US Army veteran meets service dog at Three Dog Bakery

A US Army veteran and his service dog met for the first time at Three Dog Bakery’s store in Kansas City, Missouri, USA, on February 13.

Taz, a two-year-old Austrian Shepherd, was trained to provide US Army veteran Brandon Garrison with daily assistance and companionship.
Garrison, 28, was an automatic logistical specialist with the Army’s 3rd Brigade, 10th Mountain Division, and was deployed to Afghanistan between 2006 and 2007. During that time, he suffered a traumatic brain injury (TBI), significant hearing loss and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
“I met Paul Chapa, the founder of FISH (Food Industry Serving Heroes) and we started talking about what FISH does for returning veterans,” Garrison said. “Then I was surprised to hear from Paul that I would be the recipient of the Three Dog Bakery Veterans Day promotion. And it’s happening just before my 29th birthday, so it’s a nice early birthday gift.”
Three Dog Bakery’s 2014 Veterans Day promotion raised US$5,000 via a percentage of its November 11, 2014, sales from its growing global bakery franchise network, grocery, mass and pet specialty retail outlets and threedog.com. In December, Three Dog Bakery presented a check to FISH that paid for training two service dogs. Garrison is the first recipient of the donation, which was designed to make a difference in the lives of returning military personnel who benefit from the highly specialized service dogs. He will receive a one-year supply of Three Dog Bakery food and treats as well.
Veterans face myriad challenges that can be aided with the use of a service dog, from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) to immobility. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports the US has 1.6 million veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts, 21% of whom suffer a service-connected disability. Service dogs perform a multitude of tasks to help veterans find a new level of independence in their post-combat life. People paired with service dogs show significant improvements psychologically, socially – even economically.
Garrison says Taz will be a valuable addition in his life. While receiving support for his wartime injuries, Garrison is coping with his father’s terminal illness. His own children live in another state, so Garrison says the companionship of a service dog is extremely important to him. And because of his injuries, he also suffers from vertigo and uses a cane. Having Taz to help with his balance and retrieve items for him is another plus.
Service dogs are in high demand, with wait times up to three years. Training begins when the dogs are young. These highly trained canines work on average eight to 10 years before they retire.
According to Chapa, Taz has been trained to respond to certain commands, in English and German, due to her breed.
“This is a highly intelligent and full-service dog. She will be able to go everywhere with Brandon, from restaurants to airplanes,” Chapa says. “Brandon is just one of thousands of returning veterans who deserve this type of support.”

Trouw Nutrition donates to K9s for Warriors

Each year, Trouw Nutrition USA aims to give back to companion animals. For its 2014 donation, Trouw has send a cash donation on behalf of its customers to support K9s For Warriors, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and national member of the Combined Federal Campaign (CFC), which provides service dogs to warriors/veterans that suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or traumatic brain injury post 9/11.
The three-week program that K9s For Warriors offers is at no cost to the warrior. The program takes place at their Florida location and is designed for the warriors to come and meet their new companion and to begin training together. The service dog trains to help the veteran recover from conditions such as PTSD and traumatic brain injury. The program involves not only the veterans and their new service dog, but there are also highly skilled, certified dog handlers and trainers that are available throughout the entire training program.
"Each year, we look forward to the holiday season," says Trouw. "Teaming up with K9s For Warriors shows our commitment to the pet industry. As we take time this holiday season to remember our working K9’s, we also would like to take a moment to reflect back on all the individuals that are in need of service dogs. From all of us at Trouw Nutrition, we hope that you can enjoy the holidays with your family and friends and reflect on the blessings we have been given."

America's VetDogs working to change US military veterans' lives

Service dogs like Benjamin from America's VetDogs change the lives of US military veterans.
Proper nutrition and feeding a quality petfood are especially important for dogs that act as service and guide dogs, said Wells Jones, CEO of the Guide Dog Foundation for the Blind and America's VetDogs, which train dogs to serve US military veterans and blind people. Speaking as the closing keynote for Petfood Forum 2014 on April 2, Jones discussed how his organization selects, breeds, trains and feeds its dogs that are matched with veterans like Joseph Worley, who served in Iraq as a Navy corpsman and also spoke.

