Moses the mastiff training to become a therapy dog
March 27, 2020
Moses, a year-and-a-half-old Canary Mastiff, was a bit unsure of his surroundings during a recent visit to the county fire station on Public Safety Drive, but he enjoyed the head scratches and bully rubs even if he wasn’t fond of the smell of smoke from a lingering training exercise or the look of firefighters laden with gear.
“That’s why we are doing what we’re doing,” said Joe O’Neal, Moses’ owner.
Moses was recently certified as a Canine Good Citizen through the American Kennel Club, and the folks who trained him at Whispering Oaks in Murrayville told the O’Neals that Moses would make an excellent therapy dog, so now the gentle giant is in the process of earning that certification as well.
“Watching other people enjoy him is therapy for me,” said Joe O’Neal, who noted that he has suffered from back and hip issues for some time and dealt with depression as a side effect of his injuries.
Moses has been such a big help to him, he said, that he wanted to share his furry friend with other people who could benefit from an interaction with the dog. Melody noted the improvement in her husband’s life has been important.
“Doing things with Moses is a huge distraction, so it helps him a lot,”
Most Recent News
Former Victoria man’s diabetic alert dog helps him get back to life
When Luke Hengen’s diabetes worsened in his early twenties, it stripped him of the outdoor activities where the country kid felt at home. Countless wilderness adventures and years of hard-fought football games took a toll on his body, to the point where he could no longer sense when his blood sugar was too high or […]
Students Get Therapy Dog
When middle school students return to class on Jan. 11, they’ll find a new face at the door: Daisy. Daisy is a therapy dog and the personal pet of Rob Kreger, principal of the Rock L. Butler Middle School. The five-year-old golden retriever is not a school pet or mascot, but rather a working dog […]
Therapy Dogtor
Last March, Caroline Benzel, a third-year medical student, began to notice the stress and discomfort her nurse friends were feeling from the pressures of the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. “[Personal protective equipment] can be really rough on the skin,” Benzel, 31, tells PEOPLE. Benzel and her 3-year-old Rottweiler, Loki (who’s also a therapy dog) hatched a […]
Therapy Dog Pups
When Stanley the miniature fox terrier’s owner passed away, the little dog started a ‘paw-some’ new role – bringing puppy love to some of the Gold Coast’s oldest residents. After Carinity Cedarbrook Diversional Therapist Julianne Staff adopted Stanley, he began visiting the aged care community at Mudgeeraba as a therapy dog. Therapy dogs help to […]
Puppy Cams
A nonprofit is providing an unusual form of therapy for those on the front lines of the coronavirus pandemic – puppy cams! “You spend five minutes with a puppy and try not to smile,” said registered nurse Robin Lingg Lagrone. Lingg Lagrone says watching little furballs wag their tails and prance on their paws helps […]
Pet Committee
When Moore County’s school doors were abruptly closed earlier in 2020, two- and four-legged volunteers from the Moore County Citizens’ Pet Responsibility Committee (PRC) were in their 12th year of presenting a six-session Pet Responsibility Education Program for fourth-graders. The PRC quickly shifted gears and placed its program materials online as part of a home […]