Anti-Bullying Dog Therapy
Rachel McPherson, The Good Dog Foundation

Rachel McPherson is the Founder and Executive Director of The Good Dog Foundation (Good Dog) founded in 1998 to promote the use of animal-assisted therapy. Good Dog provides therapy dog services to people in health care, social service, educational and community facilities, and at disaster sites around the country, with over 1,100 trained dogs.

The Good Dog also has an anti-bullying program, which focuses on a therapy dog team entering the classroom and beginning a dialogue on kindness, responsibility and communication. The outcome of this program is that students will have increased empathy towards animals and towards each other.

Most of us have experienced some sort of bullying in our lives. Perhaps it was the kid who threatened to come after you after class or the kid that actually physically confronted you. Unfortunately, this kind of torment continues to this day, especially with the availability of social media, which takes it to a whole new level.

Children in the classrooms will open up about bullying to the dogs. It starts when the dogs are brought into the classrooms, where discussions are held about how to treat a dog really well. The children are told to treat dogs with kindness and to make sure that they take good care of their pets. The children are then told that if they take good care of their pets, they should also take good care of their friends. Next, they are asked if they have friends that didn't take care of them or treat them very nicely. By focusing on the dogs, an amazing thing happens. That is when the bullying comes out. They start out by focusing on the children that have been bullied and sometimes other children will admit that they have actually done bullying themselves. A complete discussion is then held about being nice to animals and their friends.

Good Dog's ultimate goal is to increase the awareness and prevalence of fully certified therapy teams in a wide variety of facilities across the country. This is achieved through three core activities: training and certification, visit coordination and research and awareness.

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Dogs On The Witness Stand
Ellen O'Neill-Stephens, Courthouse Dogs

Ellen O'Neill-Stephens was a former prosecutor in Seattle for 26 years. During this time, she witnessed a great deal of pain and suffering experienced by many people. These included not only victims and witnesses to crime, but also people who were affected by the stress of the investigation and prosecution of crimes.

Ellen has a son with cerebral palsy and he obtained a fabulous service dog from Canine Companions For Independence. However, there was one day a week when his dog, Jeter, couldn't be with him. Ellen just happened to be working in juvenile drug court at the time and thought that maybe Jeter could help these kids in their recovery on his day off. Ellen decided to bring Jeter to drug court, which was a little unusual, but he was a huge success.

Word then got out, and Ellen received many calls. One call was from a prosecutor who asked if Jeter could help twin girls who were sexually assaulted by their father. It was 2004, and Jeter went into the courtroom with these girls who were 7 years old. Jeter was with them when they testified against their father, who was sitting just a few feet from them in the same room. It made a huge difference, and that's how Courthouse Dogs was started.

It is the philosophy of Courthouse Dogs that the dogs should be available to anyone affected by stress during the course of criminal justice proceedings. However, they also help defendants in veteran's court, mental health court and DUI court (Driving Under the Influence).

Nevertheless, not everyone feels that dogs should be allowed in courtroom. Courthouse Dogs has come across objections from defense attorneys. If dogs are assisting someone in the courtroom, they may raise the objection and say, "Oh look, Judge, everybody likes dogs, especially dogs that are very appealing like these dogs are. If they're associated with the State's witness in the witness box while he or she is testifying in court, the jury is going to like the State's witness more than my client, and that's prejudicial to my client."

However, what most defense attorneys and judges don't realize, and what Courthouse Dogs tries to educate them about, is that these dogs are so well trained, they can lay perfectly still for an hour or two and are often completed hidden in the witness box. They are then able to provide that support without being a distraction whatsoever.

Courthouse Dogs have provided comfort to sexually abused children while they undergo forensic interviews and testify in court. These dogs also assist court participants in their recovery, visit juveniles in detention facilities, greet jurors and lift the spirits of courthouse staff who often conduct their business in an adversarial setting. The use of Courthouse Dogs can help bring about a major change in how we meet the emotional needs of all involved in the criminal justice system. Their calming presence promotes justice with compassion.

Pet Flipping - Seven Tips to Safeguard Your Pet - Dr. Debbie

Pet lovers beware of the disturbing criminal trend called "pet flipping." This is when a person steals a pet or takes ownership of a lost pet, and then sells the animal. Pets are typically sold on the Internet to make a quick profit.

Pet flippers most commonly target purebred dogs because they can fetch a high price, but even mixed breed dogs are at risk. Dogs are swiped from porches, fenced in back yards, dog parks, and cars. Some pet scams involve a person advertising as a pet sitter or trainer, who then disappears with your pet. Other scams involve someone who steals a pet and then responds to the lost pet ad, making money on rewards.

Top 7 Tips to Prevent Pet Flipping:

1. Don't Leave Your Pet Unattended
Avoid leaving your pet unattended, even in your own backyard. Don't leave your pet outside of stores or coffee shops. Tying your dog's leash up while you run that quick errand can give a thief the few minutes he needs to snatch your pet while you step away. Keep a watchful eye on your dog when visiting dog parks.

