Emotional baggage, psychological landmines and a package of unknowns are just a few of descriptive labels tagged to shelter dogs. 

All of these are deftly addressed in Miller’s sharply focused glimpse into the elongated history of second-chance dogs. Using vignettes for emphasis, the author cites fear, neglect and abuse in previous homes as the seeds for owner release and a target priority for shelter behaviorists.

Those problems originate from private homes to crowded puppy mills and hoarding scenarios, the latter of which place dozens of animals in a tiny one- or two-bedroom home filled with feces and a pungent odor scent.

The emotion surrounding pet adoption is high-stakes drama, the bulk of which is played out in the home. The key, however, is for the adopter to identify potential problem behaviors, and here is where Miller is at her best, outlining a 13-step, get-acquainted protocol to help you determine if a particular dog is right for you.

That assessment will help you evaluate the dog’s level of socialization and confidence; provide information of how the animal accepts routine touch handling; training and husbandry procedures; determine how easy – or difficult – it might be to interrupt the dog if he’s doing something inappropriate; how a dog responds when a human is near his cherished play toy or food; how a dog reacts to an approaching stranger.

Not all shelters have the luxury of a staff veterinarian on-site, but Miller emphasizes that some adoption candidates may be suffering from a pain-causing condition that will affect their behavior.

Some of us thrive on challenge and believe we can turn around the life of a beleaguered pound or rescue pooch. For those who do, Miller offers an eight-point reality check, two of which emphasize that love is not enough and be prepared for heartache.

One of the volume’s highlights comes when the author lists 10 of her favorite behavior myths, with an explanation as to why each should not be used as the justification for a training or behavior-modification technique.

Here’s an example: Myth 1, Puppies should not go to puppy classes/the mall/friends’ houses until they have had all their vaccinations at 16 weeks/6 months of age.

This falls “squarely at the top of the ‘dangerous myth’ category,” she argues. “Many neophobic dogs are in the Do-Over category, she emphasizes, “because their humans believed this. It’s generally perceived as creditable by new puppy owners because it’s offered by the pup’s veterinarian or some other canine professional.”

While it appears scientifically sound, she adds, puppies that aren’t properly socialized are at a much greater risk for developing behavior problems, including aggression, which may shorten their lives.  She notes that the dog should receive its puppy shots and subsequent boosters, but the lack of socialization poses a greater challenge to its survival and entry into Do-Over status later.

Seasoned heavily with anecdotes, “Do-Over Dogs” is an evenly-paced, must-read for anyone considering a shelter or rescue dog. One minute it feels like a sobering reminder that good intentions aren’t always enough. The next, infused with insight and confidence, it supplies the tools for you to move forward, make a difference . . . and save a life in the process. 

(Editor’s note: This book is scheduled to be published in July, but the release date was uncertain at the time this review was posted. Check www.dogwise.com for updated information. )

“He loves life,” says his owner, Al Baillif, of Escondido, Calif. “Even after all those surgeries and chemotherapy treatments, he’s at his best when it comes to revisiting the vet. It’s like he has no bad memories of the place, and he certainly loves the staff. He literally pulls me into the hospital to see his people friends.”

Owner Al Baillif & Josh

Bailiff, 58, a retired American Express executive, adopted Josh as a puppy and the dog enjoyed good health until 2004 when he was diagnosed via a cardiac ultrasound with an asymptomatic heart condition called aortic stenosis, which has never posed life-threatening tendencies.

But this tennis-ball lover was thrown a curve ball in January 2008. Josh was taken to his veterinarian, Dr. Karen Hackett, of VCA West Bernardo Hospital in Rancho Bernardo, Calif., for his annual examination and Bailiff mentioned the dog was somewhat lethargic. Hackett sensed something was wrong, and X-rays confirmed her concern, when a large mass was spotted in the dog’s abdomen.

Josh was referred to the San Diego Veterinary Specialty Hospital, where Dr. Sean Aiken removed the mass (soft-tissue sarcoma) the following day, and the dog recovered without complication.  Within weeks, chemotherapy was initiated by Dr. Brenda Phillips, of Veterinary Specialty Hospital, which Josh tolerated well.

But this was only the beginning of this incredible golden’s Big C odyssey.

“Josh is a once-in-a-lifetime patient,” marvels Phillips.  “But he can be thankful, too, that he has a very committed owner. They both have a resilient can-do spirit – a glass-half-full feel – all the time. “In other words: perfect patient, ideal owner.

