Tag Archives: service dogs

2019, Adoption, Dogs, FOTAS, News, Service Dogs, Uncategorized, Veterans

County Shelter dog Kira was ‘something special and rare’

Posted on by Bob Gordon
14
Jan

Maybe the most amazing thing about Kira was how ordinary she seemed at first. A stray Shepherd/Boxer mix brought into the Aiken County Animal Shelter in 2012, she was vulnerable and helpless like so many others coming through the door.

Kira was a superstar service dog who had great instincts.

Joseph and Brandie Henry, both U.S. Navy veterans diagnosed with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), saw her cute face and hoped the 10-month-old pup could help with their daily struggles.

It didn’t take long, however, to recognize greatness.

“Kira was something special and rare,” said Jerry Lyda of K-9 Veterans Solutions Inc. in Augusta, who trained Kira for the Henrys. “She took to PTSD Service Dog training naturally and fully embraced every role asked of her.”

Lyda has trained hundreds of veteran-dog pairs since forming his nonprofit six years ago, pulling dozens from the Aiken shelter. (FOTAS sponsors free adoptions for veterans every month.) Kira is his first service dog death.

Hit hardest, however, are the Henrys. Both Joseph and Brandie depended on Kira to get through the night and wake them from nightmares. She reintroduced them to the society they’d withdrawn from, staying by their side in public places, providing confidence and safety to leave home. When they got confused or overwhelmed, she led them to their car or house. She created safe space and responded to panic attacks.

When the Henrys moved to Nevada, Kira made every transition easier and doable. She kept Joseph and Brandie from falling, using her body as a lift if they did. She accompanied Joseph to his job at Tesla Gigafactory 1. Brandie depended on Kira to socialize and develop friendships – things that had seemed out of reach since PTSD – and mobility issues ravaged every area of her life. Brandie returned to school to study dietetics, an impossible goal before Kira came along.

When son Patrick was born two years ago with health problems, Kira instinctively took on more work without waiting to be asked. She guarded him diligently, alerting the Henrys he was about to choke with a sixth-sense awareness.

When Kira died, Veteran Joseph Henry honored her by draping his battle field American flag over her body.

“She’s irreplaceable,” said Brandie. “Service dogs are trained to help one person, but Kira helped our whole family.”

When Kira was diagnosed with a brain tumor last year at age 7, the Henrys were devastated. When she died last month, they were shell-shocked.

“We didn’t know what to do,” said Joseph. “Then I pulled out my battle field flag that had gone with me on every deployment and returned me safely home — so that we could send her safely home.”

Joseph sat with Kira awhile in the backyard, her body under his flag, trying to imagine life without her. Brandie doesn’t know if she can continue school, Joseph doesn’t know how he’ll survive nightmares, and Patrick knows she died but asks for her daily. They had Kira cremated and when Spring arrives, they’ll spread her ashes at a nearby beach where she loved to swim.

“She loved us like we loved her,” Brandie said. “She’ll be impossible to replace.”

Our shelter dogs are amazing. Even the most ordinary dog can work miracles for the people who adopt and love them.

Their lives are in our hands.

— By Martha Anne Tudor, FOTAS Volunteer

2018, Adoption, awards, Dogs, essay, FOTAS, News, Service Dogs, Therapy dog certification, Therapy Dogs

Abandoned Shelter Dog Now Comforts People in Need

Posted on by Angel Hartline
26
Aug

Beth and Gary Bode adopted Buck, a two-year-old Retriever mix, from the Aiken County Animal Shelter (ACAS) nine months ago on Halloween. They had lost both of their chocolate Labs to age-related maladies in 2015 and weren’t sure they were ready to go through the pain of loss again.

But there was something special about Buck.

Beth Bode proudly displays Buck’s American Kennel Club Canine Good Citizen ribbon.

When he was picked up as a stray and brought to the shelter, Beth was volunteering for FOTAS as a dog walker. She had already mentioned to the shelter staff and FOTAS team that she was thinking about adopting a pet who could be certified as a therapy dog to visit schools, hospitals, senior living centers and other institutions. Despite his initial shyness and difficult past, Buck had an especially gentle demeanor, so FOTAS Programs Director Kathy Jacobs introduced him to the Bodes.

“We took him for a ‘Doggie Day Out’ and knew within the first hour that he was meant to be ours!” Beth said. Buck hopped up on their bed and cuddled with the couple during his first night as their adopted dog, but it took months for him to fully trust that he had a home for life. The Bodes took advantage of the free training session included with every ACAS adoption and said it helped them understand how to help Buck adjust to his new home.

