Beauregard & Georgia

A year ago my friend Elizabeth lost her husband unexpectedly – it happened on their young daughters last day of school. The very next afternoon I went to visit them with my bloodhounds, Beau and Georgia.

Upon my arrival six-year old Jenny asked me if she could take the dogs for a walk. Confident that Beau and Georgia would be gentle, I gave her the leashes and Jenny started walking down the sidewalk with both dogs. Imagine a little girl, not much taller than my male bloodhound, walking more than 200 pounds of dogs all on her own. When she returned you could see the sense of empowerment in the way she was walking and on her sweet face. As she hugged Beau and Georgia, she looked up and said to me, “My dad died. I was really sad, but now I feel better.”

This incident struck me with the simplicity and purity of the human-canine interaction. In my experience as a Gabriel’s Angels therapy team with Georgia and Beau, I recognize that children are not always capable of giving such clear communication about their feelings. Even so, the human-animal bond is always present to offer children unconditional love and hope…reminding us all of the healing power of animals, especially dogs, in our lives.

Debra & Chelsea visit teenagers at a residential treatment center. Their creativeness brings the kids the same happy and positive learning skills that Debra used in Chelsea’s puppy days.

Always searching for fun and easy ways to train my dogs…I discovered that puppets were a natural. When Chelsea was a puppy, my first gift to her was a cow puppet. We used it in play and to help her develop a ‘soft mouth’ (holding objects in a gentle way). Chelsea was not allowed to bite on our hands and arms as a puppy, but she had lots of fun with the puppet. As she grew older and became a therapy dog visiting teens, I noticed how naturally gentle she became…almost like she understood that the kids need that extra soft and kind touch.

On each of her seven birthdays, Chelsea’s special treat was to go shopping at Changing Hands Book Store. She proudly chooses one new puppet, and then takes it to the check-out counter, standing on her hind legs to ‘release’ it to the person behind the counter. She doesn’t have to pay though…that is my job!

Chelsea delights in knowing each of her puppets by name…there is Cow, Donkey, Finn (chocolate lab), Yote (coyote), Bowser (dog), Pony, Flopsy (bunny), and last but not least…Muy (steer with a Spanish name).

We are grateful to Changing Hands for the opportunity to train Chelsea in their delightful bookstore. Through the years Chelsea has met many famous authors, including the night she supported Pam Gaber’s book signing for Gabriel’s Angels: The Story Of The Dog Who Inspired A Revolution.

You, too, can use puppets as a positive training tool, to demonstrate how to share and make a connection with children. Consider introducing your dog and children to Gabriel the Headcover – maybe he will be their first puppet experience and inspire a puppet collection!

Therapy Team Wendy & Guinness

Several years ago I was a volunteer for Gabriel’s Angels events through a mother-daughter group, National Charity League. My desire to have my own therapy dog grew each time I was around Gabriel’s Angels.

With this goal in mind, our family found a Golden Retriever puppy, named him Guinness and from the moment he came home we started working with him to be a future Gabriel’s Angels’ therapy dog!

Before Guinness’ first birthday I attended a Gabriel’s Angels Information Session and filled out all the necessary paperwork to start the process of becoming a registered team. Right after his birthday celebration, we were evaluated by Therapy Dog Inc. and passed with flying colors…we were now officially a Therapy Team!

Our first assignment was at a group home for teenage mothers and children in crisis.  Guinness and I visited the children in the nurseries and school programs. At first Guinness, a mere youngster, was shy around the babies. My therapy dog and these toddlers literally grew up together in the Gabriel’s Angels Pet Therapy Program. You can imagine the bond that formed between Guinness and the children!  

Guinness is now three years old and has visited children and teens at My Sister’s Place, Parc Place and Florence Crittenton.  When I bring out his purple Gabriel’s Angels vest he dances around as if to say, ‘Let’s go, Mom!’  Through these years I have proudly observed how Guinness has grown in his ability to teach compassion, trust, awareness and respect.  He is confident and calm even with as many as 10 youngsters surrounding him.

As the human component of our therapy team, I am constantly in awe of the powerful impact of pet therapy.  Guinness, for his part, has led the way for his own mother and two sisters to follow in his paw prints and be Gabriel’s Angels therapy dogs with their own human partners.

Kerri & Dillon being Cool at Hotter Than July!

Pet Therapy Team and Gabriel’s Angels Ambassadors, Kerri Stamas and Dillon recently attended the 1^st Annual Hotter Than July Chili Cook-Off – hosted by Wag N’ Wash that is benefiting Gabriel’s Angels!  July in Arizona is mighty hot, but they stayed cool inside so Dillon was able to enjoy meeting those that were enjoying the cook-off and festivities! Kerri loves to share stories about how pet therapy helps children, especially those that do not always have the best role models.

