Dogs Really Are Man's Best Friend

 I love dogs.  I love all dogs.  I even love dogs who bark and snarl at me.  I have been bitten by stray dogs and I even love them.  Call me crazy, but I think dogs are God's gift to mankind.  

I have always had a dog, sometimes without any parental permission.  When my mother told me I could not have a dog, I found a puppy and built her a home in a vacant lot and went there everyday before and after school to feed and play with her.  I had her for almost a year before my parents found out and called animal control to come get her.  She was such a dear and I was mad for months and months.  She was well cared for and well fed, so I did not see the reason for them to pick her up.  Of course, I was about 8 at the time.

Anyway, I love dogs.  I also love cats, birds, lizards, insects, mice, rats, hedgehogs, hamsters, guinea pigs, llamas, burros, horses, etc.  I think you get the drift.  I love animals, period.  I think animals are way nicer than most humans I have been exposed to in my life.  With an animal, what you see is what you get.  They do not play games about who they are.

So, how does all this relate to the title of this blog?  I'll tell you.  I have been thinking quite a bit today about all the dogs in the Ukraine and Turkey that are at risk of either starving or being killed.  I feel very sad by that thought.  I do understand that people will put people first in emergency situations, but I don't necessarily agree with that idea.  I think all life is important and has value. 

On that note, let's talk about dogs that have been abused, mistreated, or worse and how they were still able to be loving and friendly with humans; even to the point of rescuing those humans. If you search Google, you will find numerous articles and stories about such dogs that proved themselves to be heroes.  Here are a few such articles: 

• https://www.rd.com/list/shelter-dogs-who-saved-lives/
• https://www.newsweek.com/21-times-dogs-saved-owners-lives-proving-mans-best-friend-1570567
• https://iheartdogs.com/12-incredible-stories-about-dogs-saving-humans-lives/
• https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2023/02/28/dog-saves-baby-fire-detroit/11364181002/?utm_source=usatoday-EveryonesTalking&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=baseline&utm_term=hero&utm_content=USAT-8872UT-E-Everyones-Talking

Dogs have always been of service to humans.  

They were first tamed and socialized to help shepherds protect and herd their flocks.  They spent centuries doing this and helping the families they lived with.  In today's world, dogs fulfill a myriad of protective uses.

Dogs are trained for search and rescue--

There are dogs trained especially to find various things such as bodies, blood, wounded people, drugs, bombs, chemicals and more.  These dogs routinely risk their lives to perform dangerous jobs with only a pat on the head for a good outcome.

Dogs are trained to assist people--

There are dogs that routinely work with disabled and chronically ill people to help them maintain independence and keep them safe.  These dogs provide daily living help as well as mental health benefits.  There are so many people that could not be maintained at home if not for these wonderful dogs.

Dogs are used for social support and mental health care--

There are dogs who have been trained to be support dogs. Who monitor their person for signs of distress and have been trained on ways to help.  There are dogs who smell signs of oncoming seizures and alert their person to lie down and remain safe.  There are dogs who identify health concerns by smell and alert their person to seek medical assistance.

So, now I hope you can see why I love dogs.  They truly are God's gift to mankind.

Pet Safety in cars or trucks--a pet owners responsibility

 When I traveled across country to do my travel nursing in California, my buddy, Satchmo rode in the car with me.  He loved going in the car.  He was such a good travel buddy; but he was small (101bs.) and had a delicate bone structure, so I had to take extra steps to ensure his safety in the car.

He had a booster seat that was soft and padded with railing and it also had a tether built into the seat.  You just put the seat belt through the openings in the bottom of the seat and then he was good to go.

He loved it because it set him up high enough to see out the window without having to stand up.  He loved when a semi-truck would go by and he would bark at it. He never minded being put in

the seat and hooked up so he couldn't jump out.  He seemed to understand that he was safe and settled down to enjoy his trip.

We traveled back and forth from California to Texas that way, stopping at nights to rest and walk around--he liked smelling all the new senses along our route.  He was a fun dog and I miss him terribly.

