Veterans, Dogs & Teens - All Getting a New "Leash" on Life

Article:  Re-posted from AAHA Trends Today...June 8, 2011 Volume 9 Issue 21

 

NewStat - Veterinary News - fast and functional (from the American Animal Hospital Association)

 

Photo from:  http://atplaywithsparky.blogspot.com/

 

I received this article from AAHA this week, and was so touched by it, I thought that others outside of the industry would be interested as well.  Many of us have veterans in our family that we are still so lucky to have in our lives, some going back as far as the Korean War, like my Uncle Robert. Then there is my grandfather Charlie who fought in WWII and liberated concentration camps, and my Dad who served in the First Cav in Vietnam, and my two cousins John and David that served in Iraq.  Jack Sommars is an amazing writer for AAHA.  He really did this story justice and after reading it you realize that there are some great people out there in this world that not only help dogs, but also help veterans and teens all through the same program and in different ways.  This is awesome.  A program like this remembers and helps veterans every day, not just on patriotic holidays.  I hope you enjoy it...  "Paws"itively Posting, Gayle C. Practice Manager

 

Wounded warriors and troubled teens 

by Jack Sommars

Studies show that 10% of all troops returning from Iraq suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Until recently, antidepressant drugs, counseling and therapy were the only means available to treat this debilitating illness. But, today, veterans who are at the end of their rope are finding comfort at the end of a leash.

Specially trained psychiatric service dogs are interrupting their partners’ nightmares, reminding them to take their medications, warning of approaching strangers and reducing their anxiety and stress.
Veterans with PTSD can now feel safe in darkened theaters and busy supermarkets or even while driving. After only a week with his dog, one veteran’s wife reported, "My husband and I have done more things together in the last six days than we have in the past six months because Mitzy was there and Gary was not afraid."

“The dog acts like a sponge, soaking up all of the bad thoughts and fears.” — Pat Schwartz, ECAD trainer

Project HEAL is a new program offered by East Coast Assistance Dogs (ECAD). It places certified service dogs with veterans who have psychiatric and/or physical disabilities as a result of war-related injuries and experiences. The nonprofit organization was founded by Lu and Dale Picard and has placed more than 120 certified service dogs in the past 13 years.

"We interview all clients to find out what they enjoyed doing before they went to war and what’s missing in their lives today," explains Pat Schwartz, a trainer with ECAD.
"Going to movies is very common," she says. "Being in a dark movie theater is like being in Iraq at night, which is the most dangerous time. We train the dog to sit with its head on your lap or to lie across your feet.
"Then, if our clients become stressed, we encourage them to pet or massage their dogs. The dog acts like a sponge, soaking up all of the bad thoughts and fears. And an incident that might have taken them four hours to get over can be overcome in a few minutes. The soldier or marine can calm down and refocus. That tactile stimulation from the dog really helps.
"We actually go to the movies with our clients. Nothing makes me happier than sitting behind this guy who was shaking when I first met him and, two days later, watching him petting his dog, laughing like crazy," she adds.
Because many veterans with PTSD are threatened by strangers, crowds or surprises, the dogs are also taught "block" and "got my back" commands.
"When you’re at the supermarket, for example, the dog will stand 12 to 18 inches in front of you, parallel to your body, so that no one can come really close to you and invade your personal space," explains Schwartz. "Meanwhile, the dog constantly watches behind you and will let you know if someone is approaching."
Nightmares are also common among returning war veterans.
"Many get violent when they’re awakened," says Schwartz. "They think that the person waking them up is in the dream, trying to hurt them. That’s why a lot of their wives or mothers will wiggle the veteran’s big toe [to awaken them].
"But the service dog pushes you with his nose," she explains. "We have placed one dog that very gently puts her paw on her partner’s cheek and taps him until he wakes up."
The program’s reach extends beyond veterans to help suffering teens as well.
Each dog receives obedience and preliminary training by an adolescent who is attending an alternative school at a residential treatment center. The program takes place in five facilities in lower New York, all of which specialize in helping children with emotional, behavioral and learning problems.

"By assuming the roles of teachers and service providers, these students learn to set goals and solve problems using patience, communication skills, self-control, frustration tolerance and motivational techniques," says Schwartz.

"Most of them are struggling with anger and pain, have difficulty succeeding at traditional schoolwork and often feel incapable of giving or receiving love," she adds. "Working with the dogs helps even the most difficult children establish a sense of self-worth, master their tempers and learn to trust again.

"For many, it is the first time they have experienced ongoing success. The pride that they gain from their accomplishments is incredible," she adds.

After their dogs are trained, the teens work one-on-one with the veterans, showing them how to bond with their new best friends.

The dogs, which are usually Labrador retrievers or golden retrievers, are provided at no cost to the veterans.

