Picture This by Jacqueline Sheehan is the third book read and reviewed by The New Barker. We enjoyed it just as much as her first bestseller, Lost & Found, one of our all-time favorite books. The second book we reviewed by Sheehan, Now & Then, is the story of a remarkable journey involving one big dog, Madigan, an Irish Wolfhound, and a wonderful cast of characters.
Picture This, by Jacqueline Sheehan, a favorite read by staff of The New Barker.
Picture This is actually the sequel to her bestseller, Lost & Found. But you needn’t read Lost & Found (which has been optioned for film by the actress Katherine Heigl) to enjoy Sheehan’s latest book. Like the two previous books we reviewed, Sheehan writes about love, heartbreak, inner strength and the courage to restore and rebuild.
Rocky Pellegrino, the book’s heroine, lives on an idyllic spot, Peaks Island just off the coast of southern Maine. She works at what seems to be the perfect job for her, as the animal control warden. As with the storylines in her first two books, this one is a mystery, with several plots that will eventually lead to an amazing ending. Sheehan’s training in psychology is certainly integral to her writing, especially in understanding motivation, she says, which is at the core of character development. Her descriptions of people, animals, Peaks Island and even the houses, are as alive and robust as if watching them unfold on stage.
Rocky’s constant companion is a Black Lab named Cooper. They protect and support one another, and Sheehan provides knowing insight on the special relationship shared by Rocky and Cooper. It’s a description that every dog lover is familiar with. “You don’t have to make choices like this,” Rocky says to Cooper. “As much as you might disagree, I can’t stay in the almighty now, every single minute like you do. I know, you’re the dog, and you are constantly rejoicing.”
Yes, dogs remind us of the importance of living in the now, not only for our health and well-being, but to keep an eye out for what might be waiting for us – good or bad. By not focusing on the moment, what things could we possibly be overlooking?
Rocky is a cool, tough woman on the outside. She seems to have contentedly settled into a comfortable life, while still recovering from the sudden death of her husband, Bob some time ago. A bit guarded when it comes to love, she opens up to it, only to be hurt once again. She throws herself into renovating an old house, which to her seems haunted bittersweetly by lost love and forgotten secrets. The house speaks to her soul, and it’s fun to discover those secrets while we live vicariously through Rocky, and the home’s renovations.
Then, a mysterious phone call from a young woman looking for her biological father, throws the story in to full mystery gear. Bob was Rocky’s soulmate, her true love. Could the girl possibly be Bob’s long-lost daughter? Could this be the connection Rocky has longed for, maybe even a message from Bob himself?
The women in Sheehan’s books are all vulnerable, but tough. They live life as it comes, and fall hard in love. Luckily, they have a dog who is forever their protector, and the one constant in all of their lives.
Jacqueline poses with Captain, the day he auditioned for the role of Cooper in a promotional video for the book, Picture This.
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The new pontiff was presented to the world as: “Cardinalem Bergoglio, qui sibi nomen impost Franciscum.” (translated: Cardinal Bergoglio, who takes for himself the name of Francis). Bergoglio’s decision to become the first pope ever to be known by the name Francis is almost unprecedented and a bold choice, according to Vatican analyst John Thavis.
Picked in a reference to Saint Francis of Assisi, the most iconic saint in Catholic tradition, the name symbolizes poverty, humility, simplicity and peace. “What has made this pope an early hit with the public is the sense that Francis is more than a name. It is a statement about the kind of pope he wants to be,” Thavis wrote on the National Catholic Reporter.
So, it is no coincidence that one of the first privileged to receive a physical blessing from Pope Francis’s hands this past weekend was a Labrador Retriever named Asia. Scores of journalists came from all over the world to cover the conclave that led to the election of the first Jesuit, the first non-European and the first Latin American pontiff. Asia is a service dog belonging to visually impaired radio journalist, Alessandro Forlani, who works for Italian RAI radio.
As Forlani waited in line with Asia to enter the hall, security guards told him that most likely he would not be allowed inside. “But after a few minutes, Vatican officials gave me the green light, and I was accompanied by a Swiss guard to the audience hall,” said Forlani. He and Asia were seated near the first row of seats.