I recently saw an article that made me think about this issue again recently.  It seems that Florida is about to enact a law to prevent dogs from hanging out of car windows, make is illegal to transport your pet without some form of tether/restraint, ride in the driver's lap or ride on motorcycles.  It is an interesting read and you can do so here.

So then I wondered how many other states have similar laws and I did a Google search for that. I found that there are some states that require restraint of pets in cars and other vehicles (Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island). Although the following states don’t require pets to be restrained, they have enacted laws that could provide consequences for transporting unrestrained pets: Arizona, Hawaii, Iowa, South Carolina, Washington, Washington D.C., and Wisconsin. Alabama, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Ohio, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont and Virginia have ambiguous laws about safety of pets and others while in vehicles. 

 The following states also make carrying unsecured animals in an open truck bed illegal: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Hampshire, Oregon, and Washington.  Do you know the law in your state?

There are many state laws that make it illegal to leave a pet unsupervised in a vehicle no matter what the temperature is outside.  Do you know if your state is one of these states?

Here is an interesting article about pet safety in cars and explains the benefits and risks of traveling with unrestrained pets very clearly so you can readily understand what is at stake.  We are not only talking about the safety of your pet, but your safety from driving distractions, other people's safety due to your distraction and the potential of your own liability should there be an accident.

How is this Safe?

It might be good for you to check out your state laws about the transport of pets in vehicles and about leaving pets unattended.  You may be surprised to discover that you are not following those laws because no one had told you about them.

I know I was surprised, but my state is one of those Ambiguous states, so I still am not sure what I am expected by law to be doing.  I hope this has educated you on this very serious issue.  Let me know what you think about it.

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Does Anyone Remember the Michael Vick Victory Dogs?

 Back in 2007, Michael Vick was exposed as an owner of the Bad Newz  Kennels in Virginia.  It was a place of unbelievable horror for the dogs residing in those cages.  Mr. Vick and his crew routinely tortured and killed those dogs when they would not fight with each other.  They provided dogs for illegal dog fighting venues, so if a dog would not become vicious enough, even with torture, they would kill them for sport.

When this cam to light, the Feds raided the kennels and rescued 48 Pitbull dogs from the confines of the kennels.  Mr. Vick was charged with numerous crimes and spent 18 months in prison, which ended his NFL career as a quarterback with the Atlanta Falcons.

The site was purchased in 2011 and turned into the Good News Rehab Center.

This case was the first time that the animals were not summarily destroyed, but rather they were sent to Utah and other rescues to rehabilitate them.  This had never been done before and happened in a large part because of the uproar of normal citizens and the intervention of the Best Friends Animal Rescue in Utah.

It seems that we, as a group, have a very short memory, because Mr. Vick returned to football upon his release and now is into sportscasting.  He claims to be sorry for the events in his past, but mostly it seems, he is sorry he was caught and caused his career to implode.  He has never one time expressed any concern or regret for his actions that caused such harm and injury to those dogs.  

Unfortunately, despite a large outcry by the public, he has also been allowed to own a dog again.  He now owns a Belgian Malinois despite his past crimes against dogs.

His response in an interview was as follows:

In 2019, Vick told The Washington Post that his animal rights crimes are merely a thing of the past. Water under the bridge.

“I think people have moved on. I think they’ve moved past it. It’s been 12-plus years since it all happened, so I don’t get any questions about it anymore. People don’t talk about it. They don’t ask me about it. Life is kind of normal. But I still have a responsibility, and that will never change.”

In a follow-up interview, he told the news site in 2021 he regrets it all — mainly because the case affected his chances of getting into the Hall of Fame.

'S--t, it hurt [my chances of] going in the Hall of Fame. It's going to impact everything. But it was all self-inflicted. I was young. I didn't have no guidance. I don't use this as no excuse. I could've said, 'No.' I could've made those right decisions, like, 'This ain't for me.' That's a blemish that I will never be able to erase." (https://www.greenmatters.com/p/michael-vick-dogfighting-ring).

Upon rescue, many of the dogs were able to be adopted because they showed no damage to their ability to bond with people (possible they were new recruits to the kennels).  However many of them were judged too damaged to be adopted and went to live at the Best Friends Sanctuary in Utah for the rest of their lives.  

