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If you would like to become an Associate Member of Therapy Dogs International, please click on the "Getting Started" link in the "Quick Links" section on the left side of the page for more information. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Happy Halloween!
The following four stories were published by SWR.de, but have been translated from German to English below. We think you will enjoy reading them. Please also continue scrolling down the page to see the Halloween and visitation photos submitted by our TDI Associate Members. Cheeky dog rescued from roof!
All is well again: The adventurous shepherd dog had to be rescued from his own cockiness in Idar-Oberstein. Apparently the dog jumped through a fly screen onto the balcony and from there climbed onto the roof of the house. The only thing he didn't seem to have taken into account was that he had to somehow get down from there. Local residents called both the police and the fire department. They quickly moved in to free the German Shepherd from his predicament. 
The Shepherd Dog probably jumped through a fly screen and got onto the roof. 
The German Shepherd was no longer able to get down from the six meter high roof on its own. A dog handler was also part of the rescue team and was finally able to lure the animal through the skylight and pull it back into the house. And the Idar-Oberstein fire brigade also gave the all-clear on the condition of the dog: the German Shepherd is doing well after his short trip to the roof - he was just a little exhausted, according to the head of the fire brigade Jörg Riemer. 
A handler pulled the animal back into the house through a skylight. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Dog "Flea": How cute is this "How I Met My Master" story?
Flea got lost on the A8, caused a complete closure there, was rescued and now has a new home! But let's go back to the beginning: The dog Flea hasn't had an easy life so far. The ten-month-old Kokoni bitch had to be rescued in Greece by a German animal protection organization. Arriving here, Flea was supposed to be placed in two families, but after a few "trial days" neither wanted to keep Flea. Flea's hopes for a "real" home were dashed for now... FLEA'S DANGEROUS ADVENTURE! On Monday, Flea ran away from the animal protection organization. She ran away and spent the night outdoors. Tuesday she got lost on the freeway. The frightened fur nose ran around between fast cars and trucks. The freeway was quickly closed. Flea could be caught by passers-by. FLEA MEETS HER NEW DAD AT THE POLICE STATION! The police took Flea to the station. Flea stayed here for now. Then it happened: the chief of the highway police saw Flea. He decided without further ado to take her home to take care of her there. Well, and now guess who made friends there real quick? Exactly, the policeman is now Flea's new dad. The bitch finally has a "real" home - happy ending. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Dog is light signal behind the wheel
On Saturday evening, a resident in Herschberg (Southwest Palatinate district) was amazed when he saw a dog in a car that turned on all the vehicle's lights. As the police in Pirmasens announced, the resident discovered the dog - a Pug - in a parked car. The animal jumped around there and turned on all the vehicle's lights. The police then identified the owner of the dog. Pirmasens police advise against driving licenses She stated that the dog had already learned to operate the lights on its own. The woman was strongly advised not to teach the animal to drive. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Excellent! - Dog finds mines in Ukraine
At a major film festival, the sniffer dog "Patron" received the special prize. He is said to have already found 200 explosive devices. "Patron" is on duty in Ukraine to find duds and mines. They often lie around on fields where there was previously fighting. According to Ukrainian information, "Patron" has already discovered more than 200 explosive devices - and thus prevented them from injuring or killing people. "PATRON" ALSO AWARDED IN UKRAINE The sleuth wasn't at the film festival in Cannes, France. A representative from Ukraine accepted his award, saying, "Patron cannot be here because he is so much needed at home." Previously, "Patron" received a medal from President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The Cannes Film Festival is one of the most famous in the world. In addition to actors and films, there are also awards for dogs that have acted in films every year. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Therapy Dogs At Home
Monday October 31, 2022
(R-MW, MO) BM loves to dress up for Halloween!
(R-S, GA) S, Z, and siblings ready for Halloween!
(R-MW, IL) A hiking along a nearby river!
