts and her husband are now empty-nesters, and although they frequently talk about getting a dog, they just can’t at this time. Roberts’ long days and hectic travel schedule make it next to impossible, but bringing a dog into their lives once again is not ruled out in their future. In the meantime, they get their dog-lover fix when their children come to visit. Their daughters always bring along the grand-dogs so they can get their doggy snuggles in.

Roberts repeatedly said how thankful she is to the SPCA. She also profoundly feels that every dog has a role to play, and you have to be patient for the perfect dog to become available. Roberts waited numerous years to find that ideal family dog, and it paid off many times over the years because of Frosty’s sweet, gentle disposition. Little Frosty enriched the Roberts family life and eliminated Alyson’s fear of dogs.

Please be kind to animals.

Canines For Service

This Wilmington, North Carolina, nonprofit trains service dogs to help veterans with everything from PTSD to mobility.

Based out of North Carolina and veteran-founded almost 25 years ago, Canines for Service’s amazing rescue-turned-service dogs have been taught to help veterans with mobility limitations, PTSD and traumatic brain injuries.

The dogs that graduate this program are trained in 90 commands, so they can do everything from retrieving objects that are dropped, to pulling a wheelchair, to opening doors, to loading a washer and unloading a dryer. They can even help their handlers with dressing and undressing.

Susan Heaton, the CEO of Canines for Service, said these dogs act almost like the veteran’s bodyguard.

“They can create space in a crowd,” she explained. “A lot of times, large groups of people are an issue for veterans with PTSD so the service canine can create a barrier around them as people start to get into their personal space.”

Another amazing aspect to Heaton’s nonprofit is the commitment to the dogs they rescue. These pups remain cared for by the facility, even if they don’t turn out as suitable service dogs. Canines for Service watches over them until they find a home.

“These dogs come in somewhat broken and scared and they’ve been tossed away,” Heaton said. “We take them through our trainers and give them a behavioral assessment. The Veteran comes into us in a similar way, so they really do need each other. The bond between the two is incredible to see.”

The Canines for Service application process is extensive, but once approved, the organization helps veterans from all over the country.

Shelter Tails

Hank has healed, is doing well in his training class and is ready for a home of his own.

Sometimes a dog like Hank is better suited as a pet than a working dog in the Animal Farm Foundation’s innovative service dog programs. It trains former shelter dogs as mobility, active task work, hearing alert, or psychiatric service dogs.

Hank, an 18-month-old mixed breed, came from a city rescue asking for help in training the big oaf who didn’t know his size or good manners.

“He was jumpy, mouthy and more pushy than they were able to handle,” said AFF Director of Training Bernice Clifford. “He is silly and will hold your hand or arm in his mouth as if to lead you where he wants to go. He is clumsy and has no idea he is so big.

“We were just going to train him and give him back to the rescue.”

Then Hank was diagnosed with a blown cruciate ligament, or CCL, in his knee because of a genetic bone defect. Surgery was needed, so AFF took possession of Hank.

After extensive surgery in February, Hank was on 10 weeks of crate rest, which was extended another month. Training had to be halted.

Hank has almost completely recovered and is doing well with his training.

“We’re working mostly on impulse control,” said Clifford, “instead of jumping up on people, to sit or lie down when he meets people. He’s very barky when he wants something, so we’re teaching him to sit, wait and be a little more patient. A lot of positive reinforcement. He has to sit or lie down, and then he gets a treat. It’s working.”

Hank had a home for about 48 hours, but his new owners preferred to reprimand him with a “No!” and he barked at them, and so he was returned to AFF.

Clifford seeks an experienced dog owner who will continue positive reinforcement with Hank.

“Someone with a sense of humor who is not going to get frustrated by him,” she said.

Hank loves other dogs and is enjoys playing and sleeping with the kitten in his foster home. He hasn’t been around kids.

“He loves to cuddle, enjoys a nice walk and likes romping with his dog friends. He thinks he is a tiny dog who can fit anywhere, but he cannot. He is very smart, playful and loves toys and any kind of smart game, like puzzle games with food inside them.

