We all got together for a Family Cook Out & Egg Hunt on Easter Sunday. Here are a few pics of the Grandsons in action. They are growing up so fast!
My Son Brad & Grandson Reece.
DIL Cindy with Grandson Wyatt.
After hunting eggs, the boys enjoyed the swings!
I have been home so little lately, that I haven't taken the time to stop & notice the changes all around my yard. I just love this time of year, when the Dogwood Trees pop out all over the hill & the Iris' put on their colorful show!
Happy Spring Everyone!
Andrew Yori, right, and his dog, Hector, socialize with Stevi Hallisy and her dog, Jonah, at Leashes And Leads. Hector is a pit bull terrier rescued from Michael Vick's dog-fighting ring and has now passed testing to be a certified therapy dog.
Ken Klotzbach/Post-Bulletin
3/7/2009 6:05:01 PM
By Karen Rorie
Post-Bulletin, Rochester MN
Therapy dogs and their handlers offer a calming presence and a break from routine, social interaction. For patients in a nursing home or hospital, they can make the day a little bit brighter.
According to Therapy Dogs International, a group that evaluates and certifies therapy dogs, any breed is eligible to be certified. What matters most is the dog's training and temperament.
No dog is a better example of this statement than Hector.
Hector, who is owned by Andrew Yori of Rochester, was recently certified as a therapy dog by TDI. He is a 4-year-old pit bull who spent the first part of his life as part of Michael Vick's dog-fighting operation in Virginia. Rescued in 2007, Hector moved to Rochester in June of last year.
Hector still bears scars from his fights, but he has settled happily into his new peaceful life.
"He's a big goofy dog," Yori said.
Pit bulls are a very resilient breed.
"Not a lot of dogs could go through what he did and still come out OK," Yori said.
Hector's attitude seems to be, "It's behind me, let's go forward and have a good time."
Hector's journey to becoming a therapy dog began with simple obedience training -- learning to sit, stay and show other good manners -- and passing the AKC's Canine Good Citizen test. Working to become a therapy dog seemed like a natural next step for Hector.
"He really enjoys anybody who will give him some attention," Yori said. "Nothing seems to phase him too much, so it seemed like a really good fit. And because of where he came from, it would really shatter a lot of stereotypes."
In order to be certified, each dog and handler team must pass a rigorous, 15-part exam.
"We try to mimic what some of the encounters might be like," said Marcia Fritzmeier, a TDI evaluator who administered Hector and Yori's test. TDI's exam tests each dog's manners, obedience, ease around people and reactions to situations such as loud noises and meeting other dogs.
Fritzmeier was aware of Hector's background before his test and paid special attention to his temperament, extending some of the tests to be sure Hector would be a good therapy dog.
"I could not believe the degree of excellence he passed this test with," she said. "He never stopped wagging his tail. He just enjoyed every second of it."
Once the paperwork is processed in a few weeks, Hector and Yori will begin making visits to nursing homes. Yori says bringing a bit of joy to another dog lover is the best part of the job.
"You really see the people who had dogs and love dogs, their eyes just light up," he said.
Karen Rorie is a Rochester freelance writer.
Web links
Therapy Dogs International
American Kennel Club's Canine Good Citizen program
FYI: Roo & his Rescued Pit bull Wallace won the 2007 Purina Incredible Dog Challenge Freestyle Flying Disc National Champions! Incredible event, and the National Championship was aired on ABC, ESPN2 and Animal Planet. Thousands cheered Wallace on as we proved once again what a Pit Bull is capable of in responsible hands.
Posted by jwoestendiek March 30th, 2009 under Muttsblog.
Tags: american pit bull terriers, american staffordshire terrier, animal control, apollo, ban, bans, breed-specific, characteristics, checklist, conform, dade county, dogs, florida, laws, legislation, miami, pit bull, staffordshire bull terrier, standards
Biker Boyz
Baha Buggyin'...
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Looking for Trouble...
I got (took) Philly when he was about 7 or 8 months old & knocking on deaths door. He was such a sick & emaciated pup & his "owners" were just going to let him die, like the other dog they had let die the week before. It looked like he had parvo from the symptoms, but Thankfully No...it was Coronavirus instead, which has the same symptoms. You can only imagine the shape he was in. I really only expected to pay to have him humanely put to sleep & end his misery, poor boy. But...after 3 days of Excellent Care & IV fluids at my Vets office...he made a Miraculous Recovery! I got to bring him home to finish nursing him back to health & here he is today! My beautiful Philly Boy...Happy & Healthy. Happy Birthday Buddy! I hope to celebrate lot's more birthdays together.
Oh yeah...the Wonderful Vets who saved my Phil...well...they are now my Bosses! LOL!
I was honored with another request from Miss Dolly this week. After I made the first Early Style Horses for her, she requested a larger one in a different color for a gift, but since she was coming to town soon...I had to stop the presses & get this Special Order done Quick!
Here's my finished piece, that I delivered today. I hope she likes it!
Rebecca offers a wide variety of Fine Hand Crafted Furniture, Lamps, Candles, Stitcheries, Dolls, Folk Art "Needfuls" as well as Offerings from Me!
I am doing One of a Kind pieces for Rebecca, as well as Finished Goods from some of my Favorite Artists/ Designers Patterns.
Thanks to Kentucky Primitives for the Great Cupboard Eagle design, Crows Roost Prims for my Favorite Black Bear design & Jackie Schmidt for her Wonderful Primitive & Prairie Doll designs! Love you ladies! :)
