Crazy for Critters

Blog Outta Town

As some of you know, my "real'' Miami Herald identity is obit writer, and in that role, I'll be gone for a bit...to the Society of Professional Obituary Writers conference in Portland, OR. You talk about a festive group! First night, we're having drinks at an old funeral home that's been converted into a restaurant/bar. This is very cool for an obit writer (even if "normal'' people think it's creepy). Anyway, blogging will be spotty for about a week.

The Zen of Doggie Love

That's the title of a sweet little essay that a volunteer named Jennifer wrote about her experience volunteering at the Miami-Dade County animal shelter. Read it and smile:

"Working at the shelter is the hardest thing I’ve ever done and it took a few months for me to learn how to approach the experience so I could truly make a difference without my heart breaking. I found peace when I realized that dogs possess the amazing ability to live fully in the moment - they aren’t thinking at all about what’s going to happen later or worried about tomorrow or next week. They simply take in the experience of the moment; they are present for their current reality and enjoy every bit of goodness that comes their way. Thus, to the extent we are able to give 100% of ourself during the few minutes we spend with each one, we can truly make their lives better!

When I arrive at the shelter on every volunteer day, I take a deep breath and walk in excited to meet the dogs I’ll spend my morning with. I walk by their cages and say a bright “hello, guys!” I’m happy to see them, ready for a fun day, and I tell them so. All dogs need love, care, affection, enthusiasm and joy, and some also need a little reassurance, a good brushing, a warm blanket, fresh water, a clean cage, to chase a ball, or simply to be talked to.

As I open each cage I am aware that for those few minutes this doggie is as precious to me as my own. I seek out the dogs who seem the most needy and I try to spend time with as many dogs as I can during the few hours I’m there. I do my best to understand exactly what each one needs. My goal is to be fully present in every moment I spend with each dog so that it is a wonderful, loving, joyous experience – for both of us!''

Injury Pony Gets Artifical Leg

Molly, a Louisiana pony, was mauled by a pit bull and lost part of a leg. But now she has an incredible prosthesis and is getting around just fine. Click here for the NY Times story and photos.

Oogy!

Check out the story of this wonderful dog who was mutilated after being used as bait in a dog-fighting operation. He lost part of his face but he's still a doll baby. Click here.

LOW COST MICROCHIPPING AT MIAMI-DADE COUNTY ANIMAL SERVICES

LOW COST MICROCHIPPING AT MIAMI-DADE COUNTY ANIMAL SERVICES
DEPARTMENT

You can save your pet's life by implanting a microchip!  During
National Pet Week, May 5 to 9, 2008, the South Florida Veterinary
Medical Association (SFVMA), participating veterinarians and
Miami-Dade Animal Services will offer low cost microchipping to
help reunite pets with their owners.

   "Last year, more than 34,000 pets were left at Miami-Dade
Animal Services.  Over 20,000 were strays with no form of
identification, making it impossible to reunite them with their
beloved families," said Dr. Sara Pizano, Director of Miami-Dade
Animal Services.

   "The few pets with microchips or tags had old information and
the owners couldn't be reached, added Dr. Pizano. Sadly, less
than 1% of the pets at Animal Services are reunited with their
families. You can change that!"

   Local veterinarians and Miami-Dade Animal Services are proud
to participate in this joint venture to microchip as many pets as
possible, raise awareness about the number of pets lost every day
in our community and the importance of microchipping.  It can
save your pet's life.

   For additional information or for participating veterinarians,
please visit SFVMA's website at www.sfvma.com.

   WHO: South Florida Veterinary Medical Associationand 
Miami-Dade Animal Services.

   WHAT: Low cost microchipping.

   WHEN: Wednesday, May 7, 10:30 a.m. - 6 p.m., also May 5-9, at
participating veterinarians.

   WHERE: Miami Dade Animal Services, 7401 NW 74 St.,
Medley.

Disabled Kids Bond With Their New Best Friends

Posted on Sun, Apr. 27, 2008 BY TERE FIGUERAS NEGRETE

A few feet away, trainer Janet Severt watched with a keen eye as Gutman, 19, practiced with her new service dog -- one of three canines paired up with disabled South Florida youngsters to help them start new, more independent chapters in their young lives.

