Life With Dogs

Tuesday, 31 December 2019

Community Finds Missing Golden Retriever After Rollover Accident

A family from Woodhaven, Michigan had a string of back luck recently. But, as they say, every cloud has a silver lining. The Stevensons were on their way to spend Christmas morning with their family. Unfortunately, they hit a slick spot on the interstate which resulted in a rollover accident. The slick spot sent their car flying as it flipped a few times before coming to a stop.

With The Good Comes The Bad

The silver lining is that nobody was hurt. Wade Stevenson, Ruth Stevenson, and toddler Hazel were left unharmed.

“Just a couple scratches to be honest. Even the Christmas presents didn’t get scratched. I don’t understand,” Wade Stevenson told lex18.com.

There may have been no injuries but the fourth member of the family went missing. The family’s 1-year-old Golden Retriever, Red, darted into the woods immediately after the accident.

In addition to the Stevenson family, local animal control, the police department, and dozens of volunteers searched high and low for Red. Three live traps were set up and baited with food and clothing from Red’s family, hoping that the scent would lure him in. Several nearby businesses reported sightings so the family wasn’t losing hope.

It Takes A Village

The Stevenson family was overwhelmed by the support they received from the community. Residents joined forces nearly instantaneously after the accident to bring Red home.

“We just want to thank (everyone) from the bottom of our hearts for everything you have done to help us. We still have not found red but we are doing everything we can to find/get him,” Ruth Stevenson wrote on Facebook.

The family started a GoFundMe which was able to raise enough money to pay for a search done by drones. Unfortunately, this search did not help them find Red.

“We reached a point in the funding to where we have covered the drone expenses from yesterday’s operation. While the operation did not find Red, the thermal visioning did show that he does not appear to be in the area,” Wade Stevenson posted to Facebook.

A Happy Ending To Close Out The Decade

Nearly one week after he went missing, Red was found safe and sound! He was reunited with his family just in time to celebrate the new year! The good news was announced on the “Bring Red Home” Facebook page. It’s unclear how exactly he was found.

It may not have been the ending the Stevensons expected for this decade, but it sure is a great one!

h/t: lex18.com
Featured Photo: @BringRedHome/Facebook

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Guide Dog Dropout Becomes ‘Custody Canine’ For UK Police Station

River, like so many other 5-year-old Labs, loves to chase squirrels. For most dogs, this personality trait is a mere inconvenience; but for River, it resulted in her removal from a guide dog training program.

This gorgeous gal wasn’t cut out for work with the blind, but her calm, gentle nature made her the perfect choice for a new form of police service.

The “Custody Canine” pilot project at Maidstone Police Station in Kent, UK utilizes River’s unique skills to help soothe stressed detainees.

“We are often dealing with people in crisis and although their behavior has resulted in arrest, they could be suffering with depression, anxiety or mental illness,” says Sergeant Ian Sutton, coordinator of the program. “Young people may find themselves in custody too and in some cases they are scared and daunted by the experience, whilst others may have difficulty in communicating.”

“Being detained can exacerbate these issues and we are committed to ensure that police custody is a safe and supportive environment for both police, staff and detainees. We are always looking for new or innovative ways to achieve this,” Sutton adds.

After her removal from the guide dog program, River went on to receive her certification as a therapy dog. She worked in a special education school comforting and supporting the children.

The school was so impressed with River’s work, they went on to purchase their own therapy dog. River was out of a job, but ready for a new challenge.

Trainers at Kent Police’s dog unit assessed River’s temperament and found her to be a perfect fit for the unpredictable custody environment. She went to work at the beginning of December, and has been regularly supporting detainees at Maidstone Police Station ever since.

“River has joined the team to offer emotional support to people who are experiencing difficulties, she provides a therapeutic benefit to those in crisis and helps to counter some of the negative behavior we sometimes experience in custody,” Sergeant Sutton reports. “Since beginning work with us she has had a notable positive impact on those she has spent time with, and the atmosphere in custody improves when she is on shift. This allows staff and officers to use their time more effectively rather than diffusing situations.”

