'Epidemic' Of Lost Service And Therapy Dogs! Part One

'EPIDEMIC' OF LOST SERVICE AND THERAPY DOGS

PART ONE

Hello! I have recently written several articles in hopes of bringing a valuable service dog in training back to her owner in IA. The reward for the safe return of her dog stands at $10,000.00. No one has come forward. The dog is micro-chipped, so if the dog has been hidden away, the first time a vet in that area scans the canine, they hopefully can return her helper to her. But what will the damage be to the ongoing training that was occurring when the pup ran off? Unknown.

As I've researched this a bit more, it seems that there has been a rash of losses of valuable service and therapy dogs in the months since September. What's up? Several things. People of low repute always want easily what is difficult to get by legal means. They don't care who is hurt~ the dog, the handler, or potential recipients. People are cruel that way. "ZERO"

Service dogs and Therapy dogs are experiencing major media coverage in this country and abroad. I think it likely due to the use of PTSD dogs for our returning vets. The public is understanding more and more that these are not “just dogs” and with that comes danger unfortunately at the hands of those who would wish them ill.

There have been some happy endings, dogs tracked down thousands of miles from home and identified by microchip. Most all top-notch training facilities micro-chip their dogs, for just these reasons. It makes identification iron-clad. If you wanted to really get high-tech for a valuable dog, there is DNA testing, and that is irrefutable. It's been used in horse stealing cases.

There are things as an owner of such a wonderful animal that you can do. Don't let your dog out alone. Even in a secure backyard. Let your dog have the use of your safe backyard for sure, but don't leave him alone in it. These are smart dogs, opening a latch on a gate is child's play for many of them! They are supposed to be with you at your side...so you need to stay with them or have them in the care of your back-up handler if you can't have your dog beside you.

The basics: stout collar, up to date tags~ these are helpful in cases of a 'simple' run away situation. Most ethical people will check your dog's tags first: then call you! If the phone and address are three addresses and phone numbers behind, it won't help your dog any! Keep those tags up to date! It also won't help if your dog's collar is by the kitchen sink and not on him. Keep the collar on the dog, it's there for a purpose, and it's not just to look spiffy! Have a tag with his veterinarian's name and phone number as well as address on it. If they can't get your dog to you, they can get him to your vet!

Micro-chip, micro-chip, micro-chip. Can one say more? Most training agencies do this. If you train your own dog, you need to do this. It's been a huge factor in returning lost and stolen dogs as well as proving that you are the rightful owner.

In the 'olden' days we tattooed our dogs. It might not be a bad idea to bring that back as well. For one, it's a deterrent. If a thief or someone even thinking of stealing or messing with your dog sees it, it will stop things cold. Tatooes are irrefutable evidence and even if altered, it's easily proved that the tatoo has been altered. With dark dogs, tattoos aren't as much help, unless you tatoo an inside of the ear...and gross as this sounds, ears have been taken off to remove tattoos. The best area is tattooing on

the inside of the mouth or leg. Canines can be tattooed on the gums and lips.The tatoo can be a partial of your social security number, or your name, or a combination of both. Obviously the dog is sedated and pain meds given to do this. Micro-chipping is so much more easy and less painful, and the obvious choice.

Just like your child, there are identifying factors that make each dog unique. Most are coloring, spots and marks that are unique to your animal. X-rays of any previous injuries, like a broken leg, are indispensable in proving ownership. Take time when you groom you pup to notice the quirks that are unique just to him...a kink in the tail, spot on the nose, pink on the black of a lip...all these are great helps with identification, especially in breeds where there isn't much variation in how each individual looks.

Did you know that your dog's nose-print is as unique to him as your fingerprints? Consider doing a nose-print of your dog and keeping it handy. Again, it's an indispensable method of proving ownership. Keep a bit of your dogs hair. (This is seldom an issue...since if you have dogs, you have hair!) DNA testing of the hair is also a full-proof method of identification.

Keep your dog at your side. That's where he should be. When he potties, you should check, both for his safety and health. Just watch him outside. He's well-trained, and will come when you call. If he is dicey on his recall, work on it every day. Reward him with a nice treat when he comes to your call.

Keep his leashes in good working order. When a clasp fails on a leash, have a backup ready to go. Never ever have a service dog off leash when out in public. Always have his identification in the form of tags, vest, harness, letter on him/with you. It should be obvious to one and all this is a working dog and not to interfere with the working team. Keep his harness, vest, and all equipment used in public in good working order, shiny and clean.

Know your friends and neighbors. If someone is giving off a funky karma around your dog...remove your dog and yourself away from them, your dog will let you know way ahead of time!

A second strange phenomenon that is concurrent with the vanishing service dogs are the private citizens with no real handicap that have either attempted to get a service dog and been turned down (due to no actual physical or mental handicap that is documented by a medical doctor). These people then half-train a dog, slap a generic vest on them and call them a 'service dog' or 'therapy dog'. They are not. And their owner is an imposter as well.

