Horses used in therapy at new riding center

By Erika Weisensee
The Portland Upside
March 2010

Sycamore Lane Riding Center in Oregon City, Oregon, offers therapeutic horseback riding for a wide range of physical and mental conditions.

Dr. Suzanne Cleland-Zamudio is a surgeon, wife and mother of two teenaged sons. She works 50 to 60 hours a week, sometimes more. She is also writing a book about raising a son with autism. Suzanne has helped many people. Still, she felt something was missing and wanted to do more.

Two years ago after a vivid dream, Suzanne felt compelled to transform her family’s land into something meaningful for the community. She sat down with her husband Genaro and explained her idea.

“He said, ‘Let’s do it!’” she remembers.

So despite an already busy life, they cashed in their retirement and set out to build a nonprofit, state-of-the-art therapeutic riding center to serve children and adults with a wide range of physical and mental disabilities.

Located in Oregon City, Sycamore Lane Therapeutic Riding Center sits on five beautiful acres of land near the Clackamas River. The Cleland-Zamudios live on the property, which they share with 11 horses, several goats, and a cat named Oreo.

Suzanne grew up at Sycamore Lane, raising and training Welsh and Arabian cross ponies with her family. In 1999 after returning from Minnesota where she completed her medical residency, she purchased the farm from her mother and moved her own family to the land of her childhood.
When Suzanne and Genaro started their project in 2008, the property needed a lot of work. They began by demolishing the decrepit 100-year-old chicken house with the help of 50 or 60 friends.

“It was like Extreme Makeover, chicken house edition,” Suzanne says.

Within a few months, Suzanne’s dream was taking shape. First, she constructed a fireproof barn to house the center’s horses. The 120- by 60-foot covered arena came next, complete with a wheelchair ramp and harness to help lift wheelchair-bound riders to the horses. The property’s old “birthing barn” became the center’s new office and tack room. The facility was completed in July, 2009 and opened for lessons in August.

From the beginning, Suzanne was committed to “doing it right.” Sycamore Lane instructors are trained and certified by the North American Riding For the Handicapped Association (NARHA) and the facility is wheelchair/ADA compliant. The center also utilizes the services of two hippotherapists, one occupational therapist and one physical therapist.

Hippotherapy involves traditional physical, occupational or speech therapy in conjunction with the multi-dimensional movement of a horse.

But naturally, the ten therapy horses are the center’s stars. They are gentle animals, some with fascinating stories. Buster, for instance, rescued from Portland Meadows, came to Sycamore Lane with severe foot injuries. After careful attention from a veterinarian and a fitting with special shoes, he is now an excellent therapy horse. All the horses were carefully selected to adapt to many situations.

“They have to be okay with rattling hula hoops and other distractions,” Suzanne explains.

While therapeutic riding is more popular on the East Coast, its benefits are not as well known in the West, with only a few other therapeutic riding centers in the Northwest.

Therapeutic riding is believed to be an effective therapy for a variety of mental and physical conditions, including autism spectrum disorder, sensory integration and speech-language dysfunctions, traumatic brain injuries, stroke and Alzheimer’s disease. Patients receive treatment appropriate to their individual conditions and needs.

As Suzanne walks through her property, offering a tour of the arena, barn and tack room, she exudes passion and enthusiasm for her new calling.

“I wanted to serve a population that wasn’t getting served,” she says, “and I wanted to do it well.”

She is grateful to the dedicated volunteers who help make the center’s work possible and to the many people, including local contractors, who have donated funds, time, labor and materials.

“Starting up a nonprofit in the middle of a recession is not the easiest thing in the world,” she adds.

As a rider herself, Suzanne knows well the effect horses have on human emotion. When her son Antonio was diagnosed with autism, she saw the positive impact riding had for him. At the age of five and a half, Antonio made miraculous progress and was able to be mainstreamed in school. While Suzanne can’t explain her son’s transformation, she is eloquent about her desire to help other families experience breakthroughs for their children.

“We’ve already seen a few miracles happen here,” Suzanne says.

A couple of children have spoken their first words at the center. One of those children was atop his horse during a therapy session. He yelled, “Go!” to the surprise of his therapists and others in the arena who had never heard him speak before. Another child with a severe aversion to food ate his first solid food at the facility.

With about 18 riders—from children as young as three to middle-aged adults—Sycamore Lane is truly a place of inspiration and healing for everyone involved. And Suzanne has realized her dream to make a significant contribution to her community. Eventually she hopes to serve 40 to 60 riders per week.

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For more information visit sycamorelane.org or call 503-593-7084.