“He doesn’t fit into our other programs,” said Clifford, “he needs to fit on someone’s couch.”

Pet Vet

Phobia of loud noises can have major impacts on the quality of life for many pets and their human companions. An estimated 17-49% of dogs show some anxiety, distress and aversion behaviors such as shaking, trembling, hiding, scratching, urinating and defecating when exposed to noises that frighten them. Some dogs may attempt to “escape” from the sound by chewing through walls, jumping through windows and running away. These escape efforts can lead to self harm, property damage and owner distress. Common triggering sounds include fireworks, thunder, gunshots, vacuums, heavy traffic and some loud machinery. Phobia of one noise does not mean that there will be phobia to other noises. Also, not all dogs with noise phobias have anxiety issues such as separation anxiety.

It is not always clear what initiates phobia reactions to certain noises, but it is likely associated with some type of traumatic or fear-inducing event. The phobia reaction may be reinforced by repeated experiences with the same type of event. This may account for why phobias appear to increase as dogs get older. Some speculate that it is a learned reaction, while others argue that there is a genetic basis. Certain breeds are reported to be predisposed to developing noise phobias. Interestingly stimuli like storms have changes in barometric pressure and cloud cover prior to the storm that can trigger the onset of the phobia. This creates a complex group of stimuli leading up to the storm noise.

It is important to recognize the difference between phobia and fear. Fear is a learned reaction that can be unlearned through processes like gradual exposure and desensitization. Phobia is a learned fear reaction that persists over time, consistently has the same trigger, is irrational and does not provide an adaptive advantage to the dog.

There are numerous approaches that have been advocated for supporting the dog with noise phobias. These options range from basic avoidance to herbs to medications. The response to each therapy is variable, and the overall support plan needs to be tailored to the needs of the individual. Often this means that multiple approaches will need to be used until the right approach or combination is identified.

When avoidance is not possible, attempts can be made to distract or change focus by adding background music or play activity with a toy. Creating a small, secure space can sometimes be beneficial for reducing the phobia reaction. Dog-appeasing-pheromones may aid in calming. Essential oils like lavender have shown calming effects. Use of a properly fitted, wrap, cape or vest like the Thundershirt or similar product has helped dogs cope with distressing noises. Homeopathic products like Rescue Remedy aid in reducing the reactivity and anxiety associated with noise phobia. Herbs like valerian, chamomile and magnolia can have calming or sedating properties. L-theanine and milk casein containing anti-anxiety products have shown benefits for dogs with noise phobias.

Some dogs have such a strong phobia reaction that complete control cannot be achieved even with properly administered combinations of the approaches listed above. In those situations, the addition of carefully selected medications may be needed. Medication selection should be done in conjunction with your veterinarian or a behavior specialist. Finding the right medication and dose may require giving the medication and determining if the effect is sufficient to manage the phobia.

Each individual dog has different levels of sensitivity and reactivity to loud noises. For optimal results, a combination of approaches should be used depending on the intensity of the phobia reaction. Starting prior to the stimulating noise is best whenever possible. Some products like the nutriceuticals can be used on a continuous basis especially during periods with frequent reactive noises.

If you have a dog with noise phobias, contact your veterinarian for suggestions on how to best support your dog companion during the periods of concern. Start early. Don’t wait until the phobia reaction is so severe that the quality of life is damaged.

Keep It PAWSitive

“I am reaching out to see if I can get coverage of a “Feel Good” story. Is there any way we can get noticed, to show there is still good happening in an otherwise painful world?” – Carol Willson Wagner

With the declaration of COVID-19 as a pandemic by the World Health Organization on March 11th, there was a halt placed on activities leading to the suspension of most sporting games, concerts, festivals, and public events.

The Games of the XXXII Olympiad in Tokyo were even officially rescheduled to a date beyond 2020, but not later than summer 2021, the first time in the 124-year history of the modern Olympics that the games have been postponed.