Those concerned about the potential dangers a “Custody Canine” may face can rest easy. A press release assures there are procedures in place to ensure River’s safety as she performs her duties.

“Her handler is always there watching over her, she has access to fresh water and food, and she is also taken out for regular breaks,” the release states.

What do you think of the “Custody Canine” pilot project at Maidstone Police Station? Would you like to see your local police initiate a similar program? Let us know in the comments!

Featured Image via Kent Police

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Boy’s “Tearjerker” Letter Earns Him An Autism Assistance Dog

Children and dogs go together like peanut butter and jelly — especially when the child is on the Autism spectrum, and the dog is trained to keep him safe!

10-year-old Lewis Millar faces daily challenges stemming from Aspberger’s syndrome. After four years on a waiting list with Assistance Dogs Northern Ireland (ADNI), the boy’s heartfelt letter helped make his dream a reality.

A Black Lab named Jade joined the Miller family just in time for the holidays!

“It was the most emotional assessment I’ve ever done. It was a tearjerker,” ADNI’s Geraldine McGaughey told BBC News.

Lewis’ mother, Danielle Cooper, encouraged him to write a letter to help the assessors understand just how much an assistant dog would change his life for the better.

Lewis has trouble regulating his emotions and reading other peoples’ reactions, meaning he sometimes comes across “rough” to other children.

“He loves movement, swings, running, jumping, anything that is aggressive exercise. He would play football for hours,” Danielle says. She adds that at home, Lewis often has trouble sleeping. “He has very high anxiety. He hears noises at night that aren’t there.”

ADNI Autism dogs are trained to keep children safe outside the home as well as provide emotional support. When Lewis is out and about, he will wear a backpack with a tether connecting to Jade’s collar or harness.

Should he become frightened or overwhelmed, Jade will sit down, preventing Lewis from running away and getting lost.

At home, Jade’s calming presence will help reduce Lewis’ anxiety and improve interactions with his four siblings. Best of all, Jade will be Lewis’ best friend, something he greatly needs after the recent death of a close school friend.

Photo via Facebook/ADNI Assistance Dogs Northern Ireland

If you are wondering what Lewis wrote to help sway the ADNI assessors, here is an excerpt from his letter:

“I would feed it and care for it because I would love it more than anything. If it was with me it would be like Superdog to me. I probably wouldn’t even be scared to go to the forest. I love dogs more than anything.”

He added that if he had an assistance dog he wouldn’t be scared to go upstairs at bedtime, to come downstairs to get his cereal, or to watch TV.

Jade hasn’t been with the family long, but Danielle reports, “it’s been going really well. It’s been like an early Christmas present. To get lying on the sofa with your son beside you and the dog in the middle is amazing.”

According to research from the University of Missouri College of Veterinary Medicine,having a dog helps improve social skills in children with Autism. Just imagine what a difference a dog like Jade can make!

H/T to BBC.com
Featured Image via Danielle Cooper

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Survey Reveals All The Ways Our Dogs “Ruin” The Holidays

Now that the holiday season is coming to a close and we’ve said goodbye to visiting family members, there’s time for a little pause and reflection. Time to think back on the thoughtful gifts, delicious meals, and of course all the ways your mischievous dogs and cats made a horrible mess of the season.

Itchpet recently performed some valuable research on this topic. A survey of 2,000 dog and cat people discovered a myriad of holiday “crimes” our furry friends commit each year. Whether it’s knocking over decorations or stealing figurines from nativity scenes, 53% of respondents indicated that their dogs or cats wreaked havoc over Christmas. 12% said their fur kids have embarrassed them in front of visiting guests.

To put it as Charlotte Harper, Co-founder of Itchpet did:

“Your cat or dog might be your best friend, but that doesn’t mean they can’t cause chaos from time to time.”

