Tripawd is dog-gone good therapy for everyone
By Edie Grossfield
Post-Bulletin, Rochester MN

Madonna Towers resident Dottie Chipault, center, visits with Tristan, a black Labrador trained by Rick Faber, left, and Pepsi, a Jack Russell terrier trained by Hank Pernu, right, on Feb. 4. Faber and Pernu are Olmsted County jail detainees who learned how to train the dogs for social visits through the TriPAWd program.

For Rick Faber, an inmate in the Olmsted County Jail, the chance to train an abandoned black Labrador retriever named Tristan was a chance to improve himself.

Faber, who is serving time in the county's work-release program, participates in a new social therapy dog training program called TriPawd. It matches up jail detainees and shelter dogs to create social therapy dogs for visits to nursing homes and other such facilities.

The program has taught Faber, who has three children, patience and parenting skills.

"It's a lot of responsibility. It's like having another kid around," he said. "I've learned about not yelling. It's helped me learn patience and to have control."

TriPawd is unconventional in a number of ways. One obvious aspect is the jail inmates. They participate in a six-week, hands-on dog obedience training program and then take the dogs to nursing homes for social therapy visits.

Since the inmates are in the county's work-release program, meaning they are able to go to their jobs during the day and then return to the jail in the evening, they are considered very low risk, said Olmsted County Sheriff Steven Borchardt.

"The only people that would be eligible (for TriPawd) are those who have been convicted and sentenced to local time. And those folks are usually on our sentence-for-service crews or on work-release anyway," he said.

Allison Sullivan, the founder of TriPawd, teaches the inmates how to train the dogs. She sets up the nursing home visits and supervises the dogs and their trainers during visits.

Another unusual element of TriPawd is that it uses shelter dogs; in this case, from Paws and Claws Humane Society. Most social therapy dog training programs use purebreds with known backgrounds.

"I knew what was most important to me was using the shelter dog," Sullivan said. "And there's not a lot of work that shelter dogs can do because they're not too terribly reliable — we don't know what their backgrounds are. But one thing they can do is make people smile. So, I was like 'OK, we'll go with that.'"

Her first training session recently ended, successfully, and she is now choosing dogs and trainers for the next round. The four dogs she had in the first session all were adopted by their foster homes, which kept them during their training. That is another benefit of TriPawd: a well-behaved dog is a more adoptable dog, Sullivan said.

The most important thing Sullivan can teach inmates during dog training is how to control their emotions, which is an important skill to take back to their homes and work lives, she said.

She described a common training moment in which a detainee might become frustrated with his dog because it's not behaving or doing what it's being asked to do. In this situation, the trainer can easily lose his patience.

"But I'm right there, and I can see that you're about to lose it with this dog. And let me remind you of a couple of the things that we've been talking about. Let me remind you of what a benevolent leader you can be. And then, all of a sudden, after however many times of me watching you about to lose it, you become your own coach," she said.

At a recent visit to Madonna Towers, an assisted living complex in northwest Rochester, Sullivan marveled at how Faber and another inmates worked with their dogs and interacted with the residents.

"I love the pride the guys have in being able to answer questions about their dogs," she said. "And I love to see how patient they are in difficult training situations, and I love to see the kindness and respect that they show to the residents. Doing something well and sharing it is what life is all about, I guess, and TriPawd is giving them tools to do it peacefully."

During the training program, the inmates and dogs bond, which can make the eventual parting painful, Faber said. He had to say good-bye to Tristan, who was adopted by the family that fostered the dog during the training program.

"It's kind of sad, but he's going to a good home," Faber said.

Faber is now training another dog in TriPawd.

From KWGN in Denver

Specially trained dogs search for avalanche victims
Sense of smell helps dogs find victims in minutes

by Laura Main, News2

SUMMIT COUNTY (KWGN) — Avalanches at ski resorts are pretty rare, since most do control work on a regular basis. And at Copper Mountain they have an added safety net for skiers and riders — dogs, trained to dig people out from slides.

This weekend, the dogs took part in a training mission to keep their skills up. Handler Chris Sutton hugs his 2-year-old Golden Retriever, Cascade, and gets him pumped up for the exercise.

"Where'd your people go? Huh? Where'd they go? Who's out there? Cascade, you want to go to work? Good boy. You want to go to work? Cascade, go search, " ge said.

Cascade's a typical Golden Retriever — exuberant, playful and incredibly social. He's been putting all those skills to good use since he was four weeks old. He's a fourth generation avalanche dog. He trains at least once a week to really hone his skills. He sniffs out a slide area and goes to where the scent is strongest and he starts digging. When he's sure he's found a slide victim, he barks, to let Chris know he's made a definite find. Chris is pleased it took him just 30 seconds to find his first victim.

