On Saturday, April 27, Mission Hospital will hold its annual
Paws on Parade Walk-a-Thon. The event
will be from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. at Carrier Park on Amboy Road in
Asheville.
It benefits the pet therapy program at the Mission Health
hospital system. This year’s goal is to
raise $10,000.
Showing posts with label pet therapy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label pet therapy. Show all posts
Wednesday, April 17, 2013
Paws on a MIssion
It is that time of year.
All around the Asheville area, it seems there is a walk or 5K on the
weekends that raises money for charity.
Swimsuit season is upon us, so what better way to whip into shape?
Monday, September 10, 2012
Veterans Need Your Help
It was a cold January morning three years ago. I was exhausted. My dog Dino had cancer and was having a bad episode. We spent Saturday night/Sunday morning at the emergency vet hospital. I was running late for the short walkie we took every morning.
When we stepped outside, I immediately smelled wood smoke. It was a bit unusual for someone to be burning that early or even in January, but you never know about people. As we approached the gate to our driveway, I looked up. Thick, black smoke billowed into the sky. My first thought was my parents’ house was on fire.
I could hear the sirens of the fire trucks. I returned Dino to the house, jumped in my car, and raced up the road. To my horror, I rounded the last curve before my parents’ driveway and saw my grandparents’ house on fire. It was too late for the fire department to save the house. It was fully involved – with my grandfather trapped inside. My grandmother had frantically tried to save him but could not.
Even though it has been three years, memories of that day haunt me. Every time I smell wood smoke, the images flash in my brain. When I am under a lot of stress, I become hyper-vigilant about little things, like whether or not I unplugged the coffee maker. It is getting better than it was three years ago, but I doubt you ever really recover from that kind of shock.
If I get that upset over one event in my otherwise blessed life, what must our soldiers feel? These brave men and women have witnessed unbelievable horrors in their service to the country. When they return, many of them struggle to cope. Some turn to therapy dogs to assist them with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Many stories have been written about how these dogs give soldiers a chance at regaining some small piece of their previous life.
Imagine my shock last week when I read that the Veterans Affairs Administration does not pay for dogs who assist patients with mental health issues. According to an article I read last week on CNN’s website, the VA is conducting a study to determine the efficacy of these dogs. What do the soldiers who are suffering now do while the government conducts the study?
Fortunately, organizations have taken it upon themselves to assist veterans by providing them with therapy dogs. Before donating or volunteering, be sure to research the organization. I have read that several inexperienced trainers have popped up offering therapy dogs, so do your homework.
At the end of this post, I have listed links to two stories about therapy dogs as well as a link to Puppies Behind Bars, an organization that trains service dogs. If you would like to help, I am sure they would appreciate your donation.
Rescue Mommy
Links:
http://www.apa.org/news/psycport/PsycPORTArticle.aspx?id=knightridder_2012_09_05__0000-4183-PM-VA-says-no-service-dogs-warranted-for-war-stress-sufferers-0905-20120905.xml
http://www.cnn.com/2012/08/01/health/mental-health-service-dogs/index.html?iref=allsearch
http://www.puppiesbehindbars.com/
When we stepped outside, I immediately smelled wood smoke. It was a bit unusual for someone to be burning that early or even in January, but you never know about people. As we approached the gate to our driveway, I looked up. Thick, black smoke billowed into the sky. My first thought was my parents’ house was on fire.
I could hear the sirens of the fire trucks. I returned Dino to the house, jumped in my car, and raced up the road. To my horror, I rounded the last curve before my parents’ driveway and saw my grandparents’ house on fire. It was too late for the fire department to save the house. It was fully involved – with my grandfather trapped inside. My grandmother had frantically tried to save him but could not.
Even though it has been three years, memories of that day haunt me. Every time I smell wood smoke, the images flash in my brain. When I am under a lot of stress, I become hyper-vigilant about little things, like whether or not I unplugged the coffee maker. It is getting better than it was three years ago, but I doubt you ever really recover from that kind of shock.
If I get that upset over one event in my otherwise blessed life, what must our soldiers feel? These brave men and women have witnessed unbelievable horrors in their service to the country. When they return, many of them struggle to cope. Some turn to therapy dogs to assist them with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Many stories have been written about how these dogs give soldiers a chance at regaining some small piece of their previous life.
Imagine my shock last week when I read that the Veterans Affairs Administration does not pay for dogs who assist patients with mental health issues. According to an article I read last week on CNN’s website, the VA is conducting a study to determine the efficacy of these dogs. What do the soldiers who are suffering now do while the government conducts the study?
Fortunately, organizations have taken it upon themselves to assist veterans by providing them with therapy dogs. Before donating or volunteering, be sure to research the organization. I have read that several inexperienced trainers have popped up offering therapy dogs, so do your homework.
At the end of this post, I have listed links to two stories about therapy dogs as well as a link to Puppies Behind Bars, an organization that trains service dogs. If you would like to help, I am sure they would appreciate your donation.
Rescue Mommy
Links:
http://www.apa.org/news/psycport/PsycPORTArticle.aspx?id=knightridder_2012_09_05__0000-4183-PM-VA-says-no-service-dogs-warranted-for-war-stress-sufferers-0905-20120905.xml
http://www.cnn.com/2012/08/01/health/mental-health-service-dogs/index.html?iref=allsearch
http://www.puppiesbehindbars.com/
Wednesday, April 25, 2012
Paws on a Mission
On Saturday, April 28, the Mission Hospital Foundation will hold a fundraiser for its pet therapy program. The event is a walk-a-thon at Carrier Park in West Asheville. Here is the press release if you are interested:
http://www.missionhospitals.org/documents01_pdf/1891.pdf
In addition to the walk-a-thon, the benefit will have some interesting contests. Check it out!
Rescue Mommy
http://www.missionhospitals.org/documents01_pdf/1891.pdf
In addition to the walk-a-thon, the benefit will have some interesting contests. Check it out!
Rescue Mommy
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