Therapy Dogs Visiting
(R-S, NC) A ready to go make some therapy dog visits!
(R-S, TX) L at work!
(R-MW, MO) DJ waiting on the 1st and 2nd graders to come read to her!
(R-NE, NY) L loves making therapy dog visits!
(R-NE, MD) B ready for his weekly visit to our local hospital!
(R-S, NC) F at Paws to Read!
(R-S, NC) B dressing up for his visit to a local hospital!
(R-NE, NJ) B at his first visit today!
(R-MW, IN) O is ready to visit the local hospital!
(R-MW, MI) Z is so happy to be back at the public library as a “Ruff Reader”!
(R-MW, IL) A at reading buddies!
(R-NE, CT) Happy Howl-O-Ween from V the handsome horse!
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Therapy Dogs At Home
Friday October 14, 2022
(R-NE, PA) T loves the Fall!
(R-MW, MN) E and S relaxing together!
(R-MW, MO) J celebrating his 11th birthday!
(R-NE, NY) S is really enjoying the football season!
(R-NE, NY) P posing for a photo!
(R-NE, PA) L celebrating her 7th birthday!
(R-MW, IN) O taking a much deserved rest!
(R-MW, IL) T enjoying the cool Fall weather!
(R-W, CA) C says, "It's a beautiful day!"
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"The Kiss"By D Regent qualified for the 2022 Rally National Championship. I was so excited and proud of him, and of course I wanted to go. We practiced and practiced before hand, and I felt good about how we would do. There were 80 dogs entered in Novice, including us. For those who are not familiar with Rally, it is an obedience competition where the dog and the handler work through a pattern of 10-15 signs. They are a team, as they work through the signs that have different obedience skills to complete. In the RNC, we do a run in the morning and again in the afternoon. A perfect score is 100 for each run. The runs are then averaged together for a final score. In the morning, when it was Regent’s and my turn, he was somewhat distracted by all that was going on outside the ring, but we made it through to the last sign which called for a down. As I asked for a down, I bent forward and asked again when he did not respond to the first command. 
Regent looked up at me and gave me a big kiss right on my face. We received an NQ for that run, but I could not be mad at him. He was telling me he loved me. The afternoon run he did much better with a score of 97. The moral of this story is that people are always watching how you act. I received messages from strangers that everyone watching thought he was so sweet when he kissed me and that he was the “goodest dog “ that everyone wanted to take home. What really hit home, was when a total stranger told me more than Regent’s kiss, that my actions of love and patience when we came out of the ring were what she noticed and that there were many that did not act that way when they had a bad go. So win or lose, show your dog you love them no matter what. After all, they love us unconditionally. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Therapy Dogs At Home
Monday September 26, 2022
(R-MW, IL) A poolside!
(R-S, GA) Z at home, with his siblings!
(R-NE, CT) V loves Autumn!
Therapy Dogs Visiting
(R-NE, NY) L with the staff at the hospital!
(R-S, GA) Z at work!
(R-S, AL) J bringing smiles to the residents!
(R-S, SC) D on a visit!
(R-S, VA) K is always happy to visit!
(R-S, FL) B is doing great as a therapy dog!
(R-W, WA) Enjoying a festive, fall visit!
(R-NE, NY) Z visiting a nursing facility!
(R-S, FL) S on her 2nd official visit!
