QUOTE OF THE MONTH: "What one must remember in determining if a rescue dog is right for you is that these dogs have been neglected or abused and may be skittish, afraid, or have problems with eating or other issues. You may give the dog treats, the rescue society will tell you which ones are okay. You will need to reward the dog for good behavior and let it know who is in authority.
"At first, the dog may be fearful or act out with some sort of bad behavior until it knows what it is that you expect of it. However, if you are patient with the dog and are willing to understand the issues it might have and work to help it overcome those issues, you will never find a more loyal, loving and appreciative dog because you have given it a loving, caring home where it feels safe and is happy." -- Vikki Gigante
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"Wagging Tails Bring Joy to Seniors"
An Article by Ruth Bird
It has been well documented that unconditional love given by therapy animals play an important role in reducing stress, boosting self-esteem, and decreasing recovery time. And, they help some of our older "friends" deal with lonliness and loss.
What is a therapy dog or therapy pet? "Visiting Pets" "Therapy Dogs" "Therapy Pets" are just some of the names given to describe programs in which animals help people just by visiting with them. Research has shown that heart attack victims who have pets live longer. Pets have an amazing positive effect on many people. I read about the following study, and cannot help but to share it with you: A study of 92 patients hospitalized in coronary care units for angina or heart attack found that those who owned pets were more likely to be alive a year later than those who did not.
The study found that only 6 percent of patients who owned pets died within one year compared with 28 percent of those who did not own pets Petting a dog has been shown to lower blood pressure. When my husband was in therapy for many months, I always brought one of our dogs with me when visiting. All the patients loved my dogs. Bringing a pet into a nursing home or hospital can boost peoples' moods and enhance their social interaction. I know this for sure. I visit with two dogs myself. Benny and Nikki. A study conducted at UCLA found that dog owners required much less medical care for stress-induced aches and pains than non-dog owners. Add years to your life, own a pet! Or, visit with a pet, and give someone more quality in their life. What Type of Pet? Visiting pets are dogs and cats.
I belong to Therapeutic Paws of Canada with my dog. However, most other establishments are run the same way; basically offering the same types of services. Dogs have to pass an obedience test before they are registered. This test is not hard, but deals basically with control, character and behavior. NOT like in obedience classes. A well behaved dog will pass. Also, of course, your dog must love people. If not, this program is NOT for your dog. Do an internet search for establishments in your area. Then, get the information you need to see if this is for you. I love this work! And so does my Benny and Nikki.
At Therapeutic Paws of Canada they offer a volunteer based therapy dog and cat visitation program for senior's facilities such as retirement homes, nursing homes, Alzheimer day away centers, hospitals and where there is a need. The medical establishment has long recognized the significant benefits of a therapy dog and cat program. The petting and stroking of a pet helps to calm the most agitated resident and stimulates wonderful conversations about the pet they once owned. Recovery from surgery is quoted as being accelerated when there is continued contact with a pet. As a result of the many government fiscal cutbacks, the facility's staff is stretched to their limits.
The positive impact of their programme on the day-to-day life of each senior throughout the community and beyond cannot be calculated. Let me end on a very sad, but meaningful example. I listen to a radio station that once a year has a big blitz to collect money for the Sick Children's Hospital. This year the radio station interviewed a lady with her therapy dog. This dog visits in the hospital. And one day one young child, about 5 years old was dying. That child requested in her last moments to have her therapy dog by her side. And of course, the dog did come, after cutting through some red tape to be allowed in the room. Therapy dogs make a difference; and you can let it happen too. "It's probably the most rewarding volunteer thing I can do." This is a short summary of the procedure that I had to go through with Nikki. Most establishments are not much different. Again, the main point is to demonstrate behaviour and control. You will be able to obtain a copy of the requirements from your establishment.
