For the Love of Dogs
by Ursula Kempe

What can create relationships between people from all parts of the world? Shared interests and hobbies are definitely a big factor and encourage people to communicate with each other even if there is a problem with a common language, whether we are talking about sports, art, music, collecting, nature, the love of animals, or in particular the love of dogs. When just walking around the neighborhood one encounters dogs out for a walk with their human partners. A smile, a nod, sometimes the petting of the dog follows and at times a conversation. We now have established contact with a previously unknown person. Next time one meets again, maybe more conversation ensues and eventually this can lead into getting to know this person on the other side of the lead. Many dogs read facial expressions; if you smile at a dog, the dog will answer you by wagging its tail. If you are in need of petting a dog, try it out, you will be amazed at how the dogs will respond. When walking in Manhattan one encounters many dogs. The owners wonder when a dog pulls and why it wants to make contact with you. Sometimes they might be embarrassed and mumble excuses, other times they are happy if other people want to meet their dog.

When traveling to other countries the same thing happens. For example, while walking in Paris and looking for some place in particular I encountered a Security Guard with a German Shepherd Dog. We were able to communicate, exchange a few words about our dogs. Waiting at a bus stop, there was an elderly lady with her little dog. Petting this dog and talking to her led to exchanging dog stories and showing photos. Next time when I met her again at the same stop we greeted each other. A new friend in another country, brought together by the love of dogs. The same is true in reverse; you and your dog will encounter people who want to pet your dog.

After you loose your dog you are lost, you want to pet every dog in sight. Maybe you think this dog senses your need and understands your grief. Sharing a dog with another person to make them feel better is what Therapy Dog work is all about. Who do we share our dogs with? All people in need of the love of a dog. There is more of a need when a person cannot or can no longer have a dog, or a person in a hospital deprived of the interaction with dogs, or children who are without dogs. There are so many ways for us to help with our dogs; we are realizing more and more how important a factor our dogs are in our lives. Who would have thought in 1976 at our first Therapy Dog visit to a nursing home in NJ, that dogs would wind up in all type of facilities, hospitals in particular which was at that time not an option. The health care community more and more realizes the importance of the interaction between dogs and people in order to speed the heeling process or to soothe and bring joy where otherwise there is no more hope.

In conclusion I would like to encourage you, if you have a born Therapy Dog (a dog with an outstanding temperament, loving people and being friendly toward other dogs and tolerating other animals) to teach your dog basic obedience and have your dog tested and registered as a Therapy Dog, to share the love and joy of your dog with others in need. You will be surprised at the rewards you and your dog will receive. Dogs bring people and countries together and help to create a better world for all of us.

Therapy Dog Testing in the
Rhine-Main Region of Germany

Therapy Dogs International (TDI) receives on a continuous basis many requests from various countries about our Therapy Dog program. People in the United States and some other countries, unfortunately, have copied our program and some are visiting without structure or prior testing and registration. Based on our ideas they have put together some elitist cumbersome programs, where the handlers must take a few courses, pay a lot of money and then have to be Para-therapists. This is not what we intended with our dogs. Our dogs don’t assist in Therapy, our dogs are the Therapists. Our program is based on the idea of sharing dogs with those who are in need of the love of a dog. It always had been the intent of TDI to expand our programs at some future date; we now are ready to do so.

Currently we are trying to start in the Rhine-Main region of Germany, in Mainz, the city of Gutenberg, the seat of the Johannes Gutenberg University. There are many dog clubs with excellent facilities in this area on both sides of the Rhine River. Our plea goes out to those clubs to help us set up a test. We need a facility and also would like to work with the club trainers who would be interested in our program. We ask not only the dog clubs to please help us but all other people who are able to do so, to ultimately help other people. If you are interested please send an email to tdi@gti.net.

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In Memory of

Mr. Woo Wusel, DSR TDIEVA

Veteran of 9/11 served from the beginning of October 2001 until the middle of December 2001 at Pier 94 in NYC.

Veteran of Hurricane Katrina September 2005 served for three weeks in Baton Rouge following the devastation of the storm.

Working as a Therapy Dog, Wusel could connect with people in a way no human could. Wusel was a Therapy dog until the last minutes of his life.

Also in Memory of all the dogs who have gone over the Rainbow Bridge and are missed so much by their humans.

The Rainbow Bridge
author unknown

There is a bridge connecting Heaven and Earth. It is called the rainbow bridge because of its many colors. Just this side of the Rainbow Bridge there is a land of meadows, hills, and valleys with lush green grass.

When a beloved pet dies, the pet goes to this place. There is always food and water and warm spring weather. The old and frail animals are young again. They play all day with each other.

There is only one thing missing. They are not with their special person who loves them on Earth. So, each day they run and play until the day comes when one suddenly stops playing and looks up! The nose twitches! The ears are up! The eyes are staring! And this one suddenly runs from the group! You have been seen, and when you and your special friend meet, you take him or her in your arms and embrace. Your face is kissed again and again and again, and you look once more into the eyes of your trusting pet.

Then you cross the Rainbow Bridge together never to be separated.