Erika Weisensee is a Portland-area writer. She teaches journalism and communication courses at the University of Portland.

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Alexa Levin volunteers to be puppy’s first teacher in the Guide Dogs for the Blind program

By Holly Shumway
The Portland Upside
February 2010

Photo by Jessica Levin

For the next 18 months, Alexa is responsible for teaching Delphine basic skills in the puppy’s journey through the Guide Dogs for the Blind program.

Fifteen-year-old Alexa Levin is well aware that her student, Delphine, might just steal her heart. A ten-week-old Labrador retriever, Delphine is in her first stages of training for the Guide Dogs for the Blind Program. Alexa, her “puppy raiser,” is in charge of helping Delphine meet the initial training goals.

Several months before Delphine’s arrival, Alexa and her mother, Jessica, joined a local group affiliated with Guide Dogs for the Blind, whose main campuses are in Boring, Oregon, and San Raphael, California. There are eight different groups in the Portland metropolitan area, throughout Multnomah, Clackamas and Washington counties. Within these groups, there are approximately 120 active puppy raisers.

Jessica happened across the volunteer opportunity and knew that Alexa was a perfect fit.

“Alexa is a natural with dogs. Even as a little girl, Alexa would spend long stretches of time with our family dog, Payton,” says Jessica. “She would crawl under the dinner table, a favorite spot Payton occupied, and curl up beside him, putting her head on his abdomen. The two of them would stay like that for long stretches of time.”

Unfortunately, the Levin family had to put Payton down several years ago due to medical complications.

“It was really hard for my family. We really missed him for a long time,” Alexa shares.
Over the years, Alexa searched for opportunities to interact with dogs. She pet sat for neighbors, knowing she would eventually like to be responsible for her own dog again.

“Dogs just lift up your spirits. When my mom told me about the chance to raise a puppy for the Guide Dog Program, I knew it was what I was looking for.”

On her path to becoming a puppy raiser Alexa attended weekly meetings to learn Guide Dog for the Blind training tips and techniques. She learned grooming and puppy care to prepare her for the anticipated arrival of her trainee. She also worked with other puppies in the group to gain the skills necessary for her own puppy.

“The group offers on-going mentoring and support as well as practice for new puppy raisers. One thing the group does really well is teach raisers how to help their puppies avoid distractions.”

The puppies are exposed to distractions such as other pets and “career change dogs,” those dogs that did not meet the full requirements for the program, but who join the training sessions to try to steer the puppies off course. The trainers spend their time redirecting the puppies by using specific training principles that include proper tone of voice, leash and collar correction, and continuous praise for positive behavior.

Alexa received Delphine the week before Christmas.

“I found out that I would receive my own puppy a few weeks before her arrival. I counted down the days until she arrived. It was hard waiting for her. I was really excited!”

It is now Alexa’s responsibility to teach Delphine good house manners, basic obedience, and how to behave in social situations. Delphine will not receive her green jacket—the official announcement to the world that she is a Guide Dog in Training—until she grows into it. While at the moment Alexa carries a card identifying Delphine as a guide dog puppy in training, the jacket will enable the young dog to accompany Alexa to social events and to school.

Delphine’s readiness will be apparent in two ways.

First, she will need to grow in size to fit the jacket tailored for six-month-old puppies. Second, she will need to grow into her abilities as a trained puppy, which will depend on Alexa’s dedication and persistence

Alexa is experiencing first hand the awesome responsibility she has undertaken to help Delphine meet her goals.

“The first few weeks involved lots of middle of the night bathroom trips, but just this week, she made it all the way through the night. My mom, acting as my guardian, is part of the training. Mom does the training while I am at school. That helps quite a bit.”

Delphine will stay with Alexa for a period of 12 to 18 months. After that Delphine will return to one of the main campuses for pattern training, during which she will navigate and master the ten stages of guide dog training. Alexa will not be able to see her puppy during this phase of training but she will be invited to the graduation ceremony to hand over Delphine’s leash to the new owner.

Pulling Delphine closer Alexa says, “It will be difficult to say goodbye to Delphine when the time comes. I know she will be going into the program to help someone. Knowing this will make it easier. If it was just to say goodbye without knowing this, well, that would be a lot harder.”

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To find out more about becoming a puppy raiser for Guide Dogs for the Blind, go to http://guidedogs.com or call 800-295-4050.

Holly is balancing motherhood with graduate school but enjoys sharing the eventful stories community members carry.

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Libraries, kids, books ... and dogs?

Dogs lend nonjudgmental ears to developing readers

By Deb Stone
The Portland Upside
January 2010

Photo by Robert Holcomb

The Read to the Dogs Program provides a relaxed atmosphere where students like 11-year-old Lili Morrisey can develop their reading skills.