Once there, they received constant supervision, positive reinforcement, love and affection from staff and even spent the night at various employee's homes to give them a feeling of family.  They lived a very good life while at the Sanctuary and many were able to be deemed fit for adoption, which is what many people were waiting for.

There is a book on Amazon that discusses this event in detail and is a quick read.  I highly recommend it.  Here is the link to pick it up if you are of a mind to. (I am an affiliate, so I might get a few pennies if you buy through my link)

I also recommend you read several of the posts here and here on this blog about the struggles made by the Vick dogs to be rehabilitated.

Here is a link to an article by the Best Friends Sanctuary about the dogs if you would like to see how they did.  They had the best life possible after they were rescued and they proved the resilience and the heart that these dogs possessed.

Unfortunately, all of the Vick Dogs have gone over the Rainbow Bridge and are all now together again.  What bothers me though, is that there are so many people who choose to forget Vick's crimes, choose to minimize his crimes, simply don't know anything about his crimes, or were born after the fact and no one educated them on this issue.

Cruelty to animals is a crime, period.  It is a legal crime, it is a social crime, it is a personal crime, it is an emotional crime.  When will we start teaching our children how to behave with animals so as to prevent such things from every happening again.

Unfortunately, the Vick event did nothing to stop the abuse of animals for fighting rings.  It just makes me sick.

Here is a link to read the legal charges filed against Vick and his crew.

Dogs for Veterans with PTSD--still a work in progress

Back in 2011, I posted on my Facebook page, Pets are a Blessing, about a law that was before Congress to have the VA acknowledge and initiate pets for veterans returning from the war in Iraq.  It has long been known that pets (especially dogs) are extremely sensitive to the needs of people suffering from post traumatic stress.  There is quite a bit of science behind this fact.  However, ten years later, the VA is just now moving on this law, called the PAWS Act; but they are planning to pilot this act and gather data on its efficacy over five years!  

The pilot program will be offered at the following five VA medical centers:

• Anchorage, Alaska.

• Asheville, N.C.

• Palo Alto, Calif.

• San Antonio, Texas.
• West Palm Beach, Fla.

Now I know that our government moves at a snail's pace, but really 10 years to just get it passed and another 5 years to pilot a program that so many veterans need right now?  I don't understand this.

If this makes you as mad as it makes me, let your congressman know how you feel about this.  With so many dogs wasting away in shelters, pounds, and rescues, this could be a godsend for them as well as the veterans who get them.

Here are two articles about this you might want to check out:

VA shares implementation plan and locations of PAWS Act pilot program

Kaya, a furry ambassador for veterans and service dogs, has died

Potty Training a Puppy: Why It Can Be So Hard

 If you’ve ever owned a puppy, you know that potty training them can be very difficult. It’s a common challenge that all puppy owners face. It requires a lot of patience and consistency to housebreak a puppy, but it can be done. In this blog post, we’ll discuss why it can be so hard to potty train a puppy, and some tips to make it easier.

• First, it’s important to understand why puppies have such a hard time being house trained. 

For starters, puppies are still learning about the world around them. They’re young and inexperienced, and they don’t always know what’s expected of them. Puppies also have very small bladders and weak sphincter muscles, which means they need to go out more frequently than an adult dog. Finally, puppies are still learning how to control their bladder and bowel movements, so they can’t always hold it until they get to their designated bathroom spot.

• Once you understand why potty training a puppy is difficult, you can start to figure out how to make it easier. 

The most important thing is to be patient and to reinforce the desired behaviors. It’s also important to be consistent with the potty training process. Take your puppy outside to the same spot every time, and offer them rewards when they use the bathroom outside. Praise them and give them a treat when they do the right thing, and make sure to clean up any accidents quickly and efficiently so they don’t associate that spot with going to the bathroom.

• Another important tip to remember is to establish a routine. 

Take your puppy out at the same times each day, and give them plenty of opportunities to go to the bathroom. It’s also a good idea to take them out after eating or drinking, as well as after playing or during periods of high energy.

• 
  Finally, remember that house training a puppy takes time and patience. 

It may take several months before your puppy is fully housebroken, and even then, there may be occasional accidents. Don’t get frustrated, and stay consistent with the potty training process. With some patience and consistency, you’ll be able to housebreak your puppy in no time.

