How a service dog built confidence in a boy with autism

There's no bond like the one between a boy and his dog, but 6-year-old Mark Fontana and his pup Echo have something even more special.

The Fontana household has always been hectic, between four kids to get to school each day and a baby to care for at home. Those hectic mornings can be particularly tough for Mark, who was diagnosed with autism when he was 3 years old.

Almost completely non-verbal, transitioning from home to school was a challenge. Mark would compulsively flap and scream, and even began to run away.

"He would compulsively run away. He would run into the street," Mark's mother, Emily Fontana, told TODAY. "He would run outside and try to jump into any pool even though he couldn't swim. It was absolutely terrifying and we lived in constant survival mode."

Mark's disability made him feel isolated and his inability to use speech to communicate created a barrier.

But the Fontana family found hope in a furry face named Echo when they learned about a program at Guiding Eyes for the Blind that used dogs' skills in a different way.

Guide dogs in training, like TODAY's Wrangler, have the ability to follow the career path best suited to their set of skills. The dogs can become guide dogs for the visually impaired, or they may end up becoming a companion for a child with autism, which is exactly what happened with Echo when he was paired with Mark.

Caroline McCabe-Sandler, the director of Guiding Eyes' Heeling Autism program, says they have now trained and placed more than 60 dogs with families like the Fontanas.

"It's 100 percent success. It really is," McCabe-Sandler said. "I watch children who are normally held by the wrist tight, parents so stressed. I watch these children kind of dancing next to their dogs ... they're happy to be free."

The Fontanas say they saw the changes in Mark almost immediately.

"Mark exhibits a confidence that I've never seen before," Fontana said. "Mark is a cool kid at school now. He's got a dog."

Teachers and therapists have noticed improvements in Mark too, and thanks to Echo, the Fontanas say they've been able to regain some of the family life they were missing.

"My hopes for Mark are that he will continue to grow," Fontana said. "I really think Mark is going to surprise us all. You wait."

Guiding Eyes for the Blind’s Heeling Autism Program provides trained service dogs free of charge to families with children with autism living within two hours of the organization’s New York headquarters.

For more information or to make a donation, visit www.guidingeyes.org/autism. Please note that the program is currently not accepting new applications in an effort to service families on its lengthy waiting list.

However, they are just one of a growing list of organizations pairing dogs with children with autism. Here are additional national organizations providing service dogs for children with autism:

Canine Companions for Independence
4 Paws For Ability
NEADS

http://www.today.com/pets/how-guide-dog-changed-lives-boy-autism-his-family-2D80580872

If we don't want our dogs to be on antidepressants.

If we don't want our dogs to be on antidepressants we must stop treating them like wolves.
Humans must change their attitudes and 'think dog' if man's best friend is to get off the Prozac.

The story by Patrick Sawer in the Telegraph last week that pet dogs are increasingly being dosed up with sedatives and antidepressants has intriguing implications. A big problem is separation anxiety, affecting dogs left indoors while their owners are at work. (Essentially, the stay-at-home dog-owner has gone the way of the stay-at-home parent - leaving dogs with the jitters.)

What can be done about this? My understanding of dogs was transformed by reading John Bradshaw’s superb book In Defence of Dogs. Bradshaw, a biologist, insists that we need first to understand what is going on inside the creatures’ heads. They are not humans in dogs' clothing. They do not feel and think in the way we do.

Above all we must ditch the pernicious notion, based on nothing apart from folk-wisdom, that dogs are essentially tame wolves who want to dominate the “pack”, including their human chums. Nonsense, says Bradshaw. Science has repudiated this “lupomorph” model. It's true that dogs are made up of wolf DNA, but generations of domestication have drastically altered their behaviour, so that the comparison doesn't help.

Along with the wolf concept goes the idea that dogs learn to be submissive through being beaten down by their “pack leader”, so you must chastise a dog that has chewed the furniture when you were out so that it learns not to. Again, misguided. Dogs that clash with their owners are more likely to be motivated by fear or anxiety than by a desire to be "top dog".

As for punishment (or rewards), dogs live in the here and now. They are, says Bradsham, "trapped in the moment". They do not reflect on events in even the recent past. (They do not reflect, full stop. Those sorts of emotion are alien to the canine world. If we think that our dog looks "guilty", for example, that's not guilt we're seeing, it's fear that we're going to shout or whack it.)

