Last Thursday I visited two assisted living facilities with a couple of registered Delta Society therapy dogs and their human “partners”.  This is a volunteer activity I have often thought of doing over the years, but was never in the position of having the time to do it.  Now, being retired, the time is available, and I think Bear will be wonderful at this “job”.  What I didn’t realize going into the day was how connected I would immediately feel with the people we would be visiting.

I have always had a love for older folks – I’m talking about people who would be my parents’ ages if they were still living - 80’s, approaching their 90’s.  Bless their hearts, they have no much to offer us “youngsters”.  As we age, we begin to see more clearly that one day we might be where they are now - in nursing and assisted living homes, in hospital beds, or in our own homes, perhaps as shut-ins.  Very few of us will make it into our advanced years without having to seek some kind of assistance to go on with our daily activities.  Those who are able to remain independent are truly blessed. Those whose physical or mental needs dictate their loss of independence need all kinds of assistance – physical, social, and emotional.  And that is where a therapy dog can be of tremendous help.

The two dogs working on Thursday were Betty, a Portuguese Water Dog (like America’s official “first-dog”) and Charlie, a Benji-looking rescue dog.  I followed Betty and Charlie through the living spaces and private rooms of seniors at these two assisted living homes and watched those sweet, lined faces light up like sunbeams when the dogs would come close.  In so many cases, these animal lovers have had to leave behind special pets when they entered these facilities, and just to be able to pat and talk to a furry face and perhaps get a kiss from one of these friendly dogs makes their day.  In other cases, meeting the dogs may stir up a memory that is decades-old of a long-ago special pet that was loved in childhood. 

Of course, not everyone is a dog lover.  One of the partners told me that you learn really fast which residents are either afraid of dogs, or just don’t like them.  And of course, the dogs aren’t forced on anyone.  In fact, before the dogs arrive, the residents have usually been told they are coming, and given the chance of seeing them or not.  On Thursday, there were plenty of loving pats and offers of treats – sometimes residents had even saved a part of their own lunch to feed to the dogs.  Watching that, I made a mental note to go home and work with Bear on the “easy” command, when he is accepting handouts.

On Saturday, the big Delta Society home training manual arrived.  I was surprised at how many pages there were, and a little worried when I realized that Bear wasn’t the only one who would have to pass a test.  Looks like we both have our work cut out for us, but I am already looking forward to Bear and I “going to work”.

I look forward to sharing this wonderful Pet Partners program with my readers when Bear and I are registered members of Delta Society (see how confident I am)!  Hopefully, he and I will be ready to do some visits by the beginning of the year.  Once we are registered, we will be able to work anywhere in the United States where a Delta Society program is in place.  That means I should be able to find a facility near Mackinac Island to keep Bear on his toes over the summer!  We are excited!

When I met Bo, he was four pounds of red

Bo as a Puppy

fuzzy Chow puppy.  Healthy, sassy, and a little nippy, Bo was a handful.

Naturally, Bo had to be taught bite inhibition. All puppies chew everything.  They bite and gnaw on people, too.  Gently teaching a puppy “no bite” consistently, firmly, and fairly goes a long way toward communicating proper puppy manners.  When a puppy plays too roughly, firmly say the chosen words like “no bite.”  Everyone in the family must use the same terminology for your puppy to understand.

How to Teach a Puppy Bite Inhibition

If your puppy still insists on roughhousing and nipping, then take away your attention by leaving the game.  Do not be tempted into wagging or pointing your finger in the puppy’s face of holding the muzzle closed.  This means fun to a puppy!  If you have already tried these tactics, you know that the puppy becomes more hyper and tries even harder to play roughly!

As a last resort, super hyper puppies can be crated for a few minutes, like a 5 minute “time out.”  They will connect the idea that roughhousing results in boring time spent alone in the crate.

Now, keep in mind, if anyone in the house (usually dad) is playing “hands,” rolling the pup, wrestling, on the floor at puppy level, allowing the biting play when it suits the human, your puppy will have a difficult time telling the difference between when roughhousing is allowed and when it is not.  To keep the situation under control, be clear, and forego inappropriate, confusing animal play until a puppy is older and understands the family hierarchy.

Bo’s mom was a natural. By the time Bo was six months old, he sported his Gentle Leader, performed his obedience exercises, and looked fabulous in his full long fuzzy black Chow Chow coat.