In conclusion, housebreaking a puppy can be a difficult process, but it’s not impossible. The key is to be patient and consistent more than anything. Establish a routine and reward your puppy for going to the bathroom outside. With some patience and dedication, you’ll be able to house break your puppy in no time.

If you are struggling with training your puppy, you may be interested in this training product.  In this training guide, you will learn from an experienced trainerwho uses positive reinforcement techniques and fun exercises to help you teach your new family member how to be good.

Another good resource to have for your new puppy is this.  Here you can get everything you may need for that puppy and have it delivered right to your door. The prices are very low and the products are quality.  Use this resource to take good care of your puppy and to save you money and time.

Research about dogs in the Pandemic

 During the Pandemic, when we all were basically shut down for 2 whole years, the one thing that made life bearable for me was my fur babies.  I talked to them when I was lonely and they returned unadulterated love and attention.  I walked them to get out of the house (wearing a mask, of course) and in return they jumped and performed for me causing me to relax and laugh at their antics.  

My dogs kept me sane when our world was insane.  I just thought that was me and my babies, but I found this article on the internet that discusses a research project to define and quantify the effect of having a dog on us during this dark period in our lives.  It is an interesting article and supports my findings personally.  You can read part of this below but do click over to the article to read it all.  See if you agree with their conclusions.

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Unsung Heroes of the Pandemic: Dogs

By Cara Murez
HealthDay Reporter

THURSDAY, Dec. 16, 2021 (HealthDay News) -- Coping with the isolation, fear and sadness of the pandemic may have been a little easier if you had a trusting and loving dog by your side.

But you don't need to tell that to Francois Martin, a researcher who studies the bonds between animals and humans. His two Great Danes helped him through the last two years, and he just completed a study that shows living with a dog gave folks a stronger sense of social support and eased some of the negative psychological effects of the pandemic.

"When you ask people, 'Why is your dog important to you? What does your dog bring to you?' People will say that it's companionship. It's the feeling of belonging to a group that includes your family dog. It keeps people busy," said Martin, who is section leader for the Behavior and Welfare Group at Nestle Purina in St. Joseph, Mo. "If you have a dog, you have to walk the dog, you have to exercise the dog. It gives you a sense of purpose.

It's "just plain fun," Martin added. "I don't know anybody who is as happy as my dogs to see me every day."

His team saw the pandemic as a unique time to better understand how dogs provide social support to their owners...
(read the entire article here)

Bronx Dog Fighting Victims Get Second Chance

Here's an article I found about another dog fighting ring that was disbanded this summer in New York.
It's amazing that now, after the Vick dogs rehabilitation, the dogs in these situations are now being looked at for rehabilitation and placement instead of immediate death.

We still have a long way to go to eradicate these rings completely, but this article does show that we are making some progress.

This is from ASPCA blog and bears reading.  Be sure to click over and read other entries on this blog.  Maybe you could send an email to show your support of the ASPCA's Legal Advocacy team and the Bronx District Attorney's Office.

_____________________________________________________________________________

n June, we told you about a dog fighting bust the ASPCA and New York Police Department conducted in the Bronx. Today, we’re happy to share some good news: 26 of the dogs have found placements with rescue groups, and another seven of them have placements in the works! We’re hoping continued rehabilitation and forever homes are just around the corner.

Partners that have embraced these canine survivors include St. Hubert’s Animal Welfare Center in Madison, New Jersey; Charles Henderson Animal Rescue in Brooklyn, New York; Columbia Greene Humane Society in Hudson, New York, and Animal Rescue League of New Hampshire in Bedford. Some dogs have also been transferred to the ASPCA’s Adoption Center in Manhattan.

These dogs’ lives are already so different from the ones they led just a few short months ago. On June 21, we found them living in the windowless basement of a six-story apartment building with a makeshift fighting arena.Also discovered on scene were a loaded .25-caliber handgun, U.S. currency and other equipment associated with dog fighting—including dog treadmills, harnesses, muzzles, syringes and a shopping cart full of raw chicken parts.