Once Buck started feeling more confident, Beth researched how to get him certified as a therapy dog through the Alliance of Therapy Dogs (ATD), a group active in the Aiken/Augusta area. She enrolled Buck in a six-week course and he passed the American Kennel Club’s Canine Good Citizen test. She also completed the required police background check on the therapy dogs website and filled-out the application paperwork. Then, she took Buck to take the Alliance of Therapy Dogs test, and he passed that too!  After three supervised therapy visits, Beth mailed the completed paperwork and certification fees to ATD and soon received a welcome packet containing Buck’s official ATC certificate, member handbook, ID card, and dog tag.

Now, Buck goes on frequent therapy visits with the Aiken/August ATD group or the Aiken group, “Love on Leashes”. He is learning from the other therapy dogs and enjoying his interactions with strangers in need.

Buck with his Therapy Dog certificate and identification tag.

“We had a wonderful visit last week at HarborChase (an assisted living and memory care center in Aiken), where he comforted a man who had to put his dog to sleep the previous day,” Beth said. “He made an immediate connection, climbed next to him and put his head in the man’s lap. It was amazing!” Incredibly, the man’s deceased dog was also named “Buck”.

Buck has come a long way from the scared, wary stray that arrived at the County Shelter nine months ago. Now he’s a happy and confident canine who contributes to society.

“We feel very blessed to have Buck in our lives,” Beth said. “We thank FOTAS and the Aiken Animal Shelter for all they do to save and rehome the many wonderful animals that end-up in their care.”

Their lives are in our hands

 – By Bob Gordon, FOTAS Communications Director

By the Numbers

From Aug. 1 to 22, the ACAS received 385 strays and surrendered pets. During last weekend’s Clear the Shelters event, 75 animals were adopted.


Pets of the Week

CARTER
Shepherd mix, male, 2 years old, 61 pounds

LANDRY
Domestic medium-hair kitten, male, 5 months old, 6 pounds

Adoption, Dogs, Foster, FOTAS, Military Veterans, Service Dogs, Therapy Dogs

Service dog Blue brings blessings to veteran who adopted him

Posted on by Angel Hartline
08
Dec

Wherever Reverend Bill Kline goes, Blue is close by his side. A veteran who suffers from many health problems, Kline adopted the four-year-old, 62-pound Siberian Husky just three months ago from the County Shelter. However, the pair quickly developed a strong connection and now Kline can’t imagine being without his large canine companion.

“Blue’s my lifeguard,” Kline said. “It’s amazing how he can tell if I’m not feeling well. If I’m down in the dumps, he’s always right there to comfort me. He even knows when my blood sugar level is too low or too high. He’ll lick my hand and let me know that I need to check it.”

Blue, who was adopted from the Aiken County Animal Shelter, is in training to be a service dog for a local veteran.
Blue, who was adopted from the Aiken County Animal Shelter, is in training to be a service dog for a local veteran.

Kline was a medic in the Navy for 41 years, but his major health issues began only a year ago when he had a stroke, developed diabetes and was diagnosed with heart problems. His wife, Julia, is his “rock” and helped him through this difficult time. But he is still recovering and requires the physical strength that a dog like Blue can provide.

Blue is in training to be Kline’s service dog, helping him to get around and assisting him with tasks such as picking up items dropped on the floor, bringing him bottled water and fetching his diabetic kit. He’s also learning how to alert people if Kline falls or gets hurt, as well as how to use his body to help his owner get back to his feet. Blue attends classes offered by Veterans K9 Solutions and is expected to graduate early next year.

Named for his stunning eyes, Blue arrived at the County Shelter as an injured stray. He had been shot in the face and a bullet was removed from his chin. But once Blue recovered from his wound and was added to the adoption floor, it became increasingly apparent that he was a special kind of dog. Not only was he extremely calm and confident, but he also showed a natural drive to help and protect people.

Jerry Lyda of Veterans K9 Solutions is an expert at finding service dog talent and has worked closely with FOTAS and the County Shelter to find animals to assist folks who suffer from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and other war injuries. When he visited the County Shelter and saw Blue, he knew right away that this Husky was a star in the making. He also had a hunch Blue would be perfect for Reverend Bill Kline.

“Blue and Reverend Bill are doing awesome,” Lyda said. “The bond between those two is amazing. I knew Blue was a winner – thank you so much for treating his injuries and making him available for adoption.”

FOTAS and the Shelter are proud to support veterans and active military personnel by helping to provide Veterans K9 Solutions and other organizations with service dog candidates. FOTAS also sponsors free adoptions for veterans as well as men and women currently serving in the U.S. military.