That’s when Bo’s mom asked me an unexpected question.

“How do I get Bo certified as a therapy dog?”

The question surprised me a little bit because, usually, Chows are private, family dogs.  They tend to tolerate strangers without enjoying their company.

Bo’s mom was certain he would make a good therapy dog.

I warned, “Don’t be disappointed if Bo doesn’t pass the test.  Chows usually aren’t the obvious choice for visiting nursing homes and hospital wards.”

Bo participated in the Delta Society’s therapy dog certification program.  He passed with high honors!

Bo loves his new job visiting senior citizens.  He remains calm and relaxed, even around wheelchairs and IV poles.  He is living proof anyone can become a therapy pet, with the right encouragement and training!

You and your dog can become a therapy team and provide amazing support and care to people in hospice care, children at risk, and hospitalized patients.  Miracles happen when people give them a chance!

P.S. Doc Truli recommends this video about Baxter, a Chow-mix Therapy Dog.  After a lifetime of service to people in need, even though paralyzed, Baxter visited hospice care patients and provided companionship and kisses, sometimes in the final hours of people’s lives.

We’ve been looking forward to Doggie Palooza for months!  The day finally arrived!  PetUtopia had 22 doggie models ready to strut their stuff on the catwalk in “Howl-O-Ween Dogs on the Catwalk”.  They were going to be decked out in Halloween costumes, accompanied by their family members. 

Ed and I set the booth up on Saturday afternoon, and I arrived before 8 am on Sunday to load product. 

PetUtopia's booth at Doggie Palooza!

Gay's purses

Robbie arrived about 9 am, and others arrived as the morning wore on.  We got to visit with many of our friends, both participants and attendees.

There was a snafu with parking because the Predator exhibit at the Zoo opened that day, so many of our models barely made it to the venue in time!  It was a little stressful for all involved, but everything went off without a hitch!  

My deepest gratitude to all the models, their families, and our dear friend Kim Singer, who emceed our event!  Everyone was so impressed with Kim’s presentation!

Kim Singer's presentation was amazing!

And, a special thanks to Aydana Wakeland, Randie Hays, and Natalie Schilling’s niece, Hailey for all the great photos!!

Our first 2 models, Hank & Ruby, were a hit in taco costumes, while their ‘pace dog’, Spud, wore a little sombrero and poncho.  These little cute Chihuahuas were rescued from the Gaston puppy mill last year. Our friend, Florence, was their foster mom, and fell in love with them!  She couldn’t let them go to anyone else!

Spud was the Pace Dog to keep Hank & Ruby moving along!

2 Chihuahua Tacos Hank and Ruby!

Mr. Big, one of our store dogs, and his family were up next. Ben was a Storm Trooper, and Mr. Big was a Bumble Bee.  We originally tried a Devil costume on Mr. Big, and he sulked (really!). But he loved the Bumble Bee costume!  He ran around the store greeting our guests, showing off his costume!  We’re all about having fun, so we opted for the Bumble Bee!

Ben the Storm Trooper, and Mr. Big, the Bumble Bee. Stacy accompanies them.

Mr. Big, the Bumble Bee.

Rudy, the Lil’ Stinker skunk, accompanied by his Mom, Carol, was followed by Natalie, with the first of the 3 dogs she would walk down the catwalk.  She accompanied Puma first in his Tiger costume.  (No photo of Rudy, which is our loss!  He was SO cute!)

Kim, Natalie and Puma, the Tiger.

They were followed by Sharon Peterson, of Custom Canine, with Satine, the French Bulldog in a Ballerina Tutu that was custom made by her Mom!

Satine in her custom made Ballerina costume!

Mickie and Posy, an 18 year old Mini Poodle, followed, with Posy in a Batman costume!  Mickie got into character with a Batman mask!

Stephanie accompanied Liza, who was Dogzilla!

Liza was Dogzilla.

JR walked her Yorkies, Fabio and Ula, who were fabulous as a Debutante, and her escort in a tuxedo, out on the town.

Fabio and Ula are ready for a night on the town!

Fabio struts his stuff!

Carol accompanied Siobhan, dressed in PJs and a pink fuzzy robe, and Shamus, who was Dogula!  Both of these adorable Papillons perform in Canine Freestyle Dancing.