Kerri and Dillon extended their stay when some amazing moments began to happen unexpectedly.

A family came into Wag N’ Wash, and their 6 year old boy, Jake, was immediately mesmerized with Dillon.  Jake’s parents were eager to participate in the Chili Cook-Off, but Jake clearly wanted some extra time with Dillon.  Kerri assured the parents that Jake could stay with her and Dillon so they could go outside to sample the chili and salsa.  As Jake’s parents came back into the store periodically to check on their son, they witnessed a new friendship unfolding.

Dillon had introduced Jake to a favorite game called ‘Catch & Roll.’ This game normally results in helping those children who are shy to interact with him.  Kerri watched as Dillon and Jake interacted with one another for over 45 minutes.  Young Jake felt empowered as he gave Dillon commands to fetch, sit or roll over. As patrons came into the store they enjoyed observing how this therapy dog and boy had formed a unique bond in less than one hour.

By spending just a short time with Dillon - Jake experienced trust, respect and unconditional love that only a Therapy Dog, like Dillon, can provide!

In the spirit of the unconditional love that our four-legged pets give to us and often generously share with children, here are some interesting pet accident statistics to help us keep our animal companions safe during this hot summer!

Veterinary Pet Insurance (VPI) conducted a survey to find the most dangerous times for pets - here is what they found:

More accidents occur in the summer months, the day after holidays (especially Memorial Day & Labor Day) and weekends. 

Monday has the largest average number of pets treated for accidental injuries and June is the most dangerous month.

Monsoon season is here! These storms along with fireworks are two main triggers for anxiety in dogs. Frightened dogs have different reactions - trembling, retreating to a hiding place, running away or displaying unusual and bizarre behavior.  Some dogs have been known to run for miles!

With the July 4th holiday and monsoon storms coming…please be watchful of your four-legged family members and encourage your children to respect them, too!  And just in case, know the location of the nearest 24-hour animal hospital.

All of the pets who share their unconditional love with you say thanks for showing your compassion and love for them!

Bailey working his magic

Bailey and I visit the children at A New Leaf.  Recently there was a new 5 year old boy that would not participate with anyone. The staff conveyed that this little guy spent a lot of time sitting in the corner and not playing with others.

On this visit we gathered most of the children into a circle. I talked to them about how animals have feelings just like people, and demonstrated how to gently brush Bailey’s soft coat. I explained that Bailey was treated badly before I adopted him, but that now he never has to be afraid again.

Soon I noticed that the little boy moved away from the corner and came closer to us. Placing a brush on the floor, I gently asked him if he wanted to brush Bailey. His face lit up as he took the brush, began stroking Bailey and then started asking questions. When it was time to leave, this child asked me if he could hug Bailey and me goodbye.

Here was a child who would not interact and through one visit with Bailey a trusting bond was established. This is why we are a Gabriel’s Angels Pet Therapy Team - to reach out to children and help make them whole.

Brushing Teeth is Fun!

Gabriel’s Angels loves each and everyone one of our wonderful Therapy Teams…but as we always say, these dogs are simply well-trained, beloved family pets and sometimes their canine tendencies come out even when they are working. Here are resolutions made by the Therapy Dogs to make their visits even better:

1. While it is hard for me, I will do my best to leave those colorful balls for the kids. But if they throw one or give me one…I might just have to taste it.

2. This one isn’t really that hard, but I will eat more green beans (carrots, bananas or other healthful treat) so that each child gets a turn and to show the kids that they should eat healthy too!

3. I might be a little afraid, but I will do something new for the kids – maybe go down the slide, or possibly participate in a dance with them, or I will show them my new trick learned just for them.

4. Remember that while I think I am the star, I should let the kids shine, too.

5. I will always remember to wear my purple vest when I am working – even if it does not go with my outfit (leash and collar) that day.

6. When a child gives me a command, I’ll do my best to obey even if I don’t really understand what they want me to do.

7. I know my teeth need to be brushed so I will sit patiently while each child has the opportunity to brush another of my teeth…that peanut butter flavor toothpaste is so good I will lick it for sure.

8. If my mom or dad forgets, I will remind them to give out more trading cards to the kids. Woof! Woof!

9. Resolving to be extra patient, calm, and kind for those that are too shy to visit me at first, I will make them feel comfortable coming to see me on my next visit.

10. Save the running and jumping for when I am at the dog park or with my canine friends…I will just watch the kids run and jump (I might even learn something new).