Since the first surgery, four others have been performed to remove tumors (soft-tissue sarcomas) in his intestinal area, abdomen muscles, liver and a lung. Josh quickly recovered from each.

“Josh and I first met Dr. Phillips two weeks after the first surgery,” recalls Baillif. “She recommended chemotherapy because of the type of tumor removed. At first, Josh seemed to handle chemo pretty well. After two weeks, he developed severe diarrhea and began vomiting. I thought this was something he would need to live with while battling cancer, but Phillips’ reaction was very different. She said, ‘It’s unacceptable because Josh’s quality of life must also remain high.’ She altered his protocol and Josh’s reaction was positive.”

Phillips administered four additional chemotherapy/drug protocols since then and has carefully guided Baillif and Josh through a diagnostics trail of ultrasounds, blood/urine tests and X-rays.  “She is not afraid to try new treatments, but carefully monitors them,” explains Baillif. “If Josh begins something new, she will call frequently until she is convinced he is handling it. She gets other involved, too, if their expertise is warranted.”

Josh with Dr Brenda Phillips

Since Josh’s last surgery for a solitary lung mass in late 2009, three lung nodules have appeared and receive steady monitoring. After his most recent chemotherapy, two are gone and the third is smaller.

On a 1-10 scale for quality of life today, Phillips gives Josh a 10. He’s a solid, muscular, robust animal that lives to get up each morning, go for a walk, enjoy playtime and be with his owner.

“This is an unusual case,” says Phillips. “Josh has undergone a blizzard of tumors with each modestly presenting itself.  He is one of the most incredible healers I’ve ever seen. He bounces back in two to three days, where it might take another patient a week to 10 days.

“The other issue has been cost. Many owners might not have been able to afford this, but Al’s commitment to this dog and its quality of life are exemplary. He has this ‘let’s deal with it’ attitude that has allowed us to move forward with every challenge presented to him.”

With a refreshing candor and pinpoint observation, Baillif has charted the animal’s quality of life daily. For instance, he will tell you Josh has gone 887 days (through June 30) since first being diagnosed with cancer, with 96 percent of those being “normal” quality of life time. He’s had only 35 “less than normal” days, and that includes days of surgery or when he’s had a negative reaction to chemotherapy.

“His record-keeping is a huge assist for me,” adds Phillips. “No one knows his dog better than the owner, but Al has been incredible from that respect. Any small change and he’s on the phone or e-mailing me. “

Josh has always been a happy spirit, says his owner. “When he was a year old, he attended obedience training. After the program was completed, he was given an award. It wasn’t because he had mastered all of the commands, because he hadn’t. It was given to him because he was the most enthusiastic dog in his class. Josh demonstrates that same enthusiasm today while fighting cancer.”

Their daily regimen includes three walks, extending from 15 to 45 minutes, to beaches and parks.  “Josh lets me know how he’s feeling,” explains Baillif. “On one of the trails there is a fork in the road. If he wants to move on, he will. If not, he’ll turn and tell me that’s enough, and we’ll head home.”

If he sees a neighbor he knows across the street, Josh pulls Baillif over to say hello. Conversely, if a neighbor hasn’t seen Josh for several days, he/she will come to the house or call to make certain he is OK.  “Everyone loves him,” Baillif adds.

Josh loves vacations, too. The two have taken trips to Yosemite National Park; Santa Barbara and Pismo Beach, Calif.; Big Bear; Flagstaff, Ariz.; and the Grand Canyon. But Josh has let it be known, he prefers destinations with beaches. 

As for other dogs, Josh will lie down when meeting smaller counterparts, so as to be eyeball to eyeball.  “He has an uncanny ability to establish a comfort zone with them immediately,” says Baillif.

Bailey, a female Labradoodle, next door is so enamored with Josh that she leaves her stuffed animals at the fence for him to play with. Conversely, Romeo, a Great Dane with whom he conducts a speak fest on a 6-foot fence, is his lone adversary. Both are intact males.

Baillif prefers not to disclose the cost of Josh’s care. Suffice to say it has been thousands.  “I made the decision to prioritize my spending on what I felt was important. For example, Josh is far more important to me than new cars.”

He is effusive with praise for Josh’s veterinary Dream Team. “Their expertise is incredible,” he says, “but their level of commitment to the animal’s welfare is exceptional. They have made themselves available 24/7 should the need arise.”

In early June, Baillif, Phillips and Josh traveled to the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine Convention in Anaheim as one of the area’s featured “Animal Survivor “stories of the year.