Sioban and Shamus

Elvis was on the runway, posing as SharkDog, and accompanied by his Mom, Kristin.  It was so funny to see Elvis, who is mellow, and oh, so sweet, in a SharkDog costume!

Elvis the Sharkdog is accompanied by Kristin, his Mom.

Gloria and Harley were dresses in similar outfits!  He was a penguin, and she was dressed in a Tuxedo shirt!

Harley, the Penguin, and his Mom, Gloria.

Poor Grif!  His Mom, Rebecca, said Grif wouldn’t wear anything on his head, so we figured he would be in a different costume….. It turned out that he liked wearing the Glow Bones costume, complete with hat!  But, what we didn’t realize until it was too late, was that his hat slipped down over his eyes while he was on the catwalk!  He was a good sport about it, but this presents a good lesson for all of us – you do want to make sure that if your dog wears a hat or hood, that you keep an eye on the headpiece to prevent it from slipping into their eyes.

Grif was a good sport as Glow Bones.

Julia, who strutted her stuff as America’s Next Top Model, in a bright pink trenchcoat, with matching hat and leash!  She loved wearing this outfit, hat and all!  She’s a show Cavalier, so she knows how to strut her stuff! 

Julia is America's Next Top Model!

Rowdy always cracks me up in his costume!  I asked his Mom and Dad if they would bring him down to model his SuperHero costume.  And here he is!  Just seeing this picture makes me laugh, he’s SO CUTE!  This costume is perfect for him!

Is he adorable, or what???

Molly escorted Miss Muffett in her Bunny Rabbit costume – it was a perfect match for her loving personality!

Miss Muffett is the perfect Bunnie!

Zodicus and his Mom, Deb, came as Spiderman and Spiderwoman!  Deb jazzed up Zodi’s costume, and they both looked fantastic!

Spiderman and Spiderwoman!

Sue and her dog, Bonnie are Pet Partners for Delta Society, doing pet assisted therapy in a hospice center.  So when Sue chose the Frog Prince(ss) costume, I think Bonnie must have thought her Mom had lost it!  They were doing double duty at our event, and they were volunteering at the Delta Society booth.

I'm a WHATTT????

But she was a good sport, too!  Her Mom got into character with a great witch’s hat!

The Frog Prince(ss) and her Mom.

Jenny and Patience are also a Pet Partner Team for Delta Society.  Patience goes to schools and libraries where children read to her. She listens quietly, with unconditional love, to each child’s story.  But, today, she and her Mom step out of the Wizard of Oz! Jenny is the Wicked Witch of the West (complete with a green painted face), with Patience as one of her Winged Monkeys!  Jenny combined one of our monkey costumes with a set of batwings we had at the store, and Patience was the ideal Winged Monkey!

The Wicked Witch of the West and her Winged Monkey.

Debi and Reina followed, with Reina dressed as Princess Leia. It’s hard to find dogs who can wear these costumes because the legs are SO LONG!  But, Reina was the ideal Princess Leia, with her long graceful legs.  She and her Mom were knockouts!  They are also Canine Freestyle Dancing enthusiasts. Debi and Reina performed demonstrations at the BOW Wow Bash last summer!

Reina was an elegant Princess Leia.

 Gay accompanied Kobi, who was just too cool in his biker dude jacket with his bandana that could either be skulls and roses, or mortorcycles and flames!  Kobi chose the complete biker look!

Kobi is the Biker Dude!

New friends meet after the show.

New friends, big and small!

We also got a chance to visit with friends who stopped by our booth.

Outrageous and oh, so coordinated!

 Here’s a new friend, who loved his new devil costume!

Cute devil, eh?

This family got the chicken hat at the Octoberfest.  It fit right in with this event as well!  They chose a Bunnie costume for thier little girl!

This family took home a Bunny costume.

And, last, but not least, Sophie found a party collar that fit just right!

Sophie models her new party collar.

I gaze out my window wondering what I have gotten myself into. I hear the padding of another set of doggy feet in my future and cringe. You see, one of my daughter’s has a disability and is in the need of a Service Dog. Seems simple enough, doesn’t it?  If you need a Service Dog you find someone who trains them and get one. Right?