So the only penalty that works is one administered within a second of the offence. Punish a dog for mangling your brogues while it was left alone, and you will only bewilder it and aggravate the anxiety that caused the behaviour in the first place. Equally, when reinforcing good behaviour - by giving a treat, say - it is vital that you move fast, otherwise you might inadvertently reward the wrong behaviour.

Bradshaw suggests simple rituals to use when going out to reassure your pet that you are coming back, so calming their fears. But until more dog owners start to “think dog”, based on a rational understanding of how these animals behave, prescriptions for doggy Valium will carry on going up and up.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/comment/personal-view/11501426/If-we-dont-want-our-dogs-to-be-on-antidepressants-we-must-stop-treating-them-like-wolves.html

'GMA' Celebrates National Puppy Day With Live Adoption

Today is National Puppy Day and “Good Morning America” celebrated in the only way possible: with a dog in a disco vest, lots of puppies and the live moment when a New York family met their newly adopted puppy.

Nico and Luca Farruggio, of Queens, New York, had long been asking their parents for a dog, their first.

Unbeknownst to Nico, 4, and Luca, 7, their parents, Nino and Giovanni Farruggio, had already gone through the adoption pre-approval process and brought Nico and Luca to “GMA” to meet their new dog.

Puppy Love in Photos: It's National Puppy Day!

In the middle of Times Square, the Farruggio boys were surprised with a poodle, adopted from the North Shore Animal League America.

“Fluffy,” Luca said when asked what he thought his family should name their new pet.

Inside the "GMA" studio, the “Puppy Disco Party” was centered in the show's "Social Square" and featured puppies waiting to be adopted from Friends of Freddie Pet Rescue in Middle Island, New York. One of the adoptable dogs wore a Disco Dog vest, a smartphone-controlled LED vest that flashes animated patterns and custom text in thousands of colors, according to its Kickstarter page.

“GMA” viewers joined the party by sending in pictures of their own beloved dogs. Click HERE to see those photos along with backstage photos from “GMA’s” “Puppy Disco Party.”

In honor of National Puppy Day, here are five more dog videos to enjoy.

Proceed to the link below.

http://abcnews.go.com/Lifestyle/gma-celebrates-national-puppy-day-live-adoption/story?id=29842963

Animal rescuer Pak Mie dies, wife vows to keep shelter going

A Muslim, who became famous for rescuing of hundreds of stray and abandoned dogs and cats in Alor Star, Muhammad Azmi Ismail, or Pak Mie, died last night at the Ampang Hospital intensive care unit. According to his Facebook page "Pak Mie Shelter”, the 58-year-old had been in critical condition since last Thursday after suffering a stroke and a brain haemorrhage.

Pak Mie was initially treated at Sultan Mizan Military Hospital in Wangsa Maju before he was transferred to Ampang Hospital in Kuala Lumpur.
On Saturday, a post on Pak Mie's Facebook page stated he was undergoing a head operation but "there was little hope".
Yesterday afternoon, an update read: "medicine pumped to his heart has been stopped. Only Allah can save Pak Mie's life."

A post late yesterday said Pak Mie died about 11.30pm. A subsequent post early today said Pak Mie would be laid to rest at the Masjid al-Bukhary cemetery in Alor Star today.

The Facebook page has been flooded with thousands of condolence messages from all Malaysians, as their thoughts went out to his widow Halijah Idris, 68, his family, as well as his "anak bulu" (fur kids). Many also praised Pak Mie for his kindness to stray dogs and the love he gave them at the shelter. "So sad to know bout this news. May Pak Mie rest in peace and hopefully his family will stay strong," said Kelven Khor.
Stephanie Lee Ching Ling said: "Takziah. Kami akan merinduimu tapi kami tahu kamu di Syurga sekarang." (Condolences to Pak Mie's family. We will miss you but we know you are in heaven now.)

Another Facebook user Kueh Ketayap posted: "salam takziah untuk pakmie sekeluarga...doa haiwan peliharaan pakmie sentiasa mengiringi pakmie." (Condolences to Pak Mie's whole family... pray that animals he cared for will always be with him.)
Nini Phuah said: "Rest in Peace... its a great loss to our world of feeders & rescuers of strays...wherever you are, please watch over us & our strays & keep them safe from harm..."

On Twitter, social media users like Katrina von Gazzali also extended their condolences.

