Children’s Hospital Therapy Dog Treated to Adorable Retirement Party Blowout

BY KELLI BENDER•@KBENDERNYC

POSTED ON OCTOBER 9, 2017 AT 5:50PM EDT

After 11 years of spreading smiles professionally, Abe the therapy dog is retiring.

Over the course of his career with Seattle Children’s, he has cheered up thousands of kids dealing with their toughest times.

“Not only do patients and their families enjoy his visits, there are staff members we’ve come to know over the past several years who love seeing him,” says owner Judith Bonifaci.

While the process of becoming a certified therapy pet is challenging, Abe wagged his tail the whole way through.

Bonifaci brought the dog into her life more than a decade ago after overcoming the heartbreaking loss of her last golden retriever.

This time, she wanted her pet to make a difference not just in her life, but the lives of countless others, so she started taking Abe to therapy dog training when he was just a puppy. Often it takes canines three to four years to become a therapy dog, but Abe mastered all of the strict obedience requirements and received his certification when he was just 14 months old.

Abe started his charitable career as a classroom therapy dog at a local elementary school. Once he turned 2 — one of the requirements of visiting patients at Seattle Children’s — he started visiting the hospital on a weekly basis through its Animal-Assisted Activities Program, supported by PetSmart Charities 

And that is what he has been doing for the past decade: leading Bonifaci from room to room, brightening the days of everyone he passes.

Strong in spirit, Abe still loves making others happy, but he doesn’t have the same stamina as when he first started. He will spend his golden years enjoying rest and relaxation at home with Bonifaci.

Before he left, Seattle Children’s treated Abe to an affection-filled retirement party, so this one therapy dog could see the positive impact he has had on so many.

Abe’s space won’t remain vacant for long: Now that Abe has retired, Bonifaci’s 2-year-old golden retriever Jackie will be stepping in for her big brother.

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Don't Give Up On Your Dog!

Hello, Friends

As a dog lover just like you I have also hit roadblocks when it comes to training my furry friend. Below I am going to share a story from Dan and what he encountered with his dog. I will also include his solutions.  I have personally tried many of his solutions and highly recommend anyone who is looking for help in the much-needed task of training our fur babies into the beloved pet we hoped for when we brought him/her home.

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From: Dan Stevens

Date: Thursday 8:30 am

It was never meant to be like this!

You fell in love with your dog from the first moment he bounced into your life—but you never thought he would be such a handful.

If he’s not ripping your shoes to shreds, barking all night long or fighting other dogs in the neighborhood, he’s out there creating a mess somewhere and generally being a chaotic handful.

It’s exhausting to deal with—and no matter what you try, your dog won’t listen! And despite being a holy terror, he knows how to give you those big ole puppy dog eyes that make you forget everything....

...until the next time he’s up all night barking. Oh boy, what are you going to do? You’ve tried everything—but Fido’s immune to just about everything you’ve tried—and it’s starting to look like the end of the road.

The good news is that you’re not alone!

My story is just like yours. I’m a dog person, and I thought I could control all dogs—hey, it’s my job!—but I had a dog, Barrett, who was all the above and much, much more. In short, he was a terror.

It drove me insane!

If I, a professional dog trainer, had this huge problem with Barrett—what hope has a regular person with other commitments got?

• So what are you doing wrong?
• Why won’t your pet listen to you?
• How much more frustration and how many more ruined pairs of shoes can you take?

Behind all these feelings lies the feeling that maybe it’s simply not worth it. Maybe it’s time to give up—as much as you love your dog, it’s too much hassle...

I felt like that too – but I couldn’t give up on Barrett. I decided to research and find out 100% effective techniques that work quickly and empower ALL dog owners to enjoy a great relationship with their dogs—as the master and "leader of the pack"

While I was researching, it struck me that for all the information that was out there, none of it was simple.

None of it gave me the step-by-step guidance I was seeking. None of it told me where to start and solve the one problem in my life: stopping my dog’s behavior problems.

Not anymore. With Secrets To Dog Training, I put together a comprehensive system that you can put in action right now and solve all of your dog’s behavior problems.

The best thing?

You can do this in just a few minutes daily!

Introducing:

Secrets To Dog Training

I'll say one thing. This isn’t a complicated book. Why should it be?