Their lives are in our hands.

above Article by Bob Gordon, FOTAS  Director of Communications

By the Numbers

December Specials – dogs/puppies $35, cats/kittens $10

Saturday, Dec. 16 – Adoption event:

free photos with Santa Claus and your new pet!

Pets of the Week

THOR POTW DEC 10
THOR: Mixed breed, male, 8 months old, brown and white, 32 pounds – $35
POTW TINY TIM
TINY TIM: Domestic shorthair cat, male, 2 months old, orange Tabby, 1.8 pounds – $10

Adoption, Cats, Dogs, FOTAS, Military Veterans, Service Dogs, Veterans

Every day is Veterans Day at the Aiken County Animal Shelter

Posted on by Angel Hartline
11
Nov

By Bob Gordon, FOTAS Director of Communications

This Friday, November 11, is Veterans Day, a time for us to pay our respects to those who have served in our military. For a 24-hour period, Americans stand united in honor of our veterans and the good work and sacrifices they have made for our country.
But Friends of the Animal Shelter (FOTAS) wanted to honor and help out these patriots every day. So, this year we launched our year-round adoption discount for veterans and active military personnel. Adoption fees are half-price for all U.S. military services men, women and veterans who adopt a dog or cat at the Aiken County Animal Shelter (dogs $35, cats $15).
To date in 2016, our veterans discount program has helped 36 veterans adopt 25 dogs and 11 cats.
“I think it’s a great idea,” said Taylor Heimann, a marine who adopted Heidi, a black Retriever puppy, with her boyfriend, Tom Buchanan, also a marine. “It’s been a great advantage to us because we were able to put the extra money we saved toward Heidi’s crate, toys and other things she needed.” The young couple lives in Augusta and takes their new pup to Fort Gordon Veterinary Clinic for her healthcare.
In the past, FOTAS has held one-month specials for veterans and military personnel, but early this year the FOTAS board of directors agreed on a permanent veterans/military personnel discount.
“A lot of veterans out there are hurting and have post traumatic stress and could use the help because they can’t afford the cost of getting and training a service dog,” said Eddie Hill, a veteran who served in Kuwait during the Gulf War.

FOTAS sponsored Eddie’s adoption of Jenelle, a young, German Shepherd. However, Jenelle turned out to be a little too high-energy for Eddie’s apartment, so she was given to another veteran and now Eddie is going to receive Peggles, a two-year-old Boxer mix, who came to the shelter with a leg shattered by a bullet. Even though Peggles had to have her back right leg amputated to maintain her mobility, she is still graceful and as loving and trusting as ever. Jerry Lyda, of Veterans K9 Solutions, Inc., trains many service dogs for vets and is working with Peggles so she will be a great companion for Eddie, who still suffers from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). The 63-year-old vet enjoys quiet activities, like fishing or going to church on Sunday. But he can get nervous in crowds or when too much activity is going on around him.
“That’s what PTSD does to you”, Eddie said. “But with an animal, you love them, they love you. You can trust them and they can trust you.”
If you are a veteran or currently serving in the armed forces, please visit us and take advantage of the half-price adoption discount that FOTAS provides. As always, the County Shelter has some amazing dogs and cats on our adoption floor that desperately need loving homes.

Their lives are in our hands.

 

Marines Tom Buchanan and Taylor Heimann with their adopted dog, Heidi
Marines Tom Buchanan and Taylor Heimann with their adopted dog, Heidi
Veteran Eddie Hill with Jenelle
Veteran Eddie Hill with Jenelle
Adoption, Dogs, FOTAS, Military Veterans, Service Dogs, Veterans

County Shelter animals give comfort and aid to U.S. Veterans

Posted on by Angel Hartline
31
May

By Bob Gordon, FOTAS Communications Director

“There is a special bond that dogs and humans share,” says William Collins, a local U.S. veteran who served overseas.  “A dog can make a huge difference in a person’s life.”

The dog that changed William’s life is a four-year-old, shepherd mix named Buddy that he adopted from the Aiken County Animal Shelter (ACAS). The calm canine goes everywhere with William and helps him to cope with the long-term, after effects of war.

“Buddy has changed my life for the better,” William says.  “He has allowed me to live a healthier, more functional and fuller life.  Buddy is a safe place for me and I depend on him to help me with some of the difficulties and challenges I face on a daily basis.”