At the end of the pope’s magnetic speech, a previously-selected group of media notables was presented to the pontiff. While the journalists lined up to be greeted by Pope Francis, Vatican officials approached Forlani and Asia.
Pope Francis blesses Asia, a Labrador Retriever. Photo credit Discovery News.
“They said that Pope Francis had asked to meet me. He had seen Asia and wanted to see both of us,” said Forlani, who asked the Pope for a blessing for his wife and daughter at home. Then, Pope Francis bent down to caress Asia and said, “and a special blessing for (your) dog too.”
It was a fitting image for a pope inspired by the patron saint of animals.
The New Barker dog magazine is Florida’s top dog lifestyle magazine.
Everyone is happier when serving a purpose – humans and dogs alike. In each issue of The New Barker dog magazine, we feature working dogs, which can be any form of work, as determined by the dog-human team. Here is an excerpt from our winter issue, featuring a group of volunteers for the Pinellas Chapter of Therapy Dogs International.
It takes a special kind of dog to be a pet therapy dog. It takes an even more special kind of human being to recognize that their dog might be able to provide a service for the betterment of mankind. We were recently introduced to a group of volunteers for the Pinellas Chapter of Therapy Dogs International (TDI) by Elliott Rakofsky, Vice President of Development at PARC. Elliott and his dog, Conrad are TDI volunteers.
PARC provides over 40 services to more than 800 children and adults with developmental disabilities in Pinellas County. It was founded in 1953 by Edythe Ibold and a group of parents with children who had developmental disabilities. Several years earlier, Edythe’s daughter Midge had been born with Down’s syndrome. When Midge was still a toddler, Edythe decided to telephone the Pinellas Superintended of Schools to find out what the training options were for her daughter. She was shocked to learn that the School Board was prevented by law from providing education and training for developmentally-challenged children. Those words impelled Edythe into action and she set out from that day forward to change the system.
Leilah, a Curly Coated Retriever, interacts with a Curry Villa resident.
The first project was the opening of a pilot class for children with developmental disabilities in 1953. The School Board furnished the teacher, the Red Cross provided transportation and members of the Junior Women’s Club provided volunteer assistance.
Today, PARC has a national reputation as a progressive leader in the field of developmental disabilities. Expansion in recent years has brought enhanced innovative opportunities for PARC clients. PARC maintains four residences for both adults and children with developmental disabilities. The residents served by these homes range in age and abilities.
TDI team Alex and April interact witha PARC/Curry Villa resident. April adopted Alex, a Border Collie/Jack Russell Terrier mix, from the SPCA Orlando.
The New Barker was at Curry Villa on the day that Therapy Dogs International volunteer teams were scheduled to visit its residents. Through the lens of my camera, I couldn’t tell who was happier to be in the room: the dogs, the residents or the TDI volunteers. Everyone was either smiling or laughing. The dogs were smiling too, tails wagging uncontrollably from all the extra attention. Who was benefiting more from the interaction? It was a tossup. As I photographed one resident with a dog, another one tapped me on the shoulder and asked if he could have his picture taken. The more photographs we set up, the more residents wanted to be photographed with the different dogs.
The dogs utilized for therapy work vary in size and breed. Many are mixed breeds. The one thing they all have in common is a love for human interaction. Alex, a nine-year-old Border Collie/Jack Russell Terrier mix was adopted by April from the SPCA Orlando. He was either lost or abandoned during Hurricane Charley. April was so grateful to have found Alex, she decided that giving back to her community felt like the right thing to do. “Like paying it forward,” she said. They have been a TDI team for almost six years.
Volunteers for the Pinellas Chapter of Therapy Dogs International, visiting residents of PARC’s Curry Villa.
