Working Like Dogs - Service Dogs and Working Dogs - Pets & Animals on Pet Life Radio (PetLifeRadio.com)

Steve Morris from the Government Accountability Office (GAO) visits with Marcie and Fenway about his office’s recent report focusing on the working conditions of Uncle Sam’s working dogs. Dozens of federal agencies employ working dogs to fulfill their missions, including Homeland Security and the Department of State. Dogs are deployed throughout the U.S. and abroad. Keeping these dogs healthy and ensuring their quality of life is paramount and this recent report suggests that federal agencies need to do a better job addressing the health and welfare of their working dogs.

Marcie and Fenway welcome Dr. Brennen McKenzie to the show to learn about his groundbreaking research with Loyal for Dogs on medical treatments that will potentially expand the lifespan of large breed dogs. The concept of doubling dogs’ current lifespan is no longer science fiction. It is becoming a scientific fact! Dr. McKenzie talks about the hormonal changes identified in large breed dogs and how lifechanging drugs may soon be available to address the accumulation of the harmful effects of aging and substantially extend our dogs’ lives. He shares information about what you can do right now to keep your dog healthy for longer. And, Dr. McKenzie discusses the clinical trials currently underway and how you and your dog might be able to participate.

Suzanne Elshult, K9 search and rescue professional volunteer, and her K9 Keb stop by to visit with Marcie and Fenway about their many intense search and rescue missions, adventures and new book, A Dog’s Devotion: True Adventures of a K9 Search and Rescue Team. Suzanne discusses the active crime scenes, wilderness, avalanches, mudslides, and other dangerous terrains she and her dogs traverse to find missing individuals or remains. She shares information about the different types of search and rescue trainings, including the fascinating historical training, that ensured her and her K9 search and rescue dogs’ success in the field. Suzanne graciously provides practical insights into how you too can become a sought-after search and rescue dog handler.

Executive Producers SQuire Rushnell and Louise Duart Rushnell stopped by to talk with Marcie and Fenway about their upcoming Netflix feature movie, Rescued by Ruby which tells the remarkable TRUE STORY of a shelter dog that was saved from being put down, made history by becoming the first shelter dog to earn a spot on the Rhode Island State Police K9 unit, and then went on to make a rescue so incredible, and unlikely, that it earned Ruby the honor of being named as the nation’s “Search and Rescue Dog of the Year.” You don’t want to miss one inspirational and heartwarming moment of this conversation!

Dr. Philip Tedeschi, Director Emeritus and Founder of the University of Denver’s Institute for Human-Animal Connection and co-author of the new book Transforming Trauma Resilience and Healing Through Our Connections with Animals, visits with Marcie and Fenway and discusses the power of animal-assisted interventions. Dr. Tedeschi describes the pioneering and innovative ways canines support humans through trauma recovery, isolation, and loneliness.

Dr. David Crenshaw, Clinical Director of the Children’s Home of Poughkeepsie, stops by to talk with Marcie and Lovey about the many ways highly-trained facility dogs are supporting children and youth who have experienced trauma. Dr. Crenshaw shares his experiences and how it all began with a canine named Rosey. Rosey, trained by Educated Canines Assisting Disabilities, was the first dog to comfort a witness in a criminal trial in New York State. Dr. Crenshaw discusses the myriad of ways that facility dogs are serving young people today in all types of criminal justice and therapeutic environments.

Carol-Ann Doyle, Paws With a Cause service dog handler, visits with Marcie and Lovey about the joys and realities of being partnered with a service dog. Carol-Ann shares personal stories and experiences about all of her service dogs – Cal, Breeze, and Winnie – and how each of these self-less canines contributes to her quality of life.

Ashley Drew, National Director, Special Events, at Pet Partners drops by to talk with Marcie and Lovey about the fun of becoming a registered Pet Partner volunteer team in the United States or in 15 countries around the world! She announces lots of exciting opportunities for you to join in on the celebration of this year’s National Therapy Animal Day Ashley dishes on the types of animal species that can participate in Pet Partners’ training and creative ways you and your pet can volunteer in your community!

George Tarver III and Rudy Cabrera stop by to visit with Marcie and Lovey about Houston’s Memorial Hermann Life Flight®’s new K9-Casualty Care Course (K9-CCC) and Transportation Service. This innovative Life Flight program is the first air ambulance service in the United States to provide training, treatment and transportation for injured K9 officers.

What a pleasure to visit with Andrea Martine, a Guide Dog Mobility Instructor from Guiding Eye’s for the Blind based in Yorktown Heights, New York, about the innovative ways they are training canines to support people who are blind and deaf/blind. Andrea’s enthusiasm for her work is infectious as she shares how Guiding Eye’s gets to know each person and their specific needs and how they can match the perfect dog to their needs and interests. Their graduate teams live exhilarating lives as runners, travelers, entrepreneurs and leaders in many fields! Andrea also tells us about her personal journey to become an advanced trainer and how you can you can create your path.