Therapy dogs have long been welcomed as “nonpharmacological interventions” providing distraction, comfort therapy, and relaxation for some hospitalized patients that can actually help many of them reach health goals and stay motivated during ICU stays. Who would ever have thought that dogs walking the halls of hospitals would become a common sight? The dogs visit many units in the hospital, including the emergency room, pediatrics, oncology, and patients’ rooms. Certified therapy dogs can also offer comfort to patients as they wait for their radiation therapy treatment.

Is medicine going to the dogs? Yes, but in a good way. They are spreading PAWSitivity!

The optimism and happiness a Therapy Dog visit can provide to a patient is one that cannot be measured by a doctor’s instruments or recorded on a patient’s chart, including emotional support, companionship, and socialization.

“But for now, there have been only ‘WindowVisits,’” explained Carol Willson Wagner.

The dogs were cut off from their regular work schedule when both people and dogs were quarantined, and they couldn’t go into the nursing homes or the hospitals.

They recently had a St. Mary’s Therapy Dogs Giving Back “perimeter parade” with many of the registered therapy dogs, beginning at the rear of the St. Mary building by the emergency entrance. “Some of the dogs wore bandanas. Doctors and nurses streamed out of the hospital to see the pets. This actually turned into a reward for the MDs and RNs and sort of a tribute to them. They had missed the dogs as well, and many of them even made signs for us!”

They are celebrities in the halls of St. Mary!

Carol has been active in this therapy dog program for over 12 years and she is anxiously waiting for a green light to go back to regular visits at St Mary’s and to the Capital Health Medical Center in Hopewell, N.J., with her Australian “Aussie” shepherd dog, named Colton.

Her daughter, Krista Caroline Baradziej, R.N. heads the Capital Health Medical Center pre-natal clinic.

All hospital visits are usually handled through the hospital’s Volunteer Department and Dennis P. Jarosz of volunteer services, who is also the lead volunteer for pet therapy, organizes many of the events at St. Mary.

Alliance of Therapy Dogs [ATD] is a national therapy dog organization providing testing, certification, registration, support, and insurance for members who volunteer with their dogs in animal-assisted activities. ATD is celebrating 30 years of sharing smiles and joy nationwide.

Both Carol and Dennis are members of this ATD network of caring, compassionate individuals and their special charming canines who are willing to share smiles and joy with people, young and old alike.

These dogs are for “hugging and petting” and are not service dogs.

The unstoppable, unconventional, straightforward and enthusiastic Carol Aurelia [Wilcox] Willson Wagner had danced for 51 years, running her Carol Willson Studio One, one of the largest Dance studios in Bucks County, located in the Grundy Commons complex in Bristol on the Delaware.

The iconic Grundy Clock still strikes FUN! It is now home to the Stepping Stone Dance Studio.

When Carol retired almost 10 years ago, she decided to just concentrate on her pets and spend more time with her beloved 12 year old grandson, Mark.

“I love being retired!” She owns two “Aussie” dogs, Colton the therapy dog, and OZ, that is involved in dog training to do scent work, learning to be able to do searches in rooms or cars to search for a specific odor or odors and find the source.

Carol also owns a horse! Stoli is a dark chocolate colored coat Rocky Mountain male horse, a horse breed developed in the state of Kentucky, not in the Rocky Mountains, but instead in the Appalachian Mountains. This breed is praised for its good nature and affinity for humans.

Carol boards Stoli in Newtown at The Village Farm full service equine boarding stables.

There is nothing mediocre about the care that she gives to her animals.

“About five years ago, I broke up a dog fight and almost lost my hand. I was in therapy and a friend said, ‘Come out to the barn with me, you’ll like it.’ It WAS fun and I bought a horse and learned then that one negative event can bring you to a whole new place,” said Carol.

Carol’s first therapy dog, “Kicho” was a Rhodesian Ridgeback that worked as a therapy dog for eight years. She originally was just training him for obedience for competition. Her second therapy dog is “Kody,” a retired highly trainable Border Collie mix. “He is 17 years old and just too old for work so “Colton” really carries the entire schedule now.”

