Kirby was very peaceful once he got home

Kirby is an older dog. He needed a few cysts removed and a dental and I was very anxious about his having anesthesia.

My greatest fear was he would not be able to tolerate sedation and not wake up.

My vet tried to remove one cyst under local but poor Kirby could not tolerate it. My vet called and said “It’s not going well. We really need to sedate the little guy.” So it was jointly decided to sedate him and do everything at once.

Kirby did fine and is home now.

The wound on his rear is the largest have to keep him from chewing

He has two very large shaved areas on his body with black stitches that have to be removed in ten days and is on pain medication.

But  he ate some food when we got home and drank a little water. A very good sign.

Kirby will be on furlough from therapy work until the stitches are out but he will be able to work before his hair grows back in about three months. He will be a good example to the clients that you go on and continue your life even while healing. I am going to get him a little sweater today to protect his back until he is all grown in and healed.

He still loves being held and cuddled

Without trust for my vet’s opinion and knowledge, I could not have been comfortable having him sedated for the procedures. He had the two cysts removed and his teeth cleaned. The cysts will be biopsied but I am not overly concerned that they will be trouble.

When choosing a vet consider how well you can communicate, how well the vet respects and understands your concerns and whether he/she has empathy for you and your pet. They see hundreds if not thousands of animals but your animal is your beloved and you want a vet who can understand how important your pet is to you while at the same time be professional and distant enough to make tough decisions.

So good to be home!

We all agree that Kirby may be a little old man but he is also one tough little dog!

Sandy is the proud owner of Gummy

Rygambo (AKA Gummy Bear) is a Delta therapy horse. She is not an equine riding horse thus people do not ride her. So what does she actually do?

She inspires, entertains, provides comfort and the experience of being with a horse. And she loves.

For many of the patients and long-term residents at Boulder City Hospital, visiting with Gummy brings back sense memories. Many had horses throughout their lives while some had never interacted with a full-size horse before. But all were excited to take a field trip to visit with Gummy at her stables.

It was a beautiful day to be outside with the horses

Seven clients were driven to the stables and had a full experience with three horses. Gummy is the only Delta horse, meaning she has been passed the rigorous Delta evaluation and deemed safe to be with the public, thus she the only horse they could physically interact with. But there were other horses they could observe from a distance with demonstrations of riding bareback barrel jumping.

But Gummy was definitely the star because everyone could touch her, feed her and love on her. And she was meant for this work.

Franckie was excited to pet Gummy

Gummy is twenty three years old and so well suited for this new career. Her temperament is solid and steady, her love for people is palpable and her attention to her owner stellar.  Gummy’s owner has three Delta Dogs as well and is very comfortable working with the public and has the ability to interact with people while 100% watching over her animal.

One client, who had horses in her life, did not want to go near Gummy or touch or feed her. She sat quietly in her seat watching the others. What was going through her mind? Perhaps it was too sad for her to be near a horse so like those she had loved in her past. Perhaps it brought back too many happy memories and overwhelmed her. But by the end of an hour she stood up and slowly walked towards the front of the fence where we let everyone greet Gummy. She reached out her hand for us to give her the carrot for Gummy and the biggest smile crossed her face. She was ready to meet this exquisite horse and the day was deemed a true success as everyone had now experienced the love of this amazing horse – close up and personal.

The Boulder City Review was there to cover Gummy’s visit for the newspaper and e eryone was so excited to be “interviewed.”

A bareback riding demonstration

Gummy will have many more field trips scheduled to meet her as well as visits to bring her to other locations. Las Vegas’ first Delta therapy horse has her work cut out for her and she is most certainly up to the challenge.

The miracle of touch

How do you measure success when working with young adults who are multiply challenged? In very small steps.

When our therapy program, Love Dog Adventures, was approached by Danville Services to visit with their clients living in a group home in Las Vegas, I knew we had the right animals and handlers.

Danville Services Corp. began as two side-by-side group homes in Riverton, Utah. Today, Danville is active in four states—Utah, Arizona, Nevada and Oregon—where they provide a full range of services for people with disabilities. They offer their clients supervised apartments, supported living arrangements, supported employment and day training services.