But the final chapter of that story is hopefully in the distant future. For now, Baillif and the Dream Team are savoring the daily spirited romp of this gregarious golden’s “extra life,” as Baillif so happily characterizes it. 
          

Ten seconds one way or another and this book would never have been written. And Seattle author Steve Duno would never have had 16 incredible years with at Rottweiler-German Shepherd he came to recognize as a dog of a lifetime.

That quick time split while driving in Northern California was the difference between spotting a female and her litter off Highway 101 near the small Mendocino County town of Willits, and at the urging of his girlfriend, rescues one of the mangy 6-month-old waifs that probably would not have survived the high-speed freeway and nearby thick forests much longer. 

Duno writes breezily and pointedly of his life with Lou, a dog that battles coyotes in a Seattle neighborhood one day and entertains war veterans and Alzheimer’s patients the next. Lou is a memorable figure to all who meet him, and as Duno’s self-appointed assistant at the Academy of Canine Behavior in Bothell, he is savior for hundreds of four-legged misfits who are there for a last-chance, shape-up-or-ship-out course at the behest of their owners.

“Last Dog,” a must-read memoir for every owner, ranks as the best offerings yet by the talented author with 17 previous book credits.  It has Hollywood film potential written all over it, but finding a new Lou would be the toughest casting call of all.

It is Lou who eventually helps instill a confidence in Duno, a Los Angeles tutor, that he might have a future as trainer and pet behaviorist.  Duno describes their relationship: “We clearly had a crush on each other. He would literally jump through fire for me (and did on one occasion). And I had fallen for a damn dog.

“For most of my career, I derided owners for elevating their dogs to cult status. A dog shouldn’t be the center of attention but rather just another member of the family, with unique rules and responsibilities to attend to. Treat them like rock stars and they’ll trash your world every time.

“For Lou and me, the rapport was different. He knew exactly who he was, very quickly. . . . In Lou’s mind, he wasn’t the center of my attention, I was the center of his, and that made all the difference in the world.”

Lou gives new meaning to the expression, “Mutts Matter,” but much of this spirited pair’s special relationship points to the author’s ability to coax the best out of a dog that longs to please and thrives on challenge. In another’s hands, Lou would likely never recognize his full potential and probably lived a lifetime of boredom.

Duno’s work radiates warmly between sensitivity and swagger and is plunged with energy from remote hiking trails to urban sidewalks and from the academy’s training quarters to school classrooms.  Lou’s incredible ability to read others – humans and animals – opens many doors for Duno in the process, prompting the author to claim, “He is my portfolio.”

Using smooth, broad brushstrokes, the author paints this unvarnished portrayal of spiritual soul mates with passionate intensity and celebratory energy. And for Duno, Lou lives on as the touchstone by which everything dog is measured.   

After finishing this insightful read, I envisioned the California veterinarian/author positioned at the intersection of Help Ave. and Hope Road directing oncoming traffic toward his busy hospital. 

Few practitioners embrace both Eastern and Western veterinary treatment methods as openly as Fuchino. Most are in one camp or another, and some even view the other with deep reservations. 

From chi to sha, Fuchino emphasizes that neither modality should be viewed as a cure-all, but taken together with commitment by the owner, they offer optimism and a course via which the patient’s health can be altered positively. Yet another key is willingness of your principal veterinarian to refer you to an area veterinarian practicing Eastern treatment.

Fuchino has treated animals for arthritis, allergies, kidney disease, heart and lung problems, cancer, behavioral problems, skin condition and other ailments, citing dozens of case histories throughout this 248-page volume, which includes an empowering appendix of alternative veterinary practitioners in the United States and Canada, plus web sites of interest.

A graduate of the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine, Fuchino began focusing on Eastern medicine because he “hit a wall,” recognizing that too many patients “had chronic problems that stubbornly evaded diagnosis by veterinarians trained in Western techniques.”  The author emphasizes he has not abandoned Western medicine, only complemented it with Eastern principles.

In treating patients, Fuchino’s emphasis is on the big picture, i.e. owner lifestyle, which he illustrates is sometimes the trigger mechanism for the pets’ woes. These can include sedentary lifestyle, obesity (of owner and pet), changes in relationships, jobs or moves to a new area.

Here’s where chi, the life energy that you need to begin healing yourself and your pet, fits in. But most people fail to take advantage of it, he says, simply because they don’t understand this energy, which he details thoroughly. Conversely, sha, negative energy, draws plenty of emphasis, too, and how to combat it.