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America's VetDogs, founded in 2003, trains dogs to assist veterans of all eras and active military personnel with tasks such as standing up, walking, opening and closing doors, retrieving objects, barking for alert and much more. Jones said America's VetDogs also now partners with petfood company Bil-Jac to offer a line of dog treats whose sales support veterans. The organization is a part of the Guide Dog Foundation for the Blind, which was originally established in 1946 to assist veterans who lost their vision in World War II.
The foundation has its own breeding program for the service puppies in both programs, with some of the dogs being descendants from dogs first bred in the 1960s. Jones explained that the foundation relies on volunteers and prisons to raise the puppies and teach them basic obedience at 7-8 weeks of age for about a year, at which time the dogs return to the foundation's program for formal service dog training. In order to enter the service dog program, dogs must pass a multi-level skills test, including retrieving of metal, wood, plastic and cloth, and a public access test. Dogs are primarily labrador retrievers and golden retrievers, as well as standard poodles, german shepherds, and a labrador retriever and golden retriever mix, he said.  
After a dog has completed its service dog training, it is carefully matched with a student. Jones referred to these service dogs as a "designer dog," meaning that the foundation works to understand exactly what a person needs in the dog, and then a service dog is selected to meet their precise needs, taking into account capability, lifestyle and pace. 
Once a student is matched with the right service dog, the student usually comes to the foundation's campus in New York, USA, to complete a training program that takes 12 days. Jones explained that the foundation's campus includes a student residence hall with 17 private rooms where students stay during their training, a training center equipped with kennels and training space, and a veterinary center.  

Service dogs change lives
Following Wells, US veteran Joseph Worley spoke with his service dog, Benjamin, about the dramatic impact on one's life that these service dogs make. 
Worley joined the Navy in 2002, and he lost his left leg in Fallujah, Iraq, in 2004. Worley explained that he was working as a medic and was running toward a vehicle that had been hit by an IED, when he was also hit by an IED. 
Two years after putting in an application for a service dog from America's VetDogs, Worley received Benjamin in October 2008. Worley said that after he returned from Iraq, his family gathered around to support him. "Despite that support system, when Benjamin entered my life, he became an integral and vital part of that," Worley said. 
Worley explained that Benjamin not only helps him physically by helping him brace to stand up, stabilize him when walking, retrieve objects and more, but he also added, "Benjamin gives me confidence." 
"These animals can save people's lives and change people's lives," said Worley. 

Purina ONE, GOOD name winner of Hero Pets challenge

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Wally, a Retriver, was voted as winner of the Hero Pets challenge.
Purina ONE and GOOD named the winner of the Hero Pets GOOD Maker challenge, which celebrated the amazing impact pets can make in a person's life. Kathy Howard and her Retriever, Wally, were selected among 15 finalists by the GOOD community.

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Howard and her dog won coupons for a year's supply of Purina ONE dog food and a donation of US$5,000 will be made to Support Dogs Inc.
Wally graduated from the Touch Therapy program at Support Dogs in 2007. For the past six years, the dog has been a comforting pal at a local high school and hospital. Every two weeks during the school year, Wally visits Northview, a special education high school just outside St. Louis, Missouri, USA. When not visiting with the high school students, Wally spends time with Howard at Children's Hospital in St. Louis, visiting with children in the oncology unit.
"I am a nurse and have always believed in the power of animal therapy," says Howard. Another motivating reason for Howard to train Wally to become a therapy dog came from her mother's battle with Alzheimer's. "She could not remember my name, but she would speak fondly of the cats and dogs that the pet lady brought to her nursing home."

