Saturday, June 27, 2015

I Am Not a Thing

I am a dog. I am a living, breathing animal. I feel pain, joy, love, fear and pleasure.
I am not a thing. If I am hit - I will bruise, I will bleed, I will break. I will feel pain. I am not a thing.
I am a dog. I enjoy playtime, walk time, but more than anything, I enjoy time with my pack - my family - my people. I want nothing more than to be by the side of my human. I want to sleep where you sleep and walk where you walk. I am a dog and I feel love...I crave companionship.
I enjoy the touch of a kind hand and the softness of a good bed. I want to be inside of the home with my family, not stuck on the end of a chain or alone in a kennel or fenced yard for hours on end. I was born to be a companion, not to live a life of solitude.

I get too cold and I get too hot. I experience hunger and thirst. I am a living creature, not a thing.
When you leave, I want to go with you. If I stay behind, I will eagerly await your return. I long for the sound of your voice. I will do most anything to please you. I live to be your treasured companion.
I am a dog. My actions are not dictated by money, greed, or hatred. I do not know prejudice. I live in the moment and am ruled by love and loyalty.

Do not mistake me for a mindless object. I can feel and I can think. I can experience more than physical pain, I can feel fear and joy. I can feel love and confusion. I have emotions. I understand perhaps more than you do. I am able to comprehend the words you speak to me, but you are not always able to understand me.

I am a dog. I am not able to care for myself without your help. If you choose to tie me up and refuse to feed me, I will starve. If you abandon me on a rural road, I will experience fear and loneliness. I will search for you and wonder why I have been left behind. I am not a piece of property to be dumped and forgotten.

If you choose to leave me at a shelter, I will be frightened and bewildered. I will watch for your return with every footfall that approaches my kennel run.
I am a dog - a living, breathing creature. If you choose to take me home, please provide me with the things that I need to keep me healthy and happy.
Provide me with good food, clean water, warm shelter and your love. Do not abandon me. Do not kick me. Do not dump me when your life gets too busy. Make a commitment to me for the entirety of my life, or do not take me home in the first place.
If you desert me, I do not have the means to care for myself. I am at the mercy of the kindness of people - if I fall into the wrong hands, my life will be ruined.
I will experience pain, fear and loneliness. If I wind up in an animal shelter, I have only my eyes to implore someone to save me, and my tail to show you that I am a friend. If that is not good enough, I will die.

I am a dog. I want to give and receive love. I want to live. I am not a thing. I am not a piece of property. Please do not discard me. Please treat me with kindness, love and respect. I promise to repay you with unconditional love for as long as I live.

Saturday, September 1, 2012

Confessions







Well, this one has been several years in the making.

Hello kids. I'm your friendly neighborhood Animal Control Officer, and I'd like to officially tell you all to bite my ass. Before I ride off into the sunset, however - here are some parting words...

1) To all the jackasses who ask me if I don't have something better to do than giving them a ticket for no license/dog off leash/being a douchebag. The answer is no. No, I have nothing better than to take my precious time and taxpayer dollars to write you a COMPLETELY LAME ticket for not doing what was your responsibility to do in the first place. I love nothing more than babysitting grown adults who seem incapable of wiping their own ass without law enforcement present. Thanks, dirtbags.

2) To all the jackasses who ask me why I'm not rounding up all the killer pitbulls. Where...WHERE!? Where are all the killer pitbulls that are roaming the streets and attacking your women and children. My god, the city should just issue you all SHOTGUNS to fend off these land sharks. In other news, THERE IS NO VICIOUS PITBULL EPIDEMIC. Let's all hold hands and say it together folks, the only epidemic is misinformation, ignorance and animal neglect. Thanks, please drive through to the second window and receive a punch in the face.


3) To all the jackasses who refuse to spay/neuter, or who think they're "breeders" because they put fido and fifi together and produced a litter of mongrels who will all likely end up in a barrel behind the shelter by the time they reach sexual maturity: Die. Diediediediedie. I wish to god that there was a mandatory spay/neuter law and that the penalty for breaking it was to be forced to spend a day working in the euthanasia room. Seriously. It's simple fucking math, people. Every dog or cat you carelessly add into this world takes away a home for a dog or cat that is already here. So breeding means killing...so have a good day, executioners! I hope the 50 bucks you made off that puppy sure feels good.

