Dynamic Dogs

Working Like Dogs is proud to announce the annual National Assistance Dog Week, August 8-14, 2010, in recognition of all the devoted, hardworking assistance dogs helping individuals mitigate their disability-related limitations. To commemorate National Assistance Dog Week and to honor working dogs everywhere, we’re launching a new website at www.assistancedogweek.org.

In communities across the nation, assistance dog organizations and individuals will be holding events to raise awareness about these very special animals. The new website has resources to help them create and promote their events, and allows them to post their events online. Everyone is invited to www.assistancedogweek.org see what events are going to take place near them, or to learn more about assistance dogs.

Assistance Dogs transform the lives of their human partners with physical and mental disabilities by serving as their companion, helper, best friend and close member of their family. They are specifically trained to perform many tasks for their partners, and are generally classified as:

Guide Dogs – Assist people with vision loss, leading these individuals around physical obstacles and to destinations such as seating, crossing streets, entering or exiting doorways, elevators and stairways.

Service Dogs – Assist people with disabilities with walking, balance, dressing, transferring from place to place, retrieving and carrying items, opening doors and drawers, pushing buttons, pulling wheelchairs and aiding with household chores, such as putting in and removing clothes from the washer and dryer.

Hearing Alert Dogs – Alert people with a hearing loss to the presence of specific sounds such as doorbells, telephones, crying babies, sirens, another person, buzzing timers or sensors, knocks at the door or smoke, fire and clock alarms.

Seizure and Medical Alert/Seizure Response Dogs – Alert to medical conditions, such as heart attack, stroke, diabetes, epilepsy, panic attack, anxiety attack, post-traumatic stress and seizures.

All of these types of assistance dogs are dedicated to their humans, who rely on them to achieve and exceed their daily function. Please celebrate the selfless love and devotion these dogs so humbly provide by participating in National Assistance Dog Week.

National Assistance Dog Week was established due to the efforts of Marcie Davis, a paraplegic for over 35 years and CEO of Davis Innovations, a consulting firm based in Santa Fe, NM. Davis is the author of Working Like Dogs: The Service Dog Guidebook, and she is the host of the Internet radio program, Working Like Dogs, at www.petliferadio.com. As a member of a service dog team, she founded Working Like Dogs to honor assistance dogs around the world and is sponsoring National Assistance Dog Week.

Note: This articles was reproduced from this site:  www.assistancedogweek.org In hopes that our many wonderful fans and followers will pass this along, share this with others, take notice and create awareness.

2010 National Assistance Dog Week Fact Sheet

from the National Assistance Dog Week Organization

When is it?

National Assistance Dog Week is August 8-14, 2010.

What is it?

National Assistance Dog Week was created in 2009 in recognition of all the devoted, hardworking assistance dogs helping individuals mitigate their disability-related limitations.

What do assistance dogs do?

Assistance Dogs transform the lives of their human partners with debilitating physical and mental disabilities by serving as their companion, helper, aide, best friend, and close member of their family.

What are the goals of National Assistance Dog week?

The goals are to recognize and honor the hardworking assistance dogs; raise awareness and educate the public about how these specially trained animals are aiding so many people in our communities; honor the puppy raisers and trainers of assistance dogs; and recognize heroic deeds performed by assistance dogs in our communities.

Are all assistance dogs retrievers or are they other breeds as well?

Assistance Dogs can be from a variety of breeds including, but not limited to: Labrador Retrievers, Golden Retrievers, Standard Poodles, as well as shelter dogs.

Where can I get more information about Assistance Dogs?

You can go to Working Like Dogs, (www.workinglikedogs.com) read some of the pages, listen to Pet Life Radio podcasts, and check out some of the other organizations listed in the Service Dog Resources section of the website.

What kind of activities can I take part in during National Assistance Dog Week?

You can take part in an event someone else is organizing in your community or organize your own. It can be small or large. See the list of suggested events that is part of this package or find it posted on the National Assistance Dog Week website, www.assistancedogweek.org.

Who is sponsoring National Assistance Dog Week?

National Assistance Dog Week was established due to the efforts of Marcie Davis, a paraplegic for over 35 years and CEO of Davis Innovations, a consulting firm based in Santa Fe, NM. Davis is the author of Working Like Dogs: The Service Dog Guidebook, a resource book that captures personal stories, checklists and practical tips to provide the reader with an A-Z guide about service dogs and she is the host of the Internet radio program, Working Like Dogs, at www.petliferadio.com. She founded Working Like Dogs to honor assistance dogs around the world.