Dog training isn’t complicated.

This is a book that gives you a system that professional trainers use to ensure that your chaotic four-legged friend is soon the most perfectly behaved good boy you’ve ever known. All you need to know is the secrets.

Like most of the best secrets, these are obvious once you realize what they are.

This ebook delivers the secrets that top trainers use daily right into your hands—these secrets are the ones that you can use RIGHT NOW to help Fido become the good boy you always know he could be.

Don't give up just yet.

Click Here To Get Access To This Amazing Book. Plus Free Bonus Offers


Here is a sneak peak of just 1 of the Free Bonus Offer, 
(Value $19.95)

Thanks for taking the time to visit my blog. All comments and suggestions welcome.

Cheers!

Michelle Dussault | Video: Diabetes alert dog smells blood sugar changes

Michelle Dussault | Video: Diabetes alert dog smells blood sugar changes

The Benefits of a Diabetic Alert Dog

Owning a pet, especially a dog, can bring numerous benefits. Research shows that dog owners reap the benefits of caring for their furry friend in many ways:

* A healthier heart
* Lower cholesterol
* Minimized depression
* Increased social activities

While these benefits are all wonderful, the benefits of owning a diabetic alert dog are all that and more.

Medical Benefits

Diabetic dogs function differently than other dogs. Diabetic dogs are trained to utilize their sense of smell. These dogs have the ability to detect the fluctuation of change in blood sugar of their owners. 

Owners with diabetes Type 1 and Type 2 gain a tremendous benefit from owning a diabetic alert dog in that the dogs are trained to alert their masters of this shift.

While the pet owner’s blood sugar levels can peak and valley, some say the dog can detect these changes up to 30 minutes before the monitor does.  This is a vital asset considering these peaks and valleys can wreak havoc on a diabetic’s organs.

 Being a diabetic means that you have to monitor your blood sugar consistently throughout the day. Having a diabetic alert dog means you have a constant companion right by your side, actually advocating for your health.

 Chemical changes occur in a diabetic patient prior to becoming both hypoglycemic(Low Blood Sugar) and hyperglycemia (High Blood Sugar). Diabetic alert dogs are trained by scent to recognize the chemical changes that occur in a diabetic.  

Although being diabetic requires a lot of maintenance, having a diabetic alert dog makes the in-between maintenance moments go more smoothly. While a diabetic may do all that it takes to keep up with their daily regimen, there are moments in between that daily regimen that may put him or her into the danger zone. 


Psychological Benefits

Can you imagine having an illness and also feeling that you are alone? When you are diabetic, much of the responsibility falls on your own shoulders. Sometimes the burden of having to constantly check and monitor your blood sugar can be overwhelming.

Having a pet who offers you unconditional love along with medical support is a two-fold blessing. Diabetic alert dogs provide constant companionship by lying in bed next to you and walking alongside you throughout your day or just sitting with you curled up for a good movie.

Many individuals can benefit from the medical and psychological, as well as emotional benefits of a diabetic alert dog. 

* College students
* Young children
* The elderly
* Persons who live alone

The beauty of owning a diabetic alert dog is that the dog can alert its owner before the onset of a diabetic incident. That is priceless.

Having a pet that loves you and protects your health also offers an emotional benefit. We all know that when we are ill and we are emotionally supported, chances are we will manage, maintain, and heal in other areas as well.

Click Here: If You Would Like Further Information about Owning a Diabetic Alert Dog

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5 Tips to Understanding Your Cats 5 Senses

Are you a cat owner/lover who is curious about how they function on a daily basis?  Of course, you know your cat wouldn't comfortably survive without the food and shelter you provide him or her daily, but you may be curious about their senses and what they mean to your fur baby.  Do you ever find yourself wondering how well your pet can see you or their surrounding? Or maybe you're wondering what kinds of tastes they prefer?  If so, please continue reading on.

1. HEARING:
As for your cat’s hearing, have you ever heard that your cat’s ears are similar to a satellite dish?  There are many pet owner and veterinarians who make this comparison.  What does this mean?  It means that your cat does have a relatively good sense of hearing.  You may notice your cat turn their head and move their ears when you start talking or when they hear a noise outside.  This provides cats with the ability to hunt mice and other small, quite rodents.

