Why Don't We Teach Shelter Dogs to Work?

I was recently at the dermatologist to get my yearly mole check since I had melanoma removed 4 years ago...While waiting, I picked up a Newsweek magazine which had a short article called, "Are Dogs Stealing Our Jobs?"  It was a brief article mentioning a Beauceron who was recently at Westminster Kennel Club's Dog Show who sniffs out gluten in food for those with Celiac disease and that canines are increasingly being used to do jobs that don't come as naturally to us humans.  The article mentions several breeds and their specialties, from Jack Russell Terriers who detect bedbugs to Labs that can detect cancers like colorectal cancer.  


You can read the full article here:
http://www.newsweek.com/2011/02/13/are-dogs-stealing-our-jobs.html
and it really got me thinking...


I have seen many, many shows about dogs on television and some of the stories are amazing.  Years ago, I saw one that highlighted a woman whose dog kept nipping at the back of her thigh.  It turned out that she had skin cancer and because this wasn't normal behavior for her dog, she found the spot and got checked out.  She says her dog saved her life.  Studies show that dogs can detect cancer, roadside bombs, drugs, and of course, they can help find missing people.


While humans are more visual, dogs lead with their noses.  According to Wikipedia, "Dogs can discriminate odors at concentrations nearly 100 million times lower than humans can.<sup>[110]"  I recently saw a show that showed scientists who have built and are working on a machine that works like a dog's nose to detect things like cancer, drugs, etc...For all the trouble they've gone through and with the machine taking up an entire room, I thought, "why not just train more dogs for things like this?"


I have a friend who is the President of her area Humane Society and they have a program, as many shelters do, which pairs dogs with inmates to train dogs.  In some instances, the inmates are training dogs to be service dogs.  With all the unwanted pets we have in this country alone, why not create a non-profit to teach dogs to use their natural abilities to help us and give the dogs work to do and a good life?


If you know about a group that is already doing this, please let me know.  Otherwise, we should suggest this to Oprah since she has a passion for dogs and the pocketbook to fund something like this!  ;)</sup>

Japanese Disaster Shows Emotional Intelligence of Dogs

I'm sure by now you've heard the story of the Japanese dog who stood guard at the side of his fallen friend...another dog.  I am not a scientist, but I am extremely passionate about dogs and have spent years learning about them and I feel this recent story proves that dogs are quite intelligent beings.  If you're a dog lover like me, you probably already believe this to be true as there are other stories like this one...

• Greyfriars Bobby, a Skye terrier, who visited his owner's grave for years until his own death.
• Stubby aka Sgt. Stubby, a Pit Bull terrier, was America's first decorated War Dog having saved his regimen from a mustard gas attack in World War I
• Hachiko, an Akita, remained so loyal to his owner for years after his death would wait for his owner at the train station where they routinely greeted each other daily before the owner's death

I have a friend whose husband recently passed away at home after a long illness and the dog, a Jack Russell terrier, was so distraught that upon his owner's death, he went into his crate and cried for hours.  I'm sure there are countless stories like this across the world.  I know my dogs grin a lot, cuddle when they feel like it and have real emotions.  They are amazing creatures and I think they are often underestimated.

Please feel free to share your favorite story like this with us, whether famous or personal.

DV2BESZCDAEX

The Lesson I Learned from a German Shepherd Dog Named Molly

My sister and I with our first dog.


To say that I am a dog lover is an understatement.  As long as I can remember, I have been in love with dogs.  I was really shy and timid growing up, but I always felt comfortable around dogs.  Dogs don't judge, they give back what you give them, and they give unconditional love.  I was always excited to meet a new dog, but that may not have been the case if I didn't have neighbors like Mrs. V and her dog, Molly.

On my route to the school bus stop, there was a German Shepherd Dog named Molly.  I was in Elementary school and Molly must have only been a year or two old because I remember her being around for a very long time.  To get to the bus stop, I had to go through Molly's side yard and when Molly saw us, she would run up and down along the chain link fence and bark.  One day, my friend told me that Molly had jumped over the fence and attacked her, scratching her arms.  This scared me...a lot.  While I loved dogs, the largest dog we had was our basset hound, Mamie - not a high energy dog!  So, this story about Molly scared me enough to start taking the "long way" home.  I really don't know how long I took the "long way", but that route was streets only, no yards with large, barking dogs.  I do recall some of the older girls whispering and giggling at me, but I continued to take the "long way" because I was now scared of Molly.

One afternoon, Molly's owner waited for me to get off the bus.  This was back in the day when it was safe enough to get off the bus and walk home without worry.  Mrs. V asked me why I didn't go through her yard anymore, so I told her the story my friend told me.  Mrs. V told me that the story was not true, that the girls were playing a trick on me.  She then invited me to meet Molly.  I would say this was a very pivotal point in my life.

Mrs. V went and got Molly so I could meet her.  She had me hold out my hand so Molly could "meet me".  Mrs. V told me to pet Molly on her chest as that made Molly feel safe.  Molly was so sweet and gentle and I had a new friend!  From that day on, every day when I got off the bus, I would spend some time with Molly; talking to her and petting her.  Every day I looked forward to getting off the bus and hanging out with Molly before heading home.

It seems Molly was around forever.  I don't remember when it happened, but I remember not seeing Molly for a couple of days and then Mrs. V telling me that Molly had passed away.  Molly and I kind of grew up together.  Obviously, I was really sad and I'm even getting tears in my eyes as I write this.  While it makes me sad to think about it now, it also makes me very happy to have had that experience and to have known Molly.  Molly and her owner educated a young girl on dogs and dog behavior and I am so fortunate to have had that lesson.  Even though Molly died many, many years ago, her legacy lives on with me.

I'm sure if Mrs. V read this story today, she would be surprised that I remember it and how much it impacted me.  Mrs. V taught me a very special lesson about dogs and if she hadn't, it's possible that I might have always been fearful of large dogs which would have been such a tragedy.  Molly, this one's for you!

Do you have a "Molly" story?  If so, please share it with us.