Iams airing new commercial featuring therapy dog contest winner

Iams petfood brand is airing a new commercial in the US that features a story selected as the winner of the "Love Tails" contest. The commercial has been edited down from a long-form video on Facebook to a 30-second ad featuring the story of dog, Brooks, and owner Derek Underwood of Augusta, Georgia, USA. 
Brooks is a trained therapy dog who visits assisted-living homes. The commercial featuring Brooks' story will air on major US networks including CBS and NBC. 
Along with the new commercial, Iams is launching a Twitter campaign in which one bowl of petfood will be donated to pets in need for each use of #KeepLoveStrong hashtag, up to 10,000 bowls, through September 30. 
The "Love Tails" campaign ran from February 13-March 3 and received more than 500 entries from dog and cat owners. The campaign celebrated the love between people and their pets.

Iams selects therapy dog as Love Tails contest winner

Petfood maker Iams selected a therapy dog from Augusta, Georgia, USA, as the grand-prize winner of the Love Tails contest. Brooks, a 2-year-old Golden Retriever, is a trained therapy dog who visits local assisted living facilities with owner, Derek Underwood.
The Love Tails contest received story submissions from more than 500 pet owners from February 14-March 3. Of these, 11 finalists were selected to have their stories presented in videos on Iams' Facebook page, where fans voted for the winner. A national ad campaign for Iams will feature Underwood and Brooks. 
To create his winning video entry, Underwood, a local filmmaker, teamed up with another local filmmaker, Hodges Usry, in an effort to show the genuine reactions of people who encountered the therapy dog for the first time. Underwood worked with a local facility, Morningside Assisted Living, which Brooks had never visited before, to film the dog's interactions with residents. 
"My mother decided to get her certified (as a therapy dog) so we could volunteer with her," Underwood said. "It's always a really positive experience whenever you're visiting. You see the way they light up," he said.

US Paralympian thanks petfood industry during Petfood Forum 2013 keynote

Assistance dogs trained by C.H.A.M.P., including Twix, help their disabled owners perform many daily tasks.

U.S. Paralympic medalist Kerri Morgan gave the keynote address at Petfood Forum 2013 on Tuesday, April 16, thanking the petfood industry for making safe, quality foods for service dog, Twix.
Morgan, a winner of two bronze medals at the 2012 London Paralympics, acquired her service dog Twix, a black Labrador Retriever, from C.H.A.M.P. Assistance Dogs Inc. C.H.A.M.P., Canine Helpers Allow More Possibilities, is a St. Louis, Missouri, USA-based nonprofit organization that trains and places service dogs for people with disabilities, at no cost. 
Morgan, who was born with a disease that left her disabled since age 1, explained that although she was independent before getting Twix, her support dog helps her perform tasks much quicker than she could, saves Morgan’s energy and helps decrease her pain. Morgan received Twix after the dog underwent two years of specialized training to become a support dog. Twix is trained to perform a variety of tasks to aid Morgan in everyday life, from holding her lunchbox and picking up shoes, to retrieving her dropped keys and holding open doors. Morgan and Twix even demonstrated a “Go 911” command, where Twix is trained to fetch a special 911 phone and bring it to Morgan in the case of an accident. 




Morgan and Twix demonstrated their "Go 911" command during her keynote speech at Petfood Forum 2013.

She noted the importance of creating safe, nutritious petfood not only for companion animals, but also for service animals, whose owners rely on the dogs daily. 

Petfood Forum to feature assistance and therapy dogs

One of CHAMP's initiatives is an innovative program where women in a Missouri correctional facility learn how to train therapy and rescue dogs.

Petfood Forum 2013 will feature dogs from CHAMP Assistance Dogs, an organization in St. Louis, Missouri, USA, that trains and provides assistance and therapy dogs for people in need. The dogs will appear on Tuesday, April 16, after the conference opens with a keynote address by Kerri Morgan, a Paralympian and winner of two bronze medals at the London 2012 games. Morgan will be accompanied by Twix, her public access dog provided by CHAMP.
CHAMP stands for Canine Helpers Allow More Possibilities, and the organization's mission and initiatives support that name. Its programs include:


• Service dogs—dogs trained to provide home service, home therapy assistance, public access assistance or to support in facilities. These service dogs are provided free of charge to people who need them.
• The CHAMP program—the organization works with inmates at the Women's Eastern Reception Diagnostic and Correctional Center in Vandalia, Missouri, USA, to help them learn how to train therapy and rescue dogs. The program, the first of its kind in Missouri, also helps the offenders-trainers learn positive interaction, job-related and social skills while giving back to the community.
• Therapy dog teams—a CHAMP-trained dog and its human partner visit healthcare facilities to provide animal-assisted therapy or animal-assisted activities.
• Education program—visits to schools and adult community groups educate the public about types of disabilities, their impact on people affected and how service dogs can help mitigate the effects of living with a disability.

