A Tribute to Dogs That Serve

by Carrie Boyko, CEB

Occasionally I have to spout off about my sponsors when pride is bursting. I love that
in addition to their dedication to helping military dogs, Natural Balance and the Petco Foundation have joined forces to help raise needed funds for dogs that serve others--Guide Dogs, Service Dogs and Therapy animals. They have been working together for 5 years and have raised nearly $5 million to support guide dog programs and service dog awareness.

No one could be more proud of this than I am, with a Medical Alert Dog in the household. I learned how expensive it is to train these talented animals, and know the value of their service first hand. And pssst....that's not Tanner up there in the picture :)  My Medical Alert Dog is Oliver, a diminutive 10-pound Papillon. 

From many knowing individuals including my own physician, I have learned that different

© AllThingsDogBlog.com
Service Dogs Come in All Sizes

breeds often have very different natural abilities. Companion dogs such as what we typically call Toy dogs, are often more tuned in to their particular human's smell. That turned out to be Oliver's talent that began building his ability to alert me to oncoming problems with my Multiple Sclerosis. Getting a heads up before a dizzy spell, especially when I'm alone or driving, is a huge relief of worry and safety issues.

But Service and Therapy dogs can do so much more than alert. They rescue, stabilize, calm, and physically assist their owners, to name just a few of their amazing skills. Those of us who have service dogs are thankful to companies like Natural Balance and Petco for their support of programs that help in this way.

Through October 20, you can help to support these programs also. At 1200+ Petco stores across the country, the Helping Heroes program is giving you three wonderful ways to pitch in without pinching your budget:

• Purchase a bag of L.I.D. Legume and Duck Formula Dog Food and Natural Balance will

  

  courtesy Natural Balance

  donate $1 to the Helping Heroes fund. This is a grain free food with fewer ingredients, especially important to those dogs who may be battling allergies.
• At the Petco checkout, you can also simply round up your purchase to the nearest dollar to make a small donation, or ask to donate $1, $5, $10 or $20. You pick! Click here to locate a store near you.
• Want to really make a difference? You can head on over to the donation page and use your credit card to supercharge the Helping Heroes program budget. Every little bit helps; thanks for your support!

Want a little help with that purchase at Petco? Click on the ad at the top of this posts column and you'll receive valuable coupons to help pay you back for some of your donation. Thanks again!
As an NB Insider, I am sometimes privy to information about their activities such as that above. I am compensated for sharing this by receiving food for my 4 pets and sponsored travel to industry events.

Animal Welfare Inspiration

by Carrie Boyko, CEB

© A. Boyko
Home from Blogpaws in Denver
Oliver and I Share a Moment

Thanks to one of my readers who acknowledged my work in educating owners in this video. Tanner, Oliver and I were honored to be among so many other famous dogs. If the video does not play on the blog, please hit the link so you can watch at Youtube. Thanks Niki!

Dog Books for Kids: Profile of "The Buddy Files" Mystery Series

by Dori Butler, guest author

© Jeremy Tugeau

If you’re looking for dog books for the beginning chapter book reader in your life, I hope you’ll take a look at my Buddy Files books, published by Albert Whitman and Company.

© Jeremy Tugeau

The Buddy Files is a series of books about a school therapy dog who solves mysteries. The stories are told from the dog’s point of view and they’re aimed at kids who are just starting to read chapter books or anyone who loves a good dog book. What's nice about writing from a dog's point of view is a precocious four-year-old who is reading chapter books can enjoy the books just as much as a 10-year-old who struggles with reading. They're not beyond the four-year-old's realm of experience, and I don't think the 10-year-old feels like he's reading a "baby book." 

Each one is a stand-alone mystery, which means the dog solves a new case in each book. But then there is also another larger mystery that spans three books.

© Jeremy Tugeau

© Jeremy Tugeau

I got the idea for the series when my own dog and I were training to become a pet partner team. Therapy dogs come in contact with a lot of different people, and each person a dog comes in contact with has their own story, or in the case of the Buddy Files, their own mystery to be solved. It seemed like the perfect hook for a children’s book series. I’ve never had so much fun writing as I have writing these books. I love writing from a dog’s point of view.

Buddy grows and changes as the series progresses. He goes from shelter dog in book 1 to working therapy dog in book 4.

© Jeremy Tugeau

In the first book, a golden retriever named King finds himself at the P-O-U-N-D (dogs don’t say that word, they spell it!). He’s adopted by a new family—a 9-year-old boy named Connor and a single mom who is going to be the principal at the elementary school. They change King’s name to Buddy. King/Buddy is growing attached to his new family, but at the same time he can’t help but wonder what happened to his old family.

© Jeremy Tugeau

While solving the Case of the Lost Boy (book 1) and the Case of the Mixed-Up Mutts (book 2), Buddy receives clues to what might have happened to his family. But he doesn’t actually find out what happened to them until the Case of the Missing Family (book 3).

Likewise, in The Case of the Fire Alarm (book 4) and The Case of the Library Monster (book 5), Buddy wonders if his new school is haunted, but he doesn’t find out whether there really is a ghost or not until The Case of the School Ghost (book 6), which will be published in March 2012. You can pre-order through Amazon at the link to assure you get a copy right away when it becomes available.

The Buddy Files books are available online through the Albert Whitman site, Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and IndieBound. If you'd like to purchase your own, simply click the links to make your selections.