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We wanted to make you aware of the existence of this tick species. While it is not yet endemic to North America, it is very possible that it finds its way here eventually. The story was published by SWR.de, but has been translated from German to English below. You can also search online for additional information pertaining to the Hyalomma tick. Tropical tick spotted - Hyalomma likes dry heat 
They appeared in the Vorderpfalz and mainly torment horses. When the fast-moving ticks burrow into people's skin, they can transmit the viral disease CCHF. The hot and dry summer weather favors a species of tick that has so far mainly been native to Africa. According to the Stuttgart tick researcher Ute Mackenstedt, according to current information from the Vorderpfalz, the tick, which is called Hyalomma according to its genus name, is observed more frequently this year than in the previous, rather wet year. Striped legs and very fast "We have never come across this animal before," reports the rider Susanne Mengelberg in Bobenheim-Roxheim (Rhine-Palatinate district). The special size and the striped legs are striking. Within a few days, the tick species appeared five times, leaving bite wounds and sucking points on particularly sensitive areas of the horse's skin. "She runs, she is fast." Unlike the common woodbuck (Ixodes ricinus), which senses its victims via chemical signals such as temperature and smell and then attaches itself to them in the grass or undergrowth, Hyalomma ticks are active hunters that can pursue their victims over long distances. Ticks also go to humans The Greek name refers to the ability to see: Hyalomma means something like glass eye. So far, two different species have appeared in Germany, Hyalomma rufipes, which is native to Africa, and Hyalomma marginatum, which is widespread in south-eastern Europe and Turkey. In addition to horses and other large mammals, the ticks also go to humans. Climate change could encourage Hyalomma species "We assume that Hyalomma came to our latitudes with migratory birds," says the expert Mackenstedt, who researches in the parasitology department at the University of Stuttgart-Hohenheim. In the developmental stage of the nymph, the ticks attach themselves to the birds, then fall off and, in favorable weather conditions, develop into adults. In the vicinity of the riding meadows near Bobenheim-Roxheim there are several ponds with many Canada geese and greylag geese. "The occurrence of hyalomma correlates very well with the routes of bird flight," says Mackenstedt. This includes the Rhine Valley. There is also evidence for Baden-Württemberg, Hesse, North Rhine-Westphalia and Lower Saxony. "In the coming decades, climate change could result in a Hyalomma species being able to establish itself here and become at home," says the scientist. Depending on the amount of blood sucked, Hyalomma rufipes lays nearly 2,000 eggs at each oviposition. "The high number of offspring is a factor that can make it easier for the tick to conquer a new habitat," explains the Robert Koch Institute. Thousands of people have contracted it in Turkey since 2002 Hyalomma ticks can transmit Crimean-Congo fever (CCHF), a viral infection with a high mortality rate. Thousands of people have contracted CCHF in Turkey since 2002; According to the RKI, the disease had a fatal course in almost five percent of the cases. The state investigation office of Rhineland-Palatinate warned of the Hyalomma ticks in 2018 - even then the summer was particularly dry and hot. However, the occurrence of hyalomma does not have to be reported or reported. The authorities therefore have no information about the current distribution. Rider Susanne Mengelberg is concerned: "I very much hope to never meet a Hyalomma again." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Three Strikes!"By C Recently, three of my four dogs were bitten by a snake in our own backyard. We don’t know what kind of snake it was but we assume it was a copperhead since that is the most common poisonous snake in our area. I was outside with them when it happened but I was on the other side of the yard doing a little yard-work. I heard a yelp and saw my Boxer, Waylon, running towards the house. He was quickly followed by April, the Australian Kelpie, Danny the mixed terrier and retired Therapy Dog and last but not least, Glenda the miniature Poodle who is an active Therapy Dog. 
When I got into the house, they were all acting oddly. It was then that I noticed Waylon’s face was swelling. I saw what looked like two puncture wounds on his right cheek. When I touched his lip, he screamed. I realized he must have been bitten by a snake so my husband put him in the car and headed for the animal emergency clinic. The other dogs were still very quiet and a few minutes later I saw the April’s face was also very swollen, with puncture wounds on her left cheek. So I put her in my car and got to the ER about twenty minutes after my husband. 