If a dog went to the library for story time, what kind of book would he likely hear? We asked to tag along as Alan Mitchell, a volunteer with the DoveLewis Animal Assisted Therapy and Education Program and his dog Wally partnered up for a day at Belmont Library. Alan is an attorney specializing in construction law. Wally is a 7-year-old Golden Retriever. Every three to four weeks the dog-and-handler team listens to children read aloud.

Although Wally was one of 14 pups in his litter bred and trained for Guide Dogs for the Blind, the standards demand a rigorous combination of health, skill, and behavioral qualities. After two years of training, only three dogs in Wally’s litter qualified. The other 11, including Wally, entered the guide dog Career Change Program. When Alan and his wife Lynn Davis adopted Wally at age two, they made a commitment to keep him involved in some type of community service. Alan thought he would like to volunteer at the children’s hospital, but the requirements for the program were incompatible with his and Lynn’s work schedules. Then he heard about DoveLewis’ Read to the Dogs Program. He loved the idea.

“I’m a library geek,” says Alan. “I love to read, and the Belmont Library is close enough for Wally and I to walk.”

The pair attended training at DoveLewis to certify Wally as a therapy dog. He was tested on his ability to sit quietly, engage gently with a variety of ages and personalities of people, and tolerate occasional rough handling in a chaotic environment. Wally passed with flying colors.

The award-winning Read to the Dogs Program provides a relaxed environment and nonjudgmental listeners for children learning to read aloud. Research shows that being in the presence of a dog decreases physiological stress. The mere presence of a dog can moderate cardiovascular responses such as blood pressure and rate of respiration. The ability of dogs to use facial cues in human attention creates a sense of social support. Sociological studies in the late seventies showed that therapy dogs acted as catalysts to smooth social encounters by providing support and nurturance with eye contact, friendly licks, and a willingness to be held and petted.

Other studies have shown that reading aloud to peers increases stress in early readers because children fear being judged by their peers and evaluated aloud by adults. In such cases, children may become avoidant readers. But unlike peers, dogs never tease or belittle readers. The child always knows more than the dog about the book being read. This provides an opportunity for the child to be the one who knows most. It is an opportunity, says program director Heather Toland, for children to “be a star.”

According to Heather, DoveLewis has about 40 active Read to the Dog teams in the Portland area, serving 12 library branches and a handful of elementary schools. The teams operate through the generosity of donations to provide training, printed materials, screening and certification testing of dogs. Multnomah County Library covers the cost of T-shirts, bandanas, bookmarks, appointment cards, and reading certificates. The program started in June 2001, based on a model from the Salt Lake City area.

In 2009, Literary Arts awarded DoveLewis’ Read to the Dogs Program the Walt Morey Young Readers Literary Legacy Award for their encouragement to emerging readers.
For reluctant readers, the experience can provide the confidence they need to overcome their fear of reading aloud. Alan enjoys seeing readers return with their improving skills. They will often be shy during a first reading, but by the second or third, Alan says, they are showing Wally pictures or whispering in his ear.

The Belmont Public Library provides a comfortable corner in the children’s room with two beanbag chairs—one for Alan and one for the child—and a space for Wally to curl up and listen. Students sign up beforehand for a 25 minute reading session. They receive appointment cards with a photo of Wally to help them remember their special time.

Lili Morrisey is an 11-year-old student at Childpeace Montessori in Portland. She has read to Wally several times. For this Saturday, she chose three favorite books from home.

“Lili is such an expressive reader,” according to Alan.

Wally seemed most attentive when Lili read Martha and Skits by Susan Meddagh, a story about a talking dog whose baby brother yearns to emulate her older sister’s talent for human speech. The best thing about reading to Wally, says Lili, is that “he always listens.”

Eight-year-old Lupita Englander selected books in the library for her Wally time. One of the books she chose to read was a Lemony Snicket tale: The Latke Who Couldn’t Stop Screaming: A Christmas Story. Alan was impressed at Lupita’s ability to read this complex story about a potato pancake that takes its fate into its own hands.

“This was a challenging book,” says Alan, who intermittently stopped to help Lupita sound out a difficult word.

Asked how it feels to read to Wally, Lupita responds, “It feels nice and calm.”

When Alan is not listening with Wally at the Belmont Library, he volunteers as a hearings officer for the Multnomah County Animal Services agency. His favorite books to read are science fiction. Wally doesn’t have a favorite genre. He spends his non-library days at Alan’s office and occasionally at doggy day care where he romps with friends. One afternoon on a walk, Wally met Lupita’s dog Rosie. The dogs sniffed a bit, but did not talk books. It was Wally’s day off.

