News

Community Helps 6-Year-Old

May 11, 2020

Back in early 2019, the Bowling family had a goal. They wanted to get a service dog for their 4-year-old son, Mason Bowling, but they didn’t have enough money. Mason has autism and a genetic chromosome disorder, so they thought a service dog would help him in his daily life. However, an autism service dog […]

Shelter To Soldier Receives Donation

May 11, 2020

Shelter to Soldier recently announced a generous donation from The Patriots Connection under the Rancho Santa Fe Foundation to supply turf to build five new pet play yards and one new training yard at the Shelter to Soldier training facility in Oceanside. The new training yards provide the Shelter to Soldier training team with ample […]

Helping Service Dogs

May 11, 2020

Two sisters, Sherry Ross and Lorette Vanourny, both of Cedar Rapids, founded a local non-profit to train and match service dogs with people in need several years ago. Some of the first people they helped were hearing impaired, leading to the organization’s name — Deafinitely Dogs. Ask Sherry Ross what it is about Deafinitely Dogs […]

“Read To A Therapy Dog” Program

May 11, 2020

Camden County Library has virtual events every week for kids. Here are some events for the week of May 11-15. Monday morning kids can “Make Your Own Journal” with simple home supplies or join in some evening fun with “Tween Dungeons & Dragons”. On Tuesday get ready for some zany lip-syncing Zoom fun with Miss […]

Good Canine Citizen

May 11, 2020

From not being able to take your dogs on a walk to dealing with their frequent mood swings to rescuing dogs and puppies during lockdown, there are multiple issues to deal with for animal lovers. Paramita Das, a canine trainer and behaviourist — trained by renowned dog trainer and behaviourist Shirin Merchant and John Rogerson, […]

Training Service Dogs

May 11, 2020

On the heels of graduating from college, a brother’s injury led a Villager to teach her German shepherd to help him. To neighbors looking out their windows, it appears that Cheryl Williams is using her wheelchair to take her dog for a walk. But the story is much different. Williams is a puppy raiser through […]

Therapy Dog Services Suspended

May 11, 2020

Organizations including Orange County Animal Allies (OCAA), Animal Health Foundation (AHF) and Pet Partners closed therapy dog services amid the spread of COVID-19. Therapy dogs possess trained abilities to provide emotional care to an individual in difficult circumstances, however national organizations temporarily shut down those amenities for safety reasons. Alleviations therapy dogs amend cover stress, […]

Therapy Dogs Reach VCU Health Virtually

May 11, 2020

As the director of VCU Health’s Center for Human-Animal Interaction, Nancy Gee believes she has the best job in the world. Within the center is Dogs on Call, a therapy dog program for patients at VCU Health Medical Center, students and staff. “It is challenging to articulate the feeling, and heartwarming is absolutely the sense […]

Therapy Dogs Part Of Nurses Day

May 11, 2020

Workers heading to and from the evening shift change at Tallahassee Memorial Hospital received a unique honor on Wednesday, May 6. Dozens of the hospital’s therapy dogs and their handlers were lined up along Surgeon’s Drive in salute. It was a very special Nurses Day observance. Not only nurses, but all hospital employees arriving to […]

SDSU’s New Therapy Pup

May 11, 2020

The university’s Counseling and Psychological Services recently welcomed a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel/poodle mix puppy — thanks to a donor’s pledge — who will join Baxter as the university’s second therapy dog. A forthcoming contest will help name the canine companion. “Baxter has been so phenomenal for the students,” said Jennifer, director of Counseling and Psychological […]