 

2. TOUCH:

As for your cat’s sense of touch, all pets are just like humans.  They have a fine sense of touch.  Whether you touch your cat’s whiskers, her paws, or her tail, it is a movement that she can notice and respond to right away.  The most sensitive part of your cat’s body is their whiskers.  As a cat owner, you should already know how important a full set of whiskers is to a cat.  Your cat’s paws are also sensitive because they are loaded with delicate nerve endings that aid them in balance and hunting.

3. SIGHT:
As for your cat’s sight, he or she has good vision.  It has been claimed that cats see at 1/5th the intensity of humans.  Although cats cannot see perfectly in the dark, they are still able to make out distinctive shapes and movements.  Cats are also able to see movement quicker than humans are.  A movement that may appear as nothing to us, is a movement that a cat can notice.  However, during daylight, humans do have a better sense of sight.

4. TASTE:
Depending on your cat and his or her eating habits, you may assume that cats have a sensitive sense of taste.  After all, many cat owners report their pets as being picky eaters.  Although it may appear as if your cat is a picky eater, they logically aren’t, at least for taste reasons.  In fact, cats are more likely to pick and choose their food based on smell, rather than taste.

5. SMELL:

Speaking of smell, this is the most heightened out of the five senses for your cat.  Cats have a much better sense of smell than humans do.  In fact, did you know that cats have about 200 million cells in and on their noses that are odor sensitive?  They do.  This is much more than us, humans, have.  In addition to using smell as a way to decide which food to eat, cats can also use smell to determine if an environment is safe to enter.  Smelling is also a method of communication for felines.  It has been said that cats can smell odors that humans can’t even detect. Cats have a very strong organ receptor called the vomeronasal organ. With this organ, they are able to smell pheromones from other animals. This helps the cat distinguish between, friend, prey or predator allowing them to also know if they are in danger

Now that you know how your cat’s five main senses are, you may be able to better understand the behavior that your cat displays and the habits that they develop.  With that being said, also be sure to use your best judgment.  If your cat appears to lose or have problems with the above-mentioned senses, you should consider scheduling an appointment with your veterinarian.

Thank you for taking the time to read.
Cheers!
All Comments and suggestions welcome

Six Ways a Therapy Dog Can Help Children

Dogs Are Truly Amazing

Dogs have been shown to promote health benefits in humans. Anyone who owns a dog knows this to be true. They can increase self-esteem, increase trust and confidence as well as increase endorphin production. In many instances, therapy dogs have specifically been used to help kids. 

Therapy dogs and their handlers are now common in nursing homes, assisted living facilities and hospitals.

 However, did you know that they can also be found in schools?  Schools are using therapy dogs to improve the lives of children in a number of ways. Here are six ways that these helpful dogs can make life better for children.

How Dogs Help Children

Dogs are fun to have around even when they are supposed to be doing something serious like therapy. Here are ways that kids encounter therapy dogs. 

1. Literacy – Did you know that therapy dogs can help children to read? Those who have trouble with their reading are often afraid to read aloud in front of other classmates. But, they are more than willing to read in front of a four-legged friend. They are part of reading programs that bring dogs in to increase literacy by helping kids to work on their reading skills. Dogs tend to be very attentive and patient as kids read, and the children learn how to interact with animals at the same time.

2. Bullying – Some therapy dogs are used in schools as a part of a campaign to stop bullying. The dogs are used to teach character traits like compassion and fairness to kids in an effort to decrease bullying. Kids who had animals in the classroom were less likely to be part of disruptive behavior than those without one.

3. Calm fears – Children who had a visit from a dog or other therapy pet before a hospital procedure were calmer. We all know pets are soothing. For kids who have pets at home, the sight of one in their hospital room or a doctor’s office can provide a sense of trust.

Pediatric hospital uses therapy dogs to help kids smile, heal

4. Acceptance – When kids find it hard to talk to adults about issues, they can talk to animals. Because the animal doesn’t yell or show another form of displeasure, they develop a trusting bond.  This could help them open up in therapy in the future. Dogs want to please people by nature. So they remain devoted and focused on whomever they are with.

