February 11, 2008

Dogs Helping Disabled

by Steve Duno (Pedigree Stories)

Buzzy's Comment

A way to broaden pool of potential adopters for shelter dogs.

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For decades, the supply of adoptable dogs has far exceeded the number of capable, willing owners, resulting in the euthanization of promising pets. Expanding the pool of potential owners without forfeiting competent care would go a long way in helping the millions of adoptable dogs falling through the cracks each year. The challenge to shelters across the nation, then, is to find a way to broaden the pool of potential adopters without placing dogs in unfit homes.

An Untapped Resource
One possibility is for shelters to reevaluate what their definition of a “capable” dog owner actually is. Traditionally, we think of a capable owner as one who can provide a dog with all of its essential needs, including food, shelter, grooming, training, exercise and affection. Disabled dog-lovers, some with years of previous experience with pets, are routinely passed over by shelters as candidates for dog adoption because of the perception that they might find it difficult to properly care for a dog.

Though there are assistance dogs, who after months of expensive training and socialization serve to make the lives of the handicapped easier and richer, these special pets are available for adoption only in small numbers. The number of assistance dogs is dwarfed by the number of other dogs languishing in shelters across the nation.

What about the disabled dog-lover whose disabilities are not severe enough to merit a service pet? An arthritic senior, an amputee, a heart patient — thousands of people with moderately debilitating conditions might still be active enough to care for the right dog.
The benefits of dog ownership for the disabled

The disabled often lead secluded lives with limited social connections and scant exercise, but the addition of the right dog could change that. Besides providing companionship and a positive emotional outlet, a dog can become a social enabler, opening up an isolated person to other dog fans. Despite a person’s physical restrictions, a dog can get a disabled person out and moving for casual walks, and the dog provides a sense of purpose — the best medicine of all.

The Right Dog, the Right Conditions
What circumstances should be met before a disabled person can adopt a shelter dog? First, the level of disability would need to be evaluated; the wheelchair- or bed-bound, for instance, would not be good candidates, nor would the cognitively impaired or those unable to care for themselves. Someone whose disability still allows a good degree of autonomy should be able to care for the right dog. The ideal candidate would be a former dog owner with knowledge of a dog’s needs and capabilities. The home environment should include a fenced yard or dog run that caters well to whatever disability the person has. For instance, there should not be areas a dog can go where the owner cannot.

Equipment Help
Walking a dog can be difficult for the elderly or disabled due to a lack of strength and mobility. The right equipment can minimize this problem, however. For example, a face collar on a dog allows even the frailest person to walk the pet with minimal effort. A leash clips to a ring hanging from the face collar, below the dog’s chin; by controlling the head, one easily controls the pet. Also, the use of a dog crate can help manage a dog with unreliable housetraining or whose movement needs to be restricted at certain times of day.

There are other helpful devices a disabled owner can use: a secure “doggie” door that leads to a fenced yard or dog run, allowing access without owner supervision; a retractable leash that allows a disabled owner to remain stationary while his or her dog moves about; an automatic feeder to make mealtimes easier. With appropriate training, disabled owners can also use whistles to call their dogs and control their movement.

Training
All dogs need basic obedience training. Dogs of the disabled or elderly can benefit from additional training, though. Helpful learned behaviors may include a reliable recall command that can be triggered either by voice or whistle, solid “stay” and “go to your spot” commands, the “off” command to prevent jumping up onto the frail, and the “wait” command performed at doors or room entrances to prevent barging in or out, which can often cause injury to the disabled or elderly.

Choice of Dog
The ideal dog must be thoughtful and well-mannered. A mature animal is preferable over a puppy, as it will require far less training and attention. The ideal candidate would be an easygoing, housetrained adult shelter dog with established basic obedience skills. Though size is not necessarily an indicator of adoptability, dogs over 50 pounds might be difficult to manage, particularly when transporting or grooming them.

Often, shelters have an abundance of even-tempered adult dogs that are passed over for younger pets. It’s from this pool of pooches — frequently surrendered due to relocation or the death of an owner — that we should seek pets for the disabled.

A Bit of Help
Several factors can make dog ownership by the disabled a more realistic prospect. These include the presence of family members to help with care, willingness of shelters to fairly assess a disabled person’s competence, visits from a friend or neighbor who can walk the dog or help with grooming or feeding, and occasional training sessions from a qualified expert who can establish behaviors in the dog that the disabled owner needs to make life easier.

With the right help and motivation, most disabled pet-lovers can team up with the right dog, creating a special camaraderie. For both dog and owner, the accord can literally be lifesaving.

Author and pet behaviorist Steve Duno has published 16 books on both dogs and cats, and has trained thousands of pets. Originally from New York, he now lives in Seattle with his family, a big wiggly dog named Flavio, and a smart little puppy named Rico.