Because it recognizes that servicemen and women can benefit from the companionship of a shelter cat or dog, FOTAS has decided to make its half-price adoption discount for U.S. veterans and active U.S. military personnel a year round program. FOTAS sponsors half the adoption fee, so dogs are $35 and cats just $17.50. The discount was launched on Veteran’s Day of last year and due to the positive response, FOTAS decided to make it a permanent offer.

It is a small way for us to thank the men and women who serve our country.

FOTAS also helps find service dogs for veterans suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and other health issues that can result from military service. Working with dog training specialists like Veterans K9 Solutions Inc. in Augusta, FOTAS has provided service dogs to about 15 veterans over the past few years.

“These people [veterans] are my heroes, and any help they can get from FOTAS and the shelter is very much appreciated” says Jerry Lyda, co-owner and founder of Veterans K9 Solutions in Augusta. Jerry is a veteran himself and started his nonprofit training organization after he saw his buddies come back from Vietnam with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and other war-related ailments. He focused on training canines from shelters to assist veterans “because it saves two lives – the person and the dog.”

Luckily, most veterans don’t suffer from PTSD or other war-related illnesses. They just come to the Shelter to add a furry companion to their home. But for those that do, the dogs can be a godsend.

Joe Shaia, another local war veteran, adopted Laila, a two-year-old, Shepherd/Retriever mix, from the County Shelter two months ago. Joe was stationed in Afghanistan and came back with severe PTSD. But since training and spending time with Laila, he’s finding it easier to cope with his illness. Joe has difficulty being in areas with a lot of people, but Laila acts as a buffer and always has his back.

“She means a lot to me,” Joe says. “She helps me get out in the public and out of my safe zone and gives me something positive to focus on.”

For more information about the U.S. Military Services/Veteran Half-Price Adoption Program at the ACAS, please go to www.fotasaiken.

Their lives are in our hands.

William Collins with his service dog Buddy

Laila goes everywhere with Veteran Joe Shaia

 

Adoption, Dogs, FOTAS, Service Dogs, Veterans

The Redemptive Power of Spontaneous Love

Posted on by Angel Hartline
26
Mar

By Joanna Dunn Samson, Vice President

On the morning of New Year’s Eve, Matt Cummins called his wife Meghan at work to tell her he was going to the Aiken County Animal Shelter to check out the dogs. He didn’t intend to adopt a dog from the shelter—after all, they were waiting for a purebred German Shepherd puppy from a breeder in Georgia—he was just curious. So he hopped into his car and drove from his home in Graniteville to the shelter on Wire Road.

Annie is a 2 year-old, Doberman/shepherd cross who, by New Year’s Eve, had been at the Shelter a very long time. A favorite among the staff and FOTAS volunteers, they were surprised she had not been adopted. Annie is, in the words of one of the volunteers, an old soul: quiet, sweet, wise and attentive. Because a long stay at the shelter is not a good thing for all sorts of reasons, she needed to find a home–fast.

Then the stars aligned just right for a little magic. Matt was seated in the lobby of the shelter waiting to speak to someone at the desk at the same time Annie walked by on her morning stroll with a volunteer. Annie saw Matt, stopped, and pulled her handler over to Matt. She dropped her head in his lap and gazed up at him, with a look that said, “You. You’re the one.” She was right.

“I knew immediately she was the dog for me,” says Matt. “There was no doubt in my mind. I don’t know what possessed me to go to the shelter that day, but I swear, it must have been fate.” By 5:00, after calling his wife and attending to a critical errand, he and Annie were on their way home.

Wait—this story gets better. Two days earlier, FOTAS had contacted Jerry Lyda of Veteran’s K9 Solutions about Annie because we believed she might make a good service dog for his program. Jerry asked Sylvia Igoe, a long-time FOTAS volunteer and foster who trains with Jerry, to assess Annie’s potential as a service dog.

“What we look for in a dog,” says Sylvia, “is a certain temperament. Is she people oriented? Calm? Focused on me or distracted by her environment? It didn’t take me long to conclude that Annie was a natural: inherently kind and instinctively protective. I called Jerry and said, ‘We have to find a veteran for this dog!’”

Sadly, no veteran was looking for a dog at the time, so despite her qualifications, Annie needed to stay at the shelter until one came along. Then, two days later–call it coincidence, call it fate–Matt Cummins walked into the shelter and fell in love.

Matt Cummins is an army veteran.

I call it the work of angels.

As we celebrate the greatest miracle of all this Easter, take a moment to pray that the County’s abandoned and homeless animals discover the healing powers of home and love and belonging, because what we give to them, they give back to us in spades.

Just ask Matt Cummins.

Their lives are in our hands.