For more than two months, ASPCA responders cared for and provided the dogs with extensive socialization, a healthy diet, medical care and exercise at a temporary shelter. Each dog was carefully evaluated by a team of animal behavior professionals prior to being transferred to the rescue groups.

While the majority of the dogs in this case may be rehabilitated, some were far too dangerous for placement. These dogs were victims of the brutalities of dog fighting—bred over generations to exhibit aggression, trained to fight with lethal intent, subjected to a life of inhumane treatment and, as a result, displayed highly aggressive behavior. After extensive evaluations, all decisions to euthanize were based on recommendations of multiple behavior professionals who weighed in objectively and independently, with the best interest of each individual animal in mind.

The dogs’ owner, Raul Sanchez of the Bronx, was arrested during the raid and arraigned on 63 counts of animal fighting, six counts of aggravated animal cruelty, six counts of animal cruelty, and one count of criminal possession of a weapon. If convicted, he faces up to four years in jail.

The ASPCA’s Legal Advocacy team is providing support to the Bronx District Attorney’s Office in this case.

Dog Heros of 9/11

Here's a tribute video to the dog heros of 9/11. Enjoy watching.

Are your pets prepared for an emergency?

When Hurricane Katrina hit Louisiana, I was aghast at the effect it had on all the pets in New Orleans.  I could not believe 1) that people could leave their family pets to fend for themselves or 2) that the search and rescue people would not make arrangements for family pets.  I sat and watched those poor animals trying to survive and the look of confusion on their faces was heartbreaking.







So, with the second hurricane now hitting Louisiana, I was very happy to see the improvement.  People were leaving with their pets.  Rescuers were getting pets as well as people.  Much better!







Just because you don't live in a hurricane zone doesn't mean that you can't have a disaster at your location.
Tornados, mud slides, torrential rain and flooding, earthquakes, fires--all these things can happen anywhere.  So it is important that you have a plan in place prior to any of these events to protect your family and your pets.

If you need to be evacuated from your home, do you know who will be able to care for your pets?  Do you know what shelters will allow you to bring your pets and what you need to be able to bring them?  Call ahead and talk to the shelters in your area.  Get informed and be prepared to care for your pets when they will really need you to do so.  If your area shelters don't take pets, make arrangements with family or friends in another area to harbor your pets until you can do so.  Don't leave it up to chance.

Do you have an emergency kit for your pets?  You should have one for every member of the family and that should include your pets.  Things like medications, food and water for 3 days, medical records and emergency contact numbers, maybe even a pet first aid kit (which you can find online at Amazon), maybe even a pet first aid book to help you do the right thing in an emergency.  Do each of your pets have a crate or carrier?  I'll bet that to take them to a shelter you will need to have them crated or in a closed carrier.



What will you do if you and your pets become separated?  Do you have a recent photo with you?  You may need one to identify your pet if found.  Be sure your pet has ID tags on with your name and telephone number; that way if someone finds your pet you will be reunited quickly.  Maybe now is the time to get that microchip to prepare for future emergencies.




Your pets will be extremely anxious and in need of comforting during any evacuation.  Be sure to bring along a favorite toy or favorite sleeping blanket to help your pet deal with the disruption to his everyday routine.  When you know that an emergency condition is imminent, bring your pets inside to prevent them from bolting in panic.  Don't forget that your pet expects you to look out his interests during an emergency!

I know that I have certainly been making my own arrangements and collecting the appropriate items to make sure that my two babies are cared for in an emergency.  How about you?

Life after Satchmo

When Satchmo died, I was devastated.  I cried for days and got very depressed.  He had been my constant companion for 13 years.  He was my baby and my love.  How could I ever get past losing him?

Well, I did.  It took quite a bit of time (almost a full year) before I could say his name without crying.  But I think having had such a relationship with my dog made me a better person and helped me move on.  I think he actually made it easier for me to get another dog.

I know that this new dog is not Satchmo and never witll be.  But she is her own self--rowdy, loud, attention-seeking, and even sweet.  She has her own place in my heart.

Before I lost Satchmo, I had adopted another small dog, Austin.  He is calm, quiet, sweet natured, and loves to cuddle.  So now I have two dogs who are polar opposites.

