Benny Goes Home

This has been one of the most rewarding adventures I have ever volunteered to do.
First, let me tell you just a little bit about my two dogs, a short little Bio on each. There are pictures on my dog therapy page. mimfreedom.com/dogtherapy.htm
Benny, my black lab, is about 5 years old now. (I never seem to remember exactly how old he is.) Benny is a wonderful dog (even though he likes to steal my pillows). He loves visiting our friends in the home. Clearly, this is where he loves to be.
Then there is Nikki, my 2 year golden puppy. Nikki is a typical 2 year golden. She is full of life. She keeps me hopping. And, just like Benny, she brings pure gold to our friends.

It has been an extremely busy summer so far. Unfortunately, with work demanding more and more of my time, and with home issues demanding more and more of my time, my volunteering has lapsed this summer. This has created a void in me.

The one thing I have learned about this situation is how much I love the dog therapy visiting programs.

Benny has been a visiting dog for a number of years now. We have always gone to the same home, so we have made many wonderful friends.

Well, after my "sabbatical" I went and took Benny to see our senior friends last Saturday Night. This was an unscheduled visit. I could have cried. They were so very happy to see him again (not me so much). We had a "Benny" party in the lobby.

What a wonderful time my Benny had. Of course! Everyone was petting him, and talking to him. Wow, he was being treated like royalty. A true friend come home.

It was just great to see this joy. We all talked and laughed and joked. Everyone talked about their summer, how they were doing, what was going on in their own world. I felt better then I had for a long time. My new resolve is to go back to my weekly visits. I do not want to miss out on these opportunities anymore.

So, my advice, as always is: If you have the inclination to visit with seniors, if you have a dog that loves to be petted, a dog that loves the human touch, then please go to your local Dog Therapy Group and find out how you can join this wonderful work. It is not difficult to get your dog certified.

The three most well known organizations that offer certification; Delta Society, Therapy Dog International and Therapy Dogs, Inc.
There are other therapy organizations and you may find an organization in your area via the internet under dog therapy, pet therapy or animal assisted therapy.
And, for us Canadians, there is, Therapeutic Paws of Canada (my dogs belong to this wonderful group). They offer a volunteer based therapy dog and cat visitation program for senior’s facilities such as retirement homes, nursing homes, Alzheimer day away centers, hospitals and where there is a need. The medical establishment has long recognized the significant benefits of a therapy dog and cat program. The petting and stroking of a pet helps to calm the most agitated resident and stimulates wonderful conversations about the pet they once owned. Recovery from surgery is quoted as being accelerated when there is continued contact with a pet.
As a result of the many government fiscal cutbacks, the facility’s staff is stretched to their limits. The positive impact of our programme on the day-to-day life of each senior throughout our community and beyond cannot be calculated.
There are more links on my personal dog therapy page. . .

About the Author

My name is Ruth Bird, and I am the owner of 3 dogs, 2 are Registered Therapy Visiting Dogs, my third dog is blind. My passions are health for people and pets and promoting a happy, healthy and wealthy lifestyle.

Related Information of Interest:

A Good Tip For Dogs With Itchy Skin
Now that summer is in full swing, many dogs are experiencing dry skin and excessive itchiness. I know that my dog, "Forbes," certainly has been! Of course, the first thing you'll want to rule out is fleas. But barring fleas, I've found that the best way to alleviate itching is to:

Splash approximately 2 Tablespoons of either vegetable oil or canola oil in your dog's food.
The additional fat will give your dog's coat a soft, shiny look and will help alleviate dry skin and itching.
You can also try an over-the-counter product you can get at most pet stores called, "Lipiderm," which works pretty much the same, but costs a bit more.
Something else you might try: One of my newsletter subscribers writes, "Best thing for itchy skin is lemons. Slice a couple of lemons in a litre of water and boil it. Let it cool down for a day then you can spray it on. Works wonders and is cheap."

About the Author

Author, “Secrets of a Professional Dog Trainer!“ which you can read more about at:
tinyurl.com/4efaq

Boxer's and Heartworms
It is surprising how many people are still confused about heartworms and the effects that a heartworm can have on
your Boxer.

First lets look at what heartworms are and how your dog can become infected.

Heartworms are transmitted by mosquitoes into the dog’s blood stream. The immature heartworms called microfilaria
travel through the blood stream.

The microfilaria settle into the heart chambers and major pulmonary blood vessels. This causes a blockage of the
blood flow and pathological changes to the surrounding tissues.

This blockage happens when the larvae grow into adult worms. An adult female heartworm can grow up to fourteen
inches and can live as long as five years.

A female heartworm can produce thousands of microfilariae, which is transmitted into a mosquito when it bites an
infected dog, and subsequently injected into the next dog that that mosquito dines on.

What Are The Signs That A Dog May Have Heartworms?

Usually the first system is weight loss. The dogs’ hair may become dull and brittle.

The infected dog also may tier easily.

A persistent coughs and or labored breathing.

In more progressed cases victims may vomit blood from ruptured lungs.

If the disease is not prevented or caught in time the result will be a slow painful death from congestive heart
failure.

What Do I Do If My Boxer Is Infected?

Treatment is available but it can cost hundreds of dollars, and may be ineffective depending on the degree of
infestation.

The best defense against heartworms is routine checkups with your vet. Giving your dog heartworm medication once
a month easily prevents heartworms.

Warning: You Must Have Your Dog Tested For Heartworms Before Starting Heartworm Medication!

About the Author

je Dunn has published several books on dogs and has free information all about dog training, health, and care at: www.boxerdogs-1.com/Boxer_Dogs.html Boxer Health Tips

A Funny True Life Dog Story
This is the story of my dog called Shandy. He was my favourite pet and he was very lively, lots of fun and very obedient. His main passion in life was to be taken for a long walk, culminating with a big run out in his favourite park.

I would try to take him on this walk everyday, weather permitting. The park itself was about three miles away from our house. To reach the park we had to cross a number of busy roads, however he would never pull or misbehave. He knew where we were heading and seemingly did not want to rock the boat and risk been taken home before he reached his dream destination.

At the park itself I would throw a ball and he would chase it and fetch it back to me.

At this stage I was living at home with my parents, however aged twenty two, I decided to rent my own bungalow near the coast in Devon. This was nearly two hundred miles away from my parents in home in Birmingham. This obviously meant I was no longer in the position to take Shandy on his walk.

I spoke to my parent, who reassured me that they would continue to take him on the walks.

Two weeks after I had left, I had a phone call from my mother. She was panicking, stating that Shandy had managed to escape from the back garden and that she could not find him. She insisted that she had been looking for hours but that there had been no sign of him.

I was quite worried and thought about where he may have gone to. "Have you been taking him on his walks to the park everyday?" I asked. She replied: "Most days" I asked her to try at the park, telling her that he loves that park etc. "He would not be there, its miles away." She said. I again asked her to try there. Luckily he was there quite happily sniffing around, unaware of the panic he had caused.

About the Author

Stephen Hill has a couple of websites at www.lasik-laser-surgery.co.uk and at www.stutter-stuttering.com.