''If you're not getting the commands out fast enough, he's just going to blow you off and keep chewing the cup,'' said Severt, rolling her wheelchair alongside Gutman's.

The teen repeated the command, more calmly and clearly this time, and Frasier obligingly dropped the cup in the garbage as Gutman beamed.

For the past 10 days, Gutman and two other youngsters who use wheelchairs have gone through an intensive training program with their service dogs -- companions that will guide, protect and assist their human partners with a range of skills that include flipping light switches, retrieving dropped items and fetching phones in an emergency.

The dogs are bred and trained through the Orange City-based New Horizons Service Dogs, which places service dogs with disabled partners throughout the state. This week marks the first time the organization has worked with kids in South Florida.

The dogs have already been through their own stringent training. The kids, however, were another matter.

''The dogs already know everything, but the kids didn't know a thing,'' said Severt, executive director of New Horizons. ``The first day was mass confusion.''

The sessions, which end Sunday, take place inside a classroom tucked on the third floor of the Village of Merrick Park. One wall is nearly covered with the dozens of commands the kids must learn to forge a working partnership with their dogs.

''I really push the kids hard so they know the commands like second nature,'' said Severt, who has been in a wheelchair since suffering a blood clot on her spine at age 7. 'I tell them `If I can do it, you can do it.' ''

Severt moves in seamless tandem with her own dog, a giant of a Golden Retriever named Cyprus, who also happens to be the father of two of the dogs in the class: Gutman's pooch Frasier, and Kaplan, whose new owner is 11-year-old Juan Mansilla.

''He's great,'' said Juan, a fourth-grader at Kensington Park Elementary who has cerebral palsy. ``He opened doors for me, picked up the remote control.''

His mother, Claudia Mansilla, watched from a distance as her son maneuvered his motorized wheelchair across the mall's balcony, Kaplan by his side.

''He told me he wants to do things without mami and papi,'' said Mansilla. ``We really thank God for this.''

According to Assistance Dogs International, a coalition of not-for-for profit organizations that train and place dogs, there are more than 19,000 dogs in the United States and Canada dedicated to assisting the disabled in various capacities -- such as guide dogs for the blind, ''hearing'' dogs for the deaf and service dogs such as those in training this week in Coral Gables.

All member groups, such as New Horizons, are not-for-profits that must foot the bill for training the dog. New Horizon's expenses run about $20,000 per dog -- including extensive training and medical screenings. They're given to clients free of charge.

The ADI recommends both dogs and their human partners be vetted.

''Not all people are suitable, and not all dogs are suitable,'' said Corey Hudson, president of Assistance Dogs International/North America, who said owners must be able to feed and care for the dog, or have someone in the household who can.

''And you need a dog that's not going to be distracted by a butterfly when they're crossing the street with someone in a wheelchair,'' he said.

The prospect of some measure of independence is a main attraction of partnering with a service dog, especially for young adults and teens eager to strike out on their own.

''This is going to change his life,'' said Tim Sticco as his 17-year-old son Corey practiced commands with Nutmeg, a black Labrador. Corey, a junior at Everglades High in Broward, was diagnosed with a brain tumor when he was 7, said his dad.

''It's been hard for him. He remembers what it was like to be a normal kid -- playing hockey, running around,'' said Sticco, who confessed to getting misty-eyed as he watched his son train. ``We thought at first it would offer companionship, but as I see what these dogs can do I'm just amazed.''

There is a learning curve for the parents as well, said Severt.

The basic edict: No coddling of children or dogs.

''It's really the first time in their lives these kids are having to be responsible without mom there jumping in,'' said Severt. ``And it gives mom a break, and maybe lets her feel that her child can go off and do some things on their own, safely.''

The dogs, while well-trained and adorable, are not pets -- a dictum everyone in the household, including parents and siblings, must adhere to in the first crucial weeks.

For the Gutman family, welcoming Frasier into their Roads home is one of several milestones this year.

Lani Gutman, who also has cerebral palsy, recently graduated high school and had surgery to improve her vision. Previously legally blind, she is now looking forward to getting her learner's permit and attending Miami Dade College this fall.

The dogs will officially take residence in their new homes this weekend. The dog-owner teams will likely need follow-up instruction as the kids move on through high school and college.