4) There is no goddamn thing as "No Kill". I hate to burst your collective bubble, but when you call and ask if our shelter is "no kill", don't treat me like a kitten murderer when I tell you NO. There are simply not enough resources or homes available to find every pet a home and that is NOT MY FAULT. Quite simply, there is no "dog whisperer" in the world who can save your eight year old Rottweiler that spent his entire life chained to a tree in your backyard. Sorry, buster - but this one's on you. And the places that claim to be "No Kill"? They simply send the unplaceable pets across the street to Animal Control who do the killing for them. WAKE. UP. Until mandatory spay/neuter becomes law, killing is going to happen.

5)You know what's fun? Being told that I must "really hate dogs" because I'm an Animal Control Officer. Yessir. I put up with retards like you, the abysmally low pay, and this fabulously flattering uniform just so I can take all my bitterness out on your dog. That's also why I foster animals, paying for their care out of my own pocket and using up my precious little free time to do it. Yeah, that's it. Now how's about you shut your mouth and put a leash on your dog you asshole, so I don't have to peel him off the street later.

6) LEASHES, PEOPLE. They're not just for the "bad dogs". Quite frankly, dogs are carnivores - predators, if you will. When they see something furry and running fast, like a squirrel or a cat - they tend to chase after it. Next thing you know, I'm scooping up Scooby with a plastic bag...not fun. Or, how about the person who does not in fact, like dogs and has to be accosted by your poochie when they walk down the street? Or, what about the dog aggressive dog being walked safely and in control on a leash until your unleashed dog comes up and just wants to say "hi"? Dog fights are pretty ugly, and NO ONE seems to anticipate them until it's too late. So don't piss and moan when I give you a verbal warning for having your dog off leash...because that leads me to:

7) Your mouth will write you a ticket. Oh yeah, no kidding. I hate writing tickets. They're a pain in the ass. I have to deal with your melt down, then I have to go back to the office and write a report about it. Next, I have to show up in court because you want to contest the ticket, even though 60% of the time YOU NEVER SHOW UP YOU CHICKENSHIT BASTARDS. So, the deal is this - if you're nice and not eggregiously breaking the law, I'm probably just going to warn you and then go about my day. As soon as you break out the lip however, I'm breaking out the ticket book. Press hard, there's four copies.

In conclusion. I quit! Actually, you dipshits broke me a while back and it's been months of therapy before I could write this little missive. I still shudder when I see a pair of testicles on a dog though, so watch out.

Friday, August 31, 2012

You can't keep your pet? Really?~By a Shelter Director




Our society needs a huge "Wake-up" call
As a shelter manager, I am going to share
a little insight with you all...
a "view from the inside" - if you will.

First off, any of you whom have surrendered a pet
to a shelter or humane society should be made to work
in the "back" of an animal shelter - for just ONE DAY.

Maybe if you saw the life drain from those sad,
lost, confused eyes, you'd stop flagging the ads on here
and help these animals find homes.

That puppy you just dropped off will most-likely end up
in my shelter when it's no longer a cute little puppy anymore.

Just so you know, there's a 90% chance that your dog will never
walk out back out, once entered in to the shelter system...
Purebred or not!

About 25% of all of the dogs that are "owner surrenders" or "strays"
that come into a shelter are purebred dogs.

The most common excuses: "We're moving and can't take our dog (or cat)."
Really? Where are you moving to that doesn't allow pets?
Or they say "The dog got bigger than we thought it would".
How big did you think a German Shepherd would get?
"We don't have time for her".
Really? I work a 10-12 hour day and still have time for my 6 dogs!
"She's tearing up our yard".
How about making her a part of your family?
"We just don't want to have to stress about finding
a place for her & we know she'll get adopted,
she's a good dog".

Odds are, your pet won't get adopted
& how stressful do you think it is for your pet?

Did you know...
Your pet has 72 hours to find a new family
from the moment you drop it off?
Sometimes a little longer if the shelter isn't full
and your dog/cat manages to stay completely healthy.

If it sniffles, it is euthanized.

