American Humane Turns Shelter Dogs to Service Dogs For Veterans

by Lori Ennis

Published: April 7th, 2017

american humane turns shelter dogs to service dogs for veterans

American Humane launches a new program that will take shelter dogs and train them to be service dogs for military veterans suffering from brain injuries and/or post traumatic stress.

Military service members and veterans can suffer from life-changing Post Traumatic Stress ( PTS) and Traumatic Brain Injuries ( TBI) due to the nature of their service, and the American Humane wants to serve those American heroes and save the lives of shelter dogs at the same time.

President and CEO of American Humane, Dr. Robin Ganzert, says that every day, 20 American veterans commit suicide on average, and it is estimated that nearly 700,000 dogs a year are euthanized in United States shelters. Working through the Lois Pope Life Center for Military Affairs, American Humane will attempt to make a dent in both of those numbers, by launching this program.

Research shows that service dogs trained to work with PTS and TBI patients make life-long, and often lifesaving, impact on the lives of those veterans who suffer with those issues. The problem is that wait lists are long because the training process takes time and can cost up to $20,000 per dog to specially train. American Humane plans to offer PTS and TBI service dogs to veterans in need fully at their own expense; veterans who receive the dogs will not pay anything.

Currently, the Department of Defense does not pay for the training and/or delivery of specialized service dogs to its veterans, with the exception of a sometimes-stipend of $500, and that is not always guaranteed. While many are lobbying to make that different, corporate sponsors of American Humane’s veterans’ assistance program like Hallmark Channel, Kriser’s Natural Pet and Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health, as well as individual donors’ generous donations are currently making the program possible.

Lori Ennis

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Game-Changing Playgroups for Shelter Dogs Now Possible After $1.5M Gra

The ASPCA and the Petco Foundation are joining forces with ‘Dogs Playing For Life’ to improve the quality of life for shelter dogs with structured playgroups. A huge win has struck for doggies nationwide. The ASPCA (American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) and the Petco Foundation are collaborating to award a generous grant of $1.5 million to ‘Dogs Playing For Life’ – a non-profit organization that uses interactive play groups to help socialize, evaluate, and change the lives of shelter dogs. The ASPCA and the Petco Foundation hope that together they can help introduce this new innovative playgroup enrichment training to shelters country-wide. Related: American Humane Turns Shelter Dogs to Service Dogs For Veterans As much success and improvement shelters have experienced in recent times, many breeds remain at-risk due to misconceptions about their character and the unfair prejudice some people have towards them. Dogs Playing For Life is an all-in-one creative program that promotes socialization and enrichment for shelter dogs by developing structured playgroups that will help teach the shelter staff to understand the personality of each dog and forward that information with potential adopters. Related: Google Pets Turns Into a Bow-Wow Browser to Help Shelter Dogs Aimee Sadler, the founder of Dogs Playing For Life, says that playgroups such as these give large-breed dogs the opportunity to do what they were able to do, which includes running like maniacs, socializing with other dogs, learning from each other, and showing off their unique personalities. She adds that the big-hearted grant from the ASPCA and the Petco Foundation will have a tremendous impact on many shelter dogs who participate in their training and daily playgroups. Dogs Playing For Life’s approach will drastically improve the quality of life for shelter dogs and help overcome life-threatening stereotypes. This unique initiative has huge potential to help many vulnerable canine populations, and we can’t wait to see the outcome this amazing project!

Meet the Winners of 2017 AKC Canine Excellence Winners

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AKC Humane Fund Honors ACE Winners

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CNIB Needs Help Loving Puppies? Sign Us Up!