But the bonds, notes trainer Chris Tejcek, are already noticeable.

''The first time the dog looks at a kid and makes that connection, it's just profound,'' said Tejcek. ``I mean, what more does a kid want than a dog? And what more does a dog want than a kid?''

 

Not Sure Who Wrote This, But It's Lovely

Rescue Me Author Unknown Rescue me not only with your hands but with your heart as well. I will respond to you. Rescue me not out of pity but out of love. I will love you back. Rescue me not with self-righteousness but with compassion. I will learn what you teach. Rescue me not because of my past but because of my future. I will relax and enjoy. Rescue me not simply to save me but to give me a new life. I will appreciate your gift. Rescue me not with a firm hand but with tolerance and patience. I will please you. Rescue me not only because of who I am but who I'm to become. I will grow and mature. Rescue me not to revere yourself to others but because you want me. I will never let you down. Rescue me not with a hidden agenda but with a desire to teach me to trust. I will be loyal and true. Rescue me not to be chained or to fight but to be your companion. I will stand by your side. Rescue me not to replace one you've lost but to soothe your spirit. I will cherish you. Rescue me not to be your pet but to be your friend. I will give you unconditional love.._,___

Sweet Story from the Herald Last Weekend (when I was out of town)

Lucky dog barks back to days past

rsamuels@MiamiHerald.com

J. ALBERT DIAZ / MIAMI HERALD STAFF

Lucky is a dalmatian that's being trained by Frank Sullivan, 70, who was one of Miramar's first firefighters. Lucky is the fire rescue's latest mascot and will teach kids how to stop, drop and roll and crawl through smoke.

Frank Sullivan watches his dog search through a swampy stretch of grass for a crow that just landed. A canal is behind them, then the six lanes leading to Interstate 75 and the tower for WTVJ-NBC 6.

''Lucky!'' he calls. ``Come here!''

From the thicket, the pup emerges with his tail wagging. Black spots sprinkle his chest. He jumps to lick his greeter. Sullivan tells Lucky to calm down, and he does. The pup sits with his chest pushed out, his new Miramar Fire-Rescue badge glinting in the sun.

''He just got out of obedience school,'' Sullivan said as Lucky slobbers on his hands. ``What a personality! A pedigree, through and through.''

Last month, Miramar officials named Lucky their third fire mascot, honoring the longtime link between Dalmatians and firefighters. He'll teach children how to stop, drop and roll, and crawl through smoke. The city always pairs the Dalmatians with Sullivan, 70, whose life holds the story of steadfast love and loyalty, a tale of man, his best friend and his dream job.

A cap covers Sullivan's thinning white hair. His hands seem surgically connected to the dog's red leash. Before Lucky, there was Buddy. Before Buddy, there was Ahren, the fire department's first mascot.

And before there was a fire department, there was Sullivan. He moved to South Florida in 1972 with a wife, three kids and a 1934 antique firetruck.

''Firefighting is in my blood,'' he said. ``I'm a third-generation firefighter. When we were growing up, they could hardly keep us out of the station. My brother became a firefighter, and my sister, she would have been a firefighter if they were allowed in those days.''

In 1975, Sullivan left his construction job to become one of Miramar's first paid firefighters. The force had four men. At the time, the area known as Miramar today was hardly even a sketch on an urban planner's desk. Prices were affordable, homes were on the east side, and there were farms and more trees and swamps in west Miramar.

''We did mostly brush fires back then,'' Sullivan recalled.

FIRST DALMATIAN

In 1992, Sullivan got a small Dalmatian puppy. He named her Ahren, after the manufacturer of his firetruck. Dalmatians are territorial mammals, so Sullivan often took Ahren out to help socialize her. It might not have been necessary, Sullivan said, because Ahren had an innate love for people. He began taking her to schools to encourage fire safety.

Ahren accompanied the department to fires. It was a tradition that started long ago, when firefighters rode in horse-drawn fire engines and Dalmatians guarded the horses.

''One time, this family had two kids, some birds, a fish, a dog and this little kitten,'' Sullivan said. 'We get them out of the fire, and the little girl's crying. She said, `We're missing a kitten.' ''

Sullivan sent Ahren into the house to find the kitten. Ahren crawled through the smoke, much like she taught the kids in school. Ahren found the kitten lodged between the refrigerator and the counter.