"A very clear alert, a good bark right away. Very aggressive dig. You see how he's growling, and really wanting to get to them," said Sutton.

Chris and other volunteers help dig out the snow at the spot Cascade's indicated. And when they find the volunteer who's buried in the snow, Cascade goes nuts.

"Look at that tail. That's the happiest dog in the world right there."

In an avalanche, just a few seconds can be the difference between life and death. That's why dogs like Cascade are such a huge help.

Sutton said, "Dogs are incredibly fast. They can search an area far faster than humans simply because he's more agile over avalanche debris than I am."

Plus, a dog's strong sense of smell can find a victim much faster than humans probing the snow with poles. Handlers volunteer several hours a week to make sure their dogs are ready to go whenever they're needed. Handler John Reller has been doing this for 19 years.

"The rewards are huge. Just to see how well the dogs work, how much they like it, but also the end result whether it's a live find or closure for the family and friends of whoever's been buried or lost, " said Reller.

So even if you're not a dog lover, Cascade or one of his buddies could wind up being your best friends in the worst of circumstances.

After Cascade's found all three victims, Chris gives him a big hug and said, "That was a good search! That was a good search, yes it was! (BARKS) Good boy! BARKING"

The dog teams at Copper also help the county search and rescue team and the Flight for Life chopper with backcountry rescues.

Kennel stress is a real phenomenon. It can happen to any dog, whether it is a dog being kenneled at a boarding kennel, other dogs living in a kennel situation, or, as in Bubba's case, a dog in a shelter environment. It happens most often to dogs who are plunged into a kennel situation who aren't used to living in one. If a dog has been acclimated to living in a kennel situation, such as hunting dogs who may live in large kennels with other dogs they know from the time they're young, the dog is usually quite happy to be surrounded by the dogs and things he knows. (However, some hunting breeds are better adapted to living in kennels than others. Some breeds may be too soft-natured for this life. Others are more pack-oriented and it doesn't bother them.)

For dogs like Bubba, living in a kennel with strange dogs and lots of strange sights and sounds is very stressful. It makes them nervous. They lose weight. They can pace, their personalities may change. All of these things make it even harder for them to be adopted.

Kennel stress is one of the primary reasons why dogs often die in the custody of rescue when they seize dogs from people. Even in cases where their previous conditions may not have been ideal, the stress of living in a kennel situation at a shelter with strangers and being scared by the sudden changes in their lives leads some of these dogs to stop eating and it can worsen existing health conditions.

If you're in the Oshkosh area, the contact information for Bubba is at the end of the story below. No matter where you live, if you are looking for a shelter dog you may want to take a look at some of the dogs who are having trouble adapting to the kennel situation at the shelter.

From the Oshkosh Northwestern

Dogs can become victims of kennel stress; Bubba needs a home

Bubba is a 4-year-old black Labrador dog who is suffering greatly from kennel stress and needs to find a forever home. He may be seen at the Oshkosh Area Humane Society.

Adaptability, some of us are better at it than others and such is the case with different dogs cooped up at animal shelters.

Animals housed in shelters are under a great deal of stress. You may ask, "What does a dog have to be stressed about"?

Kennel stress, as it is referred to in the animal industry, is a condition caused by some or all of the variables of the living environment of any kennel.

For some dogs being in close approximation to strange dogs and people, whether in sight or within hearing distance, can be stressful. Loud or unusual noises can be very distracting and produce stress.

Kenneled dogs are often in a constant state of anxiety and can suffer from sleep deprivation. For some dogs, their brain is constantly on alert and they can’t ever relax. The biggest promoter of stress is too much confinement in comparison to the energy level of the dog.

The Oshkosh Area Humane Society watches for signs of stress and all dogs are exercised or walked two to three times daily. Sometimes this isn’t enough to outweigh the stress a dog feels while confined to a kennel.

Living in a kennel environment for an extended length of time is unnatural to a dog’s natural desire to be part of a pack or family.

Any dog can become a victim of kennel stress. Some become depressed and lose weight while others become hyperactive and start exhibiting extreme behaviors. Kennel stress can produce obsessive- compulsive behaviors including circling and whirling and bouncing repetitively off kennel walls.

Kennel stress is what is happening to Bubba, a very adoptable, 4-year-old, well-behaved black Labrador.

The many twists and turns in Bubba’s short life, in addition to now being at OAHS, are pushing him over the edge. Bubba was given away from his first home because he wouldn’t hunt and has been passed along to different homes. Bubba has had four homes in four years.