_____

Children can read to a dog at Multnomah County Libraries by registering for an appointment in advance. Dates, times, and locations are available at http://multcolib.org/events/readdogs.html or call your local branch.

For info about participating in the Read to the Dogs Program, contact Heather Toland at 971-255-5910 or visit them online at http://dovelewis.org/programs/Read_To_Dogs.aspx
To find out more about adopting a career change guide dog, go to http:/guidedogs.com/site/PageServer?pagename=programs_dog_adoption or call 800-295-4050.

Deb Stone is a freelance writer from Beavercreek, Oregon, whose work has appeared in The Oregonian, The Portland Tribune, Asylum, Oregon Gourmet Foods, Poetic Voices, Kid-Bits and Willamette Writers.

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Freedom for dogs, one fence at a time

New Portland organization builds fences to increase happiness for owners and their dogs

By Nikki Jardin
The Portland Upside
December 2009

Photo by David Childs

Noah, a beagle mix, proudly surveys his newly fenced-in backyard domain.

The beagle mix is all tongue, tail and paws as he pivots and jumps, greeting the volunteers who arrive at the sedate Gladstone neighborhood on a Saturday morning. The dog stands on two back legs and happily licks the face of anyone who gets within range. Today Noah’s reach is hampered by a tether attached to a clothesline, his restriction highlighted by the well worn path beneath him.

People arrive to participate in a recently formed volunteer group called Fences For Fido (FFF), a nonprofit dedicated to relieving chained dogs of an isolating and unhappy existence. The group provides the materials and labor to erect perimeter fences around an owner’s property so that a dog may run freely.

This morning Noah is getting a fence, a doghouse and plenty of tender loving care from volunteers willing to sit nearby while activity buzzes around him.

One group pounds slender metal bars while others unroll and cut fencing wire. Three of the organizers discuss whether Noah is a “digger” and whether ground fencing might prevent him from escaping. Since many of the volunteers have been to a number of “builds” already, the operation moves smoothly, and the workers easily make themselves useful. First-timers are greeted warmly and immediately put to work.

Michelle Rouse, who drove from Beaverton this morning, heard about the organization from a local news broadcast. She called the group to report a dog she had seen chained in an unsuitable environment.

“This dog had no shade, no shelter, nothing. I called FFF and they went over that night to talk to the owner. I was floored that they would care that much. I helped build that fence and was hooked. It’s fabulous, some of these dogs have never been off chains and you can see their pure joy when they are let go. I feel like we are the voice for those who can’t speak.”

FFF began last May when a friend spoke to Andrea Kozil about a chained dog she passed daily. She felt the dog’s suffering but didn’t know what she could do. Kozil, who works for the Humane Society of the United States, approached the owner of the house and asked if he would allow her to build a fence so that his dog could be let off the chain. Fences For Fido was born.

Andrea, along with colleague Kelly Peterson, began recruiting friends and asking for donations from local companies. They estimated building about one fence a month. Twelve fences later they have a waiting list and weekly projects stretching from St. Helens to Salem.

The original inspiration came from a group in North Carolina, The Coalition to Unchain Dogs, which builds several fences a week for dogs in that state. A group from the coalition came to help FFF on their first build and to offer tips on how to get the job done most efficiently.

As more regular volunteers show up for the weekly fence builds, the work has become faster and more manageable. Andrea’s friend, Vince Baker, became hooked after building the first fence and hasn’t missed one since. Vince has become the de facto crew leader, a claim he shirks off with a humble smile. But he becomes animated and sincere when talking about his first experience.

“That first build was the ideal situation. Here’s this dog, six years on a chain and we go in and build this fence. After that, the owner cleaned up the backyard, set up his barbecue and starting spending time back there with his dog. And that’s what we hope for, that the fence improves the lives of the entire family. That was a perfect example of how people can see that there is a different way of interacting with their pets.”

Dogs are pack animals by nature and are normally friendly and gregarious. Years on a chain can wear a dog down psychologically, making them unhappy, anxious or aggressive. FFF gently educates owners on the importance of interacting with their animal by visiting with them, walking them and taking care of basic health needs.

Michelle Blake, FFF coordinator in Salem, says, “We really try to educate people about their dog’s need for companionship. When chained, they are so desperate for attention that they are obnoxious and it becomes hard to spend time with them. The fences do seem to make a difference in people’s relationship with their dogs.”

