News

The Impact ESA Make On People

June 4, 2020

A dog in the grocery store; a cat in the cabin of an airplane; a bird in a coffee shop – companion creatures labelled as Emotional Support Animals (ESAs) are showing up more and more in places previously understood to be animal-free. It’s part of a growing trend which includes “certifying” animals to provide emotional […]

Companion Canines

June 4, 2020

Caroline Delaney finds out how rescue charities are coping after Covid-19 pressed paws on adoptions When Dave Fleming got ‘matched’ with his dream dog from a rescue charity he was thrilled. There was just one hitch though — the logistics of getting Bumble on the 150k journey to his ‘forever home’ with Covid-19 restrictions limiting non-essential travel […]

Dispatch’s Emotional Support Dog

June 4, 2020

Bella is a 6-year-old British bulldog that was found abandoned in a car after her previous owner fled the scene of a crash. The city of Webster’s dispatch center adopted Bella as an emotional support dog in late 2019. Most days at the City of Webster’s dispatch center are chaotic, according to Assistant Chief of […]

Life Is Better With A Animal

June 4, 2020

Mental illness is a prevalent struggle in many people’s lives, myself included. To deal with anxiety and depression, I rely on my dog, Maui, to make it better. He’s just like any other dog upon first glance: goofy, loyal, loving, and unapologetically cute. But one thing separates him from your average pet: he’s my emotional […]

Dog Comforts Protesters

June 4, 2020

A woman brought her dog to the Peaceful demonstration at the Governor’s Mansion in St. Paul, Minnesota Monday, where the dog helped comfort many grieving people during the sit-in. Approximately 2,000 people gathered for Monday’s peaceful protest, calling for more aggressive charges the former Minneapolis police officer charged in the death of George Floyd on Memorial Day. […]

A Veteran’s Service Dog

June 4, 2020

Port Charlotte Navy veteran Thomas Andrews says his dog, Chief, helps him get through the day. “I’m one hundred percent on disability. I’ve got PTSD through the military so he’s actually a comfort dog to me,” he said. So when his usually playful pup stopped moving around over the weekend, fear set in. “He wasn’t […]

Celebrating Pet Therapy

June 4, 2020

When experienced pet handler Linda Dunn moved to Jacksonville, she approached numerous hospitals about starting a pet therapy program. When she shared this vision with Wolfson Children’s Hospital leaders, they saw it as an innovative way to improve patients’ experiences. Dunn promptly joined the Wolfson Children’s Auxiliary, established the program, and made the hospital’s first […]

Lifesaving Dog

June 4, 2020

Craig Hodgkins and his medical service dog Foxy have been together just a few days, but the Pittsburgh man said he already feels like it’s been a life-changing experience. And a life-saving one. “This was my last hope … She looks in my eyes and I feel relief,” he said. Thursday at Memorial Park in […]

Attorney’s Office Gets ESA

June 4, 2020

An emotional-support dog is joining the staff at the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office. Barrett joined the office in late December and is its first emotional-support animal, the office said in a news release. “Having an emotional-support animal like Barrett in our office will provide much-needed stress and anxiety relief to our staff members, as well […]

Hero German Shepherd

June 4, 2020

A mom’s reaction to being reunited with her lost child – found by Küsse, a German Shepherd rescue dog – was to smother both with kisses and hugs. Indeed, the name Kusse – German for “kisses” – fits Corey Speegle’s rescue dog to a “T.” With her innate ability to find lost people, Küsse has earned […]