Rescued pit bulls fight stigma by guiding people in need (w/gallery)
Posted: February 12, 2015 at 4:57 am
LOS ANGELES When former Marine Joe Bonfiglio starts thrashing in his sleep, his pit bull service dog jumps on the bed, climbs on top of him and wakes him up to end the flashback.
The dog named Zen has allowed Bonfiglio, 24, who was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder after returning from a five-month tour in Afghanistan, to get back to everyday activities. He can now do things such as shop at malls in Poughkeepsie, N.Y., because Zen helps calm Bonfiglio when crowds trigger a panic attack.
"I used to go to bars with my friends. And war movies. I am not going to see American Sniper," he said. "It would bring me back to a place I don't want to be."
Pitbull terriers aren't the typical choice for a service dog. They are feared, banned in hundreds of cities and blamed for sometimes deadly attacks. The Animal Farm Foundation in Dutchess County, N.Y., wants to change that stigma through a program that trains and donates rescued pit bulls to guide the blind and push wheelchairs or help people regain their mobility and avoid falls.
The effort faces opposition from those who believe the breed is dangerous.
The Assistance Dog Training Program is believed to be the only U.S. training school exclusively for service dogs that uses pit bulls saved from shelters, said Apryl Lea, the foundation's certified trainer. It has placed five dogs that require two years to breed, socialize, train and acquaint dogs with handlers.
A smaller group, Pits for Patriots, trains rescued pit bulls as comfort, therapy and support dogs for veterans, police officers and firefighters but has yet to place any service dogs. Comfort dogs are pets that get a few weeks of training, while therapy animals receive at least six months of training to help calm people who haven't received a diagnosis as severe as PTSD.
"Veterans and first responders can identify with pit bulls because they either have seen a lot of trauma or been through a lot of trauma," said Kelly Yearwood, co-founder Pits for Patriots in Chicago, whose group started the same year as the Animal Farm Foundation's program, in 2011.
The handful of major training schools and a few smaller ones all typically breed German shepherds, Labradors and golden retrievers for the lengthy, costly process to become a service dog.
Shelters nationwide watch for canine candidates for the foundation's program, which trains dogs based on Americans with Disabilities Act guidelines, Lea said. With pit bull breeds making up a huge percentage of dogs in shelters, she has to carefully decide which dogs are accepted. They must have the right build, aptitude and focus to help a person get through life with disabilities or injuries.
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Rescued pit bulls fight stigma by guiding people in need (w/gallery)
Director plans to put spring into your step
Posted: at 4:57 am
Mahwah Seniors, pull out your workout clothes, sneakers and water bottles.
Susanne Small, the coordinator of the Senior Center, said last week that several new programs including Jazzercise, body toning, aerobics, Zumba and tai chi will be added to the schedule starting in March.
"It is a wonderful time to add new programming," Small said. "It is spring it is a new beginning."
The Senior Center, which opened in 2003, has about 1,900 members and is funded by the township.
"The mayor and council members have been very supportive of what we are doing," Small said.
The schedule offers many different programs, including art classes, monthly trips to such places as Broadway and the Hudson Valley, and lectures and presentations. While some physical activity programs have been offered in the past, Small said, she wanted them to become more innovative.
"Our senior center has changed," Small said. "We have a lot more younger seniors joining our programs, and they are asking for more physical activity. It is all about revamping our programs."
Small said the schedule also is being revamped because some members still work and would like more programs to be available to them.
"With the baby boomers coming of age, it has become important to put more afternoon programs in," she said.
Small said there was a big request for the body sculpting class that will be offered.
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Director plans to put spring into your step
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Posted: February 11, 2015 at 1:44 pm
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