Visiting Danville falls under our Response to Intervention program, whereby we harness the power of the pets to bring about cognitive, physical or emotional connection.

The six young adults living in the group home in Las Vegas all experience life through a different set of challenges. Only one is minimally verbal and none are mobile. Most cannot eat food on their own and spend their days sitting or lying down. The staff is extraordinary, respectful, encouraging, proactive and loving.

For our first visit I brought my little Kirby alone. I wanted to determine which other team members would be appropriate for this very unique population. When we first entered the home, to some it could appear very sad. Children and young adults sitting together in a living room and an almost one-to-one ratio of support staff. Nurses milling around tending to every need and talking to the children and understanding their sounds in return.

George showed everyone how gentle a big dog can be

But after just a few brief moments the atmosphere took on another feeling. As one young girl sat with Kirby on his blanket on her lap, she actually turned towards him as if to say “what is this furry thing on my lap?” After a short time she made contact with her hand. Perhaps by mistake. Perhaps by desire. Either way she touched the little dog and the joy on her face was palpable. She sat with Kirby for quite a while and when I reached out to lift him to visit with another child, she reached out to me as if to say “Don’t go – more.”

Izzi did a super job today

Her nurse was astonished that she showed such determined signs of cognitive awareness and was able to communicate her desire for more Kirby.

I then knew this would be a very important partnership for the Love Dogs and brought two more dogs the next time. We brought one of our largest dogs, George, an Old English Sheepdog, to see if the children would be frightened. But George is so calm and steady – his visit was a huge success. He was able to lie down on the floor next to the very low bed of one child and they had their own personal time together.  And we had a younger dog, a bit more active and fun loving, Izzi, and one of the young men took such a shine to her. He actually “played” with her and laughed all through their visit.

Each visit will bring about breakthroughs, to be measured in tiny increments but with great joy. A hand reaching out, a smile, a direct look, a desire for “more.”

Six kids, three dogs, an immeasurable amount of love.

Three dogs Sit together

Group training classes are beneficial for several reasons. They socialize the dogs and bring handlers together to help one another. They allow people to observe others and practice in a supportive environment.

But the most interesting benefit of group classes is how dogs learn from each other.

A new dog brought into the group, one who has had no formal training, often seems mesmerized by the other dogs as they go through their paces.

Soon we see the new dog “sitting” when the other dogs sit and “down” as the pothers lie down.

The new dog will walk calmly on a loose leash if he is following another clam dog.

The new dog is eager to learn and will pick things up quicker when in the ring with other dogs.

The very excitable dog will often relax when other dogs are going through their turns. After about five minutes of greeting and playfulness, young dogs will often lie down all together and wait their “turns” to do a behavior. Watching seems as much fun to the dogs as when it’s their turn.

Owners are often surprised to see their dogs behave better in the ring surrounded by other dogs than at home.  But it is just the sense of security of being amongst their own and learning by observation that is the key.

From hard to adopt to star therapy dogs

Heaven Can Wait printed this piece about Kirby and Benny, two difficult to adopt dogs that found their forever home:

 http://hcwsblog.org

KC brought such peace to everyone

We were thrilled to be part of a news story about the therapy dogs at Sunrise Hospital – click here to view the piece as it aired on Fox Chanel 5 News in Las Vegas:

http://www.fox5vegas.com/story/16157761/pets-overcome-adversity-to-help-sunrise-patients-dogs-vegas-sunrise-hospital

Kirby was featured in the story

As soon as he came through the door Ziggy had a fan

Ziggy was supposed to be an agility dog. Jumping, running, weaving. He was chosen for the skills inherent in a Border Collie but he just never did want to run, jump or weave. He wanted to go off course up to every spectator and say Hi I’m Ziggy!

He showed everyone his big heart upon meeting so his owner, Ilene, decided to change direction and fulfill his true destiny.

Ziggy became a Delta Pet Partner and one of the Love Dogs.

So now Ziggy can spend his days doing what he craves – making people happy and sharing love and joy.

Ziggy went on his first visit to Sunrise Hospital and was such a huge hit. Everyone wanted to meet him as he is beautiful and has soulful eyes.

