Tag Archives: Dogs

Hospitals invest nearly $1 billion in community health programs

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By Janelle James
Capital News Service

LANSING – More therapy dogs and tourniquet emergency training are among the programs Michigan hospitals are investing in to better serve patients, health officials say.

Corewell Health Butterworth Hospital in Grand Rapids has been making tourniquets more accessible in public spaces as part of its Stop the Bleed campaign (Chris Clark | Spectrum Health Beat)

The state’s hospitals invested more than $860 million in community-based partnerships and programming in 2020, according to a recent report by the Michigan Health and Hospital Association. 

“Michigan hospitals and health systems serve and care for any patient that walks through their doors,” said John Karasinski, director of communications for the association. “ We know that there are some patients with … challenges and burdens and we do not want to be a detriment to them receiving the care that they need.”

 

The report outlines six major areas of investment: health education and guidance, support services, community outreach, health professional, community building and clinical research.

 

Hospitals have invested $60 million in mental health services like counseling, support groups and family support, the report said.

Teaching the public to stop the bleed

One example: Spectrum Health Butterworth Hospital in Grand Rapids is making tourniquets more accessible in public spaces as part of its Stop the Bleed campaign, the report said. The campaign started in 2012 in response to the increase in mass shootings across the country.

 One goal is to put tourniquets in public places where mass shootings are likely to occur like in malls, schools and grocery stores.

 

“We were able to supply some tourniquets to schools in the area,” said Meaghan Crawley, senior improvement specialist with trauma services at the hospital.

The hospital also provides low-cost or free training on how to stop bleeding. The training is open to anyone who could be a bystander to an emergency – even children as young as 11 years old can receive training.

 “We’ve taught at many different local schools … and local churches and that is still ongoing,” Crawley said.

The addition of therapy dogs

Another example: McLaren Greater Lansing Hospital has expanded its pet therapy program after gaining success using it with geriatric psychiatric patients. Therapy dogs and their owners now even accompany doctors on their rounds to patients, the report said. They are also used in the Intensive Care Unit and the orthopedic hospital.

 

Some Michigan hospitals have added therapy dogs. (Pxhere.com)

St. Joseph Mercy Oakland Hospital in Pontiac has expanded to meet the need for dental care for people with disabilities. The dental office now has five rooms including one wheelchair-accessible room, the report said. The General Dental Residency program has expanded from three to four residents.

 

Michigan hospitals also provided $42 billion in financial assistance to patients with unpaid medical care costs, the report said.

 

The report is in response to the Affordable Care Act requirement that hospitals conduct a community health needs assessment at least every three years, Karasinski said. This assessment helps hospitals to accurately allocate funding where it is needed most.

The Michigan Health and Hospital Association represents more than 150 hospitals, including community hospitals, teaching hospitals, children hospitals, rural and urban hospitals and critical access hospitals. 

ABOUT JANELLE JAMES

Janelle James is a senior at Michigan State University double majoring in journalism and political science with a minor in Spanish. Janelle aspires to one day secure a position as an investigative journalist, White House correspondent or politician.

Wyoming Parks and Rec Commission decides to open all parks to pets

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At many of its parks, the City of Wyoming has waste stations along with signage posted on dogs having to be leashed and owners required to clean-up after their pets. (WKTV)

By Joanne Bailey-Boorsma
joanne@wktv.org

Come next summer, Fido and friends will be able to visit the City of Wyoming’s Pinery Park.

In an unanimous decision, the city’s Parks and Recreation Commission voted to end the 24-year ordinance that excluded pets, such as dogs, to visit the park from May 1 to Oct. 1. The decision was made after reviewing a survey, listening to a resident comments, and following staff recommendations to discontinue the dog-free status.



The survey, which had 628 people complete it, showed a 56-44 split among residents with the majority in favor of allowing dogs at all of the city’s parks.

“This was how it was 24 years ago,” said Community Services Director Rebecca Rynbrandt. “What is surprising is that while the results are about the same, the attendance for this meeting is not.”

In fact, 24 years ago, when the proposal of making one of the City of Wyoming parks dog-free came up, the Parks and Recreation Commission had a full room of residents who wanted to share their thoughts. At its Oct. 13 meeting, which had been moved to the Wyoming Senior Center to accommodate a large crowd, there was only one person in attendance to speak about the dog-free ordinance.

Resident Tish Stevenson said Pinery Park is one of her favorite parks to visit and she would like to be able to bring her dog there. She stated she would like to see the ban lifted and believes that a focus needs to be made on educating dog owners on making sure their dogs are leashed and they clean up after them.

 

City parks and recreation staff will be removing the “No dogs allowed” signage at Pinery Park. (WKTV)

This was the same comments echoed by many from the survey who felt that there was more of a need to educate dog owners about the city and state ordinances. Rynbrandt said the city ordinance follows that of the state leash law.