Bubba is a good dog who is having a very rough time right now. OAHS is hoping someone will help us save him.

Bubba’s temperament test indicates he would do well with children, knows basic commands, loves to play fetch and is housetrained and crate trained.

He would love to have a family willing to provide him with plenty of exercise. He isn’t afraid of anything including guns or water but he’s not a hunting dog.

If you are looking for a jogging buddy or fulltime playmate please come and spend some time with Bubba. It would be a tragedy to lose Bubba to kennel stress.

You may come and visit with Bubba at 1925 Shelter Court Tuesday and Wednesday, noon to 6 p.m., Thursday and Friday, 2 to 8 p.m. and Saturday 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. OAHS is closed Sundays, Mondays and holidays.

Contributed by Cheryl Rosenthal.

Following up on the story about Sgt. Neesley this weekend and the comments about Operation Baghdad Pups, here's a story about Royal Marines who saved a pair of dogs in Afghanistan. It's really heartbreaking, but at least it has a happy ending. The Marines have formed a charity to help similar dogs in Afghanistan now.

From Britain's Telegraph

Royal Marines rescue dogs from Afghanistan
Last Updated: 1:28am GMT 07/01/2008

PLYMOUTH Two dogs that were found starving in a cellar by Royal Marines in Helmand province, Afghanistan, are starting a new life in Britain.

The alsatian-cross dogs, pictured with Sergeant Paul Farthing from 42 Commando, based near Plymouth, were flown 3,500 miles to Britain after the Marines who rescued them could not bear to leave them behind.

The dogs, called Nowzad and Tali, lived in a bunker and were fed military rations to build up their strength, before they began their journey to Britain. They now live with Sergeant Farthing. Photo from the Times Online

Leave no man behind is a rule the military tries to live by, but Royal Marines in Afghanistan appear to have adopted an additional principle: leave no dog behind.

A pair of cross-breeds are starting a new life in Britain after Marines from 42 Commando smuggled them across the war-torn country.

The dogs, which were found begging for food, were taken in by the soldiers in Helmand province and spent months living in a bunker, building up their strength on military rations.

When the men ended their deployment they feared for the animals' welfare so they arranged for them to be transported by Afghan people to a rescue centre in Kabul.

The dogs were hidden in the back of trucks for three days, escaping the attention of the Taliban and dog thieves, and had to swap vehicles on several occasions to evade discovery.

After being flown 3,500 miles to England and spending six months in quarantine, the pair, Nowzad and Tali, are living at the home of 42 Commando's Sgt Paul "Penny" Farthing 38, and his wife Lisa, 34.

Sgt Farthing, of Exmouth, Devon, said: "Nowzad and Tali have changed my life beyond all recognition and I know theirs has changed too."

The dogs were found in October 2006 in the town of Nowzad with three other dogs, which the men named RPG, Jen and AK.

Nowzad's ears had been cut off and Tali was carrying six puppies but the men, based at Bickleigh Barracks near Plymouth, Devon, took them in.

In February last year, the troops arranged for the dogs to be transported to the shelter in Kabul. Unfortunately, during the arduous journey, RPG and AK escaped and three puppies were stolen.

Two weeks after arriving in Kabul, Nowzad and Tali were flown to England while Jena was sent to a new home in the US.

The puppies are still being looked after in Afghanistan while new owners are found.

Sgt Farthing added: "They have both come from one of the most dangerous places in the world, where all dogs have to hunt for scraps to stay alive and face the daily abuse of dog fighting or puppy breeding and even dodge military bombs. But they are now living a safe and happy existence."

Sgt Farthing has formed the Nowzad Dogs Charity, which helps rehome stray dogs in Afghanistan and source medical supplies from Pakistan.

From London's Times Online.

I'm going to say a couple of things about Errol and this story that it doesn't say. Errol is a lucky dog in some ways because he is apparently at a no kill shelter. Good for them. No kill is the way to go. If you have any doubts, pick up a copy of Nathan Winograd's book Redemption. However, that same book and its ideas will tell you that Errol should not have had to spend 10 years in a rescue center. Yes, thank goodness there was a place for him. But couldn't some creative ideas from shelter administration have found this handsome boy a real home at some point in the last 10 years? It's admirable that the center wanted to home Errol with his brother, but during the course of 10 years surely a good home could have been found that would have adopted both of them if the shelter staff had made them a priority.

I'm sorry to be critical of the rescue center, but it's distressing to hear of a dog living 10 years at a rescue center when some good ideas might have found him a home sooner. One of Mr. Winograd's ideas is that dogs at no kill shelters should be effectively marketed to the public so they don't languish in shelters — or worse, so they aren't euthanized needlessly. Rescue and shelter staffs should start using some public relations skills instead of focusing exclusively on eliminating dogs. That's not how you manage the pet population. Instead, you make sure cats and dogs are in good homes.