There may be more detail here of the Eastern approach to veterinary care than you’re up for, but this is the type of volume you can take slowly. In fact, you may recognize yourself or your pet in the process, opening up an entirely new pathway for its care.

This primer is a balanced reminder that good intentions aren’t always enough. Be proactive on your pet’s behalf, Fuchino emphasizes, and don’t wait for late intervention that places the animal at the doorsteps of euthanasia.

The author approaches his subject with refreshing pragmatism and philosophical elasticity that should inspire owners with new options and resolve.

From Eastern to Western culture and from a black bear to a feisty rabbit, Ptolemy Tompkins leaves no stone unturned in a quest to give new meaning to the spiritual role pets play in our everyday lives. In the process, he offers hope we may see them again in heaven and on earth in a dream state. 

The author probes and interprets the published views of religious authorities, philosophers and animal behaviorists, seasoning those with warm, moving anecdotes involving himself and others, surrounding the animal soul.

You’ll meet Angus, a Netherlands dwarf bunny, which a 24-year-old Tompkins adopted “on a whim,” and eventually, upon its death, prompted him to ask: Do animals have souls? Are animal and human souls the same, or are they different?

And he summarizes the special bonding of a black bear called Little Bit with the authors of “Summers With Bears,” Jack Becklund and his wife Patti, at their house in Minnesota woods. 

“She (Little Bit) became one of those remarkable dual creatures that one so often reads about in animal books: one that, while completely retaining her membership in the wild world out beyond the human community, becomes an honorable member of the human world as well,” says Tompkins.

A profound passage from “Bears” is featured, after Patti received word her father had died of cancer in California, minutes before Jack returned from a walk to see her sobbing with her arms wrapped around Little Bit’s neck. “She sat quietly with the bear for another half minute, then Little Bit leaned her massive head against Patti’s. I knew she understood nothing what was going on, but she felt something and responded. It was a magic moment in a time of grief and one I will never forget.”

Tompkins seasons special modern-day anecdotal accounts while examining historical writings in a deep-rooted attempt to determine how man has viewed the animal soul through the ages. This far-ranging kaleidoscope ranges from Judeo-Christian perspectives to Greek philosophy, Islam and Far East religions. 

A warning: Through the process, the reader must stay clearly focused, for Tompkins’ refreshing narrative moves quickly while deftly dissecting others’ mindsets if animals have souls.

Animals need us, just as we need them, Tompkins believes, and those needs have been altered dramatically by cultural change. “The more estranged people became,” he says, “from the natural world beyond the borders of civilization, the more important pets became for them. Animal companions were no longer diverting or comforting. They were necessary.”

Will we meet the special four-legged friends from our earth’s journey some day again across that celestial Rainbow Bridge? Tompkins’ skillfully balanced work offers plenty of hope we just might

 

photo courtesy of nina'sphotography.com

Preparation for world-class agility-team competition is no different than any other form of sport at that level–bring your A game physically and psychologically, says Daisy Peel, 32, of Sumner.  

Despite all of the mental management, for which patience is key, the last few weeks have been among the toughest ever for her since engaging in the sport a dozen years ago.

After competing in the 2010 AKC World Agility Team tryouts in Minnesota in early May, she was forced to wait more than two weeks before learning May 24 she made the select U.S. team that will be competing in the Federation Cynologique Internationale Agility World Championships in Rieden, Germany, Oct. 1-3. That marks the second time she has been named to the U.S. squad for the Olympic Games of the sport.

“Waiting that long was really tough,” she admits. “We tried (she and her two border collies, Solar and Jester) as hard as we could in the trials and made a few mistakes. But those happen in this sport and others. Waiting to get the word is stressful, since at this point there is nothing more you can do.”

Peel, a member of the 2007 AKC World Agility Team, has discovered plenty about herself while climbing the competition ladder. Probably the most important thing, she says, is “learning that my self- worth is not about placing in the ring. While winning is nice and that’s what I strive for, it’s about the special bond one develops with his or her dog in the process. And the strong relationships you build with other competitors.

“You have to believe in your dog and appreciate the process, whether that is working out on the treadmill or lifting weights in the quiet of home, or working your dog through a challenging course at a local, national or world event before hundreds of cheering spectators.”

A chemistry major at Oregon State University, Peel was inspired by a dog-agility show she viewed on Animal Planet in her dormitory room. “I didn’t have a dog and knew nothing about agility. But I said, to myself, ‘I am going to be on Animal Planet some day.’”