THERAPY DOG EVALUATION The team is under observation from the time it enters the test area. A clean tidy appearance is expected from both the handler and dog, as they will be the ambassadors for the programme. A dog that relieves itself during the evaluation has failed. A dog displaying any signs of aggression to other dogs or humans (i.e. continuous barking, snarling, growling, lunging, showing teeth) has failed. A handler seen harshly correcting his dog is an automatic failure. A handler seen not following poop/scoop rule will fail. During the evaluation and on all visits the dog must wear a flat buckle or snap collar and be on a 4' or 6' leather or nylon web leash. No promise collars, prong collar, halti or choke chain permitted. The dog should always be close to the handler. At no time should the dog be allowed to extend the leash to the fullest. Handlers may not use food to lure the dog during any of the categories.
INTRODUCING TEAM TO EVALUATOR: While the Evaluator is standing in the center of the evaluation area (wearing white coat simulating a Doctor will be worn for this category) the team will approach quietly and introduce themselves to the Evaluator. The dog must not jump on Evaluator but remain quiet (either standing or sitting) while the handler and Evaluator exchange a few pleasantries.
WALKING AS A THERAPY DOG The Evaluator will demonstrate a specific course for the team to walk. MILLING CROWD The team moves about politely among the moving pedestrian traffic with the dog on a short leash. The handler may talk to his dog to encourage the dog to stay close and move smartly.
PATIENTLY SITTING FOR PETTING With the dog in a standing or sitting position beside the handler the Evaluator or Asst. Evaluator will approach and ask, "May I pet your dog"? The Evaluator will bend over the dog to pet it (lightly tapping the head and hip area) and then walk around the team and return to the front.
PRAISE/INTERACTION The dog should be easily calmed by the handler after a short play or praise period. The handler may use verbal praise, petting, playing with a toy and/or favourite trick in the allotted time frame and then calm the dog upon a signal from the Evaluator or Asst. Evaluator.
REACTION TO OTHER DOGS A test area of not less than eight (8) feet square in size will be marked out with four numbers. Four handlers will approach a predetermined number with their dog on a short lead and have the dog sit on the handler's left side.
DOG VISITING STATIONARY CROWD The team will walk around inside the circle with the dog closest to the crowd. The people will touch and stroke the dog if the dog stops to visit. The person holding the fuzzy toy must not tease or tempt the dog to take the toy.
WHEELCHAIR VISIT AND DISTRACTIONS Sitting in a wheelchair the Evaluator will approach the sitting dog and handler from behind. When approaching the team the Evaluator will use an excited manner and ask to pet the dog.
Congratulate the successful teams and invite the Team Leader to address the group and distribute the appropriate forms.
"A Blind Dog in My House"
An Article by Ruth Bird
First, let me tell you how my dog became my dog.
Dukie belonged to my husband's son. He was a birthday gift to my stepson from his girlfriend. Unfortunately, my stepson was not able to raise a dog, so he gave him to my husband. Dukie is a black lab, a big but lean black lab. He is loveable, gentle and funny. He thrived in our household because we already had two other dogs, one golden retriever, and one other black lab. They all got along just beautifully. No fights just play time all the time. I started noticing Dukie bumping into things, getting "lost" when out and running around. He had one bad eye already; he hurt it on a stick when he was a puppy.
Anyways, I took him to the vet, and once I let him off the leash in the examining room he promptly walked into a wall. Well, I really got scared at this point. The vet checked him out, and low and behold, my Dukie was blind. I couldn't believe it. My vet sent me to an eye specialist, and sure enough Dukie suffered from a degenerative eye disease. I freaked, I thought this is it, now I have to put him down. My eye specialist sent me back to my own vet, and forwarded the information to him. The vet calmed me down and said no way do you have to put him to sleep. He said "Look how well he has handled his blindness so far" And, the vet was right. I mean, I didn't even know he was totally blind. So began our live with a blind dog in our house.
