Whisker Therapy

Zachary Smith, a student at Kentucky Christian University, flew to Arizona on a Delta Airlines flight over the holidays with his comfort dog Kaimani. Kaimani is a Staffordshire/Pit mix who has helped him through his panic attacks for years. He wouldn’t think to fly without her.

The airline warned Smith that due to her breed, Kaimani might not be allowed to fly. Still, she was coming with him no matter what, so he gave it a shot. He provided his documentation proving Kaimani as a comfort animal. The two successfully boarded their Delta flight to Phoenix. Kaimani was a good girl, staying under the seat as required.

When they arrived at the airport to return to Kentucky again, they were told the dog couldn’t fly, even though she already flew on one Delta flight days before. A Delta agent simply informed Smith that policy forbids her particular breed.

Delta Airlines spokesman Drake Castaneda doubled down in a statement to 12 News that the dog technically should not have been allowed to fly Delta in the first place.

“In 2018, Delta tightened its policies on service and emotional support animals, which included a ban on Pit Bull type dogs as service or support animals. These policy updates reinforce Delta’s core value of putting safety first, always.”

Obviously, banning Kaimani from her return flight points to inconsistent enforcement of Delta’s policies. On a larger scale, one must wonder why Pit Bulls are discriminated against in this methodical way.

The airlines actions both contradict and confirm laws about support animal travel. A statement from The Department Of Transportation clearly indicates that denial based exclusively on a dog’s breed is forbidden under its service animal regulation. However, the airline is allowed to deny specific dogs who pose a safety risk on a case-by-case basis, but that doesn’t seem to be the situation with Smith and Kaimani.

Smith insists that Kaimaini is sweet, obedient, and loyal. She has been trained to behave in public, and general breed discrimination seems unjust.

“My message to Delta Airlines is not to consider the breed, but to consider the demeanor of the animal while in the airport.”

Pit Bulls suffer the most from breed discrimination and individual sweeties have no chance to disprove the stereotype. For now, Delta refuses to adapt their policy. It might just take some activism from Pit Bull lovers to fight against these unfair rules. Let’s continue to fight this for our wonderful  misjudged pups!

H/T: 11Alive
Featured Image: Rokland2000 via Pixabay

The post Delta Airlines Strands Man And His Support Pit Bull In Phoenix appeared first on iHeartDogs.com.

The winter months are always extremely busy times for animal rescues and shelters everywhere. Tragically, there are often more pups left out in the cold than there are places for them in the shelters. The kind hearts of generous foster families are what give starving and cold strays the second chances they desperately need.

That’s how one poor malnourished stray pup, now named Joseph, got off the streets in time for the holidays. Noah’s Ark Rescue Project And Shelter (NARPS) in Philadelphia was already inundated with animals in need, but the giving nature of the season had more in store for little Joseph.

One night in late December, Joseph wandered out of the woods at a local park. He was bone-thin, starving, dehydrated, and carrying parasites when rescuers got their hands on him. NARPS shared a heart-wrenching photo of the pup the day he was found on Facebook.

“We shall call this handsome boy… Joseph, which means ‘God will add another.’ We weren’t expecting to take on anymore pups smack dab in the middle of the holiday hustle and bustle, but here is our Christmas miracle of 2019!”

Noah’s Ark Rescue Project and Sanctuary operates mainly as a foster-based program for now, without a facility. A generous foster with NARPS stepped up to take in Joseph and the rescue issued a plea for donations for his care. They noted how badly this dog wanted to get better.

“Joseph mustered up strength and tenacity with his ferocious desire to survive, and muscled his way out of those woods to find help. He fought this hard for himself just to live, now it’s our turn to fight for him!”

The Christmas spirit really ramped up in the community. More than enough donations to cover Joseph’s care came in, so those extra funds will instead go to help other pups in need. For example, a 15-year-old dog named Diamond surrendered on Christmas Eve will benefit.

Joseph’s foster parent set him up with his very own Instagram account. Now we can all keep track of his progress!