Within a few months, she moved off campus into an apartment and adopted Gonzo, a red-and-white border collie, then began obedience classes and later agility instruction. She was hooked.

A year later, upon graduating from Oregon State, she moved to Portland with her then boyfriend and now husband, David, and they rescued another dog, Fly, to keep Gonzo company and satisfy Peel’s yearn for more training. Fly and Peel made it on Animal Planet in the AKC Agility Championship Finals several years later.

While teaching high-school chemistry in the Portland area, her agility involvement became even more deep-rooted. Eventually, she began teaching agility classes, simply to stay involved and to sharpen her skills. And she has been on a fast track since.

Her two super-star border collies today, Jester and Solar, have piled up numerous wins and major placements. Jester became the first AKC 26-inch jump champion in 2007, a title Solar matched this year. Solar will be her teammate in the world meet in October.

Jester was her partner on the 2007 AKC Agility World Team that competed in Hamar, Norway. “I was a first-time handler and Jester, a first-time dog, there,” she explains. “I was not prepared for what we stepped into and did not have the big picture in mind. Others tried to tell me what to expect, but until you’re there and do it, you are not totally ready.”

Lesson learned, Peel acknowledges. “That taught me the importance of learning how to compete under pressure and control your emotions. “

On a recent blog, she discusses competition at the early May U.S.A. team tryouts. “One of my goals was to go and really live up to the mental-management idea of focusing on controlling the quality of my participation in events, since I cannot control events themselves. I don’t know why it is that I can do this at nationals, but not as easily at tryouts. Maybe because tryouts represent a gateway to something I really deeply want.

“. . . I am proud of . . . meeting that goal this past weekend (May 8-10).  . . . I made some errors, my dogs made a couple of errors, but I honestly enjoyed each and every run, as well as the runs of my competitors, and I had fun. I made a promise that I would never shoot for something like the world team again if I didn’t have fun on the journey.”

Peel was inspired by Malcolm Gladwell’s bestseller “Outliers. “ “because it really hit home with me that nobody makes it on their own. Upbringing, culture, friends, supporters, situation, opportunity and other factors all play into one’s total experience,” she affirms.

The agility whiz teaches 15 obedience and competition classes weekly and vies in approximately 20 agility trials a year. And she finds time to hike and exercise with the dogs, too. “Not only does that keep them in shape, but it strengthens the bond between us, too,” she says.

Border collies offer her everything she wants out of a dog. “They have a deep desire to learn and please and a personality that ranges from mellow to hyper. It’s a breed that you have to keep busy and not allow to get bored,” she explains.

Jester, 6½, is 19½ inches tall and 38 pounds; Solar, 3, measures 21 inches tall and weighs 40 pounds.  “The breed’s size and weight work well for me, since I’m 5-3,” she explains.

Asked if success in the agility ring is a 50/50 proposition between handler and animal, Peel replies, “It really falls more on the handler, from the early socialization of the dog to its continued development and the trainer’s ability to communicate effectively throughout the trial.”

Peel credits her personal coach, Linda Mecklenburg, an Ohioan, for much of her success. “Her coaching and keeping me focused on the big picture have been critical. She can spot little flaws in my handling others might miss.” While much of the communication has been via phone and e-mail, Peel attempts to travel at least once yearly to Ohio for one-on-one training.

Mecklenburg, involved in dog agility since 1990, is one of the pioneers of the sport. Recognized as one of the sport’s leaders and premier instructors, she is a 12-time member of the U.S.A. team at the FCI Agility World Championships.

Maximizing clear, positive communication in the race against the clock on agility course, explains Peel, requires pinpoint use of body language and verbal commands. And, she adds, performance is not enough. “The attitude must accompany the performance.”

Thank you.

She had been seeing a physician and was taking anti-anxiety medications for the disorder. Then, her physician suggested a “service dog” might help alleviate her fear to drive, go shopping or even go into a nearby fast-food outlet for a quick meal. 

“I tend to get obsessive when researching things,” she explains, “and that’s what happened when I began combing the internet for leads of organizations with expertise on dogs’ ability to help individuals with this problem. “

She discovered Heeling Allies in Seattle and Darcie Boltz, owner-training director who also owns a degree in health psychology. Rubino’s parents and her in-laws live in the Puget Sound area, so this seemed like a potential fit while her husband was about to leave for Kyrgyzstan.