Where Austin is sweet, Leela is demanding of attention.
Where Austin is quiet, Leela is loud--barking at the wind at times.
Where Austin is calm, Leela is a ball of energy racing to and fro all day.
When Austin wants to cuddly, Leela is off terrorizing the cat.

It's amazing the differences in their behaviors, but each one is truly loved.  That is how it is supposed to be.

Let me tell you the story of how I got Leela.

I was browsing the pictures of dogs at the local animal shelter and saw what I thought was a rat terrier.  I got so excited because I wanted another rattie.  So, I grabbed my sister and we went to the shelter.

Leela was definitely NOT a rat terrier, although she has a rat terrier coat on.  She was so pathetic and so scared at the shelter that I could not in good conscience leave her there.  She cowed in the corner and shook.  I felt terrible for her.  So I went up and asked about getting her and was told there was already a hold on her.  I put my name on the list anyway, but felt better knowing that once she was spayed she would be going to a good home.

The next day, the shelter called me to say that the previous hold had been released and did I still want Leela?
Of course I did.  I grabbed my sister again and we drove lickety split to the shelter and picked up this poor scared little dog and brought her home.

From that moment, when she walked into the house, she has been the queen bee.  Her demeanor changed immediately and she now rules this roost.  Goes to show you that you can be fooled even by a little scrap of a dog.

The truth is, I love this little minx and would be lost without her.  Austin gets along with her great and the relationship she has with the cat is still up for grabs.

I recommend rescuing your pets from shelters.  These are the best pets every.

Parachuting War Dogs

Here's an article I found on Foreign Policy .

 

Rebecca's War Dog of the Week: It's a bird, it's a plane...

Posted By Thomas E. Ricks Friday, April 9, 2010 - 11:37 AM

By Rebecca Frankel
Best Defense Chief Canine Correspondent
This story that came out in the Times of London a couple of weeks ago is truly a war-dog wonder: parachuting dogs being sent on secret missions in Afghanistan. (The photograph is pretty unbelievable, too.)

These daredevil dogs (and their handlers) are part of Austrian special forces that are "[joining] Nato's Operation Cold Response, one of Europe's biggest military exercises, in Narvik, Norway. ... Commandos from 14 countries, including British special forces and Royal Marines, took part in the Nato exercise. The use of dogs in High Altitude High Opening missions was pioneered by America's Delta Force, which trained the animals to breathe through oxygen masks during the jump."

Dropping from 10,000 feet in the air these dogs "glide in" to land "unnoticed" and they "often carry cameras and are trained to attack anyone carrying a weapon."
I'd be curious to speak to a veterinarian about this but the dog handler interviewed for this piece claims that: 

Dogs don't perceive height difference. ... They're more likely to be bothered by the roar of the engines, but once we're on the way down, that doesn't matter and they just enjoy the view. ... "It's something [this dog] does a lot. He has a much cooler head than most recruits."

After a little digging, I found this is hardly the first time the military -- in the United States or elsewhere -- has attempted to get its war dogs airborne.

The November 1935 issue of Popular Science Magazine ran an article about the Soviet army was experimenting parachuting dogs out of planes with a new invention -- the "cylindrical coop," which was:

provided with a parachute that opens automatically when it is tossed from a plane. The shell of the coop, locked closed during the descent, springs open of its own accord when the device strikes the ground."

In 1980, The Ocala Star Banner, ran this story about how the army was training a "crack corps of 40 German shepherd dogs" who were accustomed to jumping off 8-foot towers so that they "would be able to withstand the rigors of parachute jumping."

But perhaps most famous of all is the legendary SAS Rob, a collie and parachuting war-dog hero of WWII. Rob was awarded the animal's Victoria's Cross in 1945 for saving British soldiers' lives by "licking their cheeks to wake them at signs of danger" and for making a remarkable 20 parachute jumps. But in 2006, this amazing parachute-jumping lore was revealed to have been a hoax. Apparently, when the dog's owners requested Rob be discharged and returned home, the dog's SAS handler, Tom Burt, was said to have been so "upset at the prospect of losing him" he concocted the story to keep Rob in the regiment. Can we blame him?