via www.armytimes.com

Military families who were facing hundreds of dollars in extra fees to ship their pets back home have gotten a break from United Airlines and won't have to come up with the extra cash after all.

Pets that can't ride in the cabin will still be sent as cargo under the new policy that United is adopting as it merges with Continental Airlines. But pet owners who are moving because of military orders will not have to pay a third-party cargo handling fee that is imposed in Japan and some European countries.

"We realized the impact it had on our military families," says United spokeswoman Mary Ryan. "We value our relationship with the military very much and just wanted to see what we could do to help alleviate that burden."

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via www.thisiskent.co.uk

Molly, a two-year-old Jack Russell, was out for a morning stroll at Ramsgate's Government Acre with her owner, Joan Pressley, 64, on Thursday when she slipped through some railings and dropped into a bush just below the cliff's edge.

Joan said: "I went to look over the railing because I could hear noise from the protest below – I thought I could hear the animals in the trucks crying.

"Before I knew it, Molly was through and jumped down into a bush and could not get up."

"I didn't expect the policeman to go over the railing. I probably would have tried to stop him if I had been with him at the top."

Joan is also thankful to the demonstrators who came to Molly's aid.

She said: "Two of the demonstrators pulled open one of their big banners to catch Molly in case she fell. They were very kind."

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via triblocal.com

The dogs, all part of PAWsitive Therapy Troupe, are vetted and trained to be docile, sweet dogs, who don’t bark wildly or get excited and playful around other dogs. They’re able to sit quietly for an hour and a half while the children take turns reading. Children only participate with permission from parents or guardians.

In some cases at Westfield Elementary last week, the dogs snuggled up to the children reading, dozed off or sat and watched their first-grade buddy sound out words.

“Sometimes they look like they’re actually enjoying the story,” Price said.

The program started last school year when school staff invited the troupe to a family literacy night. Response was overwhelmingly positive, Price said, so the groups decided to make the pairing permanent. The dogs and their trainers, all volunteers, visit the school once a month on a Friday.

They visit Briar Glen Elementary School too, and also make appearances at schools and libraries in Naperville and Lisle, said Karen Click, a program volunteer at the Downers Grove-based organization.

Click said the dogs involved in the troupe are not service dogs, but they are trained to work with physical therapists and their patients, sometimes motivating people learning to walk again after surgeries, Click said. The dogs also visit retirement communities and nursing homes.

First-grader Jonah Keating just sees the experience as a fun time to hang out with pups. “The dogs are so cute,” he said when asked why he enjoyed reading to them.

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For everyone who watches, shares or likes this video, Pedigree is donating a bowl of food to shelter dogs, up to 500,000 bowls. 

I love these stories because whether these are trained therapy animals, or just a happy & tall Shepherd-Husky who loves people, pet visits can have a profound impact on the elderly.

via www.mansfieldnewsjournal.com

Whether you’re a two- or four-legged visitor, you’re welcome at Lexington Court Care Center.

“I have a lady who brings in her dog every Wednesday,” said activities director Brenda Workman. “The residents love it, even the ones who aren’t really awake. They know to pet them."

“I honestly can’t imagine not letting them come. When you get older, animals are very important to people, and the animals are very receptive to it, too. We love to see animals come in.”

Dr. Abel Hittinger, of Appleseed Valley Veterinary Hospitals in Lexington and Bellville, said pets restore a home value for those in nursing care facilities.

“I’m big on the human-pet bond,” he said. “The way I see it, pets are members of the family, so when pets come to visit, it’s like there’s a member of the family visiting more. It helps decrease the feelings of loneliness and stress sometimes associated with nursing care facilities.”

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"I wasn't worried about my house, I was just worried about my dog," said Demetic McCaulley.

From WCSH Portland

McCaulley watched as a firefighter came out of her burning home with her puppy, Hen. 

"This is my baby," she told firefighter Hunter Robinson when he handed it over. 

"When we first made entry, upon seeing the flames, we could hear the dog barking and crying," said Robinson. "It took us awhile to find him." 

The three month old pit bull suffered smoke inhalation. 

Rescue crews worked on the dog for several minutes and used an oxygen mask to help him breathe. 

Read the full story and see the video

via www.courierpress.com

Chester is a beautiful, graceful 4-year-old purebred whippet but he will never win best-in-show at Westminster or any other highfalutin' dog show: The long scar on his left hind leg, evidence of surgery to correct a birth defect, would rule that out.

But to his fans at St. Mary's Medical Center, he's a champion just the same, putting smiles on the faces of patients he visits who are not enjoying the best days of their lives, and the hospital staff charged with their care.

Chester is a "Pet Therapy Dog," one of 29 specially trained and certified dogs "on staff" at St. Mary's, said Vickie Detroy, director of Planetree services there, which oversees the program.

Pet therapy dogs and their handlers walk the halls of St Mary's, primarily in the rehab, pediatrics and mental health units, looking for open doors and invitations to a little one-on-one interaction with the patients, Detroy said.