Schwartz says that she doesn’t suffer from separation anxiety when her beloved four-legged companions leave ECAD’s Florida training facility to begin their new lives.

"Everybody says to me, ‘Pat, how can you let these beautiful dogs go?’ I say, ‘Are you kidding me?’ I just need to be with these dogs and veterans for one hour to realize how special they are and how much they need each other. These men and women have sacrificed so much for us. It’s time we give something back to them."

For more information about East Coast Assistance Dogs and Project HEAL, visit the website, www.ecad1.org.

Jack Sommars is a freelance writer based in Denver, Colo

Biggest Hockey Fan Pet Contest - Description and Entry Details!!!!

We are not only huge fans of pets, but we are huge fans of all New England Sports. It has become a tradition among our staff that when a New England sports team is in the finals of their series, we all sport that team's color and apparel on game days.

Sometimes even our employee's pet's get in on the action!

We thought it would be fun to open up our own tradition to our facebook fans and their pets. 

We realize that a lot of our fans are from New England, but many are from all over North America, including Canada, and some from other countries as well.  While we are pretty partial to the Boston Bruins in our neck of the woods, we are not excluding those pets that are fans of other NHL teams.  We are running this contest to show off pets that support the entire NHL!

Starting today, when this blog appears on our facebook page, start uploading photos onto our facebook fanpage, photos of your pets in NHL attire (any team, Bruins or otherwise), or Boston Bruin team colors black and gold. 

You can even get really creative and show us a picture of your cat or dog watching the game on the little or big screen in your living room!  I know my cat enjoys a good hockey game with all the action, though my dog tends to sleep through most of it.

Also, your pet does not have to be a patient of Countryside to participate.  Any fan of our facebook page can post their pet photos.  And your pet does not have to be something we treat such as a dog, cat or exotic. For example, I've got a pony, a cow and some goats that might look pretty snazzy decked out in their favorite NHL team's attire  (again that would be the Bruins, but we are not excluding other hockey fans across the nation).

Did I mention that the staff will be rooting for the Bruins.  But no worries, the voting is not done by us, the voting is done by all the fans of our facebook fanpage.  And cute pets are really what it is all about, not so much who your pet supports on the ice.

How it works:

1.)  This blog will show up on our facebook fanpage notifying you of the contest. Obviously it already has because you are reading it now.

2.)  Dress your pet(s) up in their favorite NHL team attire, or Bruins black and gold

3.)  Take photos of them hanging out in their attire and/or get creative and have the bruins game on the t.v. in the background, or your dog running around the yard with a hockey stick in it's mouth, or your cat batting around a small puck-like toy in the kitchen.

4.)  Upload those photos onto our facebook page anytime between the moment you see this blog post on our facebook page through the entire 2011 Stanley Cup series.

5.)  We'll archive your photos into a special folder on our computer as you post them. 

6.)  We'll upload all of the submissions into one special voting/"liking" album at a date to be announced.  It will either be during the series or when the series is complete, it depends on how many games end up being played.

7.)  The album will stay up on our facebook page for voting for approximately 5 days (more specific info to come when the voting album is officially posted.)

8.)  The 3 photos with the most "likes"/votes, the pet will receive a choice of one of the many designer pet collars we carry in our retail area, as well as personalized pet name tag.  (Both items can be mailed to the winner anywhere in the world, so don't worry if you don't live close by!) If a winning pet does not wear a traditional collar we will work out a prize that fits your pet's needs. (for example, a bird or a cow or a reptile, etc.)

We have a ton of fun getting dressed up at the hospital, and we also take the opportunity to snack and chat with our clients in our waiting area during game days, and as employees we get to snack behind the scenes.

We love it when our favorite sports teams make the finals!  We know you do too, so send us your pet(s) best NHL attire or Bruins black & gold photographs and let the Stanley Cup Finals begin!!!!

~"Paws"itively Posting,

Gayle C. 
Practice Manager

Passing of the Torch to the New AAHA Practice of the Year

Hello All,

     I'm in Canada at the AAHA/OVMA conference, the first of it's kind, U.S. and Canadian veterinary organizations hosting together. A new AAHA Practice of the Year was crowned this morning. I'm inspired by the kind words of the 1st & 2nd place winners who told me when I went up to individually congratulate them, that we are the hospital that inspired them each to apply and that they try to emulate whether it be our mission, our vision, our facility, our social media outreach, or our community involvement. Congrats to all the finalists. Every hospital is a winner who follows the standards and guidelines of AAHA, puts the best interest of pets first, and treats staff as their second family. Canada is very welcoming and the OVMA (Ontario Veterinary Medical Association) treated us Americans like 2nd family as well.  Toronto is a beautiful city, but being here away from my team and witnessing the joy on the faces of those new hospital of the year winners, reminds me how much I miss our hospital back home, and how much this award has meant to us and will always mean to us.

