Planet Dog Blog

Thanks to the Therapy Dogs at Maine Med

As we closed out 2011, we awarded nearly $70,000 in grants to 10 organizations that utilize dogs in some capacity to help people in need. One of those grantees is the Therapy Dog Program at Maine Medical Center, based right here with us in Portland, ME.

Over our holiday break, a good friend of Planet Dog found herself on the receiving end of one of our grants, and she wrote us this note to share her story.

We are grateful to the amazing volunteers involved in the program and thank them for the furry love given to our friend Rachel, and to all of the patients and staff at the hospital.

"Let me set the scene. It's Christmas Eve, around 10 pm, and my stomach is starting to hurt.  Four hours later, the pain is worse, and I go to the Emergency Room.  Well, turns out my gall bladder has taken all the gall it can handle from me and has to come out. I have to wait in the hospital until after the holiday for the surgery. They send me home, but I have to return just days later- you guessed it - on New Year's Eve.  Again, I have to wait until after the holiday for the next surgery. It's the holidays, I am in pain, rest doesn't come easily, and as I'm sure you can imagine, my self pity meter is off the charts.

Imagine now, it's my 8th day in the hospital, and suddenly a big, lumbering black lab comes into my room.  An older dog, he has grey around his mouth and he's sporting an adorable bandana.  As a lifelong dog-lover, it's always a fun surprise to see a dog when you're not expecting to. To see a dog that day, after being in so much pain for so long, was emotionally overwhelming.  

Amos the black lab leans into me and I scratch his rear while soaking in all the love and energy he had to give. I am crying with gratitude- a gentle face, a soft coat, a loving friend.  In the hall I see a French Bulldog, and as a Boston Terrier lover, I have a soft spot for those pushed in faces.  I don't want to be selfish, because Amos was being fantastic, but I was so happy when ANOTHER volunteer came into my room. Eloise Violet jumped right onto the bed, and all of the trauma of the previous week melted away while she snorted away in my lap.

I have spent many years working with dogs, and never thought I would be on the receiving end of a therapy dog. The love of those dogs and the kindness of their handlers literally gave me the strength I needed to get through the next few days in the hospital, and on the road to healing."

A huge thank you to Rachel for sharing her story, and to Amos and Eloise Violet for brightening her day during an extremely unpleasant time. We are incredibly honored to support their work. Have you had a therapy dog visit that changed your outlook? Brightened your day? Got you on the mend?

 

The Dogs that Sit With Santa

Santa Claus made his way to the Planet Dog Company Store on Sunday for our 6th annual Sit with Santa fundraiser.

All the money raised helps to fund the grant program of the Planet Dog Foundation, supporting non profits that train, place and support dogs helping people in need. 

Santa works overtime on Sit with Santa day, doing his best to snuggle with 95 dogs.  Small dogs, huge dogs, terrified dogs, multiple dogs . . . .  our Santa loves them all.

Of course, then there are the crying babies, the 7-person families with 2 dogs, the camera crews from the local stations . . .  Santa limps back to his workshop every year. 

And while Santa is exhausted when the day is done, we know that the PDOG pups have a great holiday card to share with all of their friends!

Celebrating Ten Years of Giving

Join us at Planet Dog as we celebrate 10 years of giving! Planet Dog proudly donates 2% of every sale to our non-profit arm, the Planet Dog Foundation, to fund the training, placement and support of dogs working to help people in need. Over the last decade, we have contributed more than $800,000 in cash grants and in-kind donations to exemplary non-profits throughout the country.

Now through December 12, we are asking you to share with us your Stories of Service. Do you, or someone you love, work with a service or assistance dog? Do you have a certified therapy dog? Do you participate in K-9 search and rescue in your community? Share with us a story of how a dog you know has given back to a person in need, or how a person you know has been helped by a dog, and be entered in a contest to win a year's supply of Planet Dog products!

 

To enter, submit your story on our Facebook page, or email it to us at customerservice@planetdog.com.

We will choose one special story each week, and then invite all of our customers and fans to vote on the winning story in December.

Join Planet Dog's 10 Years of Giving celebration, where every single purchase gives back. Share your stories of service with the world!

Happy National Guide Dog Month!

September is National Guide Dog Month. In celebration, here are some fast facts about guide dogs, and some tips on etiquette when you meet one. All of us at Planet Dog are honored to be able to support these amazing dogs and all they do to increase the independence of visually impaired people. Enjoy September, and be sure to praise a Guide Dog this month!

Guide Dogs and Their Owners

 

 

• A guide dog is a highly trained dog that acts as a mobility aid to blind and visually impaired people. It provides not only mobility but gives freedom and independence as well as being a faithful and loving companion.
• With the increased mobility and independence gained through the use of a guide dog, the confidence of the blind or visually impaired person soars.
• Well trained guide dogs are intelligent, alert, and always willing to serve.
• Guide Dogs are allowed to go everywhere that the public is allowed to go. This includes  restaurants, taxicabs, hotels, planes, boats, retail stores, etc.
• It costs more than $25,000 to complete the training for only one guide dog. There are almost 60 schools in 26 countries.
• Matching the correct dog with the correct owner takes skill and experience. The owner’s length of stride, height and lifestyle all contribute to the type of guide dog they will be matched with.
• Dog and owner spend up to four weeks of intensive training together until they qualify together.

A guide dog is taught to do a wide range of tasks, including:

• Walk in a straight line in the center of the pavement unless there is an obstacle;
• Not to turn corners unless told to do so;
• To stop at curbs and wait for the command to cross the road, or to turn left or right;
• To determine when it is unsafe to proceed;
• To judge height and width so that its owner does not bump their head or shoulder;
• How to deal with traffic.

Some Do’s & Don’ts When Meeting a Guide Dog:

• Don't walk on the dog's left side as it may become distracted or confused.
• Do walk on the owner's right side but several paces behind him.
• Don't attempt to grab or steer the person while the dog is guiding him or her attempt to hold the dog's harness.
• Do ask if the owner needs your assistance and, if so, offer your left arm.
• Don't give the dog table scraps. Do respect the owner’s need to give the dog a balanced diet and to maintain its good habits.
• Don't allow children to tease or abuse the dog.
• Do allow it to rest undisturbed.
• Don't allow your pets to challenge or intimidate a guide dog.
• Do always ask permission before petting a guide dog. If permission is granted, don't pat the dog on the head. Do stroke the dog on the shoulder area.