The fence is nearly complete, just a gate left to be installed. People have begun to clean up the yard and organize the tools. Noah happily engages the volunteers, who hang out with him in tether-range while he checks out his new doghouse, a custom-made insulated model with straw bedding and a covered deck.

Noah’s owners come into the yard and quietly observe the hustle and bustle with a mixture of awe and satisfaction. In many cases, dog owners want to do right by their pets but can’t afford to offer a better solution than a chain. Indeed, this couple is grateful for the assistance.

“I think it’s absolutely wonderful,” says Angela, Noah’s owner. “We’ve been wanting to do this but couldn’t pull it off financially. It pulled at our heartstrings this past year, having him like this. We actually thought about giving him up to a better home.”

The moment has arrived for Noah to be released from his tether. As the smiling volunteers line the perimeter of the yard, they are eager for the best part of the day.

Andrea bends down and calls Noah to her. He trots over and she deftly releases the tether from his collar. It takes him just a moment to feel his freedom and he bursts into a run, spurred on by the cheering group. He makes three lightening speed laps around the yard and then stands, tongue lolling, to admire his new domain. In a moment that seems scripted, he leaps onto the top of his doghouse and stands proud and happy, even posing for a few pictures.

While the crew clears out, the family’s children come into the yard. Along with their parents, they begin running and playing with Noah. Andrea looks on, pleased by the success of this build.

“It’s great when you see the family really get inspired about their dog. They see a side of Noah now that they’ve never seen before. This is a way to bridge a gap and help nourish the relationship between dog and family. That’s why we’re here.”

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For more info about Fences For Fido, visit their website, http://fencesforfido.org Contact them at info@FencesForFido.org

Nikki Jardin has written for The Oregonian, Street Roots and the recently launched id Magazine. She lives in Southeast Portland and is continually impressed and inspired by the creativity and gumption of her neighbors and friends.

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From “just looking” to “just found”

By Holly Shumway
The Portland Upside
November 2009

Panda, an 8-year-old Australian Shepherd mix, found a new home with the Shumway family.

It is not often that you find a panda in Portland, but on a cold day three years ago, my family did just that.

Snow falls as we huddle in front of the computer screen to “just take a peek” at the dogs and puppies available for adoption. My three children and I navigate the Oregon Humane Society’s website, as the mantra “just looking” plays in my head.

Scrolling through the pictures, my sons laugh at the names that seem so fitting, their furry faces staring back at us: Marshmallow, a fluffy Pomeranian mix; Charlie, a curly cocker spaniel; and Dusty, a dirty brown Labrador mix.

The boys click on every dog, trying to fit the two-dimensional images into our three dimensional lives. Each boy locks onto a different dog and begins his own personal mission to convince my husband and me that it’s perfect for us.

Their chosen dogs become real as each boy races around the house outlining where his dog would sleep, where it would eat, and how wonderful it would be for us to watch him walk his new friend everyday. The boys even remind us of the importance of exercise.

Listening to my sons’ antics, I scroll to the very last page of the dog listings and see a single older dog. The boys stop their pleading and sidle up beside me.

On the screen, an 8-year-old Australian Shepherd mix captures our undivided attention.

“Panda,” black and white and resembling a very canine panda bear, stares back as if waiting patiently for us to find her. Her message states, “Sweet older gal looking for a family.”

My oldest son exclaims, “We’re a family!”

In that moment, I know that our “just looking” has transitioned to “just found!”

Panda has been an amazing addition to our family and to our neighborhood. Little did we know that she would become a hearing aid to our deaf Jack Russell terrier, modeling behavior to sounds that he is unable to perceive.

The kids in the neighborhood soften at the presence of Panda. She is, as one little boy describes, “a reverse panda bear in dog clothing.”

Whatever Panda is, we know one thing for sure, we feel fortunate to be just the family the Oregon Humane Society was searching for.

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To learn more about the Oregon Humane Society and browse adoptable pets, visit their website: www.oregonhumane.org

Or expand your search to other shelters in the Portland area by using www.petfinder.com

Holly is balancing motherhood with graduate school. She spends most of her time writing papers for school, but makes time to capture the eventful and treasured lives of her family.

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Therapy dog provides healing power of fur

By Sara Bednark
The Portland Upside
August 2009

Photo by Julie Burk

After receiving national recognition for his work as a therapy and crisis response dog, Portland area resident Zadok pauses for a photo while doing crowd training at Disneyland. (photo by Julie Burk)

It’s a quiet Tuesday and I’m scheduled to meet Zadok, a beautiful eight-year-old Akita, in the front lobby of the Kaiser Sunnyside Medical Center in Clackamas. When I arrive he’s already surrounded by admirers, so I wait my turn. Zadok’s owner, Julie Burk from Damascus, has graciously allowed me to follow along as she and Zadok do what he loves best, visit with people.