Wrong! No, that is not how it goes. There are so many individuals in need of Service Animals for various disabilities that there are not enough trained service dogs to go around. Therefore, many individuals must put their name on a waiting list for a dog and wait, and wait, and wait.

However, being the impatient sort and having some knowledge of dog training, I have decided (right or wrong) that I will train the dog myself. I know what my daughter needs in a dog. What I don’t know is how to go about choosing the “right” dog and then training it to be “doggy perfect” enough to go to classes and out-and- about with my daughter.

Fortunately, I am a research junkie and am slowly finding out the “who, what, where, why and how” that is needed to train a service dog. I am also a compulsive writer and seeing that this is an adventure that few undertake, I have decided to chronicle my efforts on my site, Belsan Media. (Think of this as a break in the tedium of learning about SEO, How to Tweet, and Facebook Antics.

DAY ONE

• Doctor told us that a service dog would indeed help my daughter with her anxiety issues at home and in public.
• Verified with daughter that she would indeed like a Service dog to help her with her anxiety issues. She replied, yes.
• Went to trusty computer and looked online where can order Service Dog.
• Found out that getting a Service Dog is not like ordering a book from Amazon.com. It takes time and lots of work not only to train a Service Dog, but that there is a long, long list of individuals needing a service dog. —Once a Service Dog becomes available, you have to go, get matched with the dog, then a week or so of individual/group training with dog at facility, then you can take it home. (Oh yes, there are also home visits from organization and lots of other stuff.)
• Went to Delta Society (www.deltasociety.org to look up what is required of Service Dogs and how to train a Service Dog.
• Went to kitchen and warmed up a piece of apple pie, topped it with Cool Whip. (It’s going to be a long night.)

Broad Ripple Animal Clinic and Wellness Center would like to introduce everyone to our newest Associate Veterinarian, Dr. Sara Rudwell. Dr. Rudwell received her DVM degree from the Purdue University School of Veterinary Medicine in 2009. Prior to attending veterinary school, Dr. Rudwell was a proud graduate of Indiana University, where she received a BS in Business in 1997. After working in the Information Technology industry for over 5 years, she made the choice to return to school and pursue a degree in veterinary medicine, a career much closer to her heart. She began working at BRAC in 2003, where she quickly realized that she was learning from the best! She continued to work as a customer service representative and veterinary assistant throughout her schooling, and now continues her years at BRAC as a veterinarian.

Outside of work, Sara enjoys spending time with her two dogs, a Golden Retriever mix named Gracie and a Labrador mix named Riley. She also enjoys reading, movies, and spending time exploring all that Indianapolis and Broad Ripple have to offer. When time permits, Sara loves to travel, and has been lucky enough to visit many fun and interesting destinations in the U.S. and abroad.

During veterinary school, Sara and her dog Gracie were certified Pet Partners of the Delta Society, an organization that promotes the human-animal bond. They enjoyed visiting nursing homes and library reading workshops together, and through these activities, Sara recognized her passion for supporting the work of service and therapy dogs.

Dr. Rudwell has a special interest in dentistry, ophthalmology, and oncology. Dr. Rudwell’s philosophy of veterinary care: “I strongly believe in the human-animal bond, and the positive health effects this bond has on a pet and the whole family. By providing well-rounded care for the animal and communicating effectively and honestly with each client, I strive to help improve the quality of life for all involved.”

The companionship of a pet enriches our lives. Studies have shown that the presence of a pet in your life can lower your blood pressure and reduce stress. Studies also show that the number one cause of pet euthanasia is the direct result of behavior problems that lead to surrendering of the pet. Our goal at Broad Ripple Animal Clinic and Wellness Center is to prevent behavior problems before they happen through early training, socialization, education, and bonding of the pet to the members of the adoptive family. This desire culminated in the Responsible Pet Partnership program (for kittens and puppies), available at Broad Ripple Animal Clinic, as well as the creation of Bark Tutor School for Dogs.

We are very pleased with the progress we’ve seen since opening Bark Tutor School for Dogs. Students benefit from individualized training, group classes and socialization, while their families learn how to get the responses they want from their dogs. Clients have been so pleased with the relationships they’ve been able to develop with their dogs that they are asking for more!