The Canadian National Institute For the Blind (CNIB) just announced a dog lover’s dream job–an opportunity to love and raise soon-to-be guide dogs. I may be biased, but as a pet writer for PetGuide.com, I have the best job in the world. That said, the Canadian National Institute For the Blind (CNIB) just released information about a job that just may take the puppycake–an official Puppy Raiser! Related: American Humane Turns Shelter Dogs to Service Dogs For Veterans The CNIB just began it’s 100th year by launching their Guide Dog Program, which will raise and train dogs to be service animals for people with sight loss. The first trainees arrived in Canada earlier this week, looking as cute and ready as can be, and they lead the way for the expected puppies that will come into the program over the next year. Cuddly golden retrievers, Piper and Baker are on target to be the first graduates in late 2018, and to be matched with clients shortly after. To aid the efforts, CNIB is looking for Puppy Raisers in the Toronto, Winnipeg and Halifax. Puppy Raisers would not be responsible for actual service training, but for basic love, care and puppy preparation from the age of eight weeks to about 12-15 months. The Puppy Raiser will be part of CNIB’s supervised obedience and socialization program and all costs for the puppies will be paid for by CNIB. CNIB President and CEO John Rafferty says that Canadians with sight loss have shared what services and choices they’d like to have when it comes to service dogs, and the CNIB’s purpose is to train their service dogs to meet those needs. Most importantly, Rafferty says, they want to ensure maximum success for every person with a guide dog–for both the user and dog. Full enjoyment of that relationship is a priority. Related: Cheer for These Adorable Pups Prepping For The Puppy Bowl [Video] As part of the initiative, the CNIB is in process to gain accreditation from the International Guide Dog Federation, which will focus on blind/partially sighted users. They will only work with Golden or Labrador Retrievers from top guide dog breeders, and they will tailor training schedules and goals based on partnership with the user. This may even include training in the user’s home community. All of this will be done at no cost to the user, and both the user and dog will have CNIB’s full support through the life of the dog. CNIB national board member Victoria Nolan is optimistic about the program, as there are almost half a million partially sighted and blind people in Canada. A guide dog offers freedom, confidence and mobility, and Nolan hopes that the program’s advocacy for accessibility will allow guide dog users the ability to go anywhere and/or do anything without discrimination. And it all begins with loving on some furry fluffs before they start their important training. If you’re interested in how to sign up for the (second) best job ever, you can find more information at CNIB’s Guide Dog Volunteer page.

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Pet Owners Distraught After Nationwide Drops Their Insurance Claims

Nationwide, the nation's largest pet insurance company, is canceling coverage for around 100,000 pets across the country, blaming inflation, rising costs of veterinary care, and other factors threatening the profitability of its pet insurance business. “ As pet lovers ourselves, we understand the emotions connected to the protection of our family pets. Inflation in the cost of veterinary care and other factors have led to recent underwriting changes and plan availability in some states - difficult actions necessary to ensure a financially sustainable future for our pet insurance line of business,” the company shared in a statement. This decision is leaving thousands of pet owners in a difficult situation. Although Nationwide insists that prior claims history and age aren’t a factor, most of the canceled policies are for older pets with pre-existing medical conditions that may not be insurable elsewhere. Nationwide, which insures around 1.2 million pets nationwide, began sending letters to the affected policyholders this spring and will continue to do so into the summer of 2025. The company’s statement comes only after policyholders started to complain on social media about the letters they received, especially owners of pets with pre-existing health problems that require several hundred dollars a month for veterinary care and medicine to treat. “Pet owners are contemplating euthanizing sick pets because they are uninsured, and all they can say is they need to make more money, so too bad,” said Robin Tobias of Aventura, Florida. She is one of tens of thousands of owners who received a letter from Nationwide in April notifying her that the policy for her dog Ginger won’t be renewed. Tobias shared the letter she received from Nationwide with The Columbus Dispatch. “After careful review of our products, we have elected to discontinue certain plans, including Whole Pet, which will no longer be offered in your state,” the letter said. “The same economic pressures from inflation, higher interest rates, and rising that have caused unprecedented losses for the American insurance industry are affecting the pet industry as well, leading to difficult decisions such as this.” Ginger’s insurance policy ends July 23. Tobias bought the policy when Ginger was just a puppy and pays $160 a month for insurance to cover a seven-year-old dog with a heart murmur. Nationwide’s latest move is concerning for many reasons and can even put additional pressure on already overcrowded animal shelters across the country. Owners of older pets with health problems may be forced to abandon their pets because they can’t afford to pay for medication and care and can’t get coverage from another pet insurance company. “That’s the reason why you take insurance,” said Tobias. “Down the road, you’re going to need it. It’s horrifying really.”“For us, dogs have been our children. Everything we do is to protect our children.” Tobias believes she has found a company that will cover Ginger, but she fears others won’t be as lucky. For Christie Keith who has been paying more than $700 a month in pet insurance premiums to insure her three dogs, the news came as a shock. The company’s decision to cancel her claims is particularly troubling because her older dogs both needed medical treatment recently. Nationwide notified Keith that policies for her dogs would expire at renewal dates and that she couldn’t purchase lesser policies for her dogs. Owners of pets with pre-existing medical conditions might be better off with other options, like saving up in advance for potential medical emergencies that can happen in the future. Another option is to find a vet willing to work on a payment plan. Join the PetGuide community. Get the latest pet news and product recommendations by subscribing to our newsletter here.