Most Common Dog/Cat “Crimes”

According to the survey, here are some of the most commonly reported ways furry family members drove people crazy over the holidays.

Damaged festive decorations
Climbed the Christmas tree
Knocked over the Christmas tree
Stole meat from a plate or counter
Damaged presents
Passed gas during dinner
Revealed his ‘lipstick’ in front of friends/family
Inappropriately sniffed a guest
Chewed up someone’s slippers
Brought a dead animal inside
Relieved themselves on the Christmas tree
Left their own little ‘present’ under the tree
Relieved themselves on a snowman/snowwoman/snowthing
Made a grandparent trip over them
Ate cookies left out for Santa
Chewed up gift cards with money in them
Stole a figure from the nativity scene
Destroyed the Fairy/Star from the Christmas tree
Stole underwear from visitors
Gave a relative or relatives’ animal fleas

The 12 Naughtiest Breeds

The research also pinpointed a few breeds that are more likely to be on the naughty list than others. If one of these happens to be your little guy or gal, don’t say we didn’t warn you!

Jack Russell Terrier
Yorkshire Terrier
Chihuahua
Labrador
Springer Spaniel
Boxer
Mixed breed
German Shepherd
Cocker Spaniel
French Bulldog
Cockapoo
Dalmatian

No, our dogs don’t exactly follow our sociocultural norms when it comes to holidays, but we forgive them. Maybe that has something to do with how adorable they look in Santa hats. Many people surveyed said their dogs don’t bother them any more than any other relative over the holidays.

Here’s a little holiday tip from Charlotte from Itchpet: keep your animals’ routines the same as usual to keep them calm. Avoid overfeeding them with festive treats and snacks and tell your guests to do the same.

H/T: Country Living

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Labrador Kicked Out Of Guide Dog Training Ends Up Shining In New Career As A Therapy Dog

They say when one door closes, another one opens. Well this saying proved true when an adorable Labrador named River was sacked from her training as a guide dog for her love of chasing squirrels, and in turn found her way to a new career.

While River appeared to be wonderful candidate for a career as a guide dog, she began to raise some eyebrows when her love of chasing squirrels was able to distract her from just about anything. While this is usually a harmless past time for most pups, it’s not exactly ideal when your given the important task of leading the blind.

river custody canine — KentPolice/Facebook

Though she wasn’t the right fit for a career as a guide dog, her sweet nature and kind heart pointed to another prestigious career in the dog world. She was exactly what the Kent Police Department was looking for in a therapy animal to help support vulnerable suspects and victims in their city.

When we see a suspect arrested, we don’t often think about the possible mental illnesses and complications that have led them down this road. A troubling past and possible mental distress is a huge factor in many crimes, and the Kent Police force understands this fact all too well.

“We are often dealing with people in crisis and although their behavior has resulted in arrest, they could be suffering with depression, anxiety or mental illness.Young people may find themselves in custody too and in some cases they are scared and daunted by the experience, whilst others may have difficulty in communicating.” – Sergeant Ian Sutton

Being brought into custody can be a traumatic event for the suspect, especially if the suspect is young or suffering from any kind of mental illness.

“Being detained can exacerbate these issues and we are committed to ensure that police custody is a safe and supportive environment for both police, staff and detainees. We are always looking for new or innovative ways to achieve this.” – Sergeant Ian Sutton

A custody canine’s job is to provide support for suspects during the custody process, and hopefully help to reduce stress for vulnerable suspects and ease the difficulty of communicating with officers. Since beginning her work with the Kent Police Department, officers have noticed a positive impact on the custody process when she is present.

With dogs like River on board at the station, police officers can spend less time diffusing the situation, and more time on getting to the bottom of the crime. Custody canines can make a huge difference to staff and suspects involved in the custody process, and are beginning to be considered in police stations in other areas.

We’re so glad that River found the way to her perfect situation after her initial setback. Keep up the good work River!