Heeling Allies trains Mental Health Service Dogs to provide assistance to individuals with psychological impairments, just as Guide Dogs provide assistance to those with visual impairments. The psychological afflictions range from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and major depression to Autism Spectrum Disorders.

Boltz offers a comprehensive Mental Health Service Dog board-and-train program, as well as private lessons.

“With three small children, I was painfully aware that I was creating a negative impact on my kids’ lives,” explains Rubino. “Being a military family, moving and family separation is always a factor.”

After a phone visit with Boltz, Rubino says “I felt hope for the first time in years, as she talked me through the process of choosing and training the perfect dog for me and my needs. Ryan and I talked it over before his deployment and felt the benefits of adding a Mental Health Service Dog to our family was a good move.”

Boltz encouraged Rubino to write a letter of support to send to friends and family, since money is a barrier in obtaining a medical-alert dog. The recipients of letter responded with overwhelming support, enabling her to move forward.

“None had been aware of my issues,” she explains. “I had worked so hard for so many years to hide my fears and anxiety by creating excuses to avoid social situations and many other activities.”

Training and room-and-board costs $3,000 monthly. None of Boltz’s clients has yet to find a medical-insurance company willing to pay some of the costs, despite the fact service dogs have proven to help reduce medical costs for their human partner.”

After Rubino obtained financial support, Boltz immediately began searching for the right dog to match her needs.  Enter Blue, a 1-year-old black standard poodle.

“At first, I was a bit nervous about a stranger choosing the right dog for me,” adds Rubino. “Ryan and I envisioned a small dog at the outset, but Darcie seems to have a sixth sense when it comes to dogs and pairing them with their owner.

“Blue has been a dream come to true. He wakes me up in the morning and when my youngest son cries, he reminds me to take my meds twice a day and provides a calming presence during the day.“ His wake-up call is a strong nudge from beside the bed, and the med reminder is triggered by an alarm setting attached to Blue’s collar. Immediately after it sounds, he is trained to come to Rubino and nose her hand steadily.

Blue remained with Boltz for 3½ months of room-and-board and training, then segued into Rubino’s home for additional training and bonding. For the past several weeks, Boltz, Rubino and Blue (equipped with a service-dog-in-training vest) have ventured into Costco, grocery stores, outlet malls, etc., for training and confidence building.

“I update Ryan regularly on our progress,” adds Rubino, “and he says he can tell the difference in my voice when we are talking on the phone.  He has become a big fan of Blue’s, even though they have never met first-hand. “

In stores, Blue serves as Rubino’s Velcro dog, being literally attached to her side and providing the needed room to maneuver through aisles. “People automatically give us a wider berth, and when it does get crowded, Blue presses up against me, which turns my attention to him rather than the crowds.  I had forgotten what this type of freedom felt like.”

Blue passed his American Kennel Club Canine Good Citizen test in March and his public-acccess test in early April.

“Blue and Lara Lee have progressed very nicely,” explains Boltz. “Often it takes six months or more of intensive training for a dog to become proficient in all areas of Mental Health Service Dog training.”

After her husband returns from the Middle East, the family will return to Nebraska, where he will be stationed at Offutt Air Force Base in Bellevue, Neb.

Whenever Rubino has a question relating to Blue, she knows that Boltz is just a phone call or e-mail away. “Her advice and support have been key to making this all work,” adds Rubino.

In 1989, 20-year-old Trina McDonald was assaulted and raped three times while serving with the U.S. Navy in Adak, Alaska. Since leaving the service later that year, she has suffered from Post Traumatic Stress Disease, which eventually triggered alcohol and drug abuse and an eventual “meltdown.”

“I was a mess,” admits McDonald, 40, of Puyallup, who has been “totally clean” since 1999. “I learned that to battle the anxiety and depression associated with PTSD I had to become my own best advocate.  And I have been doing that with the Veterans Administration since then.

Through years of therapy, she refused to be taken down by bureaucratic denials and delays in her case.  She received assistance from the Department of Veterans Affairs personnel in Seattle and Dr. Ellen Li, assistant residency training, Seattle VA Medical Center and a member of the University of Washington School of Medicine Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences staff.

While treating McDonald since 2003, Li has encouraged her to move forward and has been an advocate for her to obtain an assistance dog. “She has written people on my behalf, including Darcie, and been instrumental in the VA agreeing to help fund a service dog for me,” explains McDonald.

Exactly how much funding will be forthcoming remains uncertain, but Boltz and McDonald are targeting early May for beginning her service-dog training.  She prefers being paired with a middle- to large-size breed like a Labrador retriever or German shepherd.

“I’m like a little kid before Christmas who knows he’s getting a bike, but he’s uncertain what kind,” smiles McDonald. “I’ve been looking at one dog-rescue web site after another for my new partner, and I e-mail Darcie with my finds almost daily. I’m certain she’s getting sick of seeing e-mails from me.”

For the first time in 20 years, McDonald is on an emotional high with anticipation that a dog will soon be opening emotional pathways for her that she has feared to embark upon. 

Mental Health Service Dogs are also known as Psychiatric Service Dogs. They are not pets, rather working dogs trained to assist individuals with disabilities. As service animals, they must be granted access rights to anywhere the general public is allowed to occupy.                                                                  

“One problem my clients might potentially face,” explains Boltz, “are questions and maybe even occasional contempt from someone saying, ‘I don’t see anything wrong with you. You don’t have any physical problem that should require a service animal.’ When the dog owner informs that individual what his or her needs are for the dog that often resolves the matter.”

To qualify for Heeling Allies, a client must provide documentation that he/she has been formally diagnosed with a mental impairment or psychological disability by a qualified health-care professional and produce a letter from that professional stating how and why the client would benefit from owning a Mental Health Service Dog and that the potential client is capable of providing a dog with exceptional care. 

It hasn’t happened yet, but Boltz assures all clients that should months or years later a dog needs to be surrendered, she will willingly take it back.

While she has found dogs for the bulk of her clients, Boltz will accept a client’s pre-owned, untrained Mental Health Service Dog providing it passes an aptitude and behavior evaluation. “I ask a lot of these dogs in training, so I want to be certain that they can respond accordingly,” explains Boltz.

The bulk of the dogs – they cannot be older than 3 — come from area shelters.  And for some clients, small dogs can be just “as powerful and practical” as larger counterparts. A dog’s ability to handle a complexity of tasks and its aptitude are top priorities in her selection process.

“Each case is so different,” she adds. Anxiety, childhood, mood, personality and substance-abuse disorders are among the wide array of potential cases she might see.

“When I have finished working with them, these dogs want to please and know their job. It then becomes imperative that the client is totally focused on what he or she needs to do to maximize the dog’s skills,” Boltz says.

After the initial in-house, one-on-one training by Boltz and gradual introduction to the new owner, the trio (Boltz, client and dog) spend time interacting in public, testing the ability of client to cope with elevators, crowds, smells, loud noises, different floor surfaces, tight spaces, etc., for which the dog has already been proofed with in-house training.

Funding scares 50 percent of her potential clients off. The $3,000 monthly fee might eventually range from $9,000 to $20,000, with the median being $12,000, before the animal and owner are totally ready to enter society as a functioning team.

Some dogs are in training for much longer, depending upon the severity of their handler’s mental impairment and the complexity of the tasks the dog must learn. “Blue was an exception to the rule. His training took half the amount of time it would have normally taken us to train a dog to do what he does,” adds Boltz. “We always joke that Blue was a service dog in a past life.”

Boltz, who spent a year developing her creative training regimen, rates her No. 1 strength as matching dog and client. A certified American Kennel Club Canine Good Citizen evaluator and a graduate of Bastyr University with a degree in health psychology, she brings a strong  judgment mix to the table from the standpoint of client and canine.

She says on her website,”Animals, especially dogs, have an innate ability to reach to the depths of the human spirit in a way other humans simply cannot. I have seen a dog soothe and bring a smile to the face of a person who was in tremendous emotional pain. Assistance Dogs enable people to live fuller, happier and healthier lives. Training serves an important purpose, but a dog’s ability to heal has nothing at all to do with training, and everything to do with its purely magnificent spirit.”

Boltz is not a member of the regional nonprofit The Assistance Dog Club of Puget Sound or the International Association of Assistance Dog Partners. The two will conduct a major workshop, “Assistance Dogs at Work,” Sept. 25-26 in Seattle. 

(For more information on Heeling Allies, visit the web site, www.mentalhealthdogs.org.  Another superb resource on psychiatric service dogs is “Healing Companions: Ordinary Dogs and Their Extraordinary Power to Transform Lives,” by Jane Miller, New Page Books, $16.99. A review of this volume, by Ranny Green, can be found on the Picks of the Litter link on this web site.)