I first met Zadok the night of the 2009 Rose Festival Starlight Parade. He was sitting with Julie on a float with a dozen other therapy dogs and their handlers. As he patiently waited for his turn to ride the two-mile parade route, my husband, son and I were drawn to him. After only a short petting session our long walk to the car seemed a little lighter. I resolved to call Julie to see if I could find out first-hand what Zadok does for others. Little did I know I had encountered a true celebrity.

In 2008, Zadok was awarded the American Kennel Club’s Ace Award in the Therapy Dog division. In January of this year, Animal Planet sent a crew to Kaiser to film him in action.
According to Zadok’s business card, he’s a registered therapy dog affiliated with the Delta Society, Dove Lewis, and People and Animals Who Serve. Also certified with National Animal Assisted Crisis Response, he visits local hospitals, a children’s facility and prisons. He’s even travelled to Virginia Tech and Northern Illinois University to provide emotional support to the students and faculty affected by the campus tragedies.

In layman’s terms, Zadok’s there when people need him.

As I stand and wait, I soon realize I haven’t been in a hospital for years. Needles, blood and general body failures have always given me the creeps, and I now find my mouth dry and my knees weak. I begin to question if this interview is a good idea.

Before I can think to leave, the admirers are done and it’s my turn to introduce myself to Julie and Zadok. The 81-pound Akita walks over, pushes himself against me and lets me pet his soft newly-bathed fur. Then I squat down to get his signature treatment, a lick down one side of my face and up the other. On this day, I guess one of the first people who needs Zadok’s three years of therapy experience is me. Suddenly I no longer care about my hospital anxiety. I would follow my new best friend anywhere.

According to Julie, Akitas aren’t generally thought of as therapy dogs. While one usually thinks of Labs, golden retrievers, and Shelties, she had therapy-dog plans for the eight-week old ball of fur she brought home in 2001. She began to socialize and train him right away by introducing him to as many people, animals and situations as possible.

“That way nothing is scary for them as they get older,” Julie explains.

By asking everyone she met to pet, feed and talk to the puppy, Julie taught Zadok that meeting new people is a great thing and that is precisely what works for therapy. Agility and obedience training, along with the intensive socialization, helped Zadok become the outgoing, well-mannered hospital dog he is today. And good genes helped.

Julie sensed Zadok’s natural gifts the first time she took him to a hospital. Understandably a bit nervous, when she and Zadok were motioned into a patient’s room and he promptly crawled under the privacy curtain and onto the bed, Julie was downright worried.

“It’s a dog! It’s a dog! It’s a dog!” she remembers hearing a surprised voice repeat.

Her heart pounded until the curtain opened and she saw the broad smile of the man behind it. Julie and Zadok have volunteered ever since.

They visit Kaiser about once a week. The day I follow along we stop on the oncology floor and at the ICU. About half the time, we ask patients if they’d like to pet Zadok and then we get out of the way to let the Akita do the rest. He nuzzles, licks, or just sits, concentrating on the person at hand.

While Zadok lies next to oncology patient Carol Gordon, she absent-mindedly pets him while speaking of her own dog and its recent trip to the Rose Garden without her. Similar scenarios play out, room after room. We hear about border collies, pit bulls, Jack Russels, even a tabby or two, all residing in the real world outside of the hospital. Zadok is the bridge to normalcy for patients confined to a bed.

One woman waiting outside the ICU sums up Zadok’s talents as a therapy dog nicely:

“Crappy day. You see a dog and you smile. He does his job well.”

Between patient visits we make frequent unexpected stops at nurses’ stations and the halls outside patient rooms, visiting with the hospital staff. Nurses, doctors, technicians, all get their chance to “ooh and aah” in high pitched voices and to take in Zadok’s goofy side.

“Everyone needs a little puppy love,” admits one nurse after Zadok nuzzles her cheek and presses into her legs.

“He’s good for my heart,” responds another.

I wonder how Julie knows who needs Zadok’s attention. She doesn’t take any credit for those decisions. Zadok seems to know who needs what.

She does confide to me in a whisper that the staff needs Zadok as much as the patients. She describes their meetings with Zadok, “as a chance to reset in a stressful job environment.”
Indeed, during the holiday season, he focuses his attention more on the staff, presumably to ease their anxiety of being away from family. At other times, patients are the focus, and Julie just follows Zadok’s lead.

