DOGS IN ACTION!!

Dr. Rebekah Devins

Dr. Lindsay Phillips

Definition of Service Dogs

Describes any animal that is individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of a person with a disability.

In Action….

Many Different Areas….

L e a de r B lin d D o gs T h e rp ay D o gs

S e a rch an d R e scu e D o gs M ilita ry D o g s

K -9 P o lice D o gs A ss ita n ce D o gs H e a rin g an d S ig n a l D og

S e rv ice D o gs

The Facts….

There are currently 49 million people in the U.S. that suffer from a disability (2001 Census Bureau)About 1 in 5 Americans have a disability (1997 Census Bureau)Approximately 15,000 Service Dogs in the United States ( about .009% of the disabled human population)

The Facts…The average service dogs in the United States takes approximately $20,000 to train depending on the specialty.

The most common breeds used are Golden Retrievers, Labrador Retrievers, mixes between those, German Shepards and Belgian Malinois.

It’s The Law!!

Section 502C of the Michigan State Law states: Any person being an owner, lessee, proprietor, manager, superintendent, agent or employee of any place of public accommodation, amusement or recreation, including but not limited to any inn, hotel, restaurant, eating house, barber shop, billiard parlor store, public conveyance on land or water, theater, motion picture house, public education institution or elevator, who shall refuse to permit a blind person to enter or use any such accommodations when such accommodations are available, for that reason that such a person is being led by a dog guide shall be guilty of a misdemeanor if such dog guide shall be wearing a harness and further if such a person shall first have presented for inspection credentials issued by an accredited school for training guide dogs which has been approved by the veterans administration.

It’s The Law!!

In 1990 the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) was passed by Federal Government to let any service dog into places that serve the public.

Therapy Dogs are not included under these laws.

Therapy Dogs

There are several organizations recognized as National Pet Assisted Therapy Organizations. A few of these are:

Therapy Dogs International (TDI)

Delta Society

Therapy Dogs

Typically therapy dogs are used to visit hospitals, care facilities and nursing homes to cheer up patients. There is a positive emotional change associated with people and interactions with animals. There has also been many positive medical changes documented from interactions with animals: Lowered blood pressure Lowered cholesterol Help with psychological disorders like depression

and high anxiety

Canine Good Citizen Test

Veterinarians often provide health care to therapy dogs as one might expect.

Another role veterinarians can play is administrating the canine good citizen test.

Many evaluators that the AKC list on their website are indeed veterinarians.

Ten Items Needed to Pass!

Accepting a friendly strangerSitting politely for pettingAppearance and groomingOut for a walk (walking on a loose leash)Walking through a crowdSit and down command- staying in place

Coming when called

Reaction to another dog

Reaction to distraction

Supervised separation

Interested in Offering this at Your Clinic????

The AKC will offer assistance and training so that you can become an evaluator.

Different organizations might have other tests besides the Canine Good Citizen Test that dogs must pass before certified as a Therapy Dog!

Canine Good Citizen Test

Owner must use encouragement and praise throughout the test. Food or treats are not allowed but petting and “good dogs” are strongly encouraged!Any dog that doesn’t pass all 10 are failed. Only exception is in item 10 if the test is being held outdoors.Any dog that snaps, bites or growls during test is dismissed.

Military Working DogsThe Department of Defense currently has over 1,500 military working dogs.Every day they are employed to patrol borders and also detect drugs and explosives.Main breeds used are German Shepard and Belgian Malinois for their keen sense of smell, endurance, strength, courage and adaptability to climate changes. Labrador Retrievers and Golden Retrievers are used for explosive and drug detection.

Military Working DogsWho’s in charge of the medical care of these four legged heroes …….. veterinarians!!

There are veterinarians in the Army who oversee the health of military working dogs, horses, lab animal and marine species just to name a few.

Many of the veterinarians in the Army specialize, and one of these fields is Veterinary Pathology.

Veterinary Pathologist in The Military Veterinary Pathologist play an integral role in diagnosing and

treating diseases in military animals.

Veterinarian Pathologist in the military also consult on working

dogs for the Federal Aviation Administration, U.S. Customs

Service, U.S. Secret Service and U.S. Border Patrol.

When a military working dog dies anywhere

in the world, regardless of circumstances of the

death, tissues must be submitted to

Military Veterinary Pathologists

for examination.

Operation Enduring Freedom Operation Enduring Freedom is in place to protect soldiers and civilians from dangerous explosives such as land mines and bombs. Where do the veterinarians come in?This operation would not be possible without the work of veterinarians keeping military dogs in tip top shape. The first team deployed in this Operation was in 2001 and was a team of 8 vets and 17 vet techs. They served eight countries and nine locations. They were there to keep to keep the dogs healthy.Several of the unique problems faced by these vets are that the dogs are exposed to all extremes of temperatures and terrains.

Operation Enduring FreedomFor example, in Southwest Asia it can go from below zero to more then 130 F.

Heatstroke is a problem the veterinarians are always facing.

