Canine Companions for Independence

Canine Companions for Independence is a national program that helps people with physical disabilities regain their independence by providing them with highly trained assistance dogs. Some of the duties the dogs can do include alerting hearing-impaired persons to such things as smoke detector alarms, doorbells, and ringing telephones. They pull wheelchairs, can turn lights off or on, retrieve items that have been dropped, and many other tasks that are difficult for persons with disabilities.

A volunteer foster family socializes the qualified puppy. They take the pup everywhere to get them used to the situations in which they will be working as adults. They give them their basic training and, of course, lots of love. It is usually hard for the foster family to give them up when the pup is ready for their advanced training, but knowing how much help this dog will be to a person with disabilities eases the pain.

Advanced training begins when the dog is about 14 months old. Training lasts 6-9 months. In the last 2 weeks of training the dog, trainer, and recipient work together so the new owner will fully understand what the dog's capabilities and needs are. The bonding begins right away, too.

These dogs give people with disabilities a chance to live independently and quickly become their owner's best friend.

You can contact Canine Companions for Independence locally at 740-548-4447 or on-line at www.caninecompanions.org.

Animal-Assisted Therapy

This program involves animals, dogs and cats, helping people simply by visiting them. Facilities that are involved in these programs include nursing homes, retirement facilities, hospitals, hospice programs, and group homes for mentally or physically disabled. Some even visit private homes where ill or aged people are living mostly independently. The formal program usually involves a dog or cat, its handler, and the health care provider(s) working together as a team to determine specific goals to be accomplished for specific patients. The best part about the cat or dog is that it accepts all people as they are. There is no judgment. A visit can reduce loneliness and depression. Often, people become more active and responsive during a visit from a therapy dog or cat. Regular visits give the patient something to look forward to. The animals are entertaining, often distracting the patient from their pain. Patients talk to the dogs and cats, sharing thoughts, feelings, and memories that they would not share with anyone else. Stroking a pet has been proven to lower blood pressure and the activity exercises hands and arms. And often, once the visit is over, it still gives the patient a chance to interact with other patients through shared conversation about the visit.

Animals used in these programs are very special indeed. They must remain calm in any situation and be confident enough to trust strangers so much that they will "reach out" to them. If you think you would be interested in getting involved in one of these programs or would like more information, contact the Latham Foundation at 510-521-0920 or on-line at www.latham.org, or contact the Delta Society at 800-869-6898 or on-line at www.deltasociety.org

If I spay or neuter my pet will they become overweight?
An animal gains weight because they eat more calories than their body requires. Spaying or neutering your pet does change their metabolic rate. On average, a spayed or neutered pet requires about 1/4 to 1/3 fewer calories. Spaying and neutering is associated with a reduction in activity levels both from the procedure itself and because the pet is growing out of the puppy or kitten stage. Also, an enzyme called lipoprotein lipase (involved in fat storage) is changed by spaying or neutering. The result of this change is enhanced body fat storage.

What can you do to reduce the risk of weight gain after spaying or neutering?
The short answer is reduce calories and/or increase exercise. Please consult with your veterinarian before instituting any weight loss program for your pet. Depending on the age of your pet, switching from puppy or kitten food to an adult formulation will decrease the calorie load. Ad lib or "free choice" feeding is very convenient, but often is a factor in weight gain. Know how much food your pet should eat in a 24 hour period and do not refill the bowl when that amount has been eaten. Become a pet food label reader: Many have a very high fat content to increase the palatability. Feed only a high quality pet food. Restrict treats; some are extremely high in calories. And, of course, keep up the exercise. Walks and playtime are very important for your pets' good health since many disease processes are associated with obesity.

Notes from the Desk of Nya and Einstein

With spring break coming soon, we thought we'd remind you that if you are going to be traveling and need to board your pet, get your reservations early. All the boarding facilities fill up quickly. A boarding kennel is a high risk area for viral diseases so remember, to protect your pet, make sure their vaccines are current before you go. Call the clinic and check.

Pets that have spent the winter on the couch or curled up in front of the fireplace are susceptible to overdoing it when spring comes. Increase exercise slowly to build up their endurance. Hunting dogs will need special attention as you prepare for your hunting trip this spring. They have more heart than they have endurance sometimes and can return home very sore and tired. Like human athletes; they need to practice and build their strength and endurance before the big day.

Do you feed suet to the birds? If so, watch your dog and cat around the feeder. Often, birds will pull a chunk of suet out onto the ground. Your dog or cat will eat that chunk of fat and it can make them ill. Vomiting, abdominal discomfort, and diarrhea can be signs of too much suet. (Or too much anything they shouldn't eat.) Pets that are prone to pancreatitis are especially likely to become ill from the suet. It's great for the birds, but try to keep your pets away from it.

Jumble Answers:
Schnauzer
Greyhound
Pointer
Pomeranian
Basenji

Hidden Answer: Great Pyrenees

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