Later this month, we will be expanding our classes to include three new group classes that focus on enhancing you and your family’s relationship with your dog. The first class is Bark Tutor Kids Club. This class is designed specifically for kids between the ages of 5 and 12. The class will be similar to our obedience classes, but will allow things to be slowed down for younger family members. The class will also cover topics that relate to building bonds between kids and dogs, and preventing problems: handling exercise, how to play properly, bite prevention and more. All students must be accompanied by an adult. The Bark Tutor Kids Club will be meeting Wednesdays at 6:30pm.

Therapy Dog Preparation is a class that more and more people are interested in pursuing, especially after they’ve experienced success with their dog’s training. This class is designed to prepare the dog and his handler for work as a therapy dog. There are many types of therapy work a dog can do, and many people are interested in enhancing the lives of others who can’t have a pet in their lives due to assisted living, hospitalization, etc. Bark Tutor’s Therapy Dog Preparation class does not certify nor does it guarantee that a dog will be certified, as each therapy facility has their own set of requirements. At the end of 8 weeks, we will facilitate evaluations with a Delta Society Evaluator for our students. All dogs enrolling in Therapy Dog Prep must have a Canine Good Citizen, which Bark Tutor also offers. This class will be meeting on Thursday evenings at 7:45pm with a 6-dog limited enrollment.

Rally O is an exciting new dog sport. We feel it’s the ideal sport for dogs and their families who have enjoyed the training process and want to continue working with their dog in a fun, learning environment. Follow this link to view video examples of Rally O at http://tinyurl.com/p7u7at. The beginner Rally class will be on Sundays at 2:00pm, with a strict 6-dog maximum enrollment. All dogs enrolling in Rally O must have completed level 3 skills at Bark Tutor and have a Canine Good Citizen.

For more information about the programs available at Bark Tutor School for Dogs, visit our website at www.barktutor.com or call the school directly at 317.259.8336.

The recipients of last year's Beyond Limits Awards

Dogs can work wonders as family pets, but they also can go above and beyond through service, therapy, and more. Delta Society, an organization dedicated to improving human health through therapy and service animals, is now holding it’s Beyond Limits Awards. The awards recognize outstanding Pet Partners teams.

Now through Saturday, Feb. 7 you can vote online for your favorite and view videos of the finalists.

A New Leash on Life: Helping Patients Through Animal-Assisted Activities
by Ashley Puderbaugh
Published: October 2008
MetroPet magazine

As Patty Levine and Cheri, her toy poodle, walked through the “advanced” level of an Alzheimer’s facility, Levine noticed a woman sitting in wheelchair who didn’t seem to acknowledge anybody. Levine approached her and asked, “Would it be all right if Cheri sits on your lap?” Levine gently placed Cheri in her lap, and soon after, the woman began to pat the dog lightly. While Levine didn’t think much of it, a nearby nurse was shocked. “Did she just do that on her own? She never responds to anything,” the nurse asked.

“It had apparently been months since she moved,” Levine remembered. “They even got a camera to take a picture as proof to the family. Even though it was a tiny bit of movement — she didn’t move her head, just her hand — it was still really amazing.”

Those remarkable moments are what keep Levine and Cheri returning to the Alzheimer’s facility. In fact, Levine and Cheri visit hospitals and nursing homes, as well, as part of the Missouri-Kansas (Mo-Kan) chapter of Renton, Washington-based Delta Society’s Pet Partners program. With more than 10,000 participants in all 50 states and 11 other countries, it is one of the largest animal-assisted activity programs, helping more than 1 million people each year.

The Delta Foundation
The Delta Foundation was established in the 1970s — founders sought to understand the quality of the relationship between pet owners, pets and caregivers. At the time, pets were widely considered luxury or throwaway items, not of central importance to individual health and well-being. However, once the importance of animals in everyday lives was established from Delta’s research, the Foundation began to look at how animals could change the lives of people who are ill and disabled. In the ’90s, Delta built on its scientific and educational base to provide direct services at the local level, which included providing the first comprehensive training in animal-assisted activities and therapy to volunteers and health care professionals.

Animal-Assisted Therapy
Animal-Assisted Therapy (AAT) is a goal-directed interaction directed by a health care professional or teacher and includes specific goals and measurable results. AAT is designed to promote improvement in human physical, social, emotional and/or cognitive functions. The Salt Lake City, Utah-based Intermountain Therapy Animals organization’s Reading Education Assistant Dogs (R.E.A.D.®) program falls under this category, which aims to improve the literacy skills of children through the assistance of registered therapy teams as literacy mentors.

