ONE PUPPY CHANGING THE WORLD FOR ONE HUMAN BEING

Check out what my trainer, Gila from Dog is Good is up to:

So here's what's going on....The BOLO project is a way to raise awareness of the remarkable work dogs do for people every day. Under the auspices of Leader Dogs for the Blind, Dog is Good will raise a future leader dog for its first year. 

Meet Bolo! How PAWsome is she!

Thank you Gila and Dog is Good for sharing this PAWsome photo (photo credits: Dog Is Good)

Dog is Good website says:  "Leveraging social media and high profile sponsorships, the project will publicly inform and showcase what is perhaps the ultimate connection between dogs and humans – providing “sight.” The BOLO Project will last approximately one year – the time from when the puppy (BOLO) is about 8 weeks old until it is ready to begin the actual guide dog training."

So my friends, the Bolo Project is going to be a for a year (let's see how much money we can help raise in this year for my new friend Bolo and all the other dogs becasue..... it will also benefit Leader Dogs for the Blind..  

Please check out Bolo's story, find out how to contribute and support the project here:  http://www.dogisgood.com/TheBoloProject/AboutBolo/

Four PAWS up for Bolo and the Bolo Project!!  Thank you for making a difference!

Come follow me on Facebook and I'll keep you posted on Bolo too! 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheOriginalTeamToby

Freedom Dogs...dogs making a difference!

Beth Russell on PAWsitive Radio.  She is a Registered Nurse and the Founder and Training Director of an organization making a huge difference in the lives of many.... Freedom Dogs.

Photo Credit: FreedomDogs.org

Her nursing career has been spent in the Surgical Intensive Care Unit/ Trauma Unit, Home Care and Nursing Education, Development and Research Department. Beth founded Freedom Dogs in 2006 with the goal of assisting those returning warriors with mobility issues.  It quickly became apparent that there was a much greater need for assistance with the hidden disabilities of PTS and TBI and the focus of the organization then changed.  In 2008 a proposal was placed before the Commandant of the Marine Corps regarding the Freedom Dogs’ Partner Program and he requested a 6 month pilot.  At the completion of the pilot, the results were so astounding that the program continues today.

Freedom Dogs is helping Military professionals return to civilian life. These well trained service dogs help reduce anxiety, create distractions to calm the individual, provide increased mobility and independence, provide comfort to those dealing with PTSD and in some cases... they are saving lives.

You can listen to Beth Russell share some beautiful stories of the animal human bond, how the Freedom Dogs are positively impacting the lives of returning military professionals, and helping keep families together.
  http://www.blogtalkradio.com/chammond/2013/05/01/guest-beth-russell

You can also visit Freedom Dogs at www.freedomdogs.org

Puppies Behind Bars - a gift to two

The holiday season is upon us and many people will exchange presents and celebrate festivities.  At the Puppies Behind Bars organization, puppies are giving the gift of joy, service and compassion all through the year.

Carl Rotans joined me on PAWsitive Radio. Carl is the senior instructor for Puppies Behind Bars (PBB), a non-profit organization that trains prison inmates to raise, train and care for puppies that will become service dogs for the disabled and explosive detection canines for law enforcement.

Photo Credit: puppiesbehindbars.com

Mr. Rotans took his love and passion for his own Labrador Retrievers, and began his career in dog obedience training. This lead to his employment at a nationally renowned guide dog school located in the New York metropolitan area. It was here that he worked and received formal training and eventually took an instructor position with PBB.

Now as the Senior Instructor his duties include the training and instruction of new staff as well as opening and preliminary instruction for the program in new correctional facilities.
Founded in 1997 by Gloria Gilbert Stoga, PBB has become a world leader in prison dog raising programs and operates in correctional facilities in three states. The quality of the dogs produced is second to none, but equally important is the effect the program has on the inmates who care for the dogs. The puppies live in prison with their ‘puppy raisers’ from age eight weeks until eighteen months. As the puppies mature into well-loved, well-behaved dogs their raisers learn what it means to contribute to society rather than take from it.

Carl stated that the puppies enter the jail when they are eight months old, and are trained by inmates who have been carefully assessed and trained themselves to take the puppies through a two year program, training them to be service dogs. These puppies are nurtured, trained, and loved by inmates who undergo specialized training.  The program is a beautiful example of the many ways that dogs can impact and change lives. The inmates who are part of this program spend 24 hours a day with the puppies in training, and contribute to society and to a veteran who will need a service dog to improve their quality of life.

You can listen to some beautiful stories of the different puppies behind bars and how this program is changing lives on the inside and outside of the bars.

Listen to internet radio with PAWsitive Radio on Blog Talk Radio

Guide Dogs, Service Dogs, and Dogs that Make a Difference!

What an delight to talk with Holly McKnight.  Holly is the President of the Arlington Texas Chapter of the National Federation of the Blind as well as is involved with Guide Dogs for the Blind and Lone Star Puppy Raisers. Holly was born with the back third of her brain outside of her skull… the part of the brain that normally controls vision. Due to this, Holly was able to train with her first guide dog to assist her with everyday living when she was starting college. Her current guide dog, her third, is Pollyann. Holly will share lots of information on the show today about guide dogs… their training, their life, qualifications to be matched with one, types of dogs used, etc. Holly also got to sing at Carnegie Hall- what a thrill that would have been.

Holly talked about the various ways that dogs help individuals, for example guide dogs.  The training process for guide dogs is ongoing, and the benefits and sense of freedom they provide to their human companion is incredible. Holly described this as increasing her mobility!  Her dog Polyaan is a Yellow Lab, and is a great support to her. One element that is so very important is trust. Holly talked about the trust the builds between the dog and his/her owner.

Our dog Toby was not a guide or service dog, but he was an animal assisted therapy dog and I can attest to the incredible trust that Holly talked about. The more Toby and I volunteered together, the more I trusted him, and he trusted me. As well, this trust rippled over to the patients.

These organizations are such an important part of our community, and make a big difference in the lives of others.



Listen to my interview with Holly McKnight at:
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/chammond/2012/05/19/guest-holly-mcknight

You can also access the archived radio show interviews with great guests such as Laura Marlowe, Susan Sutcliffe, Kerri Lake, Georgina Bradley, Craig Haverstick and more at:  http://www.blogtalkradio.com/chammond  Also, don't forget to press the "Follow" button right below Toby's smiling face, that way you will get alerted to upcoming shows.