For example: we all experience some anxiety when flying in a plane....however....there are real people taking their regular dogs on as 'therapy dogs' for their flying anxiety. That is 'working the system', and it makes it much more difficult for the real therapy dog next time when he follows the ill-behaved half-trained dog that was being passed off as a therapy dog. People will expect the least, not the best of the next service dog they see.

Please, if you are a healthy person, don't 'play' the system so you can take your dog on trips with you! You are abusing a system meant for people with a medically documented need. You make it hard for all of us. You are an embarrassment. Not your dog, for he can't help the folly that you've gotten both of you into. You know deep down that what you are doing isn't right. Celebrate your good health, instead of malingering. Enjoy your dog, your regular, wonderful pooch who is fantastic in his own right, not because he has special training and is a very expensive tool for someone who's very life would depend on a service dog.

If you are into service dogs...heck, learn to work with them as a volunteer. Be a puppy raiser. Help raise money for the local service dog placement agency. Help someone who has a service dog. Drive them to the library, since you don't mind dog hair in the car! Little stuff like that might quell the craving to go nuts and impersonate a sick person and their dog! (Because that's abnormal behavior to want to do that!)

Lastly, a third phenomenon I've noted, and it doesn't necessarily equate with service dogs, but it has occurred more and more, and it does fit in this article as it pertains to trends. It seems that the latest “accessory” for people with more money and time on their hands than common sense is adopting a rescue dog...or three or four! It seems that one is never enough! Then they can say with pride at the next cocktail party~ I rescued three dogs from death at the pound!

If your self-esteem is that low, perhaps a trip to the therapist is in order before inflicting your psychoses on the poor dogs you want to rescue! Dogs are not 'things' to collect or to make low self-esteem inflate by collecting them! They are sentient creatures, dependent on you for everything, including having your head screwed on straight enough to care for them properly! Dogs ought not and should not be the latest 'in' craze for those with more money than commonsense.

I'm glad the rescue dogs are finding homes, but hate that it's for all the wrong reasons. If it's just a self-esteem bolster, what happens when they get bored with the dog...back to the pound? Ignoring them because they are a passing whim?

The other side to this coin are those who have minimal dog-handling skills, and adopt Staffordshire bull terriers. I hand it to them that they are trying to make a dent in a greatly maligned breed...however. Just as I wouldn't go out and recommend someone go ride steeplechase on a hot-blooded thoroughbred, when all they had ridden prior to that was the wooden horse at the merry-go-round...neither would I urge someone to adopt a pit when they have minimal experience with big dogs or problem dogs. It's a recipe for disaster. Even folks that know what they are doing can get into trouble with a pit bull-dog that has an unknown background, possibly one with abuse. Allowing any dog, especially the pits, with such baggage as they have, around children, who seldom treat dogs with the respect they should, is also asking for trouble. People need to use common sense.

Contribute money to organizations that rescue Pits. If you really want one, find out about them. Train with people who know them, and go into the relationship with both eyes open. They aren't everybody's dog.

Lastly, every holiday season, people need reminding of this, and I really don't know why that is...however, here goes: Do not give a canine as a Christmas gift. This is a little life we are speaking about. A sentient life. Not a toy. Not a gift. Not a one day diversion for little children who haven't a clue how to be gentle with a scared puppy among all the holiday cheer and loudness. If you have a mature child that wants a dog very badly...get him doggie extras: bed, leash and collar, a good dog book on all the popular breeds, citing pros and cons. Go through the book with him, and scan online what pup would be best for him, and the family. Expect that you will wind up being the primary feeder and care-taker of said animal, because there are few children that mature that could immediately take on the care of a young animal. Remember once again, this isn't just an animal~ this is a sentient being, and we must treat all of God's creatures with respect and love. Remember a pup may live at least 12 to 15 years. It will need veterinary care for all those years. It will must have grooming. Are you up to assisting your son or daughter with that?

Lastly, a pup that comes home to live with your son or daughter will likely live long enough to see them off to college with you...are you willing and able to take care of your daughter's dog when she goes off to college. If not, you need to reconsider things. It's not fair to uproot a dog that has been loyal the last ten years, because you are unable or unwilling to step in and take care of him or her. They can't help your daughter's college dorm doesn't allow dogs!

I guess if I had to wrap this up with one thing is...THINK, PEOPLE. Service dogs are a commitment of 10-15 years of a brilliant, sentient being, whose whole job in life, one it loves...is you! You have to keep up the bargain on your part. If you can't. Don't. Just as you give a safe place for the kids to play....same-same when it comes to your service animal. Perhaps even more so, since they are more trusting and giving than the regular family pet. They've been educated to be outgoing and loving to strangers as well...so they are more at risk for being picked up or worse, stolen.

In part two we will discuss real cases in the news of the increase in missing or abducted Therapy and Service dogs.