Many of the volunteers visit several different facilities that use therapy dogs to interact with their patients and clients. Candace Coughlin and her Samoyed, Crystal participate in the Tail Waggin Tutors program. They visit the VA Hospital at Bay Pines in St. Petersburg, in addition to their volunteer work with PARC. She agrees with April on the theory of paying it forward. Candace and her husband Paul have built a successful business in the Bay Area that revolves around dogs. For more than 25 years they’ve been dog trainers, and Candace has been a pet sitter for almost six years. It has been a rewarding journey for the Coughlins.
“I love my dogs and enjoy being with people who feel the same. I cannot imagine my life without dogs,” said Candace. While it is clear that the dogs’ owner/handlers have an unselfish desire to help others, they all admit to receiving something in return for their time and effort. “It is so rewarding to watch Leilah interact with the residents, and to see the joy she brings to them,” said TDI volunteer Toni Lynn Sharpe of her four-year-old Curly Coated Retriever.
For information on Therapy Dogs International, Pinellas County Chapter, contact April at 727.771.5995 or email her at TDIChapter256@gmail.com. To learn more about PARC visit http://www.PARC-FL.org.
Later this week, read about another Working Dog featured in The New Barker. Molly, a little Shih Tzu with a very big heart.
Michael Phelps: 18-time Olympic gold medalist. Fan of the Baltimore Ravens. Friend of Baltimore Ravens player, Ray Lewis. Phelps credits Lewis with inspiring him to return to swimming to compete in the 2012 Olympics. He won six more medals, including four gold, and then retired after the Games.
Somehow, Phelps snagged the Vince Lombardi Trophy (or the Tiffany Trophy as it is sometimes known, after Tiffany & Co., the famed jeweler that makes the trophy). He then posed each of his dogs next to the trophy and snapped up some photos. The New Barker dog magazine heard from a spokesdog for the Puppy Bowl dogs, who are understandably steamed. “We do all the heavy lifting, and those Phelps’ dogs get all the glory,” said the spokes dog.
The Ravens may have won Super Bowl XLVII. But the champs here are Herman and Stella. And we heard they’re heading to Disney World.
Meet Stella, Michael Phelps’ dog in front of the Super Bowl Trophy.Meet Herman Phelps, who appears unfazed by the Super Bowl Trophy.
While doing some window shopping over the last couple of weeks, we discovered some fun finds for Valentine’s Day gift ideas at local Tampa Bay Area dog boutiques. The proprietors are constantly searching the country for unique dog-themed items. So, if you’re in the mood to shop with and for your dog, stop in at any one of the local area shops, and say hello. It pays to shop with The New Barker Valentine’s Gift Guide. Simply mention The New Barker dog magazine when you make a purchase, email us your receipt (info@thenewbarker.com) and you will automatically receive one of the following, while supplies last:
1) A gift certificate from a Bay Area dog-friendly restaurant.
5) A perpetual dog-themed calendar, with beautiful black and white photos, and touching dog-themed quotes. Perfect for annual recurring dates like birthdays and anniversaries.
7) Then, you will automatically be registered (just by sending us your emailed receipt) for A Getaway Package from one of our dog-friendly Florida resort partners, like the TradeWinds Island Grand, Steinhatchee Landing Resort, Changing Tides, Hotel Indigo, Siesta Key Bungalows, The Chart House Suites, Heron Cay Lakeview Bed & Breakfast.
So, how much do we love our dogs? Let us count the ways.
1) Accentuate Your Love – We found these pillows (shown below) at Fluffy Puppies in Clearwater. Vamp up a couch or chair, and show the world you love to adopt dogs.
These pillows are the perfect Valentine’s gift for anyone who volunteers in animal rescue.
2) One of our most spectacular finds were these Bada Bling Bada Bloom collars at Fluffy Puppies (shown below). Exquisitely adorned with Swarovski crystal beads, you might think they would be ridiculously expensive. But, think again. They’re beautiful and reasonably priced. Perfect for a night on the town.
Gorgeous collars, adorned with Swarovski beads. Available at Fluffy Puppies.