     Dr. Takashima, AAHA's outgoing president, who visited Countryside in January of this year and hosted an AAHA member's forum in our conference room, during his speech this morning during the AAHA Accredited Practice breakfast where the new AAHA Practice of the Year was announced, when talking about friends he has made in his journey as AAHA president this year, put a picture of Brian and I with him and Zeke our bronze Great Dane mascot, on the huge powerpoint screen for all to see and recognized us by first name.  I was deeply and incredibly touched.  I must say it was hard to hold back a few happy tears but I was as discreet as I could be and wiped them away without drawing too much attention.  That one of many gestures by Dr. T. and so many of the AAHA staff put many things for me in perspective.

     AAHA is an amazing organization made up of caring people who not only care about pets and ensure that Accredited hospitals follow strict guidelines and standards to keep pets healthy and safe, but they care about people.  I wish you could all be here to witness their exceptional people skills and genuine fondness for others that share their same passion.

     We will always be the inaugural hospital of the year, and I've observed while here that this is something special, something never to forget.  We have a duty to continue to hold ourselves to the highest of all standards, as we have always done, which was an integral part of being chosen for the award in 2010.  And I know we are up to the challenge.  Under Dr. Holub's leadership we have always held ourselves to a higher standard than what was required of us by the State, or AAHA or PCSA.

     It is an honor to be a hospital to emulate and during my time as practice manager and with the help of our top knotch staff, we will continue to be a hospital to emulate by our genuine caring, community outreach, dedicated leadership, exceptional customer service and veterinary medicine.  And we will continue to support AAHA in getting the message out to pet owners about how AAHA accredited hospitals are an easy choice to visit with their pets. From the people to the policies and to the procedures, you can't go wrong trusting in AAHA and trusting in an AAHA practice.

     I've rambled on too long now, but I hope you have missed my ramblings.  I plan to ramble to you all in person when I return to the hospital early this week.

"Paws"itively Posting...

      Fondly~ Gayle :)

Thinking of a Career as a Veterinary Technician?

Below is an article I copied and pasted from today's edition of "AAHA (the American Animal Hospital Association) NEWStat Veterinary News - fast and functional".  If you are thinking about a career as a veterinary technician, the writer, David Greene, recommends that now is the time to stay in that career or pursue it.  Many states are now mandating that "official" veterinary technicians graduate from a college accredited in veterinary technology.  Massachusetts requires you have attended and graduated from such a school to become a certified veterinary technician (CVT) in MA.  But the state does not require you to be certified, yet, in order to work at a veterinary hospital.  NY does though and it looks as though many states like MA will not be far behind. ~Pawsitively Posting ~ Gayle C.   :)

For technicians, a rosy outlook 

By David Greene

In a market full of challenges for countless professions, this is a good time to be (or consider becoming) a veterinary technician. Each year, the U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics releases an occupational outlook handbook, and this year, the market is decidedly bullish for veterinary technicians.

With pet ownership on the rise, positions in the veterinary industry are firmly housed in the growth sector. From the BLS page discussing vet techs:

"Employment change. Employment of veterinary technologists and technicians is expected to grow 36 percent over the 2008-18 projection period, which is much faster than the average for all occupations. Pet owners are becoming more affluent and more willing to pay for advanced veterinary care because many of them consider their pet to be part of the family. This growing affluence and view of pets will continue to increase the demand for veterinary care. The vast majority of veterinary technicians work at private clinical practices under veterinarians. As the number of veterinarians grows to meet the demand for veterinary care, so will the number of veterinary technicians needed to assist them."

In particular, the increased spread of specialized and advanced veterinary care will create wider opportunities. Smaller class sizes in both 2- and 4-year veterinary technology graduating classes will translate to better prospects out of school for those new to the field.

In spite of the low numbers of new veterinary technologists entering the field, the Bureau of Labor Statistics has identified two venues where the competition is expected to remain high for the foreseeable future: aquariums and zoos.

"Despite the relatively few number of graduates each year, keen competition is expected for veterinary technician jobs in zoos and aquariums, due to expected slow growth in facility capacity, low turnover among workers, the limited number of positions, and the fact that the work in zoos and aquariums attracts many candidates."

Veterinary technicians may be surprised to learn that clinical practice might not be the most aggressive growth market for their talents, according to BLS. The agency’s analysis of "best places to look" effectively demonstrates the wide array of applications available for a vet tech’s skill set.

"[V]eterinary technologists will have better opportunities for research jobs in a variety of settings, including biomedical facilities, diagnostic laboratories, wildlife facilities, drug and food manufacturing companies, and food safety inspection facilities."