When he got to the Pediatric Emergency Room, the nurses were thrilled to see him. Only a handful of dogs are permitted into Peds ER and we thought Ziggy would make a wonderful addition. He did not disappoint.

He provided a wonderful distraction from the scary moments in the ER, for both the children and their parents.

Then Ziggy went up to Rehab and there is just something about the larger dogs. So many people reminisced about dogs they had or dogs they are currently missing. He was so cuddly and steady for easy petting.

Ziggy’s friend Kirby came along and it was especially nice to have  a large dog working with a small dog – something for everyone!

Ziggy will begin working in pediatrics and oncology soon and seems to have his true calling.

It has been over a year since Benny joined our family. In the beginning it was critical that I keep Benny away from Kirby as he was so much younger and more playful. The first week they were together Benny ran to play with Kirby, Kirby skittled across the slippery floor and dislocated his hip. From that day on I taught Benny the Away command – he had to stay at least three feet away from the little dog unless I was there to supervise.

So for many months the two dogs were not allowed to play together or be close without my being there to watch over them.

But as Benny grew older and became more comfortable in our home and his training kicked in, I would often find them coexisting peacefully together. They would usually go into the “Coco Condo”, the pen where Coco stayed, and is now Kirby’s favorite spot. Benny would quietly go in and rest beside Kirby, as if to say to me “it’s ok now – I won’t hurt him.”

More often than not this is their preferred spot to take naps, play with their toys and just be together.

They are now doing the same visual mimicking that Kirby did with Coco … Benny is positioning himself however Kirby is first and then settling in.

And Benny is often going into the Condo by himself to rest on the soft blankets that probably still have Coco’s scent as well as Kirby’s. It seems to be Benny’s most soothing spot in the house. Whenever he comes in from “working” he goes right to that spot to rest, even before I can take off his Delta vest.

So when I tell clients to give it time for a new dog to become accustomed to the family and routines and rituals and to give the new dog as much time as he needs, it was certainly true for our family. Both Kirby, as our older dog, and Benny, the new kid on the block, had to find their own dance together and discover how to truly be brothers.

It's all about consistency, patience and teamwork

Baxter is very eager to learn

Sometimes it seems like forever.

Sometimes your patience starts to wane.

Sometimes you think this dog will never catch on.

Then the light goes on in your dog

And the miracle happens.

All of a sudden he understands what it is you are asking of him.

To be independent.

To be social.

To be calm.

To be confident.

A very relaxed Baxter

To be relaxed.

To be happy.

Once that light goes on everything becomes simpler.

Your dog will look at you.

Your dog will sit for you.

Your dog will lie down for you.

Your dog will stay for you.

Your dog will come to you.

Your dog will respect you.

The joy in training, especially the shy fearful dog, is watching the slow progression.  You work for days and works, months, sometimes even years and one moment out of the blue your dog gets it. But is it really all of a sudden? Or is it the accumulation of all the hard work, determination, patience and love you put into it as your dog’s guardian?

Baxter now does a perfect Down

And once that light clicks in your dog, there is no going back. He is hungry to learn and so proud of what he has learned.

This is the most critical time to continue working with your dog. He now has the thirst for learning new things and perfecting what he has already learned.

Most people ask me when training will be done – how long must I work with my dog? The answer is forever.

Once your dog gets the bug to learn, make it fun for him, and you, and continue trying new techniques, new experiences and tackling new challenges.

A never let the light go out.

I was asked to give a presentation on the Healing Power of Pets and it was such a fun day today at the Rio Casino and Resort. I brought Kirby and Benny and they outdid themselves. Both dogs were calm, loving and on their best game.

Of course Kirby had to go outside several times! And Benny decided laps were far better than the floor!

Everyone who attended was very involved and understood what the animals have to offer…and got extra special attention from the dogs.

The more we reach out to different audiences the more we can spread the word not only about Delta Pet Partners but Love Dogs and the unique programs we are developing in Las Vegas … and most importantly, the tremendous impact animals have on our lives.

I want to thank all of my incredible volunteers who made the day extra special for us.