fetchmin, Author at FETCH a Cure

A Chance to Make a Difference…

December 2, 2014 5:23 pm Comments Off

A few weeks ago, one of our trainers sent me a review of an article that one of our inmate handlers wrote. Bennett May has been an inmate handler in our program for four years and as this review shows, he has been changed by Pen Pals for the better and has worked hard to make sure all of the dogs in his care succeed. Our handlers are trained in the beginning of their tenure, sure, but they also work to continue their education when it comes to dog behavior and training. Mr. May wrote a review of an article he read and related it to his situation as a Pen Pals handler. I hope you enjoy reading this as much as I did!

–Sarah Hornberger, Pen Pals Coordinator

An Overview and Personal Insight of the Article “Testing the Tests” by Jessica Hekman, DVM, MS

By Bennett May, Pen Pals Handler at Lunenburg Correctional Center

This article discusses how to discover a dog’s true behavior. Most shelters have no information about the dog’s behavior in a home environment or any other environment. A lot of pressure is placed on shelter staff to properly assess a dog before allowing it to be adopted, and sometimes due to being understaffed with limited time the dog may be labeled as aggressive because the dog may SEEM aggressive. These dogs are in an extremely stressful environment for extended periods of time; as she states “this may sound like a finicky point, but a dog’s reaction to any sort of stimulus can be exquisitely responsive to the situation he’s in.”

There is a downside to improperly misdiagnosing a dog’s overall state. If deemed aggressive, this dog’s chance of being adopted decrease and the dog’s chance of being euthanized increase. We can’t expect for shelters to always get it right. Oftentimes these generous people who love dogs and volunteer their time don’t have the training to properly assess a dog, and not to mention not having the benefit of assessing a dog in a normal setting.

I’ve been involved in the prison’s Pen Pals program for four years now and I have observed [hundreds] of dogs for [thousands] of hours in hopes of finding a way to help them through their issues. I’ve found just as people are all different, no dog is exactly like another, and what works for one doesn’t work for the other. So many in the dog world suggest dogs don’t have feelings. In my humble opinion they are wrong.

I’ve brought feral dogs in here who urinate and defecate on me because they were so scared. They growled every time someone got close to them, and prison staff judged them saying “sometimes you’ve just got to let them go”. Never did they take time to put themselves in a dog’s position. How would you like to be dropped off in a foreign country unable to speak the language? I knew that’s how one dog in particular, Izzy, felt because twenty years ago I was in her position when I started my prison term.

Just like Izzy, I was labeled and judged, but I was given compassion, love, structure and a chance to change myself for the better. She had committed no crime and I was determined to give her a chance. I spent [thousands] of training hours with Izzy and went at her pace. Not once did she judge me; quite the opposite as she began to trust me and that led me to being able to help her.

After two and a half years, Izzy’s adopters sent an update. She loves dogs, people and they couldn’t be happier with her. Izzy probably wouldn’t remember me now, but I’ll never forget her. She gave me love, peace, compassion, understanding, patience, and a chance to make a difference.

This program is for the dogs, but we as handlers benefit and learn more from the dogs we train. I’ve seen very few dogs returned after being adopted from this program. We have time to assess a dog’s behavioral issues and begin to work on a plan to fix these problems. We’re also afforded the opportunity to help potential adopters understand now to continue protocols set in place so the dog doesn’t resort to negative behaviors.

I’ve yet to see one offender who completed this program return to prison after being released. Not to say that one day they won’t find themselves back in this situation, just as a dog may end up back here or in the shelter.

As crazy as it sounds, shelters are set up just like prison; noisy, unruly, and chaotic at times. Just as the author stated “a dog’s reaction to any sort of stimulus can be exquisitely responsive to the situations he or she is in.” Could that not also be said about humans?

It’s easy to judge a dog or a human for the worst thing he/she has ever done. It’s harder to get to know a person or dog and help them change.

Meet FETCH a Cure’s Companions in Crisis…

November 25, 2014 6:21 pm Comments Off

The Companions in Crisis fund provides financial assistance to families unable to bear the cost of the life-saving treatments for their pets that have been diagnosed with cancer. This program strives to provide pet owners with a sense of hope when facing a cancer diagnosis.

Whether it’s two months or two years, the additional time to spend with one of your best friends is something to be treasured. FETCH a Cure hopes to give you the gift of time with your beloved pet.

Raisin, Age 10

Diagnosis: Adenocarcinoma

Treatment Plan: Surgery & Chemotherapy

Raisin is a 11 year old female mixed breed. She loves swimming and playing in the water. Raisin was diagnosed in March of 2014 with anal gland adenocarcinoma. She had surgery to have the tumor removed. She is currently receiving chemotherapy and is doing well. FETCH a Cure was able to provide financial assistance for Raisin’s surgery and her chemotherapy.

joey

Joey, Age 11

Diagnosis: Thyroid Carcinoma

Treatment Plan: Surgery & Chemotherapy

Joey is an eleven-year old beagle with thyroid carcinoma. His owner, Sonja, said that his obsession with food led to the discovery of the thyroid mass, as she had to take him to the vet after he devoured a leather boot! Joey had surgery to remove the mass and now he is being treated with chemotherapy with help from FETCH a Cure.

belle

Belle, Age 3

Diagnosis: Lymphoma

Treatment Plan: Chemotherapy

Belle is only three years old. She is a mixed breed and has one brown eye and one blue eye. She was recently diagnosed with lymphoma. She is being treated with injectable chemotherapy and her prognosis is great. Her owner, Frank, came to FETCH a Cure for financial assistance with Belle’s treatment. He calls her his best friend and is willing to whatever it takes in order to spend as much time with her as possible.