Your pet will be confined to a small run/kennel in a room
with other barking & crying animals.
It will have to relieve itself where it eats and sleeps.
It will be depressed and will cry constantly for you.
If your pet is lucky, there will be enough volunteers in that day
to take him/her for a walk.
If not, your pet won't get any attention besides having a bowl of food
slid under the kennel door and the waste sprayed out of it's pen
with a high-powered hose.
If your dog is big, black or any of the "Bully" breeds
(pit bull, rottie, mastiff, etc) it was pretty much dead when
you walked it through the front door.
If your cat is scared and doesn't act friendly enough,
or if it catches a cold (which most of them 'do'),
it will be put to sleep.
Those dogs & cats just don't get adopted.
In most cases, it doesn't matter how 'sweet' or 'well behaved' they are.
If your pet doesn't get adopted within it's 72 hours
and the shelter is full, it will be destroyed.
If the shelter isn't full and your pet is good enough,
and of a desirable enough breed it may get a stay of execution,
but not for long.

Most dogs get very kennel protective after about a week and are
destroyed for showing aggression.
Even the sweetest dogs will turn in this environment.

If your pet makes it over all of those hurdles chances are it
will get kennel cough or an upper respiratory infection and will be
destroyed because the shelter gets paid a fee to euthanize each animal and
making money is better than spending money to take this animal to the vet.


Here's a little euthanasia 101 for those of you that have never witnessed a
perfectly healthy, scared animal being "put-down".

First, your pet will be taken from its kennel on a leash.
They always look like they think they are going for a walk...
happy, wagging their tails...
until they get to "The Room",
every one of them freaks out and puts on the brakes when they get to the door.
It must smell like death or they can feel the sad souls that are left in there.
It's strange, but it happens with every one of them.
Your dog or cat will be restrained, held down by 1 or 2 shelter workers,
depending on the size and how freaked out they are.
Then a shelter worker who we call a "euthanasia tech (not a vet)"
finds a vein in the front leg and injects a lethal dose of the "pink stuff".

Hopefully your pet doesn't panic from being restrained and jerks.
I've seen the needles tear out of a leg and been covered with the resulting blood...
the yelps and screams are deafening.

They all don't just "go to sleep", sometimes they spasm for a while,
gasp for air and defecate on themselves.

You see, shelters are trying to make money to pay employee pay checks
and then, there's the board of directors...
who need to be paid too!

Consequently, corners are cut, & we don't spend our funds to
tranquilize the animal before injecting them with the lethal drug,
we just put the burning lethal drug in their vein and let them suffer until dead.

If it were not a business for profit, we'd do it humanely and hire a
licensed vet do this procedure.
That way, the animal would be sedated or tranquilized and THEN euthanized.

But to do this procedure correctly would only cost more money...
so we don't necessarily do what is right for the animal,
we do what's expedient so we can continue to make a buck!

Shelters do not have to have a vet perform their euthanasia procedures.
Oftentimes, they are untrained personnel administering lethal injections.
So... that employee may take 50 pokes with a needle and 3 hours to get inside the vein.

In the end, your pet's corpse will be stacked like firewood in a large freezer,
usually in the back of the building with all of the other animals that were killed.
There they will sit until being picked up like garbage.

What happens next? Cremated?
Taken to the dump?
Rendered into pet food?
Or used for schools to dissect and experiment on?


You'll never know and it probably won't even cross your mind.

After all, it was just an animal and you can always buy another one, right?!


I hope that those of you who still have a beating heart and have read this
are bawling your eyes out and can't get the pictures out of your head.
I deal with this everyday.
I hate my job, I hate that it exists &
I hate that it will always be there unless you people make changes
and start educating yourselves, your children, the public.
Do the research, do your homework, and know exactly
what you are getting into before getting a pet.
These shelters and humane societies exist because people just do not care about animals anymore.
And PLEASE stop breeding!

Animals were not intended to be disposable but somehow that is what they've become.

Saturday, August 25, 2012

Why Adopt?



