Bay Area Vet Shortage, Covid Sniff Downs, PAWS Up for Veterans, and More!
The nationwide vet shortage has hit the Bay Area hard. photo: AdobeStock
Is There A Doctor in the House?
Nationwide Vet Shortage Hits Bay Area and Beyond
A growing nationwide veterinarian shortage has hit the Bay Area, with many local vet offices no longer accepting new patients. The strain is especially acute for emergency care clinics, with frantic pet owners citing hours-long waits if they can even find an open clinic. The San Francisco SPCA recently announced it would close or reduce emergency care at two of its clinics due to staffing shortages.
Causes of the shortage are multiple and overlapping: older vets are retiring faster than new grads can replace them, pet ownership has skyrocketed during the pandemic, Covid protocols mean it takes more time to see fewer patients, and burnout is real. Vets and veterinary nurses suffer from higher rates of depression, anxiety, compassion fatigue, and suicide than the general population. Office staff may be harassed by pet owners upset by the cost of treatment and, unlike, human doctors, vets are sometimes called upon to euthanize their patients. All this takes a toll: the average veterinary nurse has a career lifespan of just five years.
One possible solution is loosening tele-medicine restrictions for veterinary care, but even that won’t provide an overnight fix. In the meantime, schedule your vet appointments well in advance, be prepared for long waits for emergency care, and please be kind to those selfless folks who are trying their best to keep your furry friends healthy and safe amid daunting odds.
Sources: abc7news.com, sfchronicle.com
Denise Webb handles Cobra, a Belgian Malinois, as the dog prepares to sniff masks for the coronavirus at Miami International Airport on Sept. 8. photo: Joe Raedle/Getty Images
Canine Covid Sniff Downs: Coming Soon to an Airport Near You?
The Miami International Airport recently became the first U.S. airport to deploy specially trained Covid sniffer dogs in the ongoing battle against the coronavirus.
Cobra, a Belgian Malinois, and One Betta, a Dutch Shepherd, are part of a pilot program that also includes a couple of Heinz 57 rescue pups. The dogs, whose accuracy rate is as high as 99.4 percent, will start by sniffing airport employees, but the program is expected to expand to include passengers eventually.
As with the millimeter-wave scanners, folks with allergies, phobias, or other concerns will be allowed to opt out of the doggie sniff down. For the rest of us, it’ll be a welcome chance to see our canine friends in action on the public health beat.
Source: washingtonpost.com
Morgan, a military service dog, stands on her hind legs for her handler before a news conference for HR 1448, Puppies Assisting Wounded Service Members (PAWS) for Veterans Therapy Act outside the U.S. Capitol on May 13. photo: Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images
PAWS Up for Veterans: New Law Reduces Barriers for Service Dogs
A new federal law will make it easier for veterans experiencing post-traumatic stress disorder to access life-changing service dogs. Years in the making, the Puppies Assisting Wounded Service Members (PAWS) for Veterans Therapy Act is part of a bipartisan push to address the high costs of providing service dogs for veterans in need.
Under a pilot program, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs will partner with nonprofit groups to assist veterans in training aspiring service dogs, after which participating veterans may adopt their own canine pupils. Dogs will learn critical skills like how to shield their human in overwhelming situations or to awaken them from a nightmare.
Bay Woof salutes this paws-across-the-aisle effort. It’s just another example of dogs bringing humans together.
Source: npr.org
Faith, an American Pit Bull Terrier, rides a wave in the medium division of the Helen Woodward Animal Center’s 16th annual Surf Dog Surf-A-Thon. photo: K.C. Alfred/The San Diego Union-Tribune
Surf’s Up for Pups: Dogs Hit the Beach to Support No-Kill Shelter
Petey, a West Highland White Terrier, took top honors at this year’s San Diego Surf-a-thon, which raised $14,000 for the Helen Woodward Animal Center in Rancho Santa Fe, California.
Competing in the “extra small” category, Petey has been surfing since he was eight months old, but it was his first time to enter this annual event, and the little guy went home a winner. Judges scored the dogs on a variety of factors including length of ride, size of wave, stance, and overall confidence (anyone with a Westie knows they’d clean up in that category).
Of course, no day in the sun is complete without a few trick rides. Bamboo, a Goldendoodle/Labradoodle mix, wowed the crowd when he and his human surfer simultaneously caught Frisbees thrown to them by another team member as they rode the waves on the same board. That’s a Double Doodle drop-in for sure!
Source: sandiegouniontribune.com
Researchers in Germany used this glass partition and a handful of dog treats in an attempt to decipher what dogs do and don't understand about human intent. photo: Josepha Erlacher
Sorry, Sorry, Sorry! Do Dogs Understand Human Intent?
When you accidentally step on your dog’s paw, does he know you didn’t mean it? German researchers say yes, dogs can understand human intent at least in some situations.
Their study involved humans withholding treats from dogs on purpose (showing the treat and then deliberately putting it away) versus withholding the treat by accident (showing the treat and then clumsily dropping it). When the treat was withheld intentionally, the dogs were less apt to try to get it themselves than when it was dropped by accident. Researchers said these actions suggest that dogs were able to understand when the human experimenters intended for them to have the treat and when they didn’t.
Not all canine researchers are buying this conclusion, however. Clive Wynne with Arizona State University’s Canine Science Collaboratory says what the experimenters were trying to demonstrate was “an immensely subtle and confusing thing for anybody to grasp, never mind a dog.”
For now, when you step on your pup’s paw, just keep apologizing.
Source: npr.org
PC Fairman and police dog Bandit won "outstanding achievement" at the National Service Dog Bravery and Achievement Awards. photo: Avon and Somerset Police
Bandit Goes Straight!
Discarded Dog Becomes Top Crime Fighter
This just in from across the pond. Bandit, a rescued Border Collie/Staffordshire Terrier mix, has netted the Outstanding Achievement award at the National Service Dog Bravery and Achievement Awards, his third such honor in three years.
Few would have predicted this kind of success for Bandit, who came to police work after a rocky start in life. Three previous owners had rejected him for hyperactivity and antisocial behavior toward other dogs so it was by no means clear that he’d go on to become a decorated crime fighter. But after being adopted by the Avon and Somerset Police, he aced all his courses and found drugs and cash in his very first week on the job. Later, he was part of a special team assigned to search Buckingham Palace during a high-profile NATO conference.
When not on duty, Bandit lives with his human handler PC Lee Fairman. “He’s a fantastic dog with a great temperament and character,” says Fairman. “He is now constantly happy.”
It just goes to show it’s all about finding the right pup for the job and the right job for the pup.
Source: bbc.com