For a chance to win one of 3 sets of the first five Buddy Files books, you can enter using our Rafflecopter entry widget below. Facebook and Twitter handles are included there so that you may get entry credit for following. Once you've completed the two mandatory entries, you're free to choose any extra entries you wish. Good luck!

Dori Hillestad Butler and her dog Mouse are a registered Pet Partner team through Delta Society, and they enjoy reading her books with kids. Among other awards, The Buddy Files: Case of the the Lost Boy won the 2011 Edgar Award for best juvenile mystery published in 2010.

More information about Dori and The Buddy Files:
Teachers' Guide
Free Coloring Pages
Dori's website
The Delta Society
Therapy Animals

If you don't see the Rafflecopter entry form below, simply click on the post title to refresh and it should appear here: 

AKC Announces the 2010 ACE Award Nominees

by Carrie Boyko

© photo courtesy of Heart Dog Studios

Ricochet Nominated for AKC's ACE Award

The American Kennel Club has published their nomination list for Awards for Canine Excellence at this link. The name and an image of each dog are included, as well as their nomination category.

©   Julie G. Photography Denver and courtesy K9 Cares

Caitee is a Second-Time Nominee

 for this Top Award

These awards, in several service categories, will be given at a special ceremony in California in late August. All Things Dog Blog is proud of all of these dogs, but none more than two of our featured friends: Caitee (Law Enforcement Therapy with her owner, Carolyn) and Ricochet (Exemplary Companion with her owner, Judy). You can read their stories at the links. So many deserving dogs. Too bad you can't all win. Good luck!

Dog Therapy for Law Enforcement and the Criminal Justice System

© by Carrie Boyko

© Julie G. Photography Denver and courtesy K9 Cares

Caitee Provides Victim Support

Carrie: Welcome to All Things Dog Blog, Carolyn. I was excited to learn of yet another way that canine therapy dogs can help humans. Please tell my readers about your program.

Carolyn: I have been a volunteer Victim Advocate since 1999, and was a first responder at Columbine High School. This is where the idea of having an experienced, trained therapy dog at my side was born.

After my proposals, the program was developed by the Westminster Police Department and finally piloted with me and my registered therapy dog, Caitee. We provide animal assisted crisis intervention with unconditional support and comfort.

Now we give this same support in the courts as well, and are a 501.c.3 non-profit. K9 Cares is developing affiliated programs in other agencies across Colorado.

Carrie: My Golden/Lab mix, Xena, helped me through a period of migraine headaches. She sensed, intuitively, that I needed her supportive companionship. Is this something that is unique to Golden Retrievers, or did I just luck up?

Carolyn: Carrie, I believe the answer is a little of both. Most all companion dogs know their people better than we know ourselves. I believe Caitee has been given a gift of compassion that surpasses most.

Carrie: I see that you have 2 other Golden Retrievers. Are they in training to become Caitee’s comrades or replacements?

© Julie G. Photography, Denver and courtesy K9 Cares

Liberty, Caitee, and Tallulah

A Therapy Dog Threesome

Carolyn: Tallulah is seven years old. She is truly the happiest Golden Retriever that I have ever known, yet is rather excitable and gets overwhelmed easily.

Tallulah has found her job at the local library with the R.E.A.D. program. Tallulah lies quietly while a young student reads to her; she places a paw on the pages and thumps her tail on the floor in enthusiastic support.

Eleven month old Liberty was hand picked to become a Law Enforcement Therapy dog. She is being groomed to become Caitee’s understudy…and I hate to even say it, but someday she will take over for Caitee. I love the fact that Liberty will carry on Caitee’s legacy.

Carrie: Your involvement in the R.E.A.D. (Reading Education Assistance Dogs) program to assist children with reading is something my readers may like to hear more about. How does this work?

A Program of

Intermountain Therapy Animals

® R.E.A.D. and courtesy K9 Cares

Carolyn: K9 Cares Victim Support is an official affiliated program of the R.E.A.D. program. The mission of the R.E.A.D. program is to improve the literacy and communication skills of childrens through the assistance of therapy teams as reading companions for children.

The R.E.A.D. dog does not criticize or correct the child; they listen quietly and encourage the student with their unconditional acceptance.

Carrie: Can you pick one inspiring, stand-out story to share with us?

© Julie G. Photography, Denver and courtesy  K9 Cares

Caitee has been Nominated for the

AKC's Award for Canine Excellence

Carolyn: In Caitee’s 1000 hours of service, one story comes to mind:

“In court on sentencing day, a mom had just faced the man who had abused her teenage daughter. The victim did not want to be in the courtroom; she waited just outside benefiting from Caitee’s attentive comfort and support. Upon exiting the courtroom when the hearing was over, Mom ran straight for Caitee and hugged her so tight we thought she would never let go. Mom cried on Caitee for a long period. Caitee would not judge, pull away or ask questions; and that is exactly what mom needed. It was truly an inspiring experience.”

Carrie: If my All Things Dog Blog readers wish to learn more, contact you, or make a donation, how may they best reach you for these purposes?

Carolyn: K9 Cares Victim Support may be reached at P.O. Box 351525 Westminster, CO 80234 or at www.k9Cares.org, where there is a donation page that accepts credit cards and PayPal donations. We are also on Facebook at K9 Cares Victim Support.

© Julie G. Photography, Denver 

and courtesy K9 Cares

Carolyn and Caitee

Want to learn more about Therapy Dogs? Try this:

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Visit Adopt a Dog Park to learn how

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