He’s still very skinny, but he’s looking happy and well cared for. When they refer to Christmas miracles, this is the kind of thing they’re talking about.

Anyone interested in adopting Joseph should reach out to the rescue for more information on his availability. And if you aren’t ready to adopt, consider becoming a foster parent to make the season of giving last all year long for another dog in need!

H/T: 6ABC.com
Featured Image: @NoahsArkRescueProjectAndSanctuary/Facebook

The post Malnourished “Christmas Miracle” Dog Given Foster Home For The Holidays appeared first on iHeartDogs.com.

Even though it’s supposed to be the happiest time of the year, the Christmas season can be a real downer for some dogs. Living in a shelter over Christmas is no fun, but what’s worse is dogs finally getting adopted as Christmas gifts and returned shortly afterwards. This happens a lot unfortunately.

Dogs Trust, the UK’s largest dog welfare charity, takes tons of calls from people surrendering their no longer wanted pups after the holidays. The organization maintains a network of 20 Rehoming Centres across the UK and Ireland, caring for over 16,000 stray, unwanted, and abandoned dogs annually. 

Dogs Trust wants to remind everyone what they firmly believe, which is that “a dog is for life, not just for Christmas.”

“Unfortunately, dogs are often abandoned at this busy and expensive time of year, as many people underestimate just how much time, love and care a dog really needs.”

So many shelter dogs looking for homes could use some help from the best gift giver there is: Santa Paws! Since the dogs themselves can’t really write their own letters to Santa, their volunteers and caretakers with Dogs Trust did that for them. Then they posed for a picture, showing off their adoptable good looks.

The letters express the individual dog’s desires, but they all have a common link. Each dog is hoping for a home not just for the holidays, but forever. Charlie in Canterbury “wrote” about his progress.

“I have been a good boy this year, making new human and doggie friends. I love cheese and chicken but what I really want is to find a forever home!”

The volunteers giving a voice to the voiceless this holiday season are hoping it will lead to many permanent adoptions. The letters to Santa campaign spanned all locations of Dogs Trust. Many letters decorate shelter hallways.

These good boys and girls far and wide just want rewards for making the nice list this year!

“Dear Santa, I am Otto. The Doberman! I have been a good boy this year. I enjoy playing ball, I like my soft toys, and I love to go on long walks. What I really want is some humans of my own to share my adventures with please.”

Just in case Santa Paws can’t get the job done, you can follow the hashtag #ADogIsForLifeNotJustForChristmas and read some of the letters. Maybe you can make one of these pups’ wishes come true!

If you can’t adopt, consider donating to help over 1500 dogs in Dogs Trust’s care this holiday season. Remember, dogs aren’t just gifts. They’re family members for years and years.

H/T: Daily Mail
Featured Image: @DT_Ilfracombe/Twitter

The post Unwanted Dogs “Write” Letters To Santa Paws appeared first on iHeartDogs.com.

Like most kids, 9-year-old Hunter loves Christmas. He loves the holiday season almost as much as he loves his loyal service dog, Angel. So, Hunter and Angel were ecstatic at the idea of taking pictures with Santa at a Massachusetts mall. However, one exciting photo turned into a nightmare when the staff would not allow him and Angel to take a picture with Santa. Hunter was left heartbroken during the happiest season of the year.

Angel is a sweet and adorable dog, but she is so much more than just a cute companion. Hunter has epilepsy, and Angel is specially trained to help him. She is always by his side to protect him. She can warn people of his seizures and even quickly bring Hunter to a comfortable spot if he’s about to fall.

Hunter needs Angel on a daily basis. So, when his family was informed that Angel was not allowed at the photos with Santa, they were furious. They had waited nearly two hours only to have their happy moment ruined.

Hunter’s Christmas

Christmas is one of Hunter’s favorite things. His mom, Sarah Specht, explained that he even tries to wear his Santa hat year round. Meeting Santa is one of the highlights of the year for him. But this year, he was left wondering why Santa didn’t welcome his beloved service dog.

When the family got in the car after this heartbreaking event, Hunter was devastated. Specht was worried that he would begin to doubt Santa after this experience. 

