Brandy and Val

We just wanted to share with you some of the new exercises we’re doing with our students since they are a bit more advanced than those we did last year.  That’s a good sign of progress then so that’s a good thing.  For those of you who are new to the blog, welcome!  Here’s a little background so you know where we’re at in the pet therapy conversation.  We work with children/some now young adults, afflicted with Autism Spectrum Disorder ranging in ages from grade school through 21!  They run the gamut as to the extent of their disability; some have motor skill challenges, many are non-verbal; some have both motor skill and cerebral deficits.  In any case, we love to visit and play with them in hopes of helping these kids lead happier lives that allow them to interact more freely and socially with their friends, family and the people they meet along the way!

One of the new games we’ve introduced is bowling.  The pins are made of soft cushions with bright numbers and colors on them.  The participants first have to set the pins down according to number or color.  This helps, obviously, with number and color learning.  It also helps with motor skills because the kids have a chance to get up, walk, focus on a task, hold on to the pin until it’s set in place.  THEN, here’s the fun part!  They get to take a “Nerf-like” ball and roll it down to hit the pins.  Everyone takes turns but our favorite is when we get to go since we knock the pins down with our noses.  Instead of rolling a ball, we look for a treat that is hidden near or under a pin.  Everyone thinks it’s funny to watch us do it.  We just like the treat.

In the first pet therapy post of this school year, we talked about having pictographs with commands on them that the kids can use and point to or speak out to us.  Well, now, we’ve added a twist:  we COMBINE commands, so, for example, instead of a kid asking us to “sit” they may now have to add 2 more to the sequence like “sit” “stay” and then “come.”  Pretty neat, huh?

So, now we’ll do this for a while because people with ASD like routine so we want them to get used to this.

In case you didn’t know, our mission at Brandy and Val, LLC is “to do good where good is needed.”  Not only do we participate in pet therapy programs in our community but we also have a series of children’s board books and toys that look like us.  Profits from the sales of our products help animal rescues and children’s causes throughout the country!

We encourage EVERYONE to participate and contribute to our blog and give us new ideas that we can do in pet therapy or add to the causes that make a difference in the lives of others.

If you don’t know already, our mission at BRANDY AND VAL, LLC is “to do good where good is needed” and not only do we donate a portion of all our sales to animal rescue causes throughout the Country, but we also blog about them to promote awareness.  We hope that through our prodding, those out there who sit on the sidelines will find a cause that interests them, get up and do something to help make the world a better place for all of us!  This week, there are three that are worthy of our mention.  They are not in any order of importance as we deem them all important!

A friend has discovered that it is SPECIAL EDUCATION WEEK.  I could not find any information about this online, but, regardless, he eloquently pointed out the importance of continuing, supporting and funding these programs.  Brandy, Val, their dad and I are active participants in a pet therapy program working with autistic children and so this topic hits home with us.  In addition, I was inspired to write and publish the Brandy and Val book series by a little boy named Zachary who is afflicted with Prader-Willi Syndrome.   As my friend so eloquently put it,  Children with special needs only want what we all want: to be accepted. Can I make a request of anyone willing to post this and leave it on your status for at least an hour? It is Special Education week, and this is in honor of all children made in a unique way and who learn a little …differently, but love with all their hearts.

October is BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH and there are events, fundraisers, merchandise for sale and companies participating and donating funds to help stamp out breast cancer.  Even the NFL is in the act—lots of pink was on the playing field this past Sunday to promote awareness.  Estee Lauder is also a big supporter through its’ foundation, too and who, by now, hasn’t heard of the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Foundation with their amazing walk/run fundraisers?!

I’ve recently been introduced to UP FOR PUPS, an organization comprised of artists using their varied talents to promote animal advocacy.   If you are an artist and want to find a way to join, have a great idea to execute, then contact them.  If you want to go to an event, check out their schedule. Best of luck to this new startup!  As a functional potter, I’m excited to explore the possibilities of contacting my fellow artistic friends and seeing how we can help.

Last, but DEFINITELY not least, October is ADOPT A SHELTER DOG MONTH.  Need I say more?  Brandy and Val are two of the very many lucky former shelter dogs who received a second, third (or more) chance.  The shelters are filled with such wonderful, loving dogs and cats.

So this past week we began our pet therapy sessions working back at the special needs school with autistic children.  It was good to see so many of the same faces and we felt immediately comfortable back with them in the classroom.   For those who have some form of autism along the spectrum, having a routine is comforting and so everyone responded well to seeing our familiar faces and wagging tales!  That they remembered us and were not afraid to see us was a promising start.

This year, we hope to encourage and develop more language skills and the teachers were nice enough to provide mom and dad with a sheet of pictographs they can use as guides.  On each sheet there are several pictures with commands/words and hand signals the children can use with us.  For example, “sit,” “down,” “walk,” “stay,” and “treat” are very popular words chosen.  We are happy to oblige, especially when it comes to receiving treats.  Some of the more advanced students know states and one of the classrooms has a big carpet with a map of the U.S. .  The states are also colored so not only can we walk to certain states but they can also be identified by color.  So, the kids learn geography, color and get a chance to move around with us.  Then they get to feed us a treat which helps their motor skills.

During the course of the school year, we’ll give updates on everyone’s progress.

Please watch our most recent interview on last night’s 6pm NBC Chicago broadcast.  Sums up what we’re all about perfectly!

Brandy and Val, their story

We are so excited to have guest blogger, Jane Davis, share the story of her rescue dogs Hogan and Magic with us!  At Brandy and Val, our mission is “to do good where good is needed” and for months, we have been extolling the virtues of adopting abandoned/sheltered animals and the virtues of pet therapy.   Jane and Hogan make a special team…..

HOGAN & ME
by Jane Davis

As I was waiting for a ride from a friend down her “off the grid” road,  a flash of energy came bounding toward me. I knelt quickly on the ground  while a spotted white, brown and black dog leapt upon me. He was  emaciated, dirty and determined. I played with him for a few minutes until  suddenly he sat still, smashed his right paw on my left shoulder and  stared into my eyes, his icicle blue eyes piercing my soul.

“Ghost eyes,” I thought.

“You get it?!” he seemed to say. “You are mine. I am yours.”

As soon as I acknowledged, “Yes, I hear you,” he started jumping all  around.

But he would not get into my friend’s car. I communicated to him that  he had to come on his own. He refused, so I said goodbye.

Two miles later, glancing out the window, I saw him running alongside  the car, a slight grin parting his mouth. He jumped into the car.

But my landlord said, “No dogs.”

We moved.

Two months later the new landlord said, “Dog can’t stay.”

We moved twice more before we found our final home, where we have been  for the past three years.

For the first year, Hogan thought it was fun to play his favorite game  throughout the night: head butting. He would take a running leap onto the  bed and smash his forehead into mine. He remained unsocialized despite the  training he was receiving. Finally, a friend suggested that I spray him in  the face with water. Two sprays later, the head butting ceased. I worked  closely with him, attempting to train him while keeping his wild spirit  intact. We went to puppy training and the dog park. He became increasingly  accustomed to everything in his new life. (more…)

Sunday’s NEW YORK TIMES revealing article, THE ANTI-CRUELTY SYNDROME finally correlated what many animal rights supporters, animal lovers and the like, have believed all along:  there is a definitive link between animal abuse and other forms of violence. DUH!  There is enough convincing scientific evidence out there that now local government agencies are willing to put resources to work that  help track down these violent offenders of animals and also help rehabilitate them, too.  The article points out that animal cruelty awareness is getting its’ just due in this country and that 46 states have laws on the books making various forms of animal abuse a felony.     Perhaps this is great opportunity to revisit the implications of the recent Supreme Court ruling which overturned a federal law that made it a crime to create or sell dogfight videos and other depictions of animal cruelty.

The whole article is certainly worth reading, chock full of facts and programs that are being tested and used in communities.   As participants in pet therapy programs, we have always endorsed and mentioned organizations that use animals in helping to teach empathy and responsibility to people.   We’ve also talked about the healing and rehabilitative effects of being near or having an animal in one’s life.   In a twist of irony, the article goes on to say that those who are animal abusers benefit from prolonged exposure working with animals and that equine-therapy programs are especially good at this.  We already know that victims of abuse and emotionally withdrawn individuals benefit from the many pet therapy programs out there, too.

Whether it be the abused,  the abuser or the rest of us, it’s time to acknowledge, respect and benefit from  the power of animals.  Brandy and Val have known this all along!

Brandy and Val are my two rescue dogs that are out and about in the community working with children.  It is through their pet therapy work and the sales of their books:  BRANDY AND VAL; BRANDY AND VAL’S FAVORITE THINGS and BRANDY AND VAL’S SPECIAL STORY that the goal of “doing good where good is needed”  can be realized.  Animal sanctuaries and rescues throughout the country benefit from every purchase!

Last July, the Service Dogs for Veterans Act was passed in the Senate, propelled by freshman Senator Al Franken of Minnesota and the Wounded Warrior K-9 Corps Act worked its’ way through the House, thanks to Congressman Ron Klein of Florida,  authorizing the use of federal funds to help furnish animals as pet therapy and service animals to U.S. veterans suffering from PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder). Service dogs are already provided  to veterans who have lost their sight or who are physically disabled but these bills now cover pilot programs for psychiatric disorders, too.  I have frequently commented in this blog about the “power of pets” for use as therapy animals and it is good news that the Government is recognizing their use to help former veterans, mostly from Iraq and Afghanistan reintegrate with society after they return home from combat.   Horse therapy is being used in Davie, Florida as stress relievers and dogs’ roles  as psychiatric service dogs include their being trained to dial 911, sense panic attacks before they start, activate lights, and provide protection if their guardian feels threatened.  Dog companionship has also been shown to instill feelings of self-esteem, responsibility and optimism in those who care for pets and is also a vital component to the rehabilitation to the physically and mentally wounded vet. Watch this video from the New York Times for first-hand insight from the veterans being helped!

Since our mission at Brandy and Val is, “to do good where good is needed” we are also thrilled that some of the dogs being trained for these programs come from Puppies Behind Bars, an organization that uses prisoners to raise and train the dogs. Programs such as these serve the community at large not only in providing the dogs that help vets but they help with the rehabilitation of the inmates working with these animals.  Seems like a lot of good is being done here.

A few weeks ago we talked about some breakthrough moments we had during our sessions and wondered whether we were going to be able to repeat the process of having two, very nervous autistic children who were scared of Brandy take a walk with her.  Well, I am glad to report that INDEED, these same children were very willing to walk with my sister and had an equally good time.  One of the kids even held mom’s hand and patted it.  Awesome.  We wonder how this translates, if it does, to other aspects of their lives.  We hope it does.  Another big moment for Brandy occurred when the sole remaining child in the class who wouldn’t acknowledge her agreed to wave “hi” and “bye” and looked at her when he did this.  He even kind of agreed to maybe touch her next week.  Wouldn’t that be great.

As for me, well, I “flew solo” today.  The other dog I normally work the room with was absent so it was up to me to carry the day.  I think I did a great job working with so many children and dad keeps calling me a star, so it must be true.  We did all my favorite activities:  walking with the children; taking treats from them; being brushed by them; playing the cup game in which I get to find my treat and playing GET MINNIE where I retrieve my mini-Val toy from a basket and bring it over to the person calling my name.  It was a good day.

I think we’re ready for much deserved naps.

We had major breakthroughs at pet therapy this week that I want to share with you.  In my session with mom, two children who absolutely, positively would not communicate or show any emotion with me agreed to go on a “walk.”  Maybe it’s because they are used to me by now or maybe it was something else, but the kids walked with enthusiasm, laughed and smiled.  This made it a really good session for me.  I wonder if,  the next time we visit, they will remember this outing and go with me again for a walk.  Maybe they will pet me. One boy gave me a treat on a fork and he seemed to really like that.  I know I did, after all, who doesn’t like getting a treat?  I really hope that they understood something good was going on!

Later when we met up with Val and dad, Val told me that he did 3 roll-overs on his own without any help and the children in his group all clapped and laughed.  I know he really loves little girls, I bet when he lived in New Orleans before Hurricane Katrina he had a sister but I also know he really likes it when everyone gives him good attention, too!

A big cheer to all the children who participated this week and whom we gave some happiness to.

We’ve had our second pet therapy session of 2010 and Val is turning into the major star.  He has learned to roll-over for the children and everyone is so impressed.  Val continues to be very gentle and patient with the kids and his calm demeanor permeates the classroom. This, all according to dad who splits off from Brandy and me when we go to our sessions.   In addition to rolling over, Val and Jay continue to work on hand dexterity by having the kids use a fork to feed Val carrots; grooming and walking.

Brandy continues to make it known that she wishes to be the center of attention.  Since we work with two different age groups and skill levels, we do varied tasks in the two classrooms we visit.  We had a breakthrough in our first, lower skilled class today, when two of the children who wouldn’t walk with Brandy previously was willing to venture out of the room and “take her for a walk” with me.   Brandy did her part in taking the lead and the kids relaxed and concentrated on holding the leash when they realized that Brandy wasn’t threatening to them since she happily greeted everyone in her path.  Both classmates seemed to look relaxed and happy as we all ambled through the hallways!  In our older group, we had a new activity to show everyone.  Since many of the students in this class know their letters and some can read, we had flash cards with Brandy’s favorite commands (sit, stay, down, up, twirl) that the kids would have Brandy do.  They enjoyed being able to read as they worked with Brandy.  Her newest trick, twirl, was a hit and the kids enjoyed going around in a circle at the same time she did.

In order to hold everyone’s interest, we always try to have a new activity to do.   Most of the children we work with are autistic and we always keep in mind that it is important to make sure that the same themes and tasks are reinforced in each session so the kids always feel they are in a comfortable, non-threatening environment!