Sherry’s Corner

Opportunities in Caring Careers

The American Veterinary Medical Association is looking at the possibility of expanding animal care into such hot paw areas as hoarding and animal cruelty: translate–training veterinarians in forensics!  And, most recently they are opening discussions in the area of “end of life care”–terminally ill animals and the aging pet. The possibility of working in these growing areas of concern could open doors that would not necessitate a traditional veterinary degree. As far as I am aware there is no formal curriculum in any of these areas. 

      Locally, hospice seems to be performed by volunteers working with veterinary approval. An oncologist once told me his patients were most afraid of two words–cancer and morphine. Pet owners also fear the cancer word but the second word with the most fear attached is “euthanasia”.  Hospice emphasizes quality of life. Frequently, the veterinary profession emphasizes “natural death”. A recent study indicates communication with the client often centers on management of quality-of-life goals and not euthanasia.

      Hoarding, of course, is more a human mental health problem than animal behavior and psychology courses could prove helpful. As with animal cruelty an interagency approach championed by the Latham Foundation and Phil Arkow is probably today’s best answer to this problem. Agencies like zoning, code enforcement, public health, rescues and law enforcement need to work together. The most definitive work in this field is Forensic Investigation of Animal Cruelty by Sinclair, Merck and Lockwood.

      Veterinary hospice in our area is largely an individual effort and the caregivers are trained vet technicians who work with the approval of a veterinarian either in the home or in the hospital. Such care provides important family support—a strong veterinarian-client-patient relationship. It usually involves home care and thus reduces the pet’s anxiety about being in the hospital. Euthanasia is part of hospice care and it is worth noting that although this service is appropriate, more and more veterinarians favor natural death. Although euthanasia is often called “the good death”, hoarders and no-kill shelters are often unfortunate by-products.

      In the not too distant future there could be a veterinary hospice association. In the meantime veterinary technicians, retired veterinarians, and retired nurses and healthcare workers may find employment here. It is to be hoped that a pet hospice movement will follow in the path of pet grief hotlines that began with human grief counseling–the important difference will be an awareness and enhancement of the pet’s quality-of-life and not a focus on the other family members. There are usually scheduled disruptions as well as changes that must be kept flexible for the continuing love of life we want our dog to have. 

War Hero Dog Puts Titanium Teeth into Dog Bite Week

Most readers probably marveled at the Navy Seal war dogs, especially the one that parachuted to help with Bin Laden.  Besides bullet-proof vests and night googles these war dogs are supposed to have been fitted with titanium teeth.  The dogs earned an infamous reputation in the Abu Ghraib pictures!  And so, I hope President Obama has his picture taken with the one that came face to face with Bin Laden.  (I wonder if the image of the threatening dog in the prison haunted Bin Laden for the last second of his sight!) 

        These dogs are truly heroes and have been on and behind the front lines in every war in history–most recently, besides our current wars, the Korean war and Vietnam.

        The dog trainer who pioneered work with America’s attack, guard, rescue and bomb sniffing dogs was the late Captain Arthur Haggerty.  His training methods are not popular today.  “Sit means sit”–no treats.  The dog learned and worked for the comradeship and love he and his owner shared. 

        Haggerty taught the dogs of such celebrities as Jack Paar, wrote numerous books, won awards and acclaim but he was proudest of our war dogs, which he felt not only needed their own parades but deserved to be disposed of with dignity and respect when they were no longer able to serve.  Sadly, these dogs do die, are killed by the very hands that train them to work with us –no one thinks about rehabilitation.  We can rehabilitate the Vick fighting dogs but for our American hero dogs it is a one-way path to death. Haggerty called war dogs, America’s Forgotten Heroes.  No medals and little recognition–the people’s dog!  We were fortunate when one of these dogs parachuted into Pakistan.    

        I once wrote about how violent and sad the image of the Abu Ghraib dog was in the famous torture pictures.  Haggerty telephoned and told me it was a picture of a dog doing his duty as he was commanded–proud picture. 

        I wonder if this picture flashed through the mind of Bin Laden?  

        They say Bin Laden was a tall man.  If they measure height in heaven I believe Captain Haggerty is a little taller today.  NATIONAL DOG BITE PREVENTION WEEK IS MAY 15-21 THIS YEAR.  This year it may have titanium teeth.