3) Be My Valentine. Now, if it’s your dog you’re shopping for, this sweet little I Heart You tee, worn by our model, Chloe, says it all. Available at One Lucky Dog in multiple sizes, while supplies last. Be sure to check out their line of tee shirts for humans, including the “I Kissed A Dog and I Liked It.”
Nothing says “Be Mine” than the I Heart You tee shirt from One Lucky Dog, St. Pete.Soft, nicely cut tee shirts from One Lucky Dog, St. Petersburg.
4 & 5) Call Me, Maybe? Oh yea these numbers are one-of-a-kind finds, and available exclusively at Pawsitively Posh Pooch. Hand-sewn with delicate appliqués and jewels, the couture lines carried at Pawsitively Posh Pooch are from fashion-first cities like Milan, Paris, and Spain. Plan on spending some time here, as you uncover treasure after treasure, like the gorgeous harness, worn by store dog, Zoe. Available in various sizes.
This couture doggie design, exclusively at Pawsitively Posh Pooch, St. Petersburg.Zoe, our Pawsitively Posh Pooch model, wearing a one-of-a-kind halter.
6) Dental Health Month. In conjunction with National Pet Dental Health Month, February is also Responsible Pet Owners Month. Now is a good time to stock up on some in-home preventive measures like the Fresh Breath Liquid Floss spray and Triflossball, available at Pet Food Warehouse. The dynamic duo treatment doubles as a great way to clean your dog’s teeth during playtime. Throughout February, Pet Food Warehouse is offering 20% off on all dental products. Stop in to see their huge display, and have your questions answered by a knowledgeable staff. Be sure to check out their I Heart Dogs T-shirts. Another sweet Valentine’s gift for dog lovers.
Floss and Fun with your dog for healthier teeth. Available at Pet Food Warehouse, St. Pete.Novelty tee-shirts, like this one, available at Pet Food Warehouse, St. Petersburg.
7) Environmentally dog-friendly. Who can resist the charming handmade and hand-painted Adirondack chairs, complete with a motif that includes your dog’s likeness? Wet Noses, the shabby-chic cottage boutique in Sarasota’s Downtown, carries some wonderful finds, created by local artists.
Handmade and hand-painted Adirondack chairs, available at Wet Noses Boutique, Sarasota.
For the love of dog, come along and have some fun with Florida’s top dog lifestyle magazine. Be sure to stay connected to all things Florida Dog via The New Barker blog, Facebook page and Weekend PupDates. We’ll be offering fun specials and more giveaways throughout the year.
It seems as if every day is dog day around here. We get up thinking about the needs of our dogs. And because our dogs come to work with us, their wants and desires always seem to be our number one priority. It’s a wonder we’re able to accomplish anything at all, except where our dogs are concerned.
Nevertheless, there is quite a bit happening here at The New Barker Dog Magazine, and more things are being added weekly. We have been named the Official Dog Magazine for Florida’s Largest Home Show and Spring Fling Adopt-A-Pet at the Florida State Fairgrounds, March 15-17. We’ll have a staging area with programs, demonstrations and short seminars going on throughout the weekend. Rescue groups who are interested in participating are encouraged to contact Rick Medina at Animal Based Charities. Pet-related vendors should contact The New Barker at info@thenewbarker.com.
The New Barker is once again the official dog magazine for this year’s International Combined Driving Event at Little Everglades Ranch in Dade City. While this is an amazing Equestrian event, dog lovers will get a kick out of the Jack Russell Terrier Races being held on Saturday, February 23. We will have some tickets to give away, so be sure to sign up for Weekend Pup-Dates and The New Barker Facebook page for upcoming details, and your chance to win.
The New Barker is also a co-sponsor of the Jacksonville Humane Society’s Mutt March (March 2 at The Jacksonville Landing) and the Humane Society of Manatee County’s Paws in Motion (March 9, Downtown Bradenton’s Riverwalk). We’ll be busy in March with our duties as the official dog magazine for events like the 6th Annual Doggie Derby in Orlando, the Annual Dog’s Day in Dade City, and the 4th Annual Florida Wiener Dog Derby in North Fort Myers. Hint: Bookmark The New Barker calendar to check for updates.