She usually gets her dogs from rescues or “happenstance”, so basically, “I inherited them!”

Carol is personally responsible for all of their upkeep and training and she and her dogs go to Canine Academy, LLC in Langhorne, where they have been successfully training dogs since 1973.

“Every day I want to be better, so I watch videos, listen to training tapes, and I read articles.”

Her dogs participated in the Canine Good Citizen program [CGC] and are registered with the Therapy Dog organization. Then St. Mary Medical Center associates observed how they work in medical situations. Her dogs report to the HR Department and have pictures taken for their badges.

“People in the hospital know all the dogs.”

A good therapy dog must be friendly, patient, confident, gentle, and at ease in all situations.

Carol has always searched for dogs with an initiative. “Each dog knows his/her job and each allows the patients to pet them. They work to take all the aches and pains and walk them out of the room.”

Sewing and alteration projects, and crafting quilts, unique totes, bags and purses, and costume making are also part of Carol’s days with her “Stitches: from CW”. Her items will not be duplicated once sold. She also creates “Orphan Critters”, accent pieces for making a special statement in a room.

“I started sewing with my late mother, Caroline Wilcox Warnell. She would be laughing at the crazy things I make now.”

Volunteer Services’ Dennis Jarosz also provides a gentle, hard working four-legged Alliance Therapy Dog for the St. Mary’s Hospital Pet Therapy Program.

He had just recently retired from a successful career in sales and marketing as the Senior Vice President of Sales for Congoleum innovative flooring products, when a woman visited him with a dog while he was being hospitalized at St. Mary’s. He was surprised to find a little extra therapy available to him in the form of a wagging tail. This visit inspired him.

When he recovered, he took his now 8 year old “Lillie”, a little black and tan Papillon and Yorkshire Terrier mix dog through obedience training.

When returning home, he made a stop at the local Pet Smart, and while chatting, another customer who happened to work at St. Mary’s told him that the hospital needed more therapy teams.

The therapy canine connection was to begin.

“Interactions and a chance to play with a dog or pet can allow the body to relax, bringing feelings of well being and calm that may even lower blood pressure”, stated Dennis.

The dogs are an awesome distraction from dealing with whatever has landed the patient in the hospital.

Dennis shared, “The therapy dogs visit sometimes 50 rooms a day helping and healing, and are touched by 75 -100 people in two hours, and less than 75% of them are patients. More and more people are used to them now, but to some, they are still a novelty.”

The therapy dogs are all sprayed with a penetrating pet safe antimicrobial spray after each patient interaction.

Heartfelt encounters keep him motivated.

“Once, while we were walking down a hallway, a visitor shared that when her mom was in the hospital two years prior, Lillie had been a highlight of her mother’s stay. She remembered Lillie’s name!”

Lillie and he had visited a quadriplegic whose only movement was to work a computer with a mouth wand and he asked Dennis to allow Lillie to climb on him. “Lillie licked his face and made him very happy. He was even chuckling.”

Experts suggest that patients who are recovering from difficult surgery or a bad accident who spend time with pets may heal more quickly. Some visits are more emotional than others but the therapy dogs and their owners work together as a team to give them a furry friend to love on for a few minutes.

Carol acknowledged,” I have the highest respect for all who invest their time in this program. I have met many wonderful people and heard the most wonderful stories. We share but a moment and then we leave the room. This is our niche – a small little valuable corner of the world to hopefully help the so many who are going through trials and tribulations.”

ATD is NOT suspending visits at this time due to the Corona Virus. Please follow CDC guidelines for sanitation and follow the facilities’ procedures.