Respiratory problems due to blowing sand and foot pad injuries due to rocky terrain are some of the more common injuries encountered.

Search and Rescue

There are many non-profit Search and Rescue Groups found in most states around the U.S.

Usually collaborate with local Police and State Police Departments.

Build Reputation.

Great Lakes Search and Rescue

Takes approximately 2 years of intense training for both the K-9 and the handler.

Learn scouting, behavior of people, decaying rates of tissue and dealing with relatives and media.

Search and Rescue

Have specialized areas in wilderness, cadaver, urban, trailing, scouting.

Different training for different areas Wilderness vs.Urban

Our director and her partner Eagle worked with the FBI on many high profile cases. She was also called to be head of search and rescue efforts in Shanksville,Pennsylvania on September 11th.

Search and Rescue

9/11-The Other Heroes20 TF teams, 4 dogs/team at WTC

4 areas of TF specializations:•Search and find trapped victims

•Rescue and dig victims out

•Technical and structural specialists make rescues safe for the rescuers

•Medical care for victims before and after a rescue

9/11-The Other HeroesOperations ran 27 daysDogs worked an average of 7-10 daysNo fatalities among team members or dogsVMAT provided medical care and treatment of injured and abandoned animals

Study of Search and Rescue Dogs

U. of Penn is doing a 3 year study of S&R effects on over 200 rescue dogs and handlers involved in WTC and Pentagon 9/11 rescue effortsLooking at: cancer incidence, infection, toxic injury, lung disease, and psychological effects

Study of Search andRescue Dogs

Dogs were exposed to environmental toxins such as asbestos, diesel fuel, PCBs.Looking for early alert for possible human ailments in the next 10-20 years.Also seek to improve safety, health, and working conditions of the dogs.Monitor to improve all emergency preparedness programs.

Leader Dogs for the Blind

Dogs are in high demand, also need great care and attentionThey are trained using voice and voice inflection, hand gestures, and body movementsPerson must be responsible, over 18 years of age, have motor skills and the ability to navigate

Leader Dogs for the Blind-Rochester, MI

Only LD facility in MI

Students come from all over the world

Two full time veterinarians care for all of the dogs in the program (200+)

Rochester Facility

Training process: Five months of intensive training and one month with the studentBirth to 7 weeks7-8 weeks of age15 months20 months

Rochester LD

Common Problems: Eyes/ears/teeth Anxiety Musculoskeletal

Breeds used Breeding stock

German Shepards Retrievers Yellow/Black Labs

Others

Police K9 Units

Track suspects or lost persons

Make apprehensions

Locate evidence

Search buildings

Locate explosives and narcotics

Asssist in armed robberies

MSU Police K9 Unit

Began in 1984

Use German Shepards and Belgian Malinois

Dogs are brought in from Europe

Once they arrive at MSU they receive a full PE at the CVM

Trained as “dual purpose” dogs

MSU Police K9 UnitInjuries: Heat exhaustion Pad damage Training injuries Gunshots Exposure to narcotics

Case Study

2 separate cases, within a day of each otherRosco, German Shepard, M, 60lbs, 1 yr. oldAdmitted 11/05/02: possible cocaine ingestionPE: slightly dilated pupils, TPR, MM normal, no signs of intoxicationDx: Urine Tox Screen+ for cocaine, Abdominal RadiographsTx: Pre-emptive tx with chlorpromazine GI decontamination with charcoal and a catharticFollow up

Case StudyThe second case is Spartan, also a German Shepard, 4 yrs. old, M History: Was out training, discovered a bag of heroine and bit into the bagImmediately treated with NaloxonePE: low HR, depressed, red conjunctivaDx: Urine tox screenno heroine foundTx: Cyclosporin for a pre-existing conjunctivitis, monitored overnight and released

Special Thanks

Erin Spitzer, CVM Class of 2004

Sergeant Merony

Kay Rice- GLSAR

Suzanne Ramos- GLSAR

ReferencesDogs at ground zero, Pentagon to be studied www.avma.org/onlnews/javma/mar02/s031502d.aspAVMA Public Information—Veterinarians Deployed to Assist inn Rescue and Recovery www.avma.org/press/pivmat9-01.aspFEMA: Urban Search and Rescue 9/11 Fact Sheet www.fema.gov/about/media9_11.shtmPenn News: Study Tracks Helath of Rescue Dogs and Handlers www.upenn.edu/pennnews/releases/2002/Q1/wtcstudy.htmlLeader Dogs for the Blind-About Leader Dogs

www.leaderdog.org/aboutlead.html

ReferencesCanine Good Citizen Program, AKC www.akc.org/love/cgc/testprocedures.cfm

Veterinary Pathologists Help Keep Animals, Humans Healthy

www.defenselink.mil/news/Nov1999

Partners For Life: A Service Dogs Tales Related Statistics www.ag.arizona.edu/agdiv/servicedog/stats.html

Service Dogs www.k9web.com/dog-faqs/service.html

Thank You!