According to BLS Occupational Employment Statistics, the number of veterinary technicians and technologists in the United States increased about 24 percent, from 63,860 in 2005 to 79,200 in 2009. Meanwhile average annual salaries increased close to 15 percent, from $26,710 to $30,580 during the same period.

Reprinted from AAHA Trends Online, Thursday, February 24, 2011 Edition

Are Dogs the Key to Overcoming Depression in Tough Economic Times?

A recent article in the "Personal Journal", an insert section to the Wall Street Journal, posted in its December 21, 2010 edition an interesting article about psychiatrists, psychologists and social workers that bring their dog's to work with them.  They bring them for the specific reason that they feel their dog(s) have a calming effect on patients, help the patients come out of their shell and share their feelings.

After reading the article I learned a lot of interesting information about the intuitiveness of dogs and started thinking a lot about my own dog a Shiloh Shepherd.  My dog Daisy is almost amazingly human like, as many of us can probably say about our dogs that we live with day in and day out.  She truly can assess the emotions of any person in the room at any given time and reacts to it, often in a caring manner and offering her unconditional love.  Even when you least expect it or realize she is doing it.

This also got me to thinking about these tough economic times, and why times like these are called a "depression".  The article goes into some detail to explain how dog's can recognize when people are depressed and how seeing a dog in a medical office gives the visitor a feeling of comfort and safety.

A client shared with us the newspaper article, and I was able to find it online. If you click the following link, it brings you directly to the article on the Wall Street Journal Online website.  If you have an interest in this subject it is worth the read.  And if you have an opinion on the subject we'd love for you to share it with us.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB20001424052748703886904576031521407391768.html

"Paws"itivly Posting,

Gayle C., Practice Manager

A Lot to be Thankful For

Thank you to all of our clients and friends of Countryside for making this holiday season special for so many pets and people in our community.

The Hill's/Science Diet Angel Food Drive was a great success.  Through your purchases of Hill's Prescription and Science Diet foods this holiday season at Countryside, you helped raise over $500 that will go to pets in need at local shelters in our area. 

Countryside participated for the first time this year in Chelmsford's, Muffins with Santa Project. This project was overseen and created by the group, Chelmsford Women of Today.  We recently learned that over $1,300.00 was raised and that 3 needy children in the Chelmsford area had a joyous Christmas as a result, and that the rest of the money will help fund other worthy projects in the Spring of 2011.

Also new to us this year, we participated in the 106.3 Frank FM, food drive to help out human families this holiday season.  Our own Joan Bartlett, a Client Relation Specialist here at Countryside, encouraged staff and clients to participate. She decorated a fancy box to resemble a present and displayed it in our waiting room.  Joan delivered all of the donations received at Countryside, to Market Basket in Chelmsford to help the Merrimack Valley Food Bank.  Overall with the other area donations, the Food Bank reached 1600 pounds of food and over $3500 in donations.  Thank you Joan, we look forward to participating in this event next year as well!

The facebook fanpage holiday photo contest was so much fun. We can't begin to tell you how pleased we were at the quality of the photo submissions and all of the thought and effort that you put forth to provide us with those photos and brighten the spirits of our facebook followers this holiday season.

Lastly, today, this New Year's Eve, as we fast approach the end of the first decade of the 21st Century, we wish you all and your pets, a happy and healthy 2011.

"Paws"itivly Posting,

Gayle C. :)

Facebook Holiday Photo Contest is in Full Swing!

Our first annual Facebook holiday photo contest is in full swing.  We are thrilled at the number of entrants (over 60!).  Facebook Fans of Countryside are voting ("liking") fast and furious. This is going to be tough call.  Many of the pictures already have more than 20 votes ("likes") each!

When we decided to do the contest we had never done one where photos were sent to us via email or posted by fans on our wall before so we didn't think of every scenario.  In our past Halloween photo contest, we took all the photos and we were the source of the photographs. But we've learned from this holiday one how to make it work, and all of the entrants have been kind and understanding of the few bumps in the road we experienced when we got the contest off the ground earlier this week.

We appreciate your always good humor and your constructive criticism.  Thank you for your comments, and for staying on top of the latest updates in regard to the event.

The quality and the thoughtfulness of each photo entered is amazing.  We never expected such a high turn out and for so many fantastic photos.  We love your pets, and we love seeing them in candid photos in the outside world, where they aren't concerned about getting a vaccine, or having a procedure performed.  Truly in their own element.

Voting ("liking") ends at 11:59 p.m. on Friday, December 17, 2010.  Jenn will be tallying all the votes and posting the winners Saturday, December 18th!

You and your pets are very special to us.  These contests make our day and show us over and over again why we not only enjoy what we do, we LOVE what we do!

"Paws"itivly Posting,

Gayle C. :)