Their presence is absolutely therapeutic, she explained: "The success stories with stroke, rehab and mental health patients they just light up! Watching the dogs interact with them, it gives you chills."

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Joan Smith-Reese is Executive Director of Animal Care Sanctuary. Animal Care Sanctuary is 45 years old but for many years was not in the limelight, just caring for animals without the fanfare. They are located in very rural NE Pennsylvania. They care for approximately 700 animals daily, mostly cats and dogs but have some horses, pigs, rabbits, etc. too.

They work under Cornell’s Shelter Management Program through Maddie’s Fund and their goal is adoption, concentrating on senior pets. "We certainly get plenty of pups and kittens but it is the seniors we melt for. Our adopters come from all over the country and we are proud of our matching program."

After the animals are medically evaluated and cared for, they are behaviorally assessed. They have 35 employees and over 50 volunteers that help care for our animals and assist at adoption events, fundraising, etc.  Along with owner surrenders they work with humane shelters to pull animals when they are at capacity so that euthanasia can be avoided. Because they are all privately funded the goal was to forge a trust with the government funded organizations to assist where they can.

Previously, Joan was owner of Keystone Home Health Services, Inc. in Philadelphia and President of Keystone Hospice. Both organizations had over 200 employees. Joan has her Bachelors from Lycoming College in Williamsport, PA and her Masters from Chestnut Hill College in Philadelphia PA in Holy Spirituality in Health Care. She resides in Waverly NY and has one son Drason serving in the Air Force.

What is your idea of perfect happiness? 

Lying in bed in the evening and reading poetry to my three dogs that listen intently until I read them to sleep.

If you could come back as a dog or a cat, which one would it be & why?

I would come back as a dog. There is just not one I don’t love and they make so much difference in the lives of so many.

What is your pet’s most treasured possession?

Me! I think because they all were adopted as seniors, experiencing the worst life has to offer, and now because they are loved, adored and cared for, they think I am their hero. If they only knew they rescued me!

Your proudest achievement so far?

Creating a team of caregivers and leadership that understand that animals come first. They are not just compassionate but also have the critical thinking necessary to make Animal Care Sanctuary an exceptional place to work and play!

Who are your heroes in real life?

Jane Goodall - as a role model.

Etty Hillesum – for hope and inspiration even when the worst is about to happen.

My mother – cheerleader, listener, nurturer, always saying “Keep up the fight for what is right!”

All the animal and human caregivers across our globe that do the real work and are often the most overlooked.

Back in September, after attending a senior dog seminar at the San Francisco SPCA, I decided to join in the monthly Pet Loss Support Group also held at the SF SPCA. The monthly sessions are free and Dr. Betty Carmack, RN, Ed.D. is there as a grief counselor. She spoke at the seminar and had mentioned "anticipatory grief" in association with pet loss. I hadn't thought of my recent feelings about Cleo like that before, but after speaking with her, I am relieved that they are normal and not an indication that I'm already a wreck.

Good grief. The best part of the pet loss group for me was the incredible welcome you are wrapped in. I'm so glad I went. There were about ten of us strangers, but we immediately all had a love for our pets in common. We all wanted to honor our pets, and move past any feeling of regret or guilt. It was such a wonderful experience, and actually helped me refocus on the time I have with my dog now, away from my fear over her eventual passing and what that will be like.

Yesterday friends had to euthanize their beloved dog, and it got me thinking about how I would want that experience to be with Cleo. It is a personal and individual experience, but the decisions around it are worth thinking about ahead of time. As they recommend in the senior seminar, it is important to begin creating a support network before you need it, as well as, discussing how you want to honor your pet when the time comes.

None of this is easy, but minimizing regret and guilt are what Dr Carmack says is the key to moving through the grief process.  If you have a senior dog yourself, or are going through the grief process, here are nine ways to help honor your pet:

• Conduct a memorial or burial ceremony.
• Put a bench near the resting place if you buried your pet, or sponsor a memorial bench in your neighborhood.
• If you chose cremation, place the ashes in a container that has personal significance somewhere quiet in your home.
• Considering receiving some or all of the cremated ashes, and scattering them into the waves at your pet's favorite beach.
• Seek support from family, friends or people who have gone through similar loss, or find a local pet grief support group.
• Plant a tree or flower garden to honor your pet.
• Write a poem or letter to her and put it in a special place.
• Place some of her fur/hair in a locket you can wear.
• In your pet's name, donate their bedding, toys, leash, collar, even leftover food and medication to a local shelter or humane society.

Do you have a special way that you've honored your pet? Please share in the comments. 

For more information:

Senior Scholars Training Program at the SF SPCA offers a fun 4-week course for learning ways to physically and mentally stimulate and soothe an aging best friend’s body and mind.

Pet Loss Support at the SF SPCA

"Grieving the Death of a Pet" by Betty J. Carmack, RN, Ed.D