Ralph Hoody

Ralph, Age 7

Diagnosis: Lymphoma

Treatment Plan: Chemotherapy

Ralph is a seven-year old beagle mix with lymphoma. Ralph was adopted by Dennis and Olivia after he spent the first four and a half years of his life chained up outside with about 40 other dogs. Dennis and Olivia were determined to give Ralph as much time as possible with treatment since he has brought them so much love and joy. FETCH a Cure was so happy to be able to help and Ralph is feeling great.

You can help give pets like these more time with their families, please visit www.fetchacure.org/donate to support the Companions in Crisis program!

Erase Your Pet’s Pain with Laser Therapy

November 17, 2014 5:27 pm Comments Off

by Dr. Courtney Belden, Central Virginia Veterinary & Acupuncture

Cold-laser therapy. It may sound a little quirky, but the science behind it is actually not much different from the laser pointer pens. For veterinarians, the laser utilizes light energy to stimulate cells, which leads to:

Increased healing
Improved circulation
Local pain relief
Decreased inflammation

The wide range of applications for laser therapy are growing and are still new to most. The treatment process is safe, non-invasive and can be used in conjunction with most other treatments and medications.

Laser therapy is most commonly used for arthritis, soft tissue injury, post-operative healing, wound management and many more acute and chronic conditions. It can even be used for acupuncture by replacing the traditional needles with the light energy from the laser.

Laser therapy is used in cancer patients to provide palliative care. Because laser therapy is such a great pain reliever and is non-invasive, it can be very useful in cases where all other options have been exhausted and palliative care is needed. This type of treatment should only be used with the express consent of the treating veterinarian as the effects on cancer cells have not yet been determined.

Please be sure to discuss any and all treatments with your veterinarian.

November is Pet Cancer Awareness Month!

For the month of November, FETCH a Cure has partnered with local retailers, restaurants and businesses to help raise funds and awareness for pet cancer! We will keep you up to date on events, ways to help, support group and information sharing and updates on Companions in Crisis pets who are undergoing treatment. Visit http://fetchacure.org/event/spots-pet-cancer-awareness-month/ for more information and how you can get involved and help raise awareness and funds for pet cancer.

Melanoma in dogs

November 15, 2014 8:46 pm Comments Off

Did you know that dogs can get melanomas just like people? Cats can as well, but it is less common. Dogs usually get them in their mouths, and sometimes on their toes. It is unknown what causes these growths. The growth needs to be completely removed and often, dogs are treated with a melanoma vaccine. This is not traditional chemotherapy and is usually tolerated very well by dogs.

This lovely lady is Libby a nine-year old Labrador Retriever. She is very loved by her family, but she hasn’t always been the easiest dog to care for. Her owner Tameka writes, “she has chewed the paint off walls, put holes in all my socks, torn apart more than one toy, had worms come out her butt, pooped on the living room floor and on the floor on the last day of obedience class, and yes, once she tried to eat a frog…She is our Libby, our Liberty Bell, Libby Bell, Smelly Belly, Bella, Bells, Yibby, and a million other names she’s probably ashamed we call her. And we love her with every bit of our hearts.”

Tameka took Libby to the veterinarian in April of 2013 for a routine dental cleaning. She was devastated when the vet found a mass on her tongue and diagnosed Libby as having a lingual melanoma. Tameka reached out to FETCH a Cure for help. FETCH a Cure was able to provide financial assistance for surgery to remove the tumor and follow-up treatment with a melanoma vaccine. We are thrilled to report that Libby remains cancer-free and is doing great! Go, Libby!

Alternative Medicine Can Make A Difference

November 10, 2014 3:58 pm Comments Off

by Dr. Tracy Lord, Four Paws Holistic Care

Classically, alternative medicine has been used in cancer patients to help buffer side effects from chemotherapy and radiation as well as to help with pain control. Acupuncture and herbs can, without question, be very effective to promote appetite, decrease nausea, stimulate the immune system and even promote heart function; making them a great asset to any chemotherapy or radiation patient. Further, acupuncture can be a very effective means of pain control whether the pain results from cancer or is due to an unrelated condition such as arthritis. This is especially significant as chemotherapy protocols often prevent conventional pain medications from being used.

In addition to its supportive role, alternative medicine can be used to directly treat cancer. Recent studies and clinical trials have definitively shown that herbs and supplements are more than palliative. They act directly against tumor cells, often to great effect, working by inhibiting pathways that tumors rely on to escape detection and eradication by the immune system. By slowing cell division in some cases and disrupting a tumor’s blood supply in others, herbs and supplements are able to make a real difference in an animal’s prognosis.

Both the tumor and the patient’s constitution help a practitioner choose the most effective treatment for each patient. Single herbs or supplements as therapy are generally not strong enough, but by using combinations and optimizing diet, it is expected to see naturopathic oncology patients live with great energy and vitality. The use of alternative modalities changes the way the body responds, not only to the tumor, but to all of its stressors, improving quality of life and in most cases quantity of life as well.