''The little girl was so happy,'' Sullivan said. ``The kids weren't concerned about their home. They were worried about the animals.''

The event gave Sullivan a new perspective. Firefighting is a relatively quick thrill, a rare rush of exhilaration and heroism. Truth be told, Sullivan could count on his hands the number of such death-defying incidents.

That night, watching the smile of a child holding a kitten, Sullivan experienced a different type of satisfaction. There is a profound connection that people have with animals, one deep and lasting.

Sullivan's body was also slowing down. Soon, his work with the Dalmatians would become the major way he would reach the people he longed to save from fires.

ENTER BUDDY

When Ahren died of natural causes in 2004, Sullivan was eager to take Buddy, who performed similar jobs. Sullivan recalls a career fair where someone came up and said:

``I remember when I was going to elementary school. That dog taught me to stop, drop and roll.''

Little did he know, Buddy was different from Ahren. Buddy was a boy -- and shy.

Mayor Lori Moseley attests to Buddy's reticence. When she was supposed to put the official fire badge around Buddy's neck during a council meeting, Buddy stepped back.

''That dog did not like me,'' she often recalls.

But Buddy was devoted to Sullivan. Then, one day, Buddy suffered a bad fall. The terrible injury forced Sullivan to put Buddy down.

''No one needs to talk about it,'' Sullivan said, his voice quiet, as Lucky lay at his feet. ``We had to do what's best for him. It was a tough time. I needed a lot of encouragement.''

One morning, an animal rescue shelter in Hollywood called the department to say they had just received a Dalmatian from Tuscaloosa, Ala. He was dying of heart worms. They asked the department if they were interested in adopting him. The dog -- who they estimated at about 2 years old -- had about four days to live, they said.

At first, Battalion Chief Bill Huff wasn't sure. The department still wasn't over Buddy's death.

Sullivan reluctantly went to the shelter to check on the dog. He looked so helpless inside the cage, so skinny that his rib cage protruded from his chest. But when Sullivan went closer to greet him, the dog's tail started wagging. His tongue cascaded from his mouth. He was a natural friend, just like Ahren.

LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT

''It was love at first sight,'' Sullivan recalls.

They put him though a surgery, then fattened the dog up to a hearty 60 pounds. They considered a bevy of names: Halligan. Ariel. Killer. And then they thought, Lucky.

''Because we were lucky he survived,'' Sullivan said.

The night Lucky was officially named mascot of the Miramar Fire Department, he stood tall as the city's mayor placed his new badge around his neck.

''Oh, this one likes me!'' Moseley said at the meeting.

 

Wheelchair Service Dogs Meet Their New Kid Partners

The first ever South Florida "wheelchair dog'' class is being held at Coral Gables' Village of Merrick Park. Three special-needs children in South Florida are being educated to receive specially trained service dogs.

   The classes are held daily until Sunday April 27th at Store 3210, 3rd floor, Village of Merrick Park. At the conclusion of the classes, the service dogs will be donated by New Horizons Service Dogs to the children. New Horizons Service Dogs is an Orlando based not-for-profit organization dedicated to serving persons with disabilities in Florida by providing them certified service dogs.

   The three specially-trained service dogs and special-needs children will work as a team. The dogs help the physically disabled children accomplish tasks such as retrieving dropped or hard-to-reach items, turning light switches on and off, pulling wheelchairs, opening and closing doors, and many other tasks.

  Each service dog costs about $20,000 from birth to placement and is given to the recipient at no charge. While New Horizons normally conducts the "wheelchair dog'' classes in Orlando, the organization decided to teach this class in Miami because all the recipients are children from South Florida.

   For 10 intensive days, the dog and the recipient train together. Team training is important to ensure a quality working relationship that will provide increased independence to the disabled partner. In addition to the classes, the child/dog team will go through the mall performing tasks that would be taken for granted by able-bodied people. Upon successful completion of training, the dog is certified and the team graduates.

   New Horizon Service Dogs and their trainers prepare each dog to give a lifetime of unconditional love, mobility, independence and service to a person with disabilities. Additional information about New Horizons Service Dogs is available at http://www.newhorizonsservicedogs.org/.

Cute Kid, Cute Kitties (the blog is off the air until next Wednesday)