According to Michigan’s leash law, which was established in 1919, dogs six months and older are required to be licenses and owners are required to hold “properly in leash” any dog that is not on their property.

The City of Wyoming requires that pets be on a maximum 8-foot leash and owners are required to clean up after their pets. Rynbrandt pointed out that the city does post signs informing animal owners of the rules and provides waste stations with baggies to dispose of animal waste.

The Parks and Recreation Commission decided to follow staff’s recommendation to discontinue the dog-free status at Pinery Park. The staff made that recommendation because of the difficulty of enforcing the ordinance.

 

“If a person is found to be in violation of the ordinance, then it requires a parks maintenance person to address the animal owner,” Rynbrandt said. “If the person continues to not follow the rule, then it migrates to trespassing and the police are contacted.”

Police categorize all calls with the most serious issues being addressed first which means by the time a police officer gets to Pinery, the person could be gone, she said. Because of staffing issues at both the parks and in the police department, staff felt the dog-free rule at Pinery Park should be discontinued, Rynbrandt said.

 

Rynbrandt noted that Pinery Park Little League could still enforce its own programming rule prohibiting dogs as part of its events which take place at the park. Also, service and police dogs are allowed to go to places regardless of existing rules.

With the decision to discontinue the dog-free status at Pinery Park, Rynbrandt said staff will begin the process of removing the “No dogs allowed” signs at Pinery Park and updating the park guidelines in preparation for next summer. 

BISSELL Pet Foundation fights shelter overcrowding

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Cora, a one-eyed, 9.5-year-old dog was all to find her fur-ever home in the Empty the Shelters: Big Dog and Cat Crisis campaign. (Supplied)

By Brittany Schlacter
BISSELL Pet Foundation

More than 1,800 dogs and cats found forever homes over the course of six days through the emergency “Empty the Shelters: Big Dog & Cat Crisis” event with BISSELL Pet Foundation. The event was hosted in 97 shelters in 29 states. BISSELL Pet Foundation aided shelters experiencing overcrowding by sponsoring reduced fees for harder to place pets, including adult cats and large and senior dogs.

Approximately 808 adult cats and 997 large or senior dogs were adopted during the event hosted Aug. 16-22, 2021, including 33 cat and 49 dog “foster failures,” (when a foster family plans to adopt the pet) and a total of 1,887 animal lives were touched because of the effort.

Since Jan. 2021, BISSELL Pet Foundation has helped find homes for 12,427 pets and provided $927,100 in direct funding to the shelter partners through “Empty the Shelters.”

 

“With shelters struggling with overcrowding across the country, the adoptions through this emergency ‘Empty the Shelter’ have opened up space to help another 1,805 pets in need,” said Cathy Bissell, founder of BISSELL Pet Foundation. “We thank our partner shelters for the incredible work they did to help these pets find families, and of course a heartfelt thank you to all of the people who chose adoption and gave these pets a second chance at life.”

While thousands of lives were saved, here are just a few notable adoption stories from throughout the country:

  • Cora, a one-eyed, 9.5-year-old dog in Cummings, GA, found a fantastic home to live out her golden years after four months in the care of Animal Ark Rescue.
  • A diagnosis of kidney disease didn’t stop Sassy, the 14-year-old calico from Carsonville, MI, from securing her forever home during Sanilac County Humane Society’s event.
  • Houston Humane Society adopted out one of their longest residents during this emergency Empty the Shelters. Shelby, a six-year-old dog, found her family after 150 days at the shelter.

The next “Empty the Shelters” event is scheduled for October. For more information on adopting or donating to “Empty the Shelters,” visit www.bissellpetfoundation.org/empty-the-shelters.

Fireworks before June 29 not allowed; tips to keep animals calm

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Consumer fireworks are only allowed June 29 – July 1 up until 11:45 p.m. each of those days.

By Joanne Bailey-Boorsma
joanne@wktv.org

A quick flip through Facebook and you know its fireworks season.

“I would like to say thank you to the [person] lighting off fireworks and causing our dog to go crazy. I hope that you are pleased with causing the neighborhood dogs to freak out …”

“OMG. This is worse than the Fourth of July. STTTOOOOPPPPPP! The dogs are freaking! I have come to detest fireworks.”

“Our neighborhood was like a war zone last night and the 4th is still two weeks away.”

While no one can blame people for wanting to have some fun after being cooped up for 10 weeks or more, if you are shooting off fireworks before June 29, you are doing so illegally in most areas. Those who get caught could face up to $1,000 in civil fines.

In 2011, Michigan approved the sale and use of consumer-grade fireworks and in 2018, the state amended the law to allow local governments to restrict the use of fireworks, except around certain holidