Lutheran Church Charities: Comfort Dogs

This has led to the belief that dogs can provide company, affection and support to people who are going through a difficult time or who feel lonely. Dogs have aided humans in tasks such as hunting, livestock herding, and guarding. However, as society moved from small rural communities to increasingly large metropolitan areas, the dog’s role changed. Throughout the years a more specific type of

Emotional support animals can take on a multitude of jobs that “may include reminding the handler to take medicine, providing safety checks or room searches, or turning on lights for persons with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, interrupting self-mutilation by persons with dissociative identity disorders, and keeping disoriented individuals from danger,” (Brennan). These animals are often considered pets but are actually so much more than that, emotional support animals have a very important role in protecting the mental health of their owners and keep them safe. Not only do these animals protect people’s mental health but they also give people a purpose. Taking care of one of these dogs or other animals gives people something to take care of and focus on. Knowing that there is another living thing that relies on them can be very grounding and keep people connected to something outside of themselves.

The Dog Therapy program at vista has helped the students, and staff members deal with stress. Back in 2015 two teenaged girls had planned to shoot up mountain vista high school, I know a few of the students that were depressed because of this and many of the past and present teachers that had these two kids all started to have stress and depression. That is why a program like this need to be enacted in all high schools because a lot of students and teachers have dealt with or are dealing with depression. And a class like this will reduce stress and depression that is why I have been working so hard to get this to be an official class at mountain vista high school. We have had to go through many steps to get this program to become a real class, When we were first trying to get this to just be an elective we had to make sure that if you wanted to spend time with the dogs you would have a legal waiver signed by you and your parents. This would insure that if there was any incident where a student or staff member would be attacked by the dogs we would not be

For a number of children with autism having a companion dog is the difference between life and death. Methodically trained guide dogs help create an environment where autistic children are comfortable enough to live a more ordinary lifestyle. Autism spectrum disorder is a major public health problem that is the most common neurological disorder affecting 1 out of every 110 births in the US (Autism Society, 2009). ASDs can range in severity from Asperger Syndrome, a high-functioning form of autism where the child can function relatively well in society, to autistic disorder or classical ASD, which severely inhibits the child’s ability to socialize or communicate (NINDS). Autism manifests itself most strikingly as impairments in formation of

Many dogs and cats will walk in and out of many shelters in the U.S. but many Pit Bulls will be able to walk out with a family. I tried to look for someone who has had experience within the kennels and to see firsthand the consequences of the negative reputation Pit Bulls in order to demonstrate the struggle that Pit Bulls faced. I met Jenna Keyes, a Humane Educator, who works for the St. Joseph Animal Shelter and deals with animal control and rescue. I walked into her office where the many pictures of animals on the wall cued to me that she clearly was an animal lover and I was in the right place for my interview. Keyes explains that before working at the shelter, she worked with horses and did dog training at boarding kennels. In addition,

One of the biggest dog busts of the century was in 2007. The man in charge’s name was Michael Vick, a quarterback football player in the NFL. Under the name “Bad Newz Kennels”, dogs were beaten, murdered, and gambled on. The dogs found alive were some of the most damaged possible. Missing parts of their jaws, lost eyesight, or non existent limbs, one would wonder why they kept going, striving for acceptance from their owner. These dogs, to the public seemed dangerous, after all they had killed their entire lives. However, Best Friends Animal Sanctuary was willing to take up the task of these gorgeous animals, ultimately saving their lives. The sanctuary took in 22 dogs, 10 of them, now adopted and living in homes of their own.Through rehabilitation the dogs were taught how to trust, interact and most importantly what love truly is with different trainers daily. Even the dogs who can not be adopted out are by any means not dangerous. Meryl, had been one of the dogs found who was deemed dangerous by the state, meaning she could not be adopted out to a home. Nonetheless, when walking into her kennel, dangerous is the last word you would use to describe her. One of her trainers remarks, "She really doesn't mind new people…. She's very happy and loving. I feel totally comfortable with her. I can grab and kiss her." As she embraces Meryl, "I am building a relationship, ...She needed to see that when

Imagine that for Christmas you got a brand new puppy, you feed it, you train it, you play with it, and one day you run over it. That story could have made you a little sad, even if you didn’t get a dog for Christmas and run over it. Next, does it surprise you that 6.2 million dogs die per year, according to The National Animal Interest Alliance, “3.8 million in homes, veterinary hospitals and under the wheels of a vehicle, and an additional 2.4 million in shelters.” When I said that it probably sounded like I knew what I was talking about with plausible detail.

“While showing the love the dogs has brought great attention to our organization, we realized we can do more for the animal community as well. This epidemic has risen in recent years and needs to be recognized.”

Aiden Lykken is the founder of the organization of Woofin & Hoffin 5K and Doggie Dash in Glen Ellyn, Illinois. This organization are for the pets who don’t have a shelter or have been abused. Aiden has seen many situations like this happen with his own eyes. Now thousands of people are helping out by participating to help run the Woofin & Hoffin 5K and Doggie Dash to help support those animals that are abused. This young boy has made a huge difference beginning with his community and coming out big with other communities. Now a huge increase had began to grow, meaning people are taking in consideration of helping those animals who don’t have a shelter. A change has to be created in your home, community or wherever one tends to make a difference,

I'd like to start off my introducing myself, I'm Jimmy Reginald Fontenot. I've spent a majority of my life working for the State Police in the wonderful state of Louisiana. Before my 12 years in the State Police I was a Canine Handler for the St. Landry Parish sheriff's office for 3 years, worked there for a total of 4. As you can tell I'm a career lawman and will continue till my last breath to serve the beautiful city of Los Santos. I'd like to take a moment to also thank the previous commander, Roman Stakic, for nominating me as the new Canine Services Commander. I will do him, the department, and the fine city of Los Santos proud and continue his legacy through the Canine Service. I'd also like to address that the Canine Services Unit will

Brett Duval, a veteran bomb dog handler contracted to the United States Army, returned home after serving two tours in Iraq with the diagnosis of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) (Duval, 2016). After witnessing her son’s difficulty adjusting back to civilian life, Shari Duval began extensive research on animal-assisted therapy for the maintenance and treatment of disorders such as PTSD and Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI). In 2011, Duval created K9s For Warriors (K9s), a non-profit organization dedicated to providing trained service dogs to active duty service members and veterans to assist in regaining comfort and independence in the civilian sector. Their overarching mission is to “...provide service canines to warriors suffering from Post-traumatic stress disability, traumatic brain injury and/or military sexual trauma as a result of military service post 9/11. [With the ultimate goal] to empower them to return to civilian life with dignity and independence.” (K9s for Warriors Handbook, 2016). Duval established this agency with the desire to grow the conservative therapies provided to service members now to non-traditional alternatives and to combat the significant consequences of untreated psychological trauma plaguing the military today.

A vast dilemma in today’s society is over puppy mills and how to deal with the issue. Puppy mills are defined as: anyone who raises dogs while putting the welfare of the animal underneath the profit. Due to the stigma, society now thinks of it as all dog breeders, who are raising dogs, are bad and mistreat their animals. There is truth to the puppy mill situation, there are dog breeders who raise dogs in a Godly way, and Christians can help this challenge despite what they think. Dogs are one of the sweetest animals and we need to make sure that they are treated correctly.

We are helping animals. I chose this topic because I have a pet myself and I enjoy taking care of my pet. I like animals and everything about them, so that is why I chose to save pets and try to get them a loving owner. My purpose is to get donations, so we can donate to pet owners who can’t afford to take care of their pet/pets and find our shelter animals homes. I also want to decrease the population of homeless animals in Kentucky. My goals are to save at least 10,000 animals and get at least 1,000 adoptions a year.

School has started for these pups at the Hero Dogs training program to help the people in need, such as veterans. These adorable little puppies will become helping heros when training in this 2-year program. The puppies learn simple commands and skills, like shutting the doors or walking up the stairs. Each dog is assigned to a veteran based on their energy, behavior, and skills. It also depends on the veteran’s lifestyle and needs. The dogs are trained to be calming, to help anxiety, or to be empathic when things are difficult. These dogs always lived a special life.

Furry animal shelter is a non-profit organization that will advocate for cats and dogs in the San Leandro Area. As a non-profit organization, our main goal is to provide temporary shelter, healthcare to animals in need, while working to educate our community about animal welfare. Because this may be the last chance these animals get to find a forever home, we will make everything possible to give them this chance.