"Al fatihah to Pak Mie. What an amazing man. Your loss will be deeeply felt by the animals that you have cared for. Rest in peace," she said via her handle @AikaG.

Susan (@susanjzach) tweeted: "I didn't know Pak Mie personally but his death has made me very sad... Such an inspiring man. RIP Pak Mie. You are my hero!! #PakMie".

Pak Mie, a contractor who gave up his job to care for his rescued dogs, and his wife, who is better known as Mak Intan, made a name for themselves as a Muslim couple who defied all odds and stood up against condemnation, criticism and even slander to rescue strays and abandoned dogs. They had been known to sleep in their battered Proton Saga at the riverside shelter in Tanjung Bendahara, Alor Star. They nearly lost the shelter two years ago when the local council threatened to evict them. Pak Mie, who called himself "ayah" (father) when he spoke to his dogs, was a strong advocate for controlling the stray population by neutering the animals, not by killing them. Mak Intan, the Star Online reported a few days ago after Pak Mie went into critical condition, has vowed to keep the shelter operating.

http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/animal-rescuer-pak-mie-dies-wife-vows-to-keep-shelter-going

Crufts dog death: Poisoning probe after Irish Setter dies

A dog has died after competing at Crufts, amid claims he was poisoned.

Three-year-old Thendara Satisfaction, known as Jagger, is understood to have collapsed and died after returning home to Belgium on Friday.

Police in Belgium are investigating and a full toxicology report is expected next week.

The husband of Jagger's co-owner said: "I can only hope it wasn't an act of jealousy by another competitor, but just a lunatic."

Jagger, who came second in his class at Birmingham's NEC on Thursday, is owned by Belgian Aleksandra Lauwers and Leicester-based breeder Dee Milligan-Bott.

Mrs Lauwers's husband Willem said the couple was "devastated" by the death.

"My wife has to go and give a statement to the police tomorrow and we'll see what happens," he said.

"We're quite successful and that can of course make people jealous," he said.

He said CCTV from the NEC was being analysed, but the number of dogs and members of public at the event could make it very difficult.

'We all love dogs'
Co-owner and breeder Dee Milligan-Bott said she could not believe another exhibitor was responsible.

"We compete week-in, week-out against each other and we have one thing in common, we all love dogs," she said.

"I think and hope it was a random act by someone who hates dogs, an opportunist.

"We've had support from fellow competitors from all over the world. These are people I compete against and many of them have been in tears."

Mrs Milligan Bott said a post mortem conducted by the vet had showed Jagger had been poisoned and a full toxicology report was expected to reveal more next week.

"We should have been celebrating this week, but we haven't been," she said.

The Kennel Club, which organises Crufts, said it was unclear what had happened but it would support the police in their investigation.

"We are deeply shocked and saddened to hear of Jagger's death and our heartfelt sympathies go out to his owners," a spokesperson said.

"We are in contact with the owners and will do all we can to support them at this sad time."

TV presenter Clare Balding tweeted: "Everyone at #Crufts2015 horrified at death of Irish Setter Jagger."

http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-birmingham-31787558

Petfood Forum to feature Student Program

Pilot program creates industry destination for petfood industry students

Petfood Forum, Petfood Industry magazine and WATT Global Media will host students from animal nutrition, packaging and process technology programs at leading universities during Petfood Forum.

The goal of this pilot program at Petfood Forum is to create an industry destination for students interested in the petfood industry as a career, and to make it easier for students to attend Petfood Forum educational conference, networking activities and the exhibition.

While at Petfood Forum, students can meet with industry professionals while also gaining professional connections that will help to make the petfood industry a viable choice.

Petfood Forum Student Program participating universities include Iowa State University, Kansas State University, University of Illinois, University of Minnesota, University of Missouri, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, University of Arkansas and Texas A&M University.

The program is sponsored by Extru-Tech, Trouw Nutrition, Wenger, 3D Corporate Solutions and DSM, and is presented by Petfood Industry magazine and WATT Global Media.

http://www.petfoodindustry.com/Petfood_Forum_to_feature_Student_Program.html

Why do you like rubbing yourself against me?

There are sudoriferous glands at cats’ cheeks, chin, and other body parts, that will release scent. If the cat rubbing against you, it means that he/she is trying make a marking on you as his or her property.

So, next time give them a gentle touch, when your cat leans over you or rub against you. This will helps to build a better mutual trust.