5. Social interaction – Therapy dogs can aid in the learning of social skills in kids. Because dogs are patient, they can be used to reinforce positive social skills like teamwork, empathy, and responsibility.

6. Exercise – Some children tend to isolate themselves because of underlying social issues. This means they are lacking in physical exercise. With a therapy dog, kids can get a bit of fresh air and have some fun at the same time. Running around playing with a therapy dog is exercise although it won’t seem like it.

Therapy Dogs helping children with Autism.

Kids and pets are both precious. Bringing them together in therapy can have so many positive results. 

Thank you for taking the time to read and comment.
Have a wonderful day.
Cheers!

6 Interesting Cat Facts

6 Interesting Cat Facts 

Over 30% of households in North America own a cat. Cats have been known to be great for companionship. If I must say they are also great for cuddling. I love their quirky personality and watching the way the play.  I guess it would be fair to say I am an Ailurophilia.  My life long dream has always been to own a cat and dog sanctuary.  Not only because I love them, but to help with the overpopulation of both fur babies.

Ailurophilia: (Greek: cat+lover)

Sadly because feral cats are mostly unspayed & unneutered In just seven years, a single pair of cats and their offspring could produce a little over 400,000 kittens.  This is why at any time could be up to 60 million feral cats in the United States alone. 

Disheartening as that is, there is a place you probably wouldn't have thought of that is helping feral cats.

Disneyland Cats:

That's right,! Disneyland owns around 200+cats! While they obviously care for their furry friends, these cats have a bigger purpose. Every night, the feral Cats are let out to roam about in hopes of keeping mice and rodents away Disney first started caring for the cats in the 1950’s after staff noticed them. These days Disney now has a catch and release program where they spay and neuter the cats. Afterwards, they are released back into the park. Nutrition is a must have even for these furry park dwellers. So Disney had secret feeding stations set up for the cats to eat and stay hydrated At times you may catch one lounging around the park grounds or cozying up to a visitor. 

Cat Flap Isac Newton:

Isaac Newton invented the cat flap(1642–1727). Newton was experimenting in a pitch-black room. His cat Spithead kept opening the door and wrecking his experiment.  Although according to Wikipedia Newton invented the cat hole for his adult cat and one for her kittens.  The kittens though ended up following the mother through the larger whole

Cat Whiskers:

Cats have between 8 to 12 whiskers on the sides of their face. They also have smaller ones above their eyes and on their lower front legs. However, they aren’t just for show – they are highly sensitive shafts with nerve endings deep in the cats face. This is why you should NEVER be tempted to trim or cut off a cat's whiskers.  Doing so could leave the cat disoriented and dizzy for weeks. This is because their whiskers send vital navigation signals about their surroundings. Whiskers help cats detect objects and sense if they can fit into tight spots.

Dometic Cats can't taste anything sweet:

 They are mostly carnivores (meat eater) so they don't have the active taste bud needed to distinguish sweets. Many
Scientists believe this could be due to a mutation in a key taste receptor important for distinguishing sweets. Although they lack the ability to taste sweets they can smell approximately 14 times greater than a human.

Cats are known to be great climbers:

They can climb fences bushes, high window cells, just about anything. However, we've all heard of the cat that had to be rescued from a tree. Why? If they're such great climbers why can't they get down? If they were to get down they would obviously have to climb down head first. This is an impossible task for a cat because though their claws are like their own grappling hook (what hikers use for climbing), every claw points inward towards the paw. This makes them excellent for climbing upward, but down not so much without toppling over and hoping to land on their feet.   Which is why most cats once up in a tree would rather stay up there and cry for their rescuer.

Lovely Purring Sounds:

A cat purrs by vibrating vocal cords deep in their throat. Some people have confused cat purrs with growling
Although we want to believe our cat is purring because they are happy. This isn't always true, strangely it's also been said that cats may also purr when they are stressed, or scared. Depending on the circumstances most owners can tell why their cat is purring.  
 While they inhale & exhale their purrs can fluctuate anywhere from 20-150 Hz . At this range, it has been proven to cut down on difficulty breathing. This is a medical benefit for them and their human family.  Numerous investigation found that sound frequencies in these ranges can improve bone density and promote healing. 

Funny Fact I'll leave you with.

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All comments and suggestions welcome.