2. Get Your Pet Microchipped
A microchip is one of the best tools to reunite lost pets and serves as legal proof of ownership. Be sure to keep your contact information up to date with the microchip company.

3. Use GPS Collars
A GPS collar allows you to track your dog's movement minute by minute. These units can help you find your pet quickly if lost, but are of little use if a pet flipper removes the collar. I use a pet tracker for my dog and like that I can locate him to a precise location with my smart phone.

4. Get Your Pet Spayed or Neutered
Dogs that aren't spayed or neutered are especially prized targets to thieves since they are perceived as a money-making opportunity. Spaying and neutering also decreases the desire to stray and is good for your pet's health.

5. Research Pet Services Carefully
Before signing on for pet sitting or dog trainer services, research the business person's reputation with the Better Business Bureau. Ask your veterinarian for a referral to a reputable pet professional. Request references before using a new pet service.

6. Buyer Beware
Be cautious when buying a pet online and only use reputable breeders. Check out a breeder's standing with the AKC and breed clubs. Be wary of individuals that lack documentation of breeding or veterinary health care records.

7. Sign Up For Doggie Facial Recognition Apps
High-tech facial recognition technology is now available to identify and track down lost pets with services like Finding Rover. Use your iPhone to download the app. Upload your pet's photo in their database and promptly notify Finding Rover if your pet is ever lost.

Pet flipping is so heinous because it exploits the cherished relationship between family and a beloved pet. Share this information with fellow pet lovers to spread awareness and halt this criminal trend.

Featured veterinarian known as "Dr. Debbie" on national pet radio program, Animal Radio. Ebook author of "Yorkshire Terriers: How to Be Your Dog's Best Friend"; "Pugs: How to Be Your Dog's Best Friend"; "Mini Schnauzers: How to Be Your Dog's Best Friend"; and "Shih Tzu: How to Be Your Dog's Best Friend." Dr. Debbie's books.

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Seeing-Eye Dogs Brought Blind Couple Together
A pair of seeing-eye dogs received credit for leading their owners to love. Claire Johnson and Mark Gaffey first met at a course for their guide dogs, Rodd and Venice in Shrewsbury, England. Apparently, the guide dogs were inseparable and seemed to be falling in love. Their visually impaired owners soon followed suit. Just months later, Claire and Mark began their own romantic relationship. Gaffey says Rodd and Venice are "central to the whole thing" because the dogs brought them together.

Dolphins Show Long-Term Memory
A study indicates dolphins are capable of recognizing a tank mate's whistle, even after being separated for as many as 20 years. It's the longest social memory ever recorded for a non-human. A University of Chicago Scientist studied 56 bottle-nosed dolphins that were moved between six different institutions. Such long-term memory puts dolphins in the same category as some monkeys and elephants, which also show a similar capability. The study was published online in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society of London B.

Scientists Urged Media To Stop Saying Shark "Attack"
A group of scientists asked the media to stop talking about shark "attacks." The American Elasmobranch Society, which studies sharks, rays and various other creatures, believes the term reinforces negative stereotypes and undermines shark conservation efforts. Instead, they encourage reporters to be more accurate and differentiate between shark sightings, shark encounters, shark bites and fatal shark bites.

Contagious Yawns May Not Be Unique To Humans
A Japanese study showed that dogs tend to yawn after a person yawns. Researchers also found that dogs are more likely to yawn after a human, if that person is their owner. The study's author said that their research showed "contagious yawning in dogs is emotionally connected in a way similar to humans." While they weren't able to determine the exact reason that dogs mimic yawns, they were able to rule out that it was a type of distress response to seeing a strained human face. While many of the dogs repeatedly followed their owners in yawning, 14 dogs did not yawn at all.

Badger Credited With Major Archaeological Find In Germany
A badger helped Germany uncover its past. Two sculptors planning to display their work on their farm found the badger's home while surveying the property. The animal had dug up the land, and in the process unearthed some human bones. Archaeologists were called in and announced that the badger had discovered a 12th century burial site, which included the graves of two Slavic lords and several warriors. The lords were buried with bronze bowls at their feet, while one of the warriors had a sword at his side. Archaeologist said it was clear from the marks on one warrior's skull that he was "a tough guy." He added that it was the first grave to be found in Brandenburg. The artifacts were displayed at a local museum.

Largest Assembly of Dogs Failed
Some dogs apparently don't care all that much about breaking a world's record. The UK's Kennel Club was attempting to set a new record for the largest assembly of dogs staying in one place at the same time. To accomplish the goal, the animals had to either sit or stay in their designated spot for at least two minutes. But a Kennel Club spokesman said some of the dogs just got too distracted and were "a little too busy wandering around or sniffing the other animals" to qualify. The Kennel Club had brought together 635 dogs in the failed record attempt. The RSPCA at Windsor Great Park holds the record with 627 dogs.

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