                        photos by Ursula

A “Cold” Bonding
by Mary Foley, SSND

He had been with us for only 6 days. He was a trained ‘goose dog’. A dog who could be out in the fields all day waiting to be given a signal to go herd the geese. He was used to being in a kennel and not having a lot of human companionship. He traveled by plane from North Carolina, through Atlanta, missing his connection and arriving late into Newark’s Liberty Airport. He completed his journey to Demarest, NJ on a cold snowy February evening in 2004.

His name was Luke, a 2 year old, 57 lb Border Collie. I was going to share his care with 2 other members of our high school staff. That first night with us he would not walk up or down stairs. I carried him to the room we had set up for him. It took 2 days for us to realize that he had not healed completely from being neutered and had an infection from sitting on wet newspapers in his crate on the plane rides. The vet treated him and Luke now had a large plastic cone on his head. With the cone on we could not get him into his crate. He was staying on the bottom floor of a building attached to the school. We took a large piece of plywood and separated the area. Luke now had a nice size room to be in at night.

The first night he could not get into his crate, I put Luke in his space, gave him his medicine, petted him goodnight and tightly closed the 2 doors leading outside. I then walked to where I was living less than a half mile from the school. It was 9:30 on a Sunday night. The temperature went down to 20 degrees that night with 6 inches of snow on the ground. About 6:30 the next morning, I opened the front door to get the newspaper and found Luke curled up in a tight ball, sleeping in the snow on the door step. He was very cold to touch; but very happy to see me. I immediately thought that the plant manager had let Luke out early in the morning when he arrived at the school and somehow Luke had gotten to where I lived. Luke had no leash on him and he had not been with us long enough to just let him run loose. Luke followed me to the school. The plant manager had not seen Luke that morning and thought he was where I had left him the night before. We went to look at his place with Luke happily following behind us.

We discovered that after I had locked Luke into his room, he had eaten a hole in the plywood big enough to get his cone and body through. Then he had turned a round door knob and pushed a locked door open, gone down a hallway and pushed on a bar on a heavy fire door to get outside. The rest was easy, Luke followed my scent to my door, where he spent the cold night.

Knowing that a dog, sick and in pain, would do all that just to find me has made all the difference. Since that night we have had a special bond. Two years later, Luke became a therapy dog with TDI. He still has his full time job herding geese. After school and on vacation days he loves his therapy work. Luke has taught me many lessons. The first was that sometimes we have to do whatever it takes to let others (human or animal) know how much they mean to us. In case you are wondering, Luke has never spent a night alone since that night.

Announcements

TDI would like to thank the following individuals who have donated online to our organization. As a nonprofit organization, TDI is grateful for your contribution, which will be used to further our Therapy Dog work.

-In memory of Barbara Petersen - From her niece, Cathy and her husband, Mike

-In memory of "Katie Golden" - From Alice C.

-In memory of Milton Bayer - From Mary S.

-In memory of Milton Bayer - From Josephine H.

-In memory of "Joseph-A" - From Norm and Bev C.

-In honor of Christa Leyendecker's Retirement - From John and Barbara T.

-In honor of Betsy Caridi - From Mardi D.

-In honor of Hannah Gordon's bat mitzvah - From Elizabeth F.

-General Donation - From Nicole C.

-General Donation - From David P.

-General Donation - From Morgan R.

-General Donation - From Natalie H.

-General Donation - From Douglas D.

Paws Up!

Martini, a Whippet handled by Vicki Carter, received the “Outstanding Animal Community Member” service award and was inducted into the Tarrant County Animal Hall of Fame. Martini received this honor for his work with hospice and nursing home patients.

Martini and Vicki receive the award

Donna Kean and Sissy, a Pekingese, received a commendation from Heron Pointe Health and Rehabilitation for their work with their hospice patients, and with their skilled nursing facility.

Pat Crawford’s Rottweiler, Turbo, was inducted to the Texas Canine Hall of Fame by the Texas Veterinary Medical Association for his volunteer work. Turbo visits local nursing homes and schools, and also helps teach children about pet safety and responsible pet ownership.

Bonnie Bona and her dog, Clancy, received a letter of commendation from The Lee County Board of County Commissioners for their participation in the Tail Waggin’ Tutors Program in local public libraries.

Cynthia Purdy and her Labrador Retriever, Abby, have been chosen to receive the AHRC of Suffolk County’s Volunteer Award. Cynthia and Abby were nominated for this award by the Shoreham Day Habilitation staff for their Therapy Dog visits.

Alexis and Rose, both members of breeds stereotyped as being vicious, were rehabilitated and adopted by Cydney Cross. They served with honors as Therapy Dogs. Alexis has gone over the Rainbow Bridge and Rosie is now retired. Both dogs were awarded our TDIAOV award (Alexis postcanineously). They also participated in a study, "The Use of Therapy Dogs with Adult Substance Abuse Clients." Silk, a Rescue Greyhound owned by Janice Underwood, participated in the study as well. The moving force who conducted this study was Terri Miller.

Alexis, Rose, and Silk