Let's hope that Errol finally finds a terrific, loving home for his last years.

I'd like for you to also note what the people in the article say about dogs being dumped. The main problem with shelters filling isn't coming from puppies — shelters have trouble keeping enough cute puppies to meet the public demand for adoption. Shelters are filling with dogs of all ages who are dumped by their owners. As many people have said, what we really have is an owner retention problem. People moving who say they can't take their dogs with them; people laid off who say they can't afford to keep their dogs; people who dump their dogs when they go on vacation; people who get pregnant and don't want to keep their dog anymore…the list goes on and on. One person at a time, it adds up to hundreds of thousands. There are many people who think of dogs as something disposable. When the dogs become inconvenient, people dump them.

You can't legislate ethics or morals. Laws against breeders will not prevent people from dumping their pets. Hobby breeders are not the people responsible for the unwanted pets in shelters. In fact, hobby breeders try very hard to choose the best possible homes for their puppy buyers and to educate them about caring for their puppies. If anything, when lawmakers create harsher dog laws, they increase the chances that the average owner will dump their pets. Higher license fees, mandatory spaying and neutering, and other recent ordinances that make it more difficult for people to own dogs lead to more dogs in shelters — and, in many places, more euthanasia.

Education does work. We have gone from rampant pet overpopulation in the 1950s and '60s to having about 70-75 percent of the dog population spayed and neutered VOLUNTARILY today. What we need to do now is to educate people about their responsibility toward their pets and the commitment they are making when they buy or adopt a dog or cat. Pets shouldn't be disposable, but don't make laws that create additional burdens for pet owners. Help educate them about good pet ownership.

When I was in the 4th grade we had a Be Kind To Animals group at my school. We learned about different animals and how to take care of them. We read books about animal communication. We read books about dogs and cats. It was a great introduction to animal care. I imagine it was especially good for kids who didn't have pets at home. That's the kind of thing we need in schools now instead of a curriculum supplied by HSUS or PETA telling kids not to eat meat or drink milk.

There's a difference between education and propaganda. Education can save lives and help us all. Please try not to confuse the two.

Errol

Errol still waits, after 70 dog years
Home Staff

Errol could be the unluckiest dog in Britain, after spending ten years in a rescue centre.

The 12-year-old border collie cross has spent about 70 dog years (according to the popular myth) in kennels after he was abandoned by his owner. But as animal charities prepare to be inundated with dogs and cats dumped over the festive period, Errol is hoping that 2008 might bring him a new family.

He is not alone. The RSPCA takes in more than 50 unwanted dogs and cats a day during December, a figure that rises to 90 in January. The charity said that the surge was not just a result of unwanted Christmas presents being dumped, but was also a consequence of many families having a winter “clear out” before the new year. There is usually a second surge in the summer, when people abandon pets because they cannot find anyone to care for them while they are on holiday, a spokesman said.

Errol was abandoned at the Gemini Kennels in Wickford, Essex, in the summer of 1997 with his brother William. William died last year.

Now the owners of the kennel are hoping that someone will be prepared to offer Errol a home. Michael Knight, 51, said: “We couldn’t home Errol and William together because some people don’t want to take on two dogs and we weren’t prepared to split them up. But now William has gone and Errol is a bit older, we feel it’s time for him to move on.

“There is nothing like a home environment for a dog to live out their final years. Dogs these days can live until they are 17, so he could have a long and happy retirement with the right person.”

He added: “[Ten years] is a long time for a dog to be in kennels, even though he has been loved and looked after. He is fit and healthy. He is not aggressive at all and he is still full of life. After his brother died he fretted for a while but now he is fine. He has calmed down a lot.”

Mr Knight, who runs the kennels with Eunice Reece, 50, said that they were looking ideally for a family or an elderly couple. Mr Knight said: “We are looking for someone who will love him throughout the time he has left. We will be sad to see him go, but we want to find the right home for him. That is our aim for all the dogs at our kennels.”

Last year alone, Gemini Kennels picked up 284 dogs that had been dumped, and rehoused 260 of them. Over Christmas, three unwanted puppies — Holly the Staffordshire bull terrier, Tinsel the shih tzu/pug cross and Violet the collie — were rescued after being given as unwanted presents.

Mr Knight said: “Sadly the number of dogs dumped each year is increasing. We are not just talking about middle-aged dogs but dogs of all ages. We are trying to get the message across to members of the public, but they still don’t heed it. Every rescue centre we know says it is getting worse, not better. It is horrific.”