After about two hours in the hospital, Julie and I give Zadok a well-deserved bathroom break as we chat a little more about what he does for people. It’s one of those conversations containing no hard facts, just genuine words of relief, peace, and thanks and the shared memories of the relaxed faces of those he’s touched.

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To find out more about the Delta Society and Dove Lewis go to www.deltasociety.org and www.dovelewis.org

Sara Bednark has written two children’s books, publishes The Portland Upside and has been certified by Northwest School of Animal Massage to perform small animal massage.

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Two problems, one solution

Wildly successful program helps both incarcerated youth and dogs on death row

By Nancy Hill
The Portland Upside
June 2009

Through dog training, Project POOCH visionary Joan Dalton (right) teaches youth at MacLaren Youth Correctional Facility skills for a successful future. (Photo by Nancy Hill)

Fifteen years ago visionary Joan Dalton had an idea. As vice principal of MacLaren Youth Correctional Facility, Joan was painfully aware that without a good education, MacLaren’s incarcerated youth could not avoid the revolving door of corrections. She also knew that traditional teaching methods were unlikely to benefit the students, many of whom tested significantly beneath their grade level.

During her free time, Joan helped foster animals and began to research the human-animal bond. She began pondering whether there was a way this bond could benefit both the youth at MacLaren and neglected, discarded animals.

“There are definite similarities between these two groups,” Joan says. “Our society loves children in theory, but when one has problems, many people think locking them up is the solution. People abandon or euthanize difficult animals. With both groups, a lot of people seem to prefer abandoning someone exhibiting behavioral problems instead of figuring out how to change the root causes of the behavior.”

In 1993, Joan took her first step to linking these two similar populations by approaching Mac­Laren Superintendent Robert Jester to ask if he’d try a program in which incarcerated youth could adopt dogs scheduled to be euthanized. The youth would train the dogs, groom them, and find them new homes. She would run the program as a real kennel would be run, which would give the youth a chance to learn valuable job skills as well as math, writing, and other traditional subjects in a non-traditional setting. Additionally, the youth would have a chance to do something good.

“They’d also experience unconditional love,” Joan says. “Many of the youth come from dysfunctional families and, like the dogs the young men would train, they themselves had suffered neglect and abuse. Many of the youth didn’t want to get close to anyone, but bonding with a dog would be safe. Through that bond, they could learn to trust again, how to build a relationship.”

The superintendent agreed to let Joan try her idea, which she named Project POOCH. She selected one youth and one dog to begin the program. Anthony was solely responsible for feeding, walking, grooming and training Grover.

But when voters passed Measure 11, Grover’s solo kennel near the high school had to be moved to make room for tents to house additional juveniles being incarcerated. The superintendent then offered an unused storage space at the far end of MacLaren’s campus. With more space in the new location, Joan began adding more youth to work in the program.

“The youth had to apply just like they would for a job,” Joan says. She also did background checks to make sure the youth had never harmed an animal and were not likely to do so.
Sixteen years later, POOCH has been wildly successful. A study conducted several years ago found that not one youth in a randomly selected group of 100 POOCH participants has returned to corrections after serving out his sentence.

POOCH is strictly non-profit. While it is located at MacLaren, it receives no state funding and depends on grants and donations to keep going and growing. Fortunately, some major contributors have helped the program thrive. Joan insists that POOCH would not have succeeded without amazing support from the community.

“We have volunteers from all walks of life eager to come and work with both the youth and the dogs,” she says. “It’s incredible to see how many people want to help. I wish everyone could see how much difference it makes to the youth when they meet people who treat them with respect, who want to help them succeed. I see young men grow and change every single day. It’s an incredible example of how helping and caring for a dog can change lives.”

One philanthropist donated $10,000 to build a small kennel. Another donated enough to add an education center to the kennel. The center boasts six computers, desks, and a place for speakers and vets to come and teach specific aspects of dog training and care, such as massage and health issues affecting different breeds. The education center also gives the youth a chance to learn writing, graphics, layout, basic math and computer skills, and communication and business skills used to promote POOCH.

Others have donated the time and money to allow the youth to learn building skills by building a four-dog kennel under the guidance of professional contractors. Still others have shown their support by helping with fundraisers like the recent auction at MacTarnahan’s Brewing Company that raised over $45,000.

In addition, numerous vets give discounts and in-kind services to keep POOCH alive. Skilled volunteers help the youth train dogs to pass Canine Good Citizen tests; to learn t-touch, a technique to activate the function of the cells; to work with dogs on agility training; and to develop social skills. Even people without dog-related skills love to help; volunteers pick up and deliver dogs, take them on home visits to potential adopters, and tutor students in specific areas, like writing, math, job interviewing, and personal finance.