My parents always advised me never to buy a used car, because I would just be buying "somebody else's problems." Unfortunately, that's how some people view rescue pets - as pets that weren't wanted because they had problems and didn't make good companions.
In the vast majority of cases, that's just not true! Most dogs who come into rescue are not given up because they were "bad dogs" or have behavioral problems. Unfortunately, many people buy pets without thinking about the time, effort, and expense involved in keeping them. These pets end up in shelters, along the side of the road, or if they're lucky - in rescue.
In fact, the most common reasons a pet ends up with a rescue organization include the following:
  • The owners don't have time for the pet.
  • The owners find that they can't afford either basic vet care or the expense involved in treating an illness or injury.
  • The owner dies or goes into a nursing home.
  • The owners divorce and neither party can keep the pet. (You would be amazed at how many pets end up in rescue as the result of a divorce!)
  • A young couple has a child and no longer has time for the pet, or the pet no longer fits into their "lifestyle."
  • The owner is moving to an apartment building that doesn't allow pets.
This is not to say that all rescue pets come with perfect manners, perfectly socialized and housebroken. The pets who have been neglected and abandoned need training and gentle discipline - but so do all the puppies & kittens people buy! And a rescue pet usually needs much less training than a baby pet.
Another myth is that rescue pets are, by definition, inferior to pets bought from a breeder or pet store. Pets who are rescued came originally from show breeders, pet stores, and hobby breeders - pretty much everywhere. They are a cross-section of the pet population, and, as such, are no more or less likely to have genetic problems than any other pet.
But I Want a Particular Breed!
Purebred pets - Don't shy away from considering adoption of a pet from a shelter because you have a preference for a specific breed. About 25 percent to 30 percent of shelter populations are purebreds. If you're looking for a specific breed, contact or visit your local animal shelter or breed rescue group and ask them to contact you should a pet of that breed becomes available.
Designer dogs - People spend big money on labradoodles, spoodles and other "designer dogs" when their local shelter is full to the brim with the exact same cross breed dogs. Except the shelter likely calls the labradoodle by its true name - a poodle X!
Reasons to Choose a Rescue Dog or Cat
Those of us who volunteer in rescue all have at least one rescue and we know what terrific pets they can be! Here are some reasons to consider a rescue if you are ready to add a new pet to your family.
You're not starting from scratch with an older pet - When you buy a puppy, you're essentially bringing an infant into your home... a completely untrained, unsocialised little critter who thinks the crate you bought for him is a jail (and who cries to get out... at 3 AM!), the newspaper you put down for him to squat on is a wonderful toy to be shredded, your new shoes are much tastier than rawhide, and your best carpet is an excellent substitute for grass when nature calls!
Most rescue dogs have been house dogs in the past, come with some basic manners and may have even been living with a foster family to teach them the ropes.
An older cat most likely will be content being alone - a perfect match for someone who has an active lifestyle.
The bond is strong - Contrary to the belief that an adult dog cannot bond with a new family, a dog that has been abandoned once is usually eager to become part of a loving pack, where they feel safe and secure, and are likely to act accordingly. We find that rescue dogs are generally eager to please their new owners. Animals rescued from puppy mills often want to be in your lap at all times and will follow you from room to room, just to be near you.
Adult cats may sleep at the foot of your bed, in a cozy spot in your bedroom or under your bed. A kitten will most likely run around all night climbing and play attacking anything low enough to jump on - including you.
Fewer vet fees - Rescue pets have had physical examinations, have been desexed and are up to date on shots. When you buy a puppy or kitten, you pay for the pet AND for the vaccinations, desexing and other medical expenses.
What you see is what you get - When you buy a baby pet, you can never really be sure what type of adult you're going to get.
All puppies are cute and playful, but their adult personalities aren't visible until they're about two years old. So you don't know whether you're getting a dog who wants to play all the time (ALL the time!) or a couch potato. When you rescue a dog, you know what the dog's personality is like and whether it fits with what you want in a dog companion. You also know in advance about any problem areas you, as the new owner, will have to address.