Animal-Assisted Activity (AAA), on the other hand, simply aims to brighten people’s day and help distract them from their worries or illnesses. Such activities may take place in nursing or children’s homes, convalescent centers, hospitals or shelters. But while AAA may appear too simple to make any difference, those who participate in such programs know the truth.

“Patients love this program,” said Shannon Cates, spokesperson for Shawnee Mission Medical Center. “They’ve all really taken to it well. Patients who haven’t been responsive to doctors wake up and talk and pet the dog as soon as it walks in. It gives them an incentive to start using their motor skills again.”

Not only for dogs
Although dogs seem to be the pet of choice in the program, Delta allows a variety of domesticated animals, such as cats, rabbits, guinea pigs, goats, horses, miniature pigs, birds and llamas. According to R.E.A.D. instructor Shirley May May, a fish is even allowed in the program. “There’s a little boy in Salt Lake City who’s allergic to dander,” she explained. “So he reads to a fish in a fish bowl. He’s so concentrated on this fish, and the fish looks at him like it’s paying attention.”

Can I become a pet partner?
So, how do you become a Pet Partner? The very first thing you should do is contact Mo-Kan. Joyce Maas at 816-942-6890 or Merrily Shultz at mts2nd@mtswesties.com will be able to give you information on animal-assisted activities, or you can call May at 913-681-6831 for information about the R.E.A.D. program. In order to participate in the Pet Partners program, you and your animal must be evaluated and registered with Delta. By being registered with the organization, you’ll be given $1 million of limited liability insurance per team, ID badges, a subscription to the national magazine and access to a strong support system.

Each evaluation consists of two parts — a written test and a hands-on test for you and the animal, which is similar to a canine good citizen test. If you have a dog, the evaluator will require you to give the dog basic commands: stay, lie down, etc. Basically, the evaluator is looking for control in the animal — they’ll kiss, hug and pet the dog excessively to make sure your pet won’t get scared or freaked out about all the touching. You’ll be asked to meet another animal, and the evaluator will take note of your dog’s reaction. Other tests, according to Levine, include navigating around walkers, canes and wheelchairs; dealing with people who are arguing; and handling loud, unexpected noises. “It’s OK for your dog to be a little surprised upon meeting another animal or hearing loud noises, but there shouldn’t be any chaos,” said Laurie Barksdale, vice president of Mo-Kan.

If you have a smaller animal, such as a cat or a rabbit, you’ll do the exact same test. The only difference is that you will be holding your animal in your arms or a basket instead of having it on a leash. According to Barksdale, not all animals pass the evaluation. “You can go in there saying your dog’s great, he loves everybody, but then you bring him into a situation where he doesn’t know anybody, like a nursing home, and that dog might be completely different,” Barksdale explained. “And the evaluator might go to pet or poke or hug on it, and it braces itself and becomes tense, and that’s not good.”

Delta Society training
If you do pass the test, however, you’ll be trained by Delta Society-certified instructors to help familiarize you with some of the situations and problems you are likely to encounter: for example, how to recognize signs a patient fears your animal or what to do if they suddenly start shouting at your pet.

Your animal will also be given one of two ratings: “predictable” or “complex,” and you’ll be
allowed to start visiting hospitals, nursing homes and the like. The predictable rating indicates your animal is good in most situations. For example, Barksdale’s nine-year-old Italian greyhound, Boomer, is great with older people, but doesn’t get along with children as well. But Levine’s dog, Cheri, has a complex rating, which means Cheri can go anywhere — nursing homes, hospitals, the children’s home, schools — and she’ll do OK. Though your animal might receive a predictable rating the first year, it isn’t necessarily permanent. Animals must be evaluated every two years, so as animals get used to the program, their ratings may increase.

Only a few facilities Mo-Kan members visit are rated complex, though; among them is the Spofford Home. “That place is more of a mob scene,” said Barksdale. “They really want you to come and be there for the kids, and the kids are all hyped up and ready to play with the dog. So your dog should be able to handle being pretty much mobbed by 10 or 12 kids. They’re just so excited.”

If you’re interested in participating in the R.E.A.D. program, more training is required. Because R.E.A.D. is an animal-assisted therapy program, after you’ve become a registered member of the Delta Society, you’ll take a day-long workshop and then shadow May at one of the schools.

Although May visits the same two students everyday for the entire school year, she says people who have to work during the day can still participate in the program by visiting libraries on weekends. A retired teacher, May says she doesn’t have the advantage over other R.E.A.D. teams as people might think. “Classroom techniques have not worked for these children,” she noted. “They’re bashful or they have a speech impediment, so they’re reluctant to read. So I can’t be a teacher to them. All they need is someone who cares and won’t judge and will listen — and that’s the dog’s job.”

More than 60 Pet Partners teams work throughout the Kansas City area. As part of Mo-Kan, members are asked to complete a minimum of four hours of volunteering and come to one meeting per year. Many people do much more than just four hours a year, however. Levine and Barksdale do visitations together twice a month, while other volunteers may volunteer up to three times a week. In return, Mo-Kan offers annual get-togethers and educational seminars — one recent seminar focused on first aid for pets. But the best reward is the opportunity to contribute to others while spending time with their pets. “It’s a lot of fun to interact with your pet,” explained Levine. “That’s part of the reason we joined — we just wanted to get out and do something with our dogs.”

And, the animal volunteers seem to enjoy the experience as well. Shultz says her three westies compete over who gets to go volunteer each week. “They’re all at the door trying to push each other out of the way,” she said. “It’s obvious they enjoy it and want to help people, too.”

NATIONAL ASSISTANCE DOG WEEK ESTABLISHED IN 2008

Morgan is helping with the laundry.

The second week of August  has been officially designated as National Assistance Dog Week to honor the more than 20,000 dogs that assist people with disabilities. While most people are familiar with guide dogs, many are not aware that there are three other types of assistance dogs. There are also hearing dogs, service dogs, and seizure/medical alert/support dogs. Each type is specially trained to fulfill a need for the individual that the dog will be assisting once they are placed with a partner.

Guide dogs assist those with limited vision maneuver safely, while hearing dogs are trained to make physical contact with their partner and lead them to the sound if their partner has a loss of hearing. They can also be trained to alert their partner if someone is calling or speaking to them. Service dogs are trained to assist those with limited mobility or other disabilities other than vision or hearing. They provide support for their owner to physically lean on them, open doors and drawers, pick up and carry objects, turn on and off lights, pull wheelchairs, open elevators and other numerous tasks that are difficult for the partner to accomplish. Seizure and medical alert/support dogs are specifically trained to support their partner when they have a seizure by summoning help, providing emotional and physical support, and keeping them safe. Some dogs can sense and alert their partner when they are about to have a seizure or other medical problem, giving the partner time to plan their actions before the onset of the attack.

With assistance dogs by their side, those with disabilities are able to attend college, drive, work, and live on their own. As Marcie Davis states in her book Working Like Dogs: The Service Dog Guidebook, “All of a sudden the impossible seems possible, and things you thought were out of your reach literally and figuratively are now obtainable. Virtually every area in your personal and professional life can be expanded and explored, including your vocation, travel opportunities, housing options, and transportation….Whatever you dreamed of accomplishing can be realized with the assistance of a service dog.” After bringing her first assistance dog into her life, she gained the confidence and ability to be more independent, obtained her own vehicle, and is now the president and owner of a business which specializes in public health and human service solutions.

To learn more about assistance dogs, visit the Delta Society website at http://www.deltasociety.org/. You may also visit the Assistance Dog International site at http://www.assistancedogsinternational.org/, and the International Association of Assistance Dog Partners at http://www.iaadp.org/. Also, more information about these amazing canines—their work, training, laws governing their use, and where and how to apply for a service dog—can be found in Working Like Dogs: The Service Dog Guidebook by Marcie Davis and Melissa Bunnell, Published by Alpine Publications, with a Foreword by Betty White.

Christianity historically has not had much to say about the relationship between God and animals and humans. To be sure, there has been a persistent minority view that valued animals — St. Francis and others, but for the most part Christians haven’t thought much about animals. When we have, most of what we have said has served to privilege humans and diminish animals. We have focused on how we are different than animals, and by different we meant more valuble and more important. We have argued that animals exist to serve our needs. We have claimed that animals are only here because we need transportation, fiber, hides and food. Other than that, we have said, there is not much of a reason for animals. I think we Christians have mostly missed the point here. It seems to me we should spend some time seriously considering the relationship between God and animals and humans.