The program has been so successful that film crews from Japan have documented the program seven times. One Japanese author wrote a book about POOCH that was required reading for all middle school students. Joan has also traveled to Japan, Korea, Scotland, and throughout the United States to help others set up similar or modified programs. POOCH has been featured on Animal Planet, and last year Joan was a finalist for Animal Planet’s hero of the year award.
The youth who have participated in POOCH have their own success stories. Some have gone to trade school or college. Many are holding down living-wage jobs. Some now work with dogs. Joan points out that the participants gain skills far beyond how to work with dogs.

“They learn specific skills for getting and keeping jobs. By interacting with so many people from the community they learn communication skills. They learn how to organize and plan, how to anticipate and problem solve. One of the most important things they learn, I think, is parenting skills. There are many parallels between caring for children and dogs, like patience and unconditional love and consistency. Some of these youth are already fathers, and I know what they learn in POOCH will help them with their children when they’re released.”

While Joan is quick to praise others for their contributions to POOCH’s success, she is perhaps too modest about her own efforts. In the early days, Joan went without a salary and sold her house to keep the program going. She routinely works six days a week and is available to help the participants once they leave MacLaren.

One of her dreams is to build a kennel outside of MacLaren where participants can continue to learn skills as they adjust to life outside of a correctional facility.

“If a youth spends years locked up, they have lost touch with life on the outside. It’s not as easy to adapt as people think, and so I’d love to build a program to help with the transition and for mentors to meet with the youth to help them over the rough spots.”
Knowing Joan, she’ll find a way to make that happen.

Thanks to Project POOCH, these two groups are helping each other overcome the past as they all get a second chance in life. Here’s a sampling from the hundreds of participants over the last 16 years:

The dogs:

Ginger knew nothing but abuse. Beaten and neglected, she cowered any time anyone came near her, for contact with humans meant nothing but pain.

Lougar was found abandoned in the woods, harnessed to a tree with a tow strap. One of his front legs was so severely broken when he came to POOCH he had to have it amputated.

Bailey spent most of his young life tied to a tree. As he grew, his collar became too small and grew into his neck. When he was rescued, the collar had to be surgically removed.

The youth:

Chris lived with an abusive stepfather. At age 9, Chris’s mother took Chris and fled, but the damage had already been done. Angry and resentful, Chris acted out, and started getting in trouble with the law by the time he was 13.

Andrew (name withheld on request) was born into a family of drug dealers. He was taught the trade from a very young age and expected to participate in the family “business.” He was arrested and sentenced as a young teen.

Mike (name withheld upon request) was deserted by his father the day he was born. After a childhood and adolescence of neglect, he acted out and ended up incarcerated.

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Nancy Hill is a writer and photographer who believes that when people work together anything is possible.

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A smaller dimension of Portland

By Meenakshi Rao
The Portland Upside
June 2009

American Kestrel (Photo by Seth Reams)

I am perched 30 stories above the Portland Chinese Garden looking down at the Willamette as it makes its way towards the Columbia River. The beautiful arch of the Fremont Bridge and the rusty-orange of the Broadway Bridge spread out before me.

A buzz of conversation fills the air at the Portland City Grill, where a group of us celebrates a friend’s birthday. Suddenly a hush descends. All eyes focus outside on a bird, wings outspread, effortless and graceful, soaring, dipping, and riding the thermals high above the river and the city.

Questions arise that cannot be answered by the group. What kind of bird is it? Is it common or is it rare? Is it a year-round inhabitant of Portland or just visiting? Where does it nest? What does it eat?

We learn from a waiter that the bird is a red-tailed hawk that nests nearby. And yes, red-tailed hawks are very common in Portland.

As we leave, I think to myself, “Wouldn’t it be nice to able to identify the birds of Portland just as I can readily identify its important landmarks?”

So when I get home I consult Metro’s “Portland Metropolitan Area Bird Checklist,” and make myself the following short list of about 25 common year-round birds from the full list of about 200 birds.

And now I’m on my way to appreciating another – smaller – dimension of Portland.

American Crow
American Kestrel
American Robin
Black-capped Chickadee
Brewer’s Blackbird
Bushtit
Canada Goose
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Downy Wookpecker
European Starling (introduced)
Golden-crowned Kinglet
Great Blue Heron
House Finch
House Sparrow (introduced)
Killdeer
Mallard
Northern Flicker
Red-breasted Nuthatch
Red-tailed Hawk
Red-winged Blackbird
Rock pigeon (introduced)
Song Sparrow
Spotted Towhee
Steller’s Jay
Western Scrub Jay
White-crowned Sparrow



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