Seasoned heavily with anecdotes, statistics and a vast array of experts’ opinions, “Nation” offers a unique lens on the diverse role of dogs in America’s economic landscape while grappling with the whys and wherefores.

A thorough primer in a business sense, it focuses on the psychological role the dog plays in our everyday lives and why Americans have made pets a $43 billion a year industry, the bulk of the growth coming in the last 50 years.

Schaffer examines pet politics, fashion, food, veterinary medicine and the emergence of start-up enterprises from dog walking to dog law and from puppy mills to dog cemeteries.  It’s all there in one engrossing package of the wide-ranging scenario.

One of the most compelling observations comes from Dr. James Serpell, University of Pennsylvania veterinarian, who studies interactions between humans and animals. He argues that the explosive growth in U.S. pet ownership is linked to the crumbling of other social support structures, tracing acceleration in the pet population to the mid-1960s.

“Social networks fragmented over 40 years – there’s more living alone, more divorce, more childless people, fewer people living in close geographic range of their families and less community involvement,” Serpell says. “And there has been a dramatic increase in pets.  . . . As we lose social support, as our relations become fragmented, we are using dogs to fill the gap.”

In a 2008 article, University of Chicago professor Nicholas Epley and three colleagues noted that those who were less socially connected were more likely to attribute humans’ characteristics such as thoughtfulness, consideration and sympathy, none of which are within the cane skills set – to pets. This anthropomorphizing consequently helps support those manufacturing doggie sweater and pants to birthday bashes to lavish portraits.

Schaffer will leave you laughing, puzzling and saying, “no, never, not me,” in the process.  But after you’ve read the final page, you very well will be saying, “there’s a part of me in that book,” along with millions of other Americans.

This incredible team tracks and showcases the paths of the predecessors of our domestic dog through 40 million years, carefully analyzing earlier studies while detailing the gritty effects of worldwide climate and terrain on the species.

Wang has spent the past two decades examining the evolutionary history of the family Canidae, while Tedford has focused on the modern framework for the evolutionary relationship of canids. Anton’s vivid reconstructive illustrations complement the authors’ works beautifully in the valuable scientific presentation. 

Combining fossil finds, known behavioral tendencies, climate and topography, the authors craft an ever-changing portrait of the incredible evolutionary history of that dog sitting alongside you.

But nothing is totally cast in stone, the pair concedes, since new discoveries of domestic dogs in Israel and Germany 14,000 years ago alter the fossil record and serve up “tantalizing evidence of initial interactions between early humans and their first domestic animal.”

 However, molecular studies point to China, not Europe or the Middle East, as possibly the area of the first domestication.

Be prepared, this is a challenging read. The scholarly work requires the total focus of the reader through an outpouring of historical data and a shifting view of the origin of canids and other doglike carnivorous mammals. To put that in perspective, there have been 214 species of canids through the family’s 40-million-year history; 37 of those are still with us today, with the others reconstructed through fossil records.

It is well established that the family originated in North America and spent the majority of its history on that continent. Best fossilized deposits have been found in the Great Plains, extending east from the Rocky Mountains across Texas, Colorado, Nebraska, Wyoming and South Dakota.

Eventually, two key geological events – the roughly 1,000-miles-long Beringian land bridge (now the Bering Sea) uniting present-day Alaska and Eastern Siberia during the Pleistocene Ice Age and the uplift of middle America that formed the Isthmus of Panama 3 million years later, linking the Americas – enabled canids to scatter to new continents with new environments and new challenges.

Eventually, the authors ask: Is the domestic dog a distinct species? Then note, “By and large, domestic dogs have been treated either as species of their own (Canis familiaris) or a subspecies of the gray wolf (C. lupus familiaris).” In 1758, a Swedish scientist, Carol Linnaeus, founding father of modern biological classification, made that distinction and it has remained. But does that imply he did not see any connection between the two except for their morphological similarities?

Wang and Tedford argue that with a few exceptions the modern dog is generally smaller than the wolf, but in archaeological sites distinguishing factors break down, making the distinction between the two highly challenging. 

Behavioral scientists Raymond Coppinger and Lorna Coppinger contend that ecological separation among wolves, coyotes, jackals and dogs is the key determinant. Dogs, they emphasize, have an “obligatory symbiotic relationship” with man that the others don’t. 

This ambitious overview of dogs’ sprawling timeline unleashes a wealth of new insight delivered with a piercing realism and plain-spoken naturalism that will leave you looking at Fido with a new-found amazement.