The thing is, if you do not move the furniture around too much, and things pretty well stay where they are, you won't even know your dog is blind. At least not with Duke. He walks around the house like he is king. He goes in and out of his dog door and wanders around the backyard no problem. I take Duke out for car rides, which he loves, and for long walks, and for bike rides. Although I have stopped the bike rides, I noticed more and more that he does not like speed. I think it makes him feel unbalanced.
Duke loves company; he does get hyper and excited when they come though. I suppose because he does not see them, he has a need to lean right against them. But, a few minutes after greeting them, he just goes back and does his own thing. When he gets exited he does tend to get "lost"; he loses his sense of where he is. But, he finds it again fast enough. He still gets along good with our other dogs, and our neighbours dog. However, he no longer likes it when strange dogs come and say hello to him. I suppose being blind and not seeing the other dog poses a threat to him. So far, that has been his only negative reaction to being blind. When I move furniture, or get new furniture I make sure I introduce duke to these changes. He adapts very fast.
When walking, I forget he is blind, and I can have a tendency to walk him into fences, hedges and poles. Duke is the perfect dog to take for walks. He doesn't pull, he heels and he doesn't see those cats or squirrels on our walks. He is a favourite with the kids. He loves kids and is very good with them. And, most important, he is my husband's dog. My husband has advanced MS, and Dukie will spend hours with him. He often "steals" my husband's couch. When my husband gets in his wheelchair to go to the bathroom then Dukie hops right up on his couch. Duke has his own mini couch beside my husband, but, to Duke, that is not the same thing at all. It is a job getting him off the couch again. Cookies help. The two have become inseparable buddies.
I would recommend a blind dog any time from my own experience. Duke had been a wonderful part of our family, and he has not been any trouble whatsoever. So, if you dog is going blind, or you have the opportunity to adopt a blind dog, do not hesitate, they also make great pets. My Duke still does
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Ruth is actively involved with the internet. Her passions are people and pet health. She is a wife, a stepmom, a dog owner and a business person. She is married for almost 30 years. One of her dogs is a Certified Therapy Dog. Her passions are dog care and dog training, Her Adopt A Dog Blog And Her Pet Blog.
"Rufus, The Dog Who Went to Church"
An Article by Dan Williams
Rufus, The Dog Who Went To Church...
During the course of someone's career in the ministry, many interesting and unforgettable stories are experienced. Peter and his family would never have imagined that one of their most memorable stories centered on their dog, Rufus. During the course of someone's career in the ministry, many interesting and unforgettable stories are experienced. Peter and his family would never have imagined that one of their most memorable stories centered on their dog, Rufus.
It was a very hectic time for Peter's family as they planned to move to a new city. The preparations seemed endless. The house was filled with boxes from one end to the other; everything was labeled to make it easy to find a household item quickly. "Have you seen the toothpaste?" "I left it in the bathroom; I won't pack it until the morning just before we leave." "It is all gone." "We used it up? Well, there should be another tube in the box with the household goods. You'll find it somewhere in the front room." "All the front room packages are already packed on the truck!" Some people describe moving as exciting; some people look forward to the new challenges and opportunities they will have; Peter's family described the moving process as "utter chaos".
As they prepared for their move, my friends' normal routine didn't exist. Human beings seem to adapt well in chaotic times, but for dogs it isn't so easy. Preparations for the move began a month earlier; they wanted to make the final days in their "old" home as carefree as possible. For their dog, Rufus, the move was disturbing. Dogs have an innate sense about moving that we cannot imagine. For more than a month, Rufus was not his usual-canine-self. He could tell that something was up. He became very anxious every time that the family left home without him. He wanted to go with them everywhere. He did not want to be left alone. A few weeks earlier, Rufus was left in a kennel for a couple of days when the family was out of town.