“Christmas is supposed to be a magical time and for that to happen last night and see my son crushed,” said Specht. “I hope that no parent ever has to face that.”

They reached out to the company in charge of the photos to inform them of this issue. The company explained that they do allow service dogs at their events. They agreed that this situation was not acceptable by any means.

“The employee involved in this incident did not follow our Cherry Hill Programs protocol,” the company officials explained. “The individual has been suspended and we are investigating the matter. We have reached out to the family with an apology and invitation to return for a private visit with Santa at their earliest convenience.”

A Happy Ending for Hunter

While this offer for a private visit with Santa was a heartwarming response alone, Hunter ended up experiencing something even better. News about Hunter’s situation quickly spread around the community. Police officers and firefighters decided to escort Santa to Hunter’s house to get a photo with both Hunter and Angel.

“The fact that they heard the story and they want to fix this for Hunter, it means so much to me,” said Specht. “He’s at that age when he may start questioning Santa and I don’t want to see him lose that belief out of a bad experience.”

The kind actions of the community made Hunter, Specht, and of course, Angel feel very grateful. Christmas is such a magical time of year, so no child or dog should be forgotten. Angel is a huge part of Hunter’s life, so kids like him can’t live without their loyal dogs by their side.

H/T: wpxi.com
Featured Image: Screenshot, wpxi.com

The post Boy With Service Dog Is Denied Photos With Santa appeared first on iHeartDogs.com.

For nearly 2,000 days, Seamus the Pit Bull mix spent his time at a California rescue. He’s now 9 years old, so he’s spent over half his life waiting for that forever family to come around. Many holidays have come and gone while he waited, hoping for someone to adopt him. But luckily, this Christmas, the wait is over! Seamus is ready to spend the rest of his life with his forever family, and he couldn’t be happier!

Seamus is a laid-back dog that loves to snuggle. He is a sweetheart that can easily warm up to new people. So, it’s hard to believe that so many people passed him up during his time at the Fresno Bully Rescue.

The reason Seamus was often overlooked is because he needed a home without any other dogs or children. Other than that, he didn’t really have any special requests. In fact, a kind family even covered his adoption fee to help him find a home faster.

Everyone at the rescue worked hard to make sure Seamus was as happy as possible during his stay. They got to know him very well over the years. They even jokingly nicknamed him ‘Seamus the Donut Killer’ due to his great love for treats. 

The kind actions of everyone supporting Seamus helped him find that perfect family. Now, he got to spend the holidays in a loving home!

Seamus’ Forever Family

A kind couple decided to welcome Seamus into their home, and he couldn’t be happier. They shared adorable photos of him getting into the car and later laying beside the Christmas tree. It might have taken a long time for Seamus to get here, but it shows that Christmas miracles really do happen.

Since adopting him, Seamus’ family has even created an Instagram page for him. They have been posting adorable updates of him at his new home. He really is a lucky dog!

Despite being older, Seamus has the heart of a puppy. He’s ready to live the rest of his life in a loving home with his amazing new parents. Every dog deserves that kind of love not only during the holidays, but every day of the year. 

If you want to support other dogs like Seamus, please donate to the Fresno Bully Rescue. They specifically help bully breeds, and they work hard to put an end to breed discrimination. Every donation matters, especially for dogs like Seamus who have been waiting a long time.

H/T: foxnews.com
Featured Image: @fresnobullyrescue/Facebook

The post After 2,000 Days, Senior Dog Finds Home For Christmas appeared first on iHeartDogs.com.

A family from Woodhaven, Michigan had a string of back luck recently. But, as they say, every cloud has a silver lining. The Stevensons were on their way to spend Christmas morning with their family. Unfortunately, they hit a slick spot on the interstate which resulted in a rollover accident. The slick spot sent their car flying as it flipped a few times before coming to a stop.

With The Good Comes The Bad

The silver lining is that nobody was hurt. Wade Stevenson, Ruth Stevenson, and toddler Hazel were left unharmed. 