And the fun doesn’t slow down in April. We’ll be at the 7th Annual PawFest on Saturday, April 6 in Largo, as their official dog magazine and co-sponsor. This has always been a fun event for the entire family. We’re also looking forward to the 2nd Annual Chasco Fiesta Pet Adoption Fair on Saturday, April 13 in New Port Richey. Interested in participating as a vendor or rescue group? Call Linda at 727.501.1444 for PawFest and Kristen at 727.842.7651 for the Chasco Fiesta Pet Adoption Fair.
April 28th kicks off the season’s Bark in the Park series at the newly renovated McKechnie Field, home of the Bradenton Marauders. The New Barker has been asked back as the season’s Official Dog Magazine for each of the five Bark in the Parks. There will be games, raffle prizes and plenty of giveaways. And, be sure to stay Pup-To-Date for details on the upcoming Ray’s Bark at the Ballpark, scheduled during baseball season at the Trop. We’ll also be doing the annual Bark in the Park with the Tampa Yankees.
We are especially fortunate (okay, and excited) to be working on a fundraising project for Olive’s Way, featured in the winter edition of The New Barker. Partnering with the Columbia Restaurants to bring a very special Wine Tasting Dinner, the April 30th event will raise money to benefit the Oncology Department at the University of Florida Small Animal Hospital. Our special guest will be Jeremy Foley, Athletic Director for the University of Florida. His chocolate Labrador, Gracie, who was featured in the very first issue of The New Barker in 2006, was a recent patient at the UF Small Animal Hospital. Tickets will be available soon, so stay close to The New Barker social media tools for details.
News You Can Sink Your Teeth Into: February is Responsible Pet Owners Month as well as National Pet Dental Health Month. The New Barker veterinary partners all agree that a clean mouth is like having clean heart valves. And to motivate you even more, our veterinary partners are all offering specials on dental exams and teeth cleaning this month. Contact any one of these doctors and they will be happy to consult with you about your dog’s teeth:
Dr. Steven Lewis, Davis Island Animal Clinic – 813.251.4384
Dr. Shauna Green, Medicine River Animal Hospital – 727.299.9029
Dr. Douglas Metzler, Metzler Veterinary Hospital – 727.669.7221
Dr. Mark Brown, Central Animal Hospital – 727.521.3518
Dr. Eddie Garcia, Veterinary Medical Clinic – 813.289.4086
Dr. Thomas Tallon, Jr., Gulfport Veterinarian – 727.384.4413
Sam, available for adoption.
Dog of the Week: Meet Sam, a five-year-old Cavalier King Charles. He is current on everything, gets along well with humans and other dogs and cats. If you adopt Sam, he will want to be with you everywhere you go. A real champ of a lap dog. A Very Important Pet daycare, boarding and grooming, is fostering Sam. Call them at 727.446.6700 for details.
The staff at the veterinary hospital braced themselves behind the desk. Across the lobby they watched as a couple scrutinized the invoice’s contents for their dog’s medical treatment. Their dog, who had been diagnosed with renal cancer, had just undergone a successful yet grueling surgical procedure to remove her cancerous kidney, and part of her adrenal gland. She was still in recovery, under close watch. The office manager was prepared to explain the bill, but Dr. Nick Bacon, the surgical oncologist, walked towards Lisa and Harry Posin instead. As Harry pointed to the bill, he remarked, “Dr. Bacon, I think there must be some mistake with the bill.” So Dr. Bacon graciously began the task of going over each item on the bill, line by line. Afterwards, Harry pressed on, “But doctor, the bill is too low. Is your fee in here? Dr. Bacon exhaled. Suddenly, the weariness from the surgery washed away, as he assured Harry that indeed his fee was part of the bill. Thus began a warm and mutually rewarding relationship between Dr. Bacon, the Posins, Olive, their beloved Maltese, and the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine.
Olive, during her promotional photo shoot for Olive’s Way.