11. In 2011, I will be the best Gabriel’s Angels Therapy Dog I can be for the abused, neglected and at-risk children and youth who need my love so much.

This is Jack’s view of the dog show circuit.  Priceless!!!! 

And in Jack’s words:

The Old Man’s phone ringing got us all up early the next morning.  We had breakfast just like at home — dog food and cottage cheese.  I really think I could eat a ton of cottage cheese.  Then we went to a place nearby where there were more dogs than I’ve ever seen before.  More even than the big bunch of dogs that all looked like Katie and me in Ven-Tour-Ah, the trip before last.  Mom and the Old Man called it a dog show, but if that’s what it was, why weren’t the dogs all watching the show?  Instead they were all parading around.  Very strange.

We got out and walked around and all of a sudden, my First Mom walked up.  She’s nice.  I remember her from when I was really little, before I came to live with Mom and the Old Man.  I was pretty sick and she took care of me.  I haven’t seen her since Ven-Tour-Ah.  Then the Old Man got out a new collar and little short leash, put them on me and took off my regular one.  First Mom took the leash and ran me around for a while, like we did at Ven-Tour-Ah.  It’s pretty strange.  I have to run alongside First Mom with my head up, then I have to stand there with her while she picks up my feet and puts them down again in a different place.  Then she holds my head up so I can only look in one direction.  I can’t see any reason for this behavior at all.  I wasn’t about to fall over or anything and I like to look around.  Besides, doesn’t she know I can see clear out either side of my head without turning it?  Particularly if something is moving.  How would my dog ancestors have caught their dinner if they could only look straight ahead?  Why would they want to only look straight ahead?

Anyway, after a few minutes of that nonsense, she hands the leash back to the Old Man and we stand around.  And we stand around.  And we stand around some more.  I couldn’t play with the other guys and girls who looked just like me.  I couldn’t do anything but stand around.  Yeesh.

Then First Mom comes over, grabs my leash and we run out into this big open space.  I couldn’t see the Old Man or Mom or Katie.  I like First Mom okay, but the Old Man, Mom and Katie are my pack and I don’t like not being able to at least see them.  I would prefer to be next to them, but at least seeing them.  So I jumped around a little bit, but First Mom wasn’t having any of that, so I had to finally just stand there.  She did that foot moving thing again and then held my head up.  Another lady who I didn’t know, came over and sort of petted me and felt my legs and then lifted my flews to look in at my teeth.  They were still there, just like I knew they were.  People are really strange.  After a few minutes, the strange lady handed First Mom a little blue thing and we went back out to the Old Man.  I don’t know what that blue thing was, but it didn’t smell like anything to eat, so I can’t imagine why anybody would want one.  I know it was blue, ’cause blue and yellow are the only two colors I can see;  the world is blue and yellow and gray.

Then we went back to just standing around.  First Mom then went in the big space with some of my cousins and one of my sisters and one aunt.  My aunt got a little thingy too, but a gray one.  And then we stood around some more.  Katie didn’t like it anymore than I did.  “Come on, let’s go do something, this is boring!”

After a long while, First Mom came back and got me and we went into the big space with four other dogs.  They were grown-ups, like Katie.  This time, the Old Man was outside the little fence where I could see him.  That was a whole lot better.  My kind can’t see very well, everything looks just a little fuzzy, but when the Old Man walks around, I know it’s him and nobody else from the way he walks.  If something moves, I can see it.  And he was walking around outside in plain view.  That made me feel better, so instead of being nervous and fidgety I let First Mom run me around the space, then move my feet around, then hold my head up — but the Old Man moved around to where I could see him with my head up, so it was okay.  The strange lady walked around me and the other four guys.  Then she handed one of the other guy’s people another of those little blue thingies and we all filed out.  This stuff is really stupid.  First Mom had a few bits of food that she gave me while we were in the big space, but other that, it’s a waste of time if you ask me.  There’s all these people standing around looking at you, but they don’t pet you or give you treats.  You can’t go anywhere or run around with the other guys and girls.  If I knew how, I would tell the Old Man and Mom that I like going hiking in the mountains or just walking around by the regular house a whole lot more than this stuff.  Or playing with the Boys at Gabriel’s Angels.  Or even just lying on the sofa.  Oh well, one morning of nonsense every once in a while isn’t going to ruin my life.  It’s a pretty good one.  Lots of food, walks, lot of petting, Mom, Katie, the Old Man, the Boys at GA.  Sleeping in a pile with Mom, the Old Man and Katie.  Life is good!

Courage’s Gentleman Jack of Wildwest, AKA Jack or Juan Hidalgo

November 21, 2010