Wish I could go! RT @ServiceDog Dog Olympics, agility, fun... at @SSDOGS #PawsAbilities 2010 in PA this wknd!! http://www.pawsabilities.net 15 hrs ago

Impact


Hounds finding hope…

Sunday, March 1st, 2009

Preston & Laura are proud to support their dear friend, Shelley Mack, and her rescue foundation, HOUNDS OF HOPE!  If you are thinking about welcoming a new four-legged-friend to your family, please adopt responsibly and consider the millions of homeless dogs at your local shelter or rescue group.

Save a life :) you’re truly helping your own!

To meet some of the amazing dogs available through Hounds of Hope:

Visit AdoptAPet.com!

To search for dogs in your area, visit Pet Finder.com!

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All in a dog day’s “work”…

Monday, November 3rd, 2008

For those of you wondering, just what IS a therapy dog?

There’s no simple answer :) but here is a perfect example.

Meet, Boo.

crazy?

Friday, October 31st, 2008

Humans say I’m crazy.

I don’t walk on a leash.  (I can, just prefer not to.) I often eat at the dinner table.  (Food tastes better that way.) I surf.  (Not that I enjoy it, but mom loves the ocean and I’ll do anything for her!) I skateboard.  (Not as well as Tillman, but the b!tches dig it.) I play the piano.  (Terribly!) I paint, amazingly well.  (Just ask my friend, Wendy Diamond ;) I cherish being naked.  And wearing ties.  I don’t “yap” and can’t understand why humans are fascinated by that.  I DO cry.  Often.  And speak.  And growl.  And sneeze, on command.

The only time you’ll find me in a purse, is when I’m sneaking into a restaurant that doesn’t offer outdoor seating.  (Mom wouldn’t dare leave me in the car.) I proudly sneak onto planes, because mom and I can’t justify paying $75 for the “privilege” of being shoved under a seat, while a baby cries the entire flight in their human’s comfty lap, for free, across the row.

I will continue to fight the system, until the airline industry wakes up.  If anyone reading this knows Richard Branson… please, have his people call my people.  If one airline industry CEO only realized… with the amount of dog lovers in the world, they could save their failing companies, if perhaps they offered alternative ways for animals to fly comfortably and safely.  I shouldn’t admit all of the above, since I’m “famous” now… but so what?!  I consider myself a well-balanced man, and the most powerful humans in history challenge the status quo.

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no dogs allowed?!

Thursday, October 30th, 2008

To hear another perspective, check out this article from my friend Laurie of GAD…

By LAURIE WILLIAMS
For the Stafford County Sun

I love the looks on people’s faces when they see my dog Andrew sitting on my lap during an airplane trip. It’s so much fun to watch the double takes and stares we get when he struts down the concourse on our way to the boarding gate.

And there’s nothing like the surprise we get when the hotel elevator door opens and the person inside sees Andrew is the guest patiently waiting to get on!

The truth is, even before his celebrity status, Andrew accompanied my husband and me on many trips, and not only him, but our Dalmatian Tucker and some of my other dogs as well. Like many who show dogs, taking our dogs with us on trips and finding pet friendly accommodations has been par for the course.

We’ve frequently seized the opportunity to take at least one or more of our dogs with us on vacations as well. Why not? They’re part of our family. Why shouldn’t they enjoy time away from home too?

At one point we’d calculated that Tucker had been to 20 of the 50 states. That’s pretty impressive for a dog.

All in all, for me a trip just seems more fun when you have a dog with you.

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Listen to the folks @ TripsWithPets.com

Thursday, October 30th, 2008

Need another reason to get involved with your local therapy dog organization?

If you live in Los Angeles or the DC area, please visit Comfort Paws and join us!

Check out a recent press release from one of my favorite websites, TripsWithPets.com:

(I-Newswire) - South Portland, ME – October 29, 2008 – With the volatility of the current economic situation, many Americans are experiencing great angst and uncertainty.  Newspapers, television, around the water cooler – it seems everywhere they look; Americans are reminded of the economy’s instability.  There seems to be no relief from this stress…or is there?

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What is Animal-Assisted Therapy?

Tuesday, October 28th, 2008

According to The American Humane Association:

What are Animal-Assisted Activities and Animal-Assisted Therapy?

Animal-assisted activities (AAA) provide opportunities for motivational, educational and/or recreational benefits to enhance a person’s quality of life. AAA are delivered by professionals, para-professionals or volunteers who demonstrate knowledge about animals and the human populations with which they interact. As an example of AAA, an individual brings his or her dog to a long-term care facility to visit the residents. Although the staff is involved in the visits, no treatment goals have been set for the visit and, aside from signing in and out, no records are kept.

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Join Preston and the Pawtastics!

Tuesday, October 28th, 2008

THE PAWTASTICS is a not-for-profit volunteer family of happy canines and their humans, comprised of celebrity dogs, studio canines and other exceptionally-trained animals who provide animal-assisted activities (AAA) and animal-assisted therapy (AAT) services to individuals of all ages with social, emotional and cognitive needs in healthcare facilities, social agencies and educational programs in Southern California. (more…)

Who are “The Pawtastics”?!

Sunday, October 26th, 2008

The Pawtastics is a non-profit volunteer family of happy canines and their humans who provide animal-assisted activities (AAA) and animal-assisted therapy (AAT) services to individuals of all ages with social, emotional, and cognitive needs in the Southern California area.  Comprised of celebrity dogs, studio dogs, and exceptionally trained canines and their humans, the Pawtastics aspire to take therapy dog work to another level, with a focus on youth-related initiatives and animal-assisted crisis response. (more…)

Therapy dog dog model - Shaina

Saturday, October 4th, 2008

From the feature documentary, ANIMAL PEOPLE — the humane movement in America: Rachelle Pachtman and her therapy dog Shaina convey the inspirational rewards of animal-assisted therapy. I can’t wait until mom and I get started with THE PAWTASTICS here in Los Angeles!