Royston Dog Recovering

Bear, a seven-year-old black lab, is still wearing a special collar to protect his wounds after getting attacked on Saturday.“He was pretty sick the first night and we weren’t sure he was going to make it,” said Bear’s owner Seanna McLeod.McLeod and her spouse were working at a nearby residence when Bear walked down to a part of his own property in Royston, across from Roy’s Town Pub.The next thing the two knew, Bear was staggering back to them with a serious wound on his head.“He was staggering towards us as we pulled up in the driveway and I could see that there was a massive lump on his head,” said McLeod. “I didn’t really notice his ear yet, he wouldn’t let us touch him and then we found blood.”They also soon found a metal pipe that had blood and fur on the end of it and figured Bear had been hit twice in the head.“What we think is the biggest blow came from the side like a golf swing and then a bonk on the top of the head so he took the worst of it right on the side of the jaw which is probably why he’s still alive,” McLeod added. McLeod says witnesses told them they saw two men on bikes in the area at around the time Bear would have been attacked, sometime around 6 p.m. Saturday.McLeod is confident Bear would not have been acting aggressively towards anyone because he is a companion dog for her spouse, who has severe PTSD due to military service.“No, his demeanour is so sweet and gentle. He’s really well-known in Royston,” explained McLeod.“He had failed the service dog training because he’s too laid back . . . But he’s still his service dog, they have a great bond.”Both the local RCMP and the BC SPCA are now investigating the incident.Anyone with information about the attack should call the Comox Valley RCMP or the SPCA.

Canine Assistant

Since 2020 has a recurring theme of being a never-ending dumpster fire for everyone, I suppose this bit of news was inevitable. A week ago, my family and I said goodbye to my service dog, Pandy, after a solid decade with her.

What started as a series of hip pains turned out to be a rampant bleeding tumor. She contracted a fast and paralyzing illness, but thankfully didn’t have to suffer long. My dad told me how peacefully she went at the veterinary office, and I had the opportunity to say goodbye beforehand.

I don’t want to use this column to dwell on the circumstances of Pandy’s passing. Instead, I want to reflect on the time I had with her, and how she helped me grow as a person. I had my reservations about getting a service dog. My parents thought it’d be a good idea, but I was a stubborn teenager who thought it was too much responsibility. Not only that, I also dreaded the attention that would inevitably come with it, and the cringeworthy statements that people would say to me.

“Aw, she’s your best friend, isn’t she?”

“You’re in love!” “That’s a good companion you’ve got there! Is she your special friend?”

These kinds of anticipated comments made me hesitant about acquiring a service dog back when my parents first pitched the idea. I already received plenty of questions about my chair and my disability, but a service dog would eliminate any sense of normalcy in my life.

Still, my parents were adamant that I could benefit from having a canine companion in college, and we started discussing it when I was still in high school. It took some convincing, and I remained apprehensive about it throughout the process. Even when I was paired with Pandy, I still had my doubts. My parents reasoned that if I was ever alone on campus or needed help, they’d feel safer if I had a trained service dog with me. Stubborn as I was, I agreed to go through with it and see what would happen.

We worked with the organization Canine Assistants, a nonprofit organization based outside Atlanta, Georgia. The dogs there are trained from birth, and once they are about 18 months old, they start getting paired with people. Matches are based on personalities, compatibility, and how well the person and the dog work with each other.

Yes, it sounds exactly like an online dating site. The organizers even compared acquiring a service dog to getting married and having kids simultaneously. None of this was helping me combat the stereotype about my dog being my closest friend or significant other. Hence, the sense of dread surrounding all of this continued to persist.

Yet here I am, 10 years later, and I wouldn’t trade our relationship for anything. Yes, Pandy was a ton of responsibility. And yes, I received numerous cringeworthy statements whenever I was with her in public. Looking after her was exhausting at times. But no matter what, she was always there for me. She challenged me in ways I can’t even put into words, and she helped mold me into a stronger and more empathetic human being.

When we got the news of her illness, I knew that the hardest part would be letting my community know. As I’ve been thinking about all of our times together, particularly at NC State University, where I went to college, I knew many of my friends considered her family as well. Since her passing, old colleagues and professors have sent me messages about how much they adored her.

