Heeling House

Since the 1980's, an increasing number of studies have focused on the potentially beneficial relationship between humans and animals. Pets can help lower blood pressure and heart rate, according to the Centers for Disease Control, and can produce oxytocin, according to a study from the National Center for Biotechnology Information. 

At Heeling House, this week's DDG featured org, children with special needs interact with highly trained therapy dogs. The animals can help the kids learn a range of abilities from fine motor skills to socialization to executive function. For instance, the Animal Assisted Applied Behavior Analysis Program employs dogs as models of good behavior and examples of socially appropriate interaction or sensory processing. Heeling House also offers programs focused on reading, STEM skills, and an ABA-based small group training for children on the autism spectrum. 

Heeling House was founded by Kathy Benner, an animal behavior expert, who has spent her career working with animals from penguins to llamas. Her background is reflected in the wide spectrum of training programs for animals, which includes multiple levels of animal-assisted training, and a canine good citizen course. Never fear, however, as Heeling House employs human specialists as well -- that is, people who specialize in people. (Pssst... click here for a couple of work opportunities). A degree in behavioral sciences isn't required, however. Volunteer applications are available. 

Lucky Dog Animal Rescue

Going to the dogs 

Lucky Dog Animal Rescue is not a shelter. It's a rescue dedicated to saving at-risk animals from high-kill shelters or owners who can no longer care for them. Lucky Dog relies on foster guardians to take in rescued animals until they can be placed with permanent owners. 

"Lucky Dog" is a bit of a misnomer. It's not luck that rescues animals in need. It's dedicated staff members and volunteers. Volunteers are vital to the operation. Lucky Dog depends on good-hearted people like you to give their time with everything from animal transport to coordinating adoptions. There's even Lucky Kids Club, designed to involve young people in the volunteering and advocacy process. 

Have you seen the hashtag #adoptdontshop on social media? It doesn't refer to taking in children in lieu of buying some new jeans at the Gap. It's an encouragement to acquire pets at shelters rather than pet stores, to give homes to abandoned animals and fight puppy mills. Lucky Dog Animal Rescue has saved more than 8,000 animals and paired them with caring families. Read some of the success stories. 

Animal Welfare League of Arlington

Must Love Dogs
(or cats, birds, Etc.)

Arlington County, Virginia, 1944 -- a small group of local animal owners is growing concerned about the number of stray animals roaming the area. The closest the county has to a proper animal shelter is a dog pound. On June 7th, 1944, they incorporate the Animal Welfare League of Arlington. The first goal of the new league -- to build a shelter.

Seventy years later, the AWLA boasts a full-time staff and more than 450 dedicated volunteers, all while operating a first-rate animal shelter. “We have five-star cat facilities,” said CEO Neil Trent.

The mission of the AWLA is to “improve the lives of animals” while helping to “create a world where all companion animals find compassionate and permanent homes,” according to the AWLA website.

The shelter offers a variety of community services in addition to traditional adoption programs: spay-and-neuter programs, animal behavior helplines, and even low-cost loans to those who wish to adopt a pet but cannot afford the costs upfront.  Neil cites the support of both the shelter’s volunteers and the surrounding community for the success of its programs.

“We are very fortunate that our staff love what they do, and we are supported by such a great volunteer corps. The animals are less stressed because they are socialized everyday,” he said.

The shelter has earned the community’s faith: Many residents of Arlington will call AWLA when an abandoned or abused animal is found, because they trust the organization will provide the animal with the best care.

Despite myriad programs for animals and numerous awards, the team at AWLA is looking to achieve more. “Currently, about only 27 percent of domestic pets are adopted through shelters. I want to increase that number,” said Neil

 

NATASHA AND ADOPTER BREANNE

The Animal Welfare League of Arlington has always been a part of Breanne's life. Born in Arlington, she spent her childhood with her family’s dog, Brandy, who was adopted through the shelter.