“Just a couple scratches to be honest. Even the Christmas presents didn’t get scratched. I don’t understand,” Wade Stevenson told lex18.com.

There may have been no injuries but the fourth member of the family went missing. The family’s 1-year-old Golden Retriever, Red, darted into the woods immediately after the accident.

In addition to the Stevenson family, local animal control, the police department, and dozens of volunteers searched high and low for Red. Three live traps were set up and baited with food and clothing from Red’s family, hoping that the scent would lure him in. Several nearby businesses reported sightings so the family wasn’t losing hope. 

It Takes A Village

The Stevenson family was overwhelmed by the support they received from the community. Residents joined forces nearly instantaneously after the accident to bring Red home.

“We just want to thank (everyone) from the bottom of our hearts for everything you have done to help us. We still have not found red but we are doing everything we can to find/get him,” Ruth Stevenson wrote on Facebook.

The family started a GoFundMe which was able to raise enough money to pay for a search done by drones. Unfortunately, this search did not help them find Red.

“We reached a point in the funding to where we have covered the drone expenses from yesterday’s operation. While the operation did not find Red, the thermal visioning did show that he does not appear to be in the area,” Wade Stevenson posted to Facebook.

A Happy Ending To Close Out The Decade

Nearly one week after he went missing, Red was found safe and sound! He was reunited with his family just in time to celebrate the new year! The good news was announced on the “Bring Red Home” Facebook page. It’s unclear how exactly he was found.

It may not have been the ending the Stevensons expected for this decade, but it sure is a great one!

h/t: lex18.com
Featured Photo: @BringRedHome/Facebook

The post Community Finds Missing Golden Retriever After Rollover Accident appeared first on iHeartDogs.com.

River, like so many other 5-year-old Labs, loves to chase squirrels. For most dogs, this personality trait is a mere inconvenience; but for River, it resulted in her removal from a guide dog training program.

This gorgeous gal wasn’t cut out for work with the blind, but her calm, gentle nature made her the perfect choice for a new form of police service.

The “Custody Canine” pilot project at Maidstone Police Station in Kent, UK utilizes River’s unique skills to help soothe stressed detainees.

“We are often dealing with people in crisis and although their behavior has resulted in arrest, they could be suffering with depression, anxiety or mental illness,” says Sergeant Ian Sutton, coordinator of the program. “Young people may find themselves in custody too and in some cases they are scared and daunted by the experience, whilst others may have difficulty in communicating.”

“Being detained can exacerbate these issues and we are committed to ensure that police custody is a safe and supportive environment for both police, staff and detainees. We are always looking for new or innovative ways to achieve this,” Sutton adds.

After her removal from the guide dog program, River went on to receive her certification as a therapy dog. She worked in a special education school comforting and supporting the children.

The school was so impressed with River’s work, they went on to purchase their own therapy dog. River was out of a job, but ready for a new challenge.

Trainers at Kent Police’s dog unit assessed River’s temperament and found her to be a perfect fit for the unpredictable custody environment. She went to work at the beginning of December, and has been regularly supporting detainees at Maidstone Police Station ever since.

“River has joined the team to offer emotional support to people who are experiencing difficulties, she provides a therapeutic benefit to those in crisis and helps to counter some of the negative behavior we sometimes experience in custody,” Sergeant Sutton reports. “Since beginning work with us she has had a notable positive impact on those she has spent time with, and the atmosphere in custody improves when she is on shift. This allows staff and officers to use their time more effectively rather than diffusing situations.”

Those concerned about the potential dangers a “Custody Canine” may face can rest easy. A press release assures there are procedures in place to ensure River’s safety as she performs her duties.

“Her handler is always there watching over her, she has access to fresh water and food, and she is also taken out for regular breaks,” the release states.

What do you think of the “Custody Canine” pilot project at Maidstone Police Station? Would you like to see your local police initiate a similar program? Let us know in the comments!

Featured Image via Kent Police

The post Guide Dog Dropout Becomes ‘Custody Canine’ For UK Police Station appeared first on iHeartDogs.com.