What types of assistance dogs are there?

While many people are familiar with Guide Dogs, those that assist people with vision loss, not as many people are aware of the other types of assistance dogs working today. Here is a description of the various types of assistance dogs:

Guide Dogs – Assist people with vision loss, leading these individuals around physical obstacles and to destinations such as seating, crossing streets, entering or exiting doorways, elevators, and stairways.

Service Dogs – Assist people with disabilities with walking, balance, dressing, transferring from place to place, retrieving and carrying items, opening doors and drawers, pushing buttons, pulling wheelchairs, and aiding with household chores, such as putting in and removing clothes from the washer and dryer.

Hearing Alert Dogs – Alert people with a hearing loss to the presence of specific sounds such as doorbells, telephones, crying babies, sirens, another person, buzzing timers or sensors, knocks at the door or smoke, fire and clock alarms.

Seizure Alert/Seizure Response Dogs – Alert or respond to medical conditions, such as heart attack, stroke, diabetes, epilepsy, panic attack, anxiety attack, post-traumatic stress, and seizures.

Medical Alert/Medical Response Dogs – Alert to oncoming medical conditions, such as heart attack, stroke, diabetes, epilepsy, panic attack, anxiety attack, and post-traumatic stress disorder.

Are assistance dogs allowed to go in to restaurants and other businesses even though other pets can’t?

Yes, assistance dogs are allowed to accompany their human partners to places of business including restaurants and shops. Under state law and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), they are guaranteed equal access to any and all establishments and accommodations; no extra charge can be levied because of the dog.

What a beautiful, inspiring story! When you love to do something, you don’t let anything stand in your way of continuing that activity, whether there’s blindness or any other challenge – whether it be naysayers or those overly concerned for your safety.   Go Isabel!

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Get the tissue out – this is a good one to share with people who are wondering IF they should say “I do.”

Say “I do.” The life that you’ll change for the better….is yours!

A Porch Potty Fan’s Wedding

Fan Dorie Weiss shared some beautiful wedding photos on our Facebook fan page that we just had to share!

Porch Potty – Yes, Our shih tzu, Betty was in our wedding two years ago. She was our “flower dog” and walked down the aisle with one of the flower girls. I’ll post a picture.

Betty walking down the aisle at our wedding – Dorie Weiss

Please share your wedding photos of how your dog participated in your special day!

Have you been keeping up to date with Emmie? She’s on the “Hike for Heroes” and raising funds with Troy to help support military families.

We love DYNAMIC DOGS here at Porch Potty and we think that Emmie is pretty dynamic! Today for her post, she shared some funny reason’s why your dog’s haircut costs most than yours – ENJOY!

10 Reasons Your Dog’s hair cut costs more than yours

10. Your hairdresser doesn’t wash and clean your rear end.
9. You don’t go for 8 weeks without washing or brushing your hair.
8. Your hairdresser doesn’t have to give you a sanitary trim.
7. Your hairdresser doesn’t have to clean your ears.
6. Your hairdresser doesn’t have to clean boogies from your eyes.
5. You sit still for your hairdresser.
4. Your haircut doesn’t include a manicure or pedicure.
3. Your hairdresser only washes and cuts the hair on your head.
2. You don’t bite or scratch your hairdresser. (I hope not anyway).
And the Number 1 reason your dog’s haircut costs more than yours….
1. The likelihood of you pooping or peeing while your hair is being cut is extremely slim!

The faithful dog will lick the hand that doesn’t offer food.  And, expects nothing but our company.  On this July 4th holiday, remember those who have served, whether two-legged or four.

On Memorial Day, we featured a video of Ricochet and how she found her personal freedom through discovery of her great gifts and talents.

On July 4th, we follow up with how Ricochet helps others discover and achieve their own personal freedom.

Happy 4th of July!

Today is Take Your Dog To Work day! And, while I know so many cannot (due to rules and regulations of the workplace). There are so many other places you can take your dog as a reminder to them to consider adopting from an animal shelter and rescuing someone… just as in this story.

We’ve all heard the saying, “He was complaining about having no shoes until he met a man with no feet.”

Here’s the dog version of that….

What a reminder!

It’s NOT at all what happens to us – it’s what we do with what happens to us that makes all the difference in the world.

Now, go hug your pooch and spend some time playing this weekend with your four-legged sweetie!