DISASTER STRESS RELIEF DOG (DSRD) TEST*
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma (June 2nd and 3rd 2012)
Bastrop, Texas, 2011
Prerequisites:
- Associate membership with TDI for one year and record of active visitations for one year.
- The Dog/Handler team must have stamina and be in excellent physical shape.
Please note: Our testing requirements are stringent. It goes without saying the temperament of the dog must be outstanding, and the dog should be able to handle all kinds of situations without prior experience.
Disaster Stress Relief Dog Teams are special Therapy Dog Teams
Therapy Dog Teams who must pass our additional DSR test
The handler is also required to take some special courses.
For more information or to request an application: call the TDI office (973) 252-9800; or e-mail mm@tdi-dog.org
Test dates and locations will be posted on the members pages of our website when ready. We will also email our members in the state in which the test is being given, as well as the neighboring states.
If you are interested in holding a DSR Test, please contact TDI.
* Details of our DSR test are not published
DEAD DOGS DON’T WAG THEIR TAILS!
by Associate Member, Dr. Bonita G. Rodgers
It was to be a pleasant Labor day weekend. Nancy, a substitute teacher for grades seven through twelve, was ready for some solitude, and welcomed the opportunity of a stress free visit to the country. The family had looked forward to a break from their usual hectic pace in Pennsylvania, and the peace and quiet of a visit to the family cabin in West Virginia. It was September and the cabin was in a remote forested area. After their arrival and unpacking, Nancy and her daughter made the eighteen mile drive into town to the local store. On their return trip, they chatted about how they would spend the weekend. As the car rounded a curve in the road, Nancy spotted a small black and white dog laying motionless in the road. It was against her better judgment to stop, but she just couldn’t leave the poor thing’s body in the road to be run over by other motorists. She backed up, and walked back to the body. As she leaned over the body, she noticed a sign of life. Instinctively, she withdrew, she knew of the danger of being bitten when helping a strange dog in pain. But she hesitated over the thin, dirty motionless creature. She was certain that it was dying, not sure what to do. As she leaned closer to the injured animal, the dog, broken and bleeding, only then noticed the woman. The pathetic creature, unable to move, or even lift its head, with all of the energy left in its body, began to slowly wag its tail.
Nancy questioned the local people to find the dog’s owner. “Naw, we don’t know who it belongs to, lots of people dump strays off here” she was told. Unsure that the dog would live, but unable to give up hope, Nancy located the town veterinarian, where the young dog spent the next several days with it’s life in balance. He had extensive eye damage, massive head and neck trauma, a cracked left foreleg, and various cuts and bruises. After a week he was ready to be discharged. Nancy kept careful watch over the animal, it was heartbreaking to see the young dog tremble in intense pain. He could not walk, and when he could finally stand, his head would droop and he would topple over to the left.
Several months of rehabilitation and mutual determination resulted in the animal’s ability to stand upright and walk short distances, however he still leaned to the left, and staggered as though he was drunk. Several names were considered, Lefty, Lazarus, Lucky, and finally Loopie was the pick. He responded well and as soon as he was strong enough, was vaccinated, neutered and began a new life with Nancy and family at their residence in Pennsylvania. Obedience classes followed, and Loopie, overjoyed at the attention and praise, excelled. He was a natural, and blossomed under all of the attention. His disposition proved that he was outgoing yet gentle, happy yet well-mannered, and loved everyone who would come within a tongue’s length. One of Nancy’s students was a young girl who had suffered a head trauma due to an auto accident. During a visit with the girl, Nancy noticed that the student was reading a magazine that caught Nancy’s eye. The cover had a photo of a therapy dog and a brief article on the subject. Loopie would be perfect. Nancy was determined to learn more about the program, and to offer Loopie the chance to become a therapy dog.
She researched the TDI test, and sadly realized that Loopie might not be able to pass the test. Loopie, although he loved humans, due to his small size, and prior tough life in the wild in competition with other dogs for food, was afraid of dogs. Nancy, not one to give up easily, developed creative ways to work around the problem, and to give Loopie the confidence he would need to deal with other canine companions. She visited every obedience class that she could, just sitting on the sidelines and watching from a distance, allowing Loopie to get used to being around several dogs. She attended dog shows, where Loopie was exposed to hundreds of well-socialized dogs which ignored his trembling presence.
She went to parks and asked people with friendly dogs if Loopie could meet their dog. They went to fairs and watched the ponies and chickens to introduce Loopie to other animals. And she would, when she noticed a person walking down the street with a dog, pull her car over several blocks ahead of the stranger, and get Loopie out to walk him past the stranger and dog as if they were simply out for an evening stroll. He was finally beginning to respond to her encouragement and confidence. Nancy contacted a local therapy group, CCC, who were active in nursing homes. They were very helpful in Loopie’s socialization and training, and allowed Nancy and Loopie to go with them for visits to their facility. Nancy’s patience and love finally paid off. Loopie was ready for the TDI test.
Nancy’s dream came true. Loopie passed his test and was certified by Therapy Dogs International. Together, he and Nancy are visiting two nursing homes. Loopie is partial to the Alzheimer’s patients. He and the patients have a special bond. No one questions why he walks with a slight limp, why his one eye looks a little odd, or why he droops slightly to the left as he shuffles down the hallway. They only see the beautiful silky black and white coat, and the sparkle of life, joy, and enthusiasm in his eyes as he glows under all of their kind words and attention. Then they notice the gentle wag of his tail, that same wag that caused Nancy to hesitate over a motionless little body, left for dead on a lonely West Virginia road over Labor Day weekend.
"Dead Dogs don't wag their Tails"!