Participants in Petfood Forum, which runs April 15-17 at the Renaissance Schaumburg Convention Center Hotel, can interact with the CHAMP dogs and donate to their programs if they wish. Savings on registration to Petfood Forum 2013 are available through February 1.

Eukanuba donates to Canine Companions for Independence

Pet food brand Eukanuba recently donated to Canine Companions for Independence at its national graduation ceremony, in which the group graduated its 4,000th assistance dog team.
At the graduation ceremony, Eukanuba presented a check to Canine Companions for US$100,000 to sponsor a litter of puppies, called the "E-Litter," and build awareness for the need of volunteer puppy raisers. The puppies, once graduated as Canine Companions, go to people with disabilities to help them live independently.
“We are very thankful for our partnership with Eukanuba and are always looking for creative ways to increase our volunteer base of puppy raisers to help with our mission,” said Jeanine Konopelski, marketing director for Canine Companions for Independence. “Eukanuba’s E-Litter has become very popular with our existing supporters and has helped us gain first time donations from new fans."
As the "E-Litter" of puppies lives with their puppy raisers, the Eukanuba and Canine Companions' Facebook pages will feature video, pictures and updates so Facebook fans can follow the dogs. 

Trouw Nutrition USA donates to animal service groups

Lesley Gerard of Trouw Nutrition visits with Magnum (left) and Twister (right), both trained by C.H.A.M.P.

Trouw Nutrition USA hosted its Companion Animal Summit, an educational seminar for current and potential customers, September 26-28, in Colorado Springs, Colorado, USA. As part of the event, Trouw selected two animal service groups to receive a cash donation on behalf of its customers.
C.H.A.M.P. Assistance Dogs Inc. and Hospice of Southern Illinois (Magnum) were selected as the recipients of the donations by Trouw’s marketing project coordinator and graphic design specialist, Lesley Gerard, and director of marketing, Mike Hooper. Along with the cash donations, the groups received pet travel kits and dog bandanas with the "Who Rescued Who?" logo. The “Who Rescued Who?” logo was also developed by Gerard, who says it all ties back to the C.H.A.M.P. mission of pets helping people. “In most cases people think about people helping pets, but in many regards it’s reversed,” she said.
C.H.A.M.P. (Canine Helpers Allow More Possibilities) focuses its time and efforts in training dogs in the areas of therapy, prision programs, education and service dogs. Along with the donation to C.H.A.M.P., Trouw also chose to support one of C.H.A.M.P.'s own therapy dogs, Magnum, who now aids and acts as a therapy dog for the residents at Hospice of Southern Illinois Relais Bonne Eau. Magnum received a cash donation along with his own pet travel kit.
Following the Summit, Trouw invited C.H.A.M.P. and Magnum to its corporate office in Highland, Illinois, USA, so that Trouw’s employees could better understand what the organizations were about. Twister, a service dog in training from C.H.A.M.P., and Magnum went around the office and showed off some of the specialized commands they are trained to perform, such as to kiss on command, retrieve a 911 phone, remove socks and even pick up laundry.
“The really neat thing about C.H.A.M.P. is that C.H.A.M.P. places a small number of dogs per year by choice, they choose to do it that way so they can remain active in each and every home,” Gerard said. She said the organization follows up with the service dog’s owner to be sure their needs haven’t changed from the previous year. If needed, they assist in re-training the dog as the new obstacles arrive.
Trouw Nutrition USA says it looks forward to future donation opportunities in the pet industry.