Both dogs had blood drawn and luckily neither needed antivenin but April needed medication to calm down just to be examined. She was trying to hide under the chairs and shaking like a leaf. Waylon on the other hand, was very calm other than having the typical Boxer wiggle butt. All of the staff at the clinic kept complimenting him on his sweet behavior and telling us how lucky we were to have a dog with such a good temperament, who even in pain was gentle and cooperative. We were sent home with pain medication and instructions to use ice packs on their faces several times a day to control the swelling which they said would get worse before it got better. We were also told to watch for signs of infection or necrosis at the puncture wounds. The most interesting thing we learned was that most dogs do not succumb to copperhead bites and that had been my biggest fear. It’s really just a matter of controlling the pain and swelling. 
Once we got Waylon and April home we were settling everyone down and I noticed that Danny the terrier was looking puny. My husband started examining him and found swelling under his chin, although it was not as extreme as the other dogs. His furry, scruffy beard had hidden the swelling earlier. We did not take him to the ER, knowing that they would just give us the same advice so we treated him at home. The land behind our home is being cleared and we wondered if the snake wandered over to our yard looking for a safer home. After searching, we were unable to find the snake but we did spray a product called Snake-Away around the perimeter of the backyard, hoping to keep other snakes from deciding they like the look of our yard. I would like to tell Mr. Snake, “Three strikes and you’re out!” ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Life With Magic"By A
A good start on Magic’s story would be to tell how she got her name. Back Rivers Magic Freeway “Magic” was whelped mid morning of May 6th, 2009. Twenty four hours after all the other puppies, we had taken Abby and a basket of three puppies, to town for a vet check. After the exam, we were told Abby has no more puppies to whelp. We were hoping for a second female that we could keep and train for Brace in the AKC Obedience Ring. Disappointed, I patted Abby on the head and told her we would buy a little female for her companion. She swung her head around and looked at me as if to say, “don’t worry Mom I’ll get you another puppy.” Just a short time later on the trip home, as we flew down Hwy I95 South going seventy plus mph, there was movement on the seat on the other side of Abby. I leaned over and there next to Abby was a living wet puppy. We stopped at the park, Abby cleaned up the new addition, a female, I added it the basket, then there were FOUR. What else can you name the surprise result of a magic trick, but Magic. Along with Magic, we ended up keeping the runt of the litter because he was an unsaleable puppy, Rocky. Life was good and Abby was “Mother of the Year”, like I knew she would be. Magic grew big and strong and super smart. On the other hand, Rocky was plauged with problems from day one. Abby made the call on that puppy and raised the little guy. He didn’t walk until he was eight weeks old, cryptorchid, two hernias, teeth extractions, and puppy cataracts to name a few problems. We’ve always joked that Rocky doesn’t bark, he just goes cha-ching, cha-ching like a cash register. To this day Rocky and Magic are the closest of companions. At fifteen months old, Magic was well established in the obedience ring like Abby. She had her first title before she was a year old, but a much higher score than Abby. On August 24th, 2010, a terrible ordeal started. I was out on our property with only Magic. I turned my back for a few minutes working and she was gone. Earlier I had seen a herd of deer come through. They cross our property all the time. No Magic and no deer, she had taken off after them. Our twenty-two acres backed up to a twelve thousand acre hunt club. There was no fence in-between and on occasion our three dogs would cross into the club chasing deer and we would call them back. Magic was a young dog going in alone. No bossy Abby or slow Rocky to keep her in tow this time. We searched all that evening by calling her as we hiked into the property. The club land was a maze of ATV trails, fire brakes, and Georgia Power right-of-ways. We advertised and I left fliers at businesses in the area, all humane societies, veterinary offices, and dog pounds. Visited every house whose property bordered the hunting land. There was a caretaker’s house that could be seen up the power lines just inside of the club. They had not seen her or any sign of her. No one else lived on all those acres. Hunting season had not started. After more than a week, I still went out to the edge of our property and called her every morning and evening when the air was clear and voices carry. We quit hiking because of snakes on the move at that time of year. I never stopped going to the property line and calling her. When September started, the hunters began prepping their stands and blinds. The president of the club sent word out to his members to watch for a blue/grey female Standard Poodle. I just kept hoping she would magically appear.