As an adult, Breanne started visiting AWLA and adopted her first dog, Heidi. “Heidi was very well cared for and taken care of there," Breanne said. "She had been in the shelter for a long time because she was deaf, and came out healthy and settled well."

After Heidi died, Breanne -- now married with two children -- began searching for another dog to adopt.

Natasha with her new family

“I saw a beautiful long-haired German Shepard named Natasha on the shelter’s Facebook page and fell in love immediately,” she said. “Because of my previous experience with the shelter, I trusted what they said. They are very respectful of people adopting to make sure they have the right fit”.

Natasha has folded seamlessly into her new family. Despite being cited as dog-aggressive, her behavior is under control, thanks to the work of AWLA dog trainers.

Natasha enjoys the company of her young companions

“I feel like I hit the jackpot twice," said Breanne, "first with Heidi and now with Natasha."

 

AWLA

WORKING WITH THE ANIMALS

Prior to her placement with Breanne's family in Oct., 2014, Natasha exhibited dog-aggressive behavior.

"It means the dog does not like, or get along with, other dogs," Animal Welfare League of Arlington communications manager Kerry McKeel explained in an email.

Fortunately, Karen was available to help.

Natasha. Photo courtesy of AWLA

Karen is a long-time AWLA volunteer who has been giving her time to the organization since 1990.

“My full time job involves working with dogs, so I began volunteering as a dog training in order to get more hands-on experience, ” she said. Karen has been an animal lover her whole life, and began to become fascinated by the wide variety behaviors and personality traits that dogs exhibit. Karen works with AWLA's adopters to help them create behavioral management plans for the animals.

She was instrumental in training Natasha prior to adoption, helping the German Shepard be calmer and less stressed around other animals.

Natasha (also called Sasha) with her new family. 

“I am drawn to dogs with behavioral issues," Karen said, "for example, some shelter dogs have fear issues. I like working with challenging dogs and helping them become a good fit for their owners. The most gratifying part is helping give a dog a better day. The staff at the shelter is so compassionate and driven by the same mission—to help the animals."  

Currently, AWLA is developing various animal housing programs, including the new “Adopt-It-Forward” program, where individuals or businesses can sponsor the adoption of an animal by paying for their adoption fee. The long-term goal is simply to “be more effective” at everything it is currently doing, says Trent.

Love animals? Want to volunteer with the AWLA? There are opportunities for grooming, socializing, taking animals to be showcased and more! Check out the AWLA website for more information!

Editor's Note: All photos on this page are from the Animal Welfare League of Arlington's Facebook page, where you can find up-to-date photos and information about AWLA and animals available for adoption.

About the Author: Marisa Weidner is a graduate of The College of William and Mary. She has volunteered as a teacher in Belize, and in homeless shelters in the United States. Marisa chronicles her explorations of DC on her blog, The Curated City.

Great and Small Therapeutic Riding

HORSES HELP ALONG LIFE'S PATH

 

The first thing you need to know about hippotherapy is that it has absolutely nothing to do with hippopatomi. That would be the opposite of therapeutic.

The hippo emerged from the water feet away from the boat during an African river tour.

According to the American Hippotherapy Association, “Hippotherapy is a physical, occupational or speech and language therapy treatment strategy that utilizes equine movement.”

Great and Small Therapeutic Riding in Boyd, Md. provides hippotherapy as well as riding therapy for children and adults with physical and emotional disabilities. The facility recently received a PATH – Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship – accreditation. 

“The horse’s movement provides sensory input and gives the clients a heightened sense of arousal so they can get their optimum speech,” said Megan Ferry, program director. “And it’s fun. It’s a lot more fun to work on speech goals sitting on a horse than sitting at a table.”

 The clients at Great and Small have a variety of challenges. About 50 percent are autistic, Megan said. For clients who have trouble bonding with other people, a horse can provide the first step to building social connections. 

 “It’s easier to read a horse’s body language than a human facial expression,” she said. 

 “It’s an amazing connection the horses have with the kids and the kids with the horses,” said instructor Peggy Itrich. 

Most of the horses at Great and Small are on long-term loan. Megan said there’s not typically enough money to purchase. 

Therapeutic riding horses must be specially trained. They have to be physically fit and well behaved. At Great and Small, the horses undergo a 90-day trial period in which they are exposed to a variety of obstacles, including poles, rings and balls, and in which their temperaments and movements are closely observed. 

The tack room

 For those with physical disabilities, riding can help develop core and muscle strength, as well as balance and posture.  The psychological benefits abound as well. 

“When any of our kids get on a horse, it gives them a sense of independence and being in charge, whether they can lead or not,” Peggy said. 

And it’s not only the clients who benefit. Linda, who has been volunteering at Great and Small since 2011, said she finds the simple act of viewing the interactions between horse and rider to be therapeutic.

“It’s amazing to see how they interact with the kids,” she said. “It’s probably the most rewarding thing I’ve ever done, especially when the horses haven’t been rolling in the mud.” 

Volunteers Linda and Debbie brush Buttercup, a therapeutic riding horse

 

DAVID'S STORY

David wants to be an inspiration. He hopes others can follow in his footsteps. 

Those footsteps can be hard to come by. David, 33, lives with cerebral palsy, a neurological disorder that can affect muscle coordination and movement. 

For the past nine years, he has been coming to Great and Small Therapeutic Riding in Boyd, Md. The training David receives has helped his upper body and leg strength. 

Before starting at Great and Small, David said, his posture was far more stooped, and he had to use his leg braces more often. 

“I feel like I walk straighter,” he said. “I can walk for longer periods of time. It’s a tremendous improvement.” 

 Born in Ecuador, David came to the United States in 1995. He is warm, determined and extraordinarily polite. He is also a multi-sport athlete who competes in the Special Olympics in swimming, horseback riding, snow-shoeing, volleyball, basketball and sailing. 

He holds on to instructor Peggy and volunteer Linda’s hands as they guide him through stretches on the vaulting barrel. The stretches hurt at first, he said, but as the years have passed, no pain. 

“For the grand finale,” he announces, “I would like to try the prince.”

 “The prince” has him kneeling on the barrel, arms out in a flourish. 

 The prince’s steed is Buttercup. As Peggy and Linda lead him at first, Peggy recommends shifting his weight in a manner that allows him to feel more balanced. 

When David is ready to go off lead, he moves through a series of exercises, including weaving Buttercup around poles, and doing an egg-and-spoon, holding a wiffle ball on a ladle in his mouth, then dropping it into a basket. The exercise helps him to strengthen his legs and focus on keeping his balance while controlling the horse at the same time. 

“I’m making goals every day,” he said. “I always come to my lessons with positive energy. I keep my spirits up and bring a smile to every lesson.”

 The environment of Great and Small is a fun, positive one, he said. He gets along well with everyone. Some of the kids even call him Cowboy David, especially when he brings his mariachi hat. He wants to be someone they can look up to. 

 “No matter what your disability is,” he said, “there is always opportunity for great hope. No matter what challenges you are facing, always keep striving for your goals.”

 

GREAT & SMALL TESTIMONIALS

"A lot of people think this is a good place for horses to retire, but they do have to be in good shape, physically fit and well behaved." - Megan Ferry, program director, Great & Small Therapeutic Riding

"This is not a pony ride. It's amazing the strength and balance the riders can develop. It's an amazing connection the horses have with the kids and the kids have with the horses." - Peggy Itrich, instructor 

"I'm not using the sticks (forearm crutches) any more, so that's a tremendous improvement." - David, Great & Small rider, has cerebral palsy

"When you have a child with autism and they start getting older, you realize it's important for him to have leadership skills. If I try to push him in mainstream activities like sports, he gets overwhelmed. This is something he gets excited to go to, he enjoys it. He makes sure I'm looking when he does something like trotting. He enjoys seeing the volunteers and instructors." - Rachel, mother of 12-year-old autistic son.