H/T: tyla.com
Image Source: KentPolice/Facebook

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Compassionate Officer Drapes Coat Over Sad Dog Hit By Car

Dogs survive car accidents all the time (thank God.) But often injured and terrified dogs will wander from accidents, unknowingly denying themselves the care they need. That makes emotional support for canine car accident victims important too.

A police officer in New York knows that, and it’s a good thing he was there for a dog hit by a car this month. On Facebook, The Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Office shared a photo of Sergeant Chris Howlett and a dog on a roadside snowbank. The dog had just been struck by a vehicle and the deputy responded to a call.

A picture is worth a thousand words as we know, and this one definitely speaks volumes. The officer has his hand on the grim-looking dog’s head. His jacket is draped over the poor gal’s body. Howlett waited there with her for help to arrive. He let her know she wasn’t alone.

*@Chautauqua-County-Sheriffs-Office/Facebook*

Everything about this says true compassion. The Sheriff’s Office notes how infrequently this aspect of law enforcement circulates around the web.

“During times that there seems to be negative press towards law enforcement this shows a bit of compassion on the part of law enforcement and specifically our deputies.”

Commenters took the opportunity to show their appreciation for local law enforcement and first responders.

“Thanks to all law enforcement, first responders, and all people that put their life on the line to make the world a safer place.” -Roger Gould via Facebook

“Thank you for your service and thank you for being so very kind to a fur baby in the frigid temperatures. Above and Beyond Duty!!!” – Pat Belbot via Facebook

The Pup Is Recovering!

The dog eventually got reunited with her family, but in that time after the accident she was never alone. She had comfort and protection from Howlett. She was safe.

Naturally you’re probably curious about how the dog is doing now. The Sheriff’s Office provided an update through the pup’s family. For starters, her name is Rogue.

“…she is being evaluated by Veterinarians. She is doing well and hopefully we will back home by Monday. I am sure the family has greatly appreciated the outpouring of support from everyone.”

For now, Rogue’s family will be monitoring her condition. Despite sustaining minor injuries from the accident, she should be okay. It’s a good thing someone was there from the start to convince her of that.

H/T: WKBW
Featured Image: @Chautauqua-County-Sheriffs-Office/Facebook

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Study Proves Kids Who Grow Up With Dogs Are Less Likely To Develop Schizophrenia

If you grew up with a dog by your side, you know what a rewarding experience it is. Having an adorable furry friend to play with is the dream for any kid. A new study suggests that there could be more benefits to dogs than just happiness. People that are exposed to dogs early in life are less likely to develop schizophrenia when they grow up. Having a dog during your childhood can keep you both happy and healthy!

Family dogs are one of the first living creatures children have close contact with. Kids can easily bond with a dog, which can affect their life in more ways than a parent could imagine. Serious psychiatric disorders are often linked to environmental exposures at a young age. So, it makes sense that exposure to an adorable furry friend would make a lifelong impact on a person.

What is the Study?

This study from Johns Hopkins Medicine looked at a total of 1,371 men and women between the ages of 18 and 65. Of those individuals, 396 had schizophrenia, 381 had bipolar disorder, and 594 had neither. Every participant in the study was asked if they grew up with a dog or cat in the first 12 years of their life. If they had a dog or cat in their family when they were born, they were considered to be exposed to animals since birth.

During the study, they paid close attention to the age that each person was exposed to a dog or cat. They carefully looked at the age ranges from birth to 3, 4 to 5, 6 to 8, and 9 to 12.

Study Results

There is still a lot more to research, but the results are good news for all dog lovers. This study revealed that people who were exposed to a dog before they turned 13 were 24% less likely to be diagnosed with schizophrenia in the future. Of course, most dog lovers already knew that dogs were good for our health just based on person experience!

While there is still lots to discover, it’s clear that growing up with a dog can benefit you. So, make sure your kids get to spend plenty of time with dogs to make them happier and healthier. Dogs truly can change your life for the better.

H/T: sciencedaily.com

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