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Autism is a neurodevelopmental disorder that affects humans and can be manifested in a variety of ways, most of which are related to challenges with social skills, communication, and interaction with the world itself. While the many sides of the autism spectrum are well understood and documented, there’s a lot that remains a mystery, such as the question if autism is specific to humans – or more precisely: can a dog be autistic?Canine autism is still not officially recognized in veterinary medicine in the same way it is in humans, however, there are some behaviors in dogs that can resemble traits associated with autism in humans, leading some pet owners and veterinarians to use the term "autistic" in order to describe them more specifically. Here is all that you need to know about this complex topic.Can a Dog Be Autistic?Some dogs may exhibit behaviors that are similar to those seen in autistic individuals. For example, some dogs may exhibit repetitive behaviors. This might include excessive licking, tail chasing, pawing, or pacing. In fact, they get so repetitive that it quickly becomes abnormal. Besides all this, some “autistic” dogs can have difficulties with social interactions. In these cases, they might be less responsive to social cues, avoid eye contact, or prefer being alone. Similarly, some dogs can have overwhelming sensitivity to various stimuli. This means that certain dogs might be overly sensitive to sounds, lights, or touch – things that seem ordinary in most cases. These behaviors could be due to various factors, including genetic predispositions, developmental issues, or environmental influences. Some dogs may also be affected by canine-compulsive disorder (CCD). Similar to obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) in humans, dogs with CCD engage in repetitive behaviors that are difficult to interrupt. This can contribute to autistic behaviors. The same goes for dogs with sensory processing disorders. In such cases, they might have abnormal sensory processing, making them overly reactive or unresponsive to certain stimuli. Ultimately, though not well-defined, certain neurodevelopmental issues could lead to behaviors reminiscent of autism. Either way, in the case that your dog exhibits any of these symptoms, it is important to seek professional help. Working with a professional dog trainer or a veterinary behaviorist can help you address problematic behaviors and deal with them efficiently. After all, autistic dogs can be as happy and normal as all other pets. Providing mental and physical stimulation through toys,  puzzles, and regular exercise is very important, however, as it ensures that they remain happy and active. 

New Bill Will Eliminate Housing Barriers for Pet Owners In California

California tenants with pets rejoice - a new bill that stops landlords from denying housing to pet owners is in the works!The chair of the California Legislative Renters Caucus, Matt Haney, has introduced legislation that would compel landlords to accept tenants with pets. The bill, AB 2216, will insist that landlords have reasonable reason(s) for not allowing a pet in the rental unit. The biggest change, however, is that the bill prevents property owners from asking about pet ownership before the tenant’s application has been approved.The new bill, which is sponsored by the Humane Society of the United States, aims to solve a big problem in the rental world - a surplus of tenants with pets and a lack of landlords willing to rent to them.California has one of the highest number of tenants in the country, and close to 70% of them are pet owners. Alas, under current law, only around 30% of all rentals are pet-friendly. The lack of pet-friendly housing is causing almost a million tenants to keep pets in their rentals hidden from their landlords. This solves nothing. On one hand, landlords are left without adequate coverage for potential damages. On the other hand, pet owners are left living in constant fear of being kicked out of their homes. Andrea Amavisca, a senior legislative advocate at the California Immigration Policy Center, told the LA Times that she and her partner spent over a month looking for a two-bedroom rental in Sacramento that would allow for a small cattle dog mix.“Landlords that initially liked our application would suddenly stop answering our calls once they found out we had a dog. Or others would require a pet deposit close to $1,000 that would put the unit totally out of our budget.”Amavisca added it felt unfair that almost every landlord had a different pet policy with varying fees they could change as they pleased. Some landlords charged only $20 a month while others asked for four-figure cleaning deposits. The new bill doesn’t address fees and doesn’t prevent landlords from excluding certain types of pets. Haney’s legislation defines a common household pet as a domesticated animal, such as a cat or dog, that is kept in the home for pleasure rather than commercial uses. While pet owners are relieved to hear about the legislation, property owners are already expressing their concerns. The biggest issue is that landlords will be forced to take on pets, and the increased risk of potential property damage that comes with pets, without a pet deposit as a safeguard. Haney explained that exceptions would be made for landlords with reasonable excuses for not allowing pets on their property. “What we see too often is just these blanket prohibitions of pets with no good reason for it, with no required justification for it and no protection of pet owners, who represent the majority of California’s renters, to be able to access housing just like anyone else,” said Haney.According to Jenny Berg, California director for the Humane Society of the United States, extra fees and bans add to the overcrowding crisis in animal shelters nationwide. “One of the reasons why people relinquish their pets is because they can’t find affordable housing or housing at all that can accommodate their pets,” she said. Haney’s bill could make a massive change, as it would remove the barriers tenants face when looking for housing for them and their four-legged companions.“We want a renter to be considered first and decision made about whether they meet the requirements for the apartment,” said Haney. “And then, after that fact, they disclose that they have a pet. And only if there’s a reasonable rationale to deny them, that would be allowed.” Join the PetGuide community. Get the latest pet news and product recommendations by subscribing to our newsletter here.

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