A cat's personality has already been developed by the time it's one year old. A lap cat will continue to be a lap cat and it is easy to determine if the new cat will work out in a multi-cat household. With an adult cat, you definitely know what you're getting.
Adult pets are generally better for families - Adult pets generally are better with kids. Pups and kittens can play rough and cause harm to children by biting, nipping or scratching. When excited, large breed pups can knock children over accidentally. Children sometimes handle animals too roughly and can cause harm.
Adult pets are more mellow and more able to get themselves out of harms way and because of this are often more patient with children.
It teaches your kids good values - Face it - we live in an extremely materialistic society, in which TV teaches kids that everything can be bought, that they should get their parents to buy them everything, and that anything worth having costs a lot of money. Adopting a rescue pet for your family presents a wonderful opportunity to teach your children basic values of compassion and caring, and also about the value of second chances.
Why Aren't Rescue Pets Free?
We are asked this question frequently. Some people think that, since they are willing to take a homeless dog or cat off our hands, they should be given the pet without an adoption fee.
Well, that would be nice, and in a perfect world, it would be possible. But vet care for rescue pets costs money, which our members must recover, at least in part, in order to go on rescuing. Each pet must have a physical examination, receive any required vaccinations, be desexed and, for dogs, be tested for heartworm. The rescuer pays for these procedures out of her or his own pocket.
For the most part, the adoption fees reflect the basic medical expenses incurred for the pet. If that pet had any extra medical treatment, it's likely that the fee you are charged won't cover these costs and the rescue will actually be out of pocket.
Please keep this fact in mind: The adoption fee for an rescue pet is usually somewhere between $50 and $300. The going rate for a pet store puppy that, in all likelihood came from a puppy mill, is between $400 and $700. A kitten up to $100. And you still have to pay for vaccinations, microchipping and desexing on top of that. Rescue pets are a bargain!
OK, I'm convinced - where do I sign?
Adopting a pet is a great joy and a huge responsibility, so shouldn't be taken lightly. Examining your lifestyle and household is critical to making a good adoption match.
  • If you travel a lot and work long hours away from home, it's probably not the right time for you to adopt. If your schedule keeps you busy, adopting an adult cat might be the best option for you.
  • If you're planning a major lifestyle change - marriage, moving or a new baby - hold off on adopting until things settle down in your life. Marriage, moving and new babies are the primary reasons pets are relinquished to the RSPCA and other shelters.
  • Pets can be expensive; food, pet supplies, grooming, and veterinary bills that can easily reach hundreds of dollars. Are you prepared to pay for everything your pet needs for the next 10-15 years?
I'm still keen - what should I expect and how do I find a good rescue group?
Before adopting, you will probably be screened. Most rescue groups conduct thorough interviews before allowing you to adopt an animal in their care. This might seem intimidating, but it's actually also your chance to screen the rescue group!
There are plenty of people and organizations who claim to be rescue. Some are fantastic; how do you tell?
Signs of a good rescue group:
  • They are willing to spend time discussing your requirements, lifestyle and expectations. They should be happy to address any concerns and answer any questions you have. They should also be open to you contacting them in the future for pet advice if you need it.
  • They have a genuine interest for the welfare of their animals both now and in the future. There should be an adoption contract that includes a clause that you return the pet to them should the adoption not work out.
  • They have an in-depth adoption screening process. While it can be intimidating to have a stranger ask personal questions, the more open and detailed you are with the group, the better able they are to match you with the right pet.
  • And most importantly - Desexed, desexed, desexed! If the group is willing to give you a pet of breeding age that has not been desexed then you are not dealing with a reputable organization interested in animal welfare. Do not do business with them.