He was especially jittery after that experience; he had never acted that way when kenneled before. Moving day finally came. Peter had everything packed; the movers just left. Peter was driving an additional rental truck and his family was driving two cars filled to the brim with electronics and clothes. Rufus could not sit still. He was pacing from one end of the house to the other; he would go from one family member to the next as if to say: "Don't forget to take me along!" "Don't worry, Rufus, we have a seat in the car just for you!" Rufus was of mixed breed--a handsome, short-haired-dog--with shades of brown, tan and black. He was a friendly dog to neighbors and strangers alike. He wasn't always so congenial. The folks at the animal shelter said that he was abused as a young pup. He wasn't very trusting of people.
Peter's family picked him up when he was three months old. He instantly clung to Peter's oldest boy. He laid his head on Michael's lap all the way home in the car. He didn't let Michael out of his sight at all that first day and slept in his bedroom at night. He found his first real friend. As time had elapsed he settled down and learned to trust everyone in the family--as well as their friends. Rufus was now 8 years old. He weighed 75 pounds and measured about 34 inches high, from paws to head. There was quite a change in his size, confidence and demeanor since that first day at the shelter. These facts made his anxiety all-the-more noticeable during the month of the move. Now everyone was concerned about how Rufus would adapt to his new house and surroundings. Peter and his family would be living in the church's parsonage. As with many traditional churches, a parsonage was provided for the pastor's family.
This was done for the convenience of both the congregation and the pastor. There was something unusual about this particular parsonage, however. Not only was the parsonage located right on the church property, but it was also connected to the church itself. The parsonage was deceptive in size because it merely looked like an extension of the church. A door from the house separated the family from the pastor's office in the church. One door from the pastor's office opened out into the sanctuary where the parishioners sat in the pews; another opened into the altar area in the front of the church from where the pastor conducted the services.
For the first week in their new house, Peter's family unpacked box after box and set up the furnishings in their new home; wherever they went, Rufus lay down right there beside them. Everything was fine as long as a family member was present. Rufus was acclimating quickly to the new surroundings, but he insisted on going along for a ride anytime the family went out on an errand. He wouldn't let them out of his sight. They were anxious to get settled, because on Sunday Peter would be installed in a special evening worship service. This is when Peter would officially take over his duties for his new congregation.
The day for the installation finally came. Most of the preparations for the service were handled by the parishioners. Another pastor in the area conducted the service. Peter's primary responsibility was to be on time at the service. That was certainly not a problem as Peter walked through the door of the house and into the church office. His family walked around and entered the church with the rest of the parishioners. As the service began, Peter was positioned to sit in a chair up front, facing the front altar area with his back to the congregation. From there he listened as the installing pastor preached an eloquent sermon, reminding Peter of his duties to the congregation and their duties to Peter and his family.
Suddenly in the middle of the sermon, there appeared an unexpected guest. He showed up peeking out from the church office and entering the altar area in the front of church. He peered at the congregation in wonderment of all the festivities. Rufus had decided to go to church, too! After all, the church was packed with parishioners, singing hymns and engaged in worship. Rufus wondered where everyone had gone and what all the commotion was about. He could easily hear the worship music from the parsonage. He did not want to be left alone! He simply had to investigate! As everyone in the family became preoccupied with the start of the service, no one gave a second thought as to how Rufus was doing.
After all, they were only next door. Rufus would be fine! When Peter saw Rufus, thoughts of panic quickly set in. What would Rufus do next? Would he start to bark? Would he start exploring the church, greeting the parishioners as he went along? Peter calmly got up from his seat, went over to Rufus and guided him back into the house--making sure that the door was shut tight behind him. He then walked back to his chair for the remainder of the service, his formal installation and the festivities that followed.
Needless to say, Rufus was the hot topic of conversation all evening! Almost every dog owner can remember a funny story about their pet. Very few would have a story like the one about Rufus, The Dog Who Went To Church!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Dan Williams has degrees in Liberal Arts, Business and Theology. He has worked in business and as a pastor. He enjoys reading, writing, baseball, gardening and spending time with his family.
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