Things for her haven’t been the same since I graduated from college and started working remotely. Those years were some of the best for both of us.

I know she’ll be sincerely missed. I’m also thankful that these past few months at home inadvertently gave me more time to spend with her. Our final memories include quiet evenings in our front yard, with her at my side while I listened to music.

Ok, that’s enough sentimentality on my end for at least a year. I’ll end this piece with my go-to service dog joke.

“Oh look, it’s a seeing-eye dog!”

“Yeah … I’m blind and in a power wheelchair.”

Therapy Dog Found

A local family reunited with their 7-year-old son’s therapy dog after the dog went missing over the weekend.

According to Laura Holland, her 7-year-old son’s therapy dog, Sully, accidentally got away around 9 a.m. on Saturday, June 27. Sully was being dropped off at a groomer in Wesley Chapel, in the area of Route 56 and County Line Road.

Holland’s son, Liam, is a pediatric brain tumor patient. According to John’s Hopkins All Children’s, Liam was diagnosed with a brain tumor at just four years old.

“We’re trying to keep our hope up, but as the days go on it’s getting more and more difficult to stay positive,” Holland told us early Monday as they continued to search with a trapper.

Just hours after ABC Action News first published the story on Monday morning, someone spotted Sully in the same area he’d gone missing. Holland says a group of people chased the dog near I-75 before Sully was finally caught. The dog was reunited with the family and was taken to a local veterinarian to get checked up. “He was so happy and whimpering and just loving on us, it was amazing,” said Holland. “He’s filthy, and he’s going to have to be shaved down, but other than dehydration, he’s fine.”

Holland thanked the group who helped find Sully and the community who wrapped its arms around the family over the past few days.

This isn’t the first time Sully made headlines in Tampa Bay. Back in October, Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital shared a story about the family meeting Sully for the first time.

“This wonderful dog has pulled Liam out of his shell and turned him around completely,” Holland said at the time. “We can’t believe it.”

Service Dogs During Pandemic

During the coronavirus pandemic, it has been a challenge for service dog trainers to properly acclimate dogs during their advanced training.

“It really was a set-back in not being able to get the dogs out and about,” said Peggy Law, Executive Director of Service Dogs of Virginia.

She is currently training six of the program’s ten dogs, and says stay-at-home orders and closures amid the pandemic have caused problems.

“They’re at a stage in their advanced training where what they really need is to be practicing their skills out in public,” Law said.

Getting the dogs acclimated to the general population is a big step in their training.

“There’s just so many sounds and sights that we take for granted but can be very intimidating for a dog,” Law said. “There’s being comfortable, and then there’s also being able to think clearly and to work.”

Typically, a trainer would take a dog anywhere a future owner would take a dog, including the airport. Now, it’s not so easy.

“We have to be able to take them everywhere that their client wants to go,” said Sally Day, Director of Development for Service Dogs of Virginia.

Service Dogs of Virginia’s Albemarle Square location was closed until mid-June, when it reopened part-time. This left future dog owners unable to meet potential future dogs.

“We also want some of these dogs to meet clients and we haven’t been able to invite clients to our facility during the pandemic,” Law said.

A dog typically takes two years to train, but that time line may now be extended.

“Because of the pandemic and because of being home, they may end up being longer than two years, it’s possible,” Law said.

As businesses have reopened, Service Dogs of Virginia has begun taking service dogs out again for training, but trainers are careful about where they go and how long they are out in public.

Therapy Dog Missing

A local family is desperate to find their 7-year-old son’s therapy dog after he got away while at a groomer over the weekend.

According to Laura Holland, her 7-year-old son’s therapy dog, Sully, was mistakenly let out around 9 a.m. on June 27. Sully was at a groomer in Wesley Chapel, in the area of Route 56 and County Line Road. The family hasn’t been able to find any sign of him since.

Holland’s son, Liam, is a cancer patient. According to John’s Hopkins, Liam was diagnosed with a brain tumor at just four years old.

In October, the hospital shared a story about the family meeting Sully for the first time.