Friday, August 24, 2012

Grow Old With Dogs


When I am old...
I will wear soft gray sweatshirts...
and a bandana over my silver hair.....
and I will spend my social security checks on wine and my dogs.

I will sit in my house on my well-worn chair
and listen to my dogs' breathing.
I will sneak out in the middle of a warm summer night
and take my dogs for a run, if my old bones will allow...

When people come to call, I will smile
and nod as I show them my dogs...
and talk of them and about them...
...the ones so beloved of the past
and the ones so beloved of today....

I will still work hard cleaning after them,
mopping and feeding them and
whispering their names in a soft loving way.

I will wear the gleaming sweat on my throat,
like a jewel and I will be an embarrassment to all...
especially my family...
who have not yet found the peace in being free
to have dogs as your best friends....

These friends who always wait, at any hour, for your footfall...
and eagerly jump to their feet out of a sound sleep,
to greet you as if you are a God.

With warm eyes full of adoring love and hope
that you will always stay,
I'll hug their big strong necks...
I'll kiss their dear sweet heads...
and whisper in their very special company....

I look in the Mirror...and see I am getting old....
this is the kind of person I am...and have always been.
Loving dogs is easy,
they are part of me.

Please accept me for who I am.
My dogs appreciate my presence in their lives...
they love my presence in their lives......
When I am old this will be important to me...
you will understand when you are old....
if you have dogs to love too.

Author Unknown



Thursday, August 23, 2012

Dogs and Autism




From Autism Service Dogs of America
To learn more, go to www.autismservicedogsofamerica.com.

Wendy Going noticed her son Kegan had a natural inclination toward animals.
Whenever Kegan saw an animal he would start making sounds — talking in his own way. This was unusual for the boy because most of the time he’s silent, his mother said.
Kegan is autistic.
This week, Kegan, 8, brought his autism service dog Everett with him to Smith River Elementary School for the first time. Everett is expected to help Kegan stay calm and safe, both inside and outside the classroom.
It was also a chance for Kegan’s classmates to be introduced to the golden retriever and how they should act around him.
“I saw how animals had an effect on him,” Going said. “He’s more vocal … when animals are around he makes sounds.”
“I don’t know how medically,” she continued, “but that’s the way it seems to me.”
Since Everett has been in Kegan’s life, the difference has been “amazing,” she said.
Before, if she or her husband came into Kegan’s classroom, “his day would be ruined.” With Everett by his side the last few days at school, Kegan has had no reaction to Going sitting a few feet away.
“To be able to sit here and him sit at his desk,” she said, “that was never possible before.”


Everett has been in training since he was a puppy to become an autism service dog, explained his trainer, Kati Rule-Witko, who is also an autism specialist.
The Going family applied to the Autism Service Dogs of America, a non-profit based in Lake Oswego, Ore., and was accepted to receive a dog about a year and a half ago. They then had to raise $13,500 to pay the service dog’s training and other fees.
The Goings had a “bachelor and bachelorette auction” at Elk Valley Casino in November 2008 that raised $9,000, said Wendy Going. The rest of the cost was made up in family contributions and donations.
Most people probably think of service dogs for the blind. However, in the last 30 years, they have been trained to help those with hearing impairments, social disabilities and limited mobility.

Starting as puppies, service dogs live with volunteers who train them in basic obedience. When they’re old enough, they get specialized training to prepare them for being with an autistic child.
Several weeks ago, Everett moved in with the Goings and became accumulated with the family. Then on Monday, Everett went to Kegan’s second-grade class.

Kegan was 2 years old when he was diagnosed with autism, Going said.
“I thought he was going deaf,” she said. “He stopped responding to his name.”
A doctor told Going that Kegan’s hearing was “perfect” and suggested that he might be autistic.
Researching the development disorder, she found out about autism service dogs. Going said she learned that a service dog can have a calming effect on an autistic child because it’s a constant presence in his or her life.
Autistic children like Kegan can have trouble dealing with a change in their routine. Change can over-stimulate the brain, but having service dogs constantly by their side reminds them that one thing hasn’t changed.
“The environment will change, but the constant is always there,” Going added.
Instructional aide Perry Cooper helps Kegan in the classroom.
When an autistic child is escalating into a fit, the service dog will on command place his head or legs on the child and relieve some of that pressure building inside him or her, Rule-Witko explained.
“They’re seeking to relieve that over-stimulation,” she said, that otherwise might result in children hurting themselves.
When this happens, the dog will “go over and nudge the child,” Rule-Witko said.
“That re-directs the child,” she said, “to have a different train of thought and get them out of that bad place.”
Kegan also feels the need to touch people’s hair or he twists his own, his mother said. When he met Rule-Witko, the first thing he did was try to touch her hair.
When he does this, Kegan is trying to calm himself down from something that is over-stimulating, Rule-Witko said. But, it’s not always appropriate to touch someone’s hair, so he can pet Everett.

