EmilyB

I've only done some preliminary research with PALS in our city. It is something I am sure Sydney would be able to do, and excel at, however I doubt I could with my back condition.

I haven't asked them yet if they have volunteers willing to work but needing a dog.

Do you think this could be a feasable idea?

Sinister

Would you let a younger person handle her? I know kids like to do it but don't have a dog that meets qualifications.

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EmilyB

Hmm, certainly.

Nynaeve

Do you have a relative (sibling, child, cousin, niece/nephew) that is a dog lover that could work with her?

EmilyB

I only have one relative, who shares my love for the dogs, my youngest daughter, and she would do it in an instant if she didn't live so far away......

Cathy43

I wouldn't let anyone else do anything with my dog without my direct supervision.

Darkevs

3 of my dobes went through the program in my town..........2 were 6 months old and 1 was a (returned) adult female.

I know the /trainer/supervisor/kennel owner, very well. She loves the breed like i do.

She trained and handled the adult female, which i ended up giving to her.

2 of the students (18+ years of age) in training for the program handled the 2 pups.

when the girl who worked with the female pup graduated from the program. I gave her the pup.

the young male did not complete the program, he just was not cut out for being an assistant dog of any kind, he was very obedient, but just did not enjoy the work.

he came home to me and I placed him about 6 months later.

It would be well worth it for anyone interested to check into the idea more.

http://www.peopleanimalslove.org/about.php

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Thanks for making this signature for me Amelia!

EmilyB

Pretty much what my husband said when presented with the idea....but it was more like are you 'effing crazy?

They said no anyway, that it seldom works because the dog is too stressed and that does make sense to me. Even though Syd would just blink an extra time or two...

I haven't totally dismissed the thought of trying to do it myself yet. As long as I don't have to stand for too long I'm pretty good.

They do have to be good with cats and that is something I don't know about her yet.

Thanks all!

dglvr

I think if the dog was given a chance to bond with the handler outside of a therapy situation and you were certain the dog would obey the handler, everyone could benefit.

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EmilyB

Well I put in the volunteer app for me and my Syd (singing "Me and my Arrow"). We'll see what happens. Looking forward to the cat test.......

EmilyB

I took Syd in and got her a rabies shot today, and gave the vet the form to fill out for the application. She asked me what I was feeding her and I told her.

She wrote on the application that I was feeding raw and that the dog would be shedding salmonella virus.

So I guess that is that. Never occurred to me.

GingerGunlock

Well...that just made me say some words that we're not allowed to type on the forum.

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Nynaeve

Oh no. That stinks.

EmilyB

This isn't over yet.

I figured I would take her off raw if necessary at least for a while to try this out. So I sent a new form off to my usual vet explaining that to him, of course this form was intercepted by Ms. Knowitall, who called me telling me that she was contacting a specialist about this and that I would have to have my dog fecal tested yada, yada, yada.

I kind of lost it and contacted PALS who simply told me not to feed raw chicken 24 hours prior to a visit. Ms. Knowitall didn't like this news, and told me her specialist said it would take 90 days to get the salmonella out of the system.

Anyhoo, we're going for the cat test etc. middle of March so wish us luck....