Clicker Training Community Blog

KPA faculty member Carolyn Clark recently received the chain e-mail below, which you may have received yourself. The poem had been sent to Carolyn by several friends, with author unknown. Carolyn tracked down author Janine Allen, who works for Rescue Me Dog, an organization committed to promoting shelter adoption and providing education and training resources to adoptive pet owners. Carolyn and Janine discovered their mutual interests, including their shared appreciation for Karen Pryor's Don't Shoot the Dog. Many thanks to Janine for allowing us to reprint her poem here. Enjoy!

I RESCUED A HUMAN TODAY

I rescued a human today.

Her eyes met mine as she walked down the corridor peering apprehensively into the kennels. I felt her need instantly and knew I had to help her.

I wagged my tail, not too exuberantly, so she wouldn't be afraid. As she stopped at my kennel I blocked her view from a little accident I had in the back of my cage. I didn't want her to know that I hadn't been walked today. Sometimes the overworked shelter keepers get too busy and I didn't want her to think poorly of them.

As she read my kennel card I hoped that she wouldn't feel sad about my past. I only have the future to look forward to and want to make a difference in someone's life.

She got down on her knees and made little kissy sounds at me. I shoved my shoulder and side of my head up against the bars to comfort her. Gentle fingertips caressed my neck; she was desperate for companionship. A tear fell down her cheek and I raised my paw to assure her that all would be well.

Soon my kennel door opened and her smile was so bright that I instantly jumped into her arms. I would promise to keep her safe. I would promise to always be by her side. I would promise to do everything I could to see that radiant smile and sparkle in her eyes.

I was so fortunate that she came down my corridor. So many more are out there who haven't walked the corridors. So many more to be saved. At least I could save one.

I rescued a human today.

by Janine Allen, CPDT
Trainer, Rescue Me Dog
www.rescuemedog.org
toll-free 888-777-0071

If you live in the Chicago area, don't miss the clicker trained Acro-Cats' performance at the CFA All Breed Cat Show on Saturday, November 29 at 1 and 3 p.m. and Sunday, November 30 at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. The cat show will be held at the DuPage County Fairgrounds, 2015 West Manchester Road, Main Building in Wheaton, Illinois, and is hosted by the Chicago Shorthair Cat Club.

Features at this year's cat show include:

• Showcase of 45 different cat breeds
• A Meow Mart filled with unique gifts for you and your cat
• "Ugliest Holiday Sweater" contest for exhibitors
• "Cutest Holiday Costume" contest for cats
• Remarkable raffle tables

The Chicago Shorthair Cat Club strives to promote care and respect for the cat population throughout our country, provide education on the health and welfare of all cats, and raise funds to support programs that benefit all cats. 
 

Laurie Luck, a Maryland-based graduate of Karen Pryor Academy (KPA), recently became the school's newest faculty member. Laurie's accomplishment has made the news at two area media outlets: the Frederick News Post and the Gazette. Congratulations, Laurie!

Laurie's first KPA Dog Trainer Program series will begin in January in Columbia, Maryland. KPA is now accepting applications for Laurie's first program and plans to offer another beginning in March 2009. For program details, visit Karen Pryor Academy.

You can read more about Laurie here. For more information on Smart Dog University, visit www.smartdoguniversity.com.

You may have heard that animal shelters across the US are seeing an unfortunate increase in "owner releases" due to home foreclosures and other economic difficulties. In addition, animal adoptions are on the decrease, as potential pet owners feel the budget squeeze and decide that now is not a good time to take on the expense of caring for an animal. The equation of more animals entering shelters and fewer animals finding homes means that many organizations are overrun at the moment. As reported by the New York Times and other media outlets, the problem is serious.

In response to this crisis, the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) has just issued a third round of shelter grants. From the HSUS website:

To help keep families and pets together through foreclosures and financial crisis, the Humane Society of the United States has created a grant program for shelters and rescue groups.

Pets have been among the voiceless victims of the current economic downturn. Animals have been left behind in foreclosed homes, and shelters are reporting that families are struggling to keep and feed pets.

To ease the current hardships, The HSUS is offering grants to animal shelters, non-sheltered rescue/adoption groups and animal care and control agencies to help establish, expand, or publicize services or programs that assist families in caring for their pets during the current economic crisis.

Grants range from $500 to $2,000 per organization. Collaboration is encouraged, and preference will be given to organizations that have a cooperative agreement with other agencies in their community such as a food bank or other community service agency.

Individuals can help keep pets and their families together by donating directly to this important fund.

"Dealing with a financial crisis is scary enough," said Stephanie Shain, director of outreach for Companion Animals at the Humane Society of the United States. "We hope to ease the burden in some way for families by helping their local shelter help them keep their pet home and part of the family."

If you can, please help.

A celebrated Komodo dragon turns ten at the ZSL London Zoo. From the zoo's website: 

Raja, ZSL London Zoo's adult dragon, is getting his nails cut in preparation for his birthday and National Reptile Day which are both on Saturday.

Being a Komodo dragon, and one of the world's heaviest living lizards, you might think that Raja could be a bit of a ‘old dragon' when it comes to being pampered - but this just isn't the case!

The birthday boy has been target trained since he was three years old which means he is an old hand when it comes to being groomed.

During target training Raja is encouraged to focus on a white ball on the end of a stick, keepers then use a clicker and give Raja food each time he touches the target so he learns to associate this with a reward.

This enables Raja's keepers to work with him safely and means that essential grooming and veterinary procedures can be carried out without causing him unnecessary stress and resorting to general anesthetic.

The dragon is a popular animal with visitors, who love to watch his dramatic eating habits. With his long, yellow, deeply-forked tongue and stealthy approach Raja certainly makes a meal out of his dinner!