Everett also keeps Kegan safe. Being tethered to Everett, he can’t run away, which he — like many other autistic children — has done, his mother said.
As the bond between the two grows, Everett will be able to sense if Kegan is having a seizure, a result of of his brain being over-stimulated, and alert an adult.
“That’s a big hope for the family,” Rule-Witko said.
Because Kegan is tethered to Everett, she said, his parents can give him more independence and know he’s safe.
“The child becomes more independent and confident,” she said, “something they wouldn’t have been able to develop.”
It’s been hard to go on family outings or go on vacation because Kegan needs so much attention, Going said.
“The younger kids have needs too,” she said, “that gets lost.”
This past weekend, the whole family went to the mall and zoo in Eureka, something they had not done before.


Rule-Witko is spending three days, ending today, at the school helping Kegan and everyone else get used to Everett and understand his job as a service dog.
“The fear is the unknown,” she said about bring a service dog into a school. “I spend three days answering questions about how to handle situations.”
Rule-Witko explained to all the students and staff what a service dog does and the rules for being around him, such as no talking to or petting Everett.

A dog can be a big distraction for children, she said, but added, “give it a week and it will be an everyday thing.”
Kegan’s teacher, Nicole Cochran, said that Everett’s presence in the classroom hasn’t required much of an adjustment.
At first, the other students were excited having Everett around and wanted to play with him, but Cochran told them “he has a job to do just like they have a job to do.”
After a while, she said they probably won’t even notice Everett is around.
“It will be part of their school life,” she said.
Principal Paige Swan said that everyone in the school was made aware that a service dog would be on the campus.
Right before Rule-Witko and Everett were set to come to Smith River School, there was some hesitation on the school district’s part, Going said.
Swan said that the proper protocols had to be gone through to avoid any liability issues and make sure everything went as “smooth as possible.”
Kegan will likely have a service dog for the rest of his life because of the comfort and reassurance it gives him, his mother said.
“Once that connection has been made,” she said, “you can’t break it.”

Top 10 Reasons to Adopt an Older Dog

1. What You See Is What You Get

Older dogs are open books—from the start, you’ll know important things like their full-grown size, personality and grooming requirements. All this information makes it easier to pick the right dog and forge that instant love connection that will last a lifetime. If you’re not so into surprises, an older dog is for you!

2. Easy to Train

Think you can’t teach an old dog new tricks? Hogwash! Older dogs are great at focusing on you—and on the task at hand—because they’re calmer than youngsters. Plus, all those years of experience reading humans can help them quickly figure out how to do what you’re asking.

3. Seniors are Super-Loving

One of the cool parts of our job is reading stories from people just like you who have opted to adopt. The emails we get from pet parents with senior dogs seem to all contain beautiful, heartfelt descriptions of the love these dogs give you—and those of you who adopted dogs already in their golden years told us how devoted and grateful they are. It's an instant bond that cannot be topped!

4. They’re Not a 24-7 Job

Grownup dogs don’t require the constant monitoring puppies do, leaving you with more freedom to do your own thing. If you have young children, or just value your “me time,” this is definitely a bonus.

5. They Settle in Quickly

Older dogs have been around the block and already learned what it takes to get along with others and become part of a pack. They’ll be part of the family in no time!

6. Fewer Messes

Your floors, shoes and furniture will thank you for adopting a senior pooch! Older dogs are likely to already be housetrained—and even if they’re not, they have the physical and mental abilities to pick it up really fast (unlike puppies). With their teething years far behind them, seniors also are much less likely to be destructive chewers.

7. You Won’t Bite Off More Than You Can Chew

There are those who yearn for a doggie friend of their own, but hold back because they worry what might happen in their lives in the years to come. And they are wise to do so—a puppy or young dog can be anywhere from an 8- to 20-year responsibility, which is not appropriate for the very elderly or those with certain long-term future plans. Providing a loving home for a dog in her golden years is not a less serious commitment, but it can be a shorter one.

8. They Enjoy Easy Livin’

Couch potato, know thyself! Please consider a canine retiree rather than a high-energy young dog who will run you ragged. Not that older dogs don’t require any exercise—they do—but they’re not going to need, or want, to run a marathon every day.

9. Save a Life, Be a Hero

At shelters, older dogs are often the last to be adopted and the first to be euthanized. Saving an animal’s life offers an unparalleled emotional return on your investment, and you’ll feel the rewards every day you spend together.

10. They’re CUTE!

Need we say more?