It is a long, complex and interesting relationship between people and animals. It is a relationship that has been a mixture of practicality and spirituality. When you think about it, from the earliest times until now, across cultures and continents animals have shaped who we are. Our diets, clothing, and methods of travel have been affected by the animals around us. Our fables, our stories, our art and our religions are influenced by the animals around us.

Domestication changes how humans think and act with animals. Wolves may have presented a threat to ancient humans, but dogs became protectors and helpers. We hunted animals so we could eat today. Once animls are domesticated, we have food for the future.  Humans began to protect certain animals, to shelter them, to help them survive and the animals helped us, protected us and contributed to our survival.

The relationship between people and animals is very old. Animals were probably domesticated multiple times and in several different areas. Dogs appear to have been the first animal to be domesticated-12 -14,000 years ago-probably from wolves or now extinct wild dogs. Dogs may have been domesticated in west Asia, the Middle East and Europe. DNA evidence may push the dates for dog domestication back 100,000 years ago.  We think that wolves stayed near people to scavenge from garbage. They were probably domesticatable because wolves are social animals. Wolf pups raised by humans may have found it reasonably easy to live with humans, although I do wonder why humans thought it was a good idea to bring a reasonably big carnivore into the community. Nevertheless, the relationship between humans and dogs is ancient. 

Next to be domesticated were probably sheep and goats about 7000 BCE*, then cattle about 6000 years ago.  The donkey remains are found 5-6000 years ago in Egypt and a  little later in Mesopotamia and Iran.  Horses were probably domesticated independently in several different parts of the world.

Not surprisingly, scientists think that cats domesticated themselves. Cats that didn’t mind humans lived near our granaries to catch mice and rats. Modern cats have their ancestry traced to the European Wild cat and the African Wild cat.

 And the list goes on and on.  Don’t forget, Guinea pigs, Llamas, Reindeer, the Silk Moth and the Turkey.

It is interesting to note that the most valuable animals, sheep, goats, cow, pig and horse were all domesticated- probably more than once- by 4000 BCE. The idea to domesticate animals, to live in close relationship occurred to humans multiple times all over the world. And that’s not all.

We find hints that perhaps in the ancient world the relationships between humans and animals were more than merely utilitarian. The famous cave paintings in France and Spain are 17,000 to 15,00 years old. By 10,000 to 8,000 BCE animals are buried with humans.  About that same time, there is evidence of shamanism in Mongolia and China. A Shaman was someone who went into a trance to communicate with the animal and spirit world and was believed to assume the shape of animals. In the Neolithic period (8000-3000 BCE) humans made figurines and paintings of animals. 

And today we know that animals are good for us in other ways besides food and transportation. There is a large and interesting body of work on the benefits of pet assisted therapiesand the human animla bond. The Delta Society is a great source of information about this. For example, heart failure patients have better heart function after a visit from a dog. Pet owners are more likely to survive a heart attack, and they have lower blood pressure, lower stress levels and increased mobility. We also live longer.

Trained pets are found in hospitals, nursing homes and rehabilitation centers where they improve social interactions and reduce stress.

Dogs help children learn to read. There are horse riding therapy programs. There are programs for troubled teens and children where interaction with pets helps reduce antisocial behavior. There are animal programs in prisons. There are service animals for the blind and deaf. There are general assistance pets that help people live more independently by helping with daily tasks.

Why am I telling you all this? Because it amazes me that as people of faith we don’t think more seriously about this rich relationship. I wonder why we don’t.

Do we really think that it is simply unimportant?

Is our relationship with animals so familiar that we have just never really noticed what’s going on?

Does our need for power and control and status cause us to minimize the importance of animals and this relationship?

Is it because we are insecure about our place in the cosmos?

Is it possible for God to love both humans and animals?

Perhaps it is a little of all of these.

I would like to know what you think.

—-

Next week I’ll offer some thoughts about how Christians might  re-think  the God, animal and human relationship. As always, I’ll be interested in what you think and I welcome comments from all faith traditions.

* By the way, BCE- “Before the Common Era” is sometimes used in place of BC. And CE, “Common Era” in place of AD.