Olive’s Way. A Love Story. Olive was three when Lisa and Harry noticed something was not right. Their always alert and energetic dog had been lethargic for several days, and her eyes appeared puffy. They took her to their family veterinary clinic in Boca Raton where she was diagnosed with conjunctivitis, and subsequently treated with steroids. But Olive’s condition wasn’t improving. In fact, while Lisa’s mom, Marie McCarron was babysitting Olive, she observed that Olive seemed to be getting worse. Marie drove Olive to the veterinary clinic, stormed the office and firmly requested, “I want to see the records for my granddaughter.”
It turns out, no blood work had ever been done on Olive to confirm, or pinpoint the origin of her illness. Lisa flew back from New York immediately, and took Olive to her mother’s veterinarian in Boynton Beach. “When the doctor came out of the exam room, holding Olive in his arms, I knew right away by the look on his face that something was terribly wrong,”said Lisa. “I called Harry and asked him to please come over, right away. And then, for some reason, when I hung up the phone, I just walked out of the clinic’s lobby, holding tightly onto Olive’s little sweater. I just walked and walked for, I don’t know how many miles. When a car pulled up alongside me, I turned to see it was Harry. He was holding Olive, and I could tell he had been crying.”
“Olive has cancer,” Harry told Lisa. “We’ll get her the best treatment available,” he assured her.
The Posins immediately took Olive to a specialty hospital in Coral Springs to see Dr. Morales. From what she had been told by Marie’s veterinarian, Dr. Morales initially thought to herself that there was little hope for Olive. She would make sure Olive was comfortable until the Posins were ready to let her go.
But the tests that Dr. Morales ran revealed a glimmer of hope. The cancer was encapsulated, and if removed immediately, Olive might stand a good chance of living. When the Posins asked Dr. Morales where they should go for the surgery, she immediately recommended the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine. Lisa looked at Harry, and then at Dr. Morales and said, “I don’t think you understand, Dr. Morales. We’ll take Olive anywhere in the world to ensure that she receives the best possible treatment and care.” Without a blink of an eye, Dr. Morales gently answered, “Well, then, you’ll be taking Olive to the University of Florida, of course.”
While Lisa, her mom and Olive traveled to Gainesville by plane that same afternoon, Dr. Morales was already on the phone with Dr. Nick Bacon, head of the Oncology Unit at the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine. Harry would fly up later that evening.
What makes the UF College of Veterinary Medicine so special is the team approach taken with each patient to reach a diagnosis and recommend the subsequent care. For one consultation fee, the patient is seen by an entire team of specialists in one location. It is often a profound savings in cost, and certainly a savings in time, as all tests, procedures and specialists are contained on one campus. Once in the system, a family is gently guided throughout the various processes by the team, while being provided thorough explanations and assurances along the way.
Dr. Bacon explained the bell curve of Olive’s diagnosis and prognosis to Lisa and Marie. She could live another 16 months if the surgery was successful, he told them. As reassuring as the entire team in the room was being, Lisa was still consumed with fear and utter sadness at the realization that Olive could actually die. A young woman on Olive’s team, sitting next to Lisa, took her hand and said, “We’re here to help you, any way we can.” Suddenly, Lisa looked around and became acutely aware of her surroundings. “I felt as if I was in the most amazing place, with the most amazing people,” said Lisa. “The positive energy within that whole environment made me feel hopeful, and I realized at that moment, anything was possible.”
Several times during the nearly six hour surgery the following morning, the Posin’s were given updates on Olive’s condition. Afterwards, Dr. Bacon, who had performed the surgery, sat with the Posins for about an hour to further discuss Olive’s condition with them. 24 hours after the surgery, the Posins were able to peek in on Olive. “It was the most beautiful sight I had ever seen in my life,” said Lisa, “She was swaddled up, and with her pretty bright eyes looking at me, I just knew she was going to be okay.”
Convinced that the bill was correct, but not completely satisfied, Harry asked Dr. Bacon, “How much money is raised each year for the oncology unit?” Surprisingly, on average, only $10,000 in donations came in sporadically each year by humans whose animals’ lives had been touched by the College of Veterinary Medicine. “They were making due with what they had,” said Lisa.
The Posins, who had together already decided they would make a donation to the oncology unit for their efforts in having saved Olive’s life, decided that they also wanted to create a vehicle to raise even more money specifically for the Oncology Unit. Through this foundation, all of the money raised would go to help develop more research programs, purchase state-of-the-art equipment and fund in whole or part, an internship, a residency in medical oncology, and a fellowship in surgical oncology.
“Harry named the foundation Olive’s Way to show that this would be the way, a beacon of hope for those pets suffering with cancer. Because with hope, as I already know, anything is possible,” said Lisa. In 2008, a year after Olive’s surgery, the first fundraiser was held at the Boca Raton Resort and Club, raising an astounding $320,000. Olive attended, as did Dr. Bacon. “Once people knew of the wonderful work taking place at the University, they immediately wanted to help by making donations to the foundation. They had just never realized that their help was needed to keep the College of Veterinary Medicine viable and growing,” said Lisa. “Due to the severity of Olive’s illness and the complex nature of the surgery,” Harry strongly believes, “had it not been for the skilled oncology team at the University of Florida, we would likely have lost Olive on the operating table.”
The oncology service at the College of Veterinary Medicine has grown from a single clinician in 2002 to the largest training center for veterinary oncologists in the Southeastern United States. In 2010, the College of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Florida opened a new hospital with 100,000 square feet dedicated to the diagnosis and treatment of veterinary patients. Today, the University of Florida is one of only two centers in the world to train veterinarians in cancer surgery in a post-residency program. Olive’s Way has helped to make all of this possible. Olive defied the odds and lived another four years after her surgery. “They were four good years too,” said Lisa, who can still vividly recall the day it was time to let Olive go. “I was lying in bed with her face on my face. Harry was looking at us with tears in his eyes, waiting to take her. That precise moment in time always comes back to me whenever I see anyone else in pain. I still miss her dearly, and telling her story allows me to get back in touch with her. I never want to lose sight of her, and I can be completely re-charged just by seeing a picture of her.” Dr. Bacon changed the Posin’s lives, and they changed his. As a result, he has changed the whole landscape of the oncology department at the University. “Even though cancer is such a horrible subject, we are on the hopeful side of it, thanks to Olive’s Way, and the Oncology Department at the University of Florida,” said Lisa.
Retired U.S. Marine Rober Harr, 86 (center) with U.S. Marine Gunnery Sgt. Christopher Willingham (right) and U.S. Marine Cpl. Juan Rodriguez (left) with Lucca on the Natural Balance 2013 Rose Parade Float, Canines with Courage. (Gary Friedman, Los Angeles Times).
A decade ago, Military Working Dogs like Lucca would have most likely been euthanized after her service. The dogs were considered government equipment and too dangerous to return to domestic life. Thousands of dogs working for the military have been sent overseas since 1942. Over the years, many have been left behind as excess equipment. During the Vietnam War, about 4,000 American war dogs were employed in various capacities. About 300 dogs were killed in action or were victims of either tropical diseases or infections. The rest of the dogs were reportedly put down by military veterinarians or given to the South Vietnamese Army.
In 2000, President Clinton signed a law allowing retired soldiers and civilians to adopt the Military Working Dogs after their deployments.
John Burnam, who served in Vietnam and wrote a first-person account of working with a front-line scout dog named Clipper, will also be riding on the float today. Clipper never made it back to the United States. Burnam is president of the foundation that established the Military Working Dog Teams National Monument, which is scheduled to be completed in October, 2013. Burnam’s story about Clipper inspired Rep. Walter B. Jones (R-NC), who introduced legislation for a national monument. In 2008, President Bush signed the bill into law, and President Obama authorized Burnam’s foundation to build and maintain the San Antonio, Texas monument.
The bronze statue features a Doberman Pinscher, German Shepherd, Labrador Retriever and a Belgian Malinois leading a dog handler on patrol. The $1.2 million dollar price tag was funded solely by grants and donations led by sponsors Natural Balance, Petco and Maddie’s Fund.
Cpl. Juan Rodriguez, 23, credits Lucca with saving his life. The dog sniffed out a booby trap, setting off the bomb that took her leg. Cpl. Rodriguez later escorted Lucca to her first handler, Marine Gunnery Sgt. Christopher Willingham, 33. Lucca is living the life of spoiled retirement, and enjoying every minute of it.
The New Barker dog magazine is honored to be a longtime supporter and sponsor of Military Working Dog Team Support Association (MWDTSA). Over the years, through the support of our retail advertisers and their own generous customers, supplies have been collected for the dogs and their handlers currently deployed overseas. We have collected the donations and transported them to the SPCA Florida in Lakeland. There, they are either shipped to Atlanta, or Dixie Whitman, the executive director of MWDTSA drives to Lakeland from Atlanta to pick up the supplies. Dixie then packages and ships the supplies directly to the deployed handlers and their dogs.
We wanted to share a story that was first reported by the New York Daily News on Monday, December 17. The comfort dogs are able to bring is no surprise to dog lovers. The New Barker joins the nation in sending our thoughts and prayers to those who lost loved ones as a result of this tragedy.
Comfort dogs help ease pain of mourning Newtown Community. By Jennifer H. Cunningham and Adam Edelman for the New York Daily News. Photography is by Allison Joyce for the New York Daily News.
A pack of sympathetic groups bearing supportive canines spent much of Monday with bereaved Connecticut residents affected by last week’s Sandy Hook Elementary School massacre, providing children and adults alike with the cuddly comfort that only a four-legged friend can give.
The therapy dogs were brought in by at least three groups late Sunday to help kids and adults alike cope with last week’s horrific shooting in Newtown that left 20 first graders and six school officials dead.
Among the groups was the Hudson Valley Golden Retrievers Club, whose members spent the afternoon at a makeshift memorial near the town center, where both kids and adults in need of compassion stopped to pet and cuddle the dogs.
Mourning or otherwise devastated children and parents said that petting the dogs gave them relief from their sadness.
“I just love dogs, so whenever I’m around them, they make me feel better,” said 12-year-old Ryan Williams. “When they come over and you pet them you kind of forget about what’s happening for a little bit.”
Jenna Stuart, a school bus driver from Newtown, said the dogs were an enormous help to her four-year-old daughter, Kylie, who attends preschool at the Children’s Adventure Center in front of Sandy Hook Elementary and lost friends in the tragedy.
“I like the dogs because they made me happy,” said Kylie, after petting one on the head. “The dogs love me.”
Some residents, who weren’t directly affected by the bloodshed, found peace in simply bringing their own dogs to help others.
Sandy Hook resident Ann Mari Cioffi, a member of the Hudson Valley Golden Retrievers Club, brought her dog, Libby, 5, to comfort victims, at a memorial in the center of town.
“They’re just gentle, caring, kind and sweet. Cioffi said of the dogs. “They just seem to sense it. They just sense when somebody’s sad.”
Massachusetts- based K-9’s For Kids Pediatric Therapy Dogs was also among the groups sharing their tail-wagging buddies.
Crystal Wright, 52, of Becket, Mass., a dog handler with the group for Rhiku, a 5 year old Sheltie, said the canine had been easing frowns all day.
“Everyone likes to pet a dog,” she said. “It changes the mood. It kind of takes them away from what they’re going through for a moment. I think it’s helping. I think they needed it.”
Some canines even traveled across the country to help out.
Trainers from the Chicago-based Lutheran Church Charities, which has deployed its comfort dogs to other communities hit by tragedy in the past, brought in 10 to 15 Golden Retrievers and their handlers to Connecticut to help with the consolation efforts, Tim Hetzner, the president of the organization, said.
I love this dog because, in spite of his situation, he was in such good spirits. He had been discarded, left at a high kill shelter. Thanks to the Pilots N Paws organization, he found a new loving home. Winter/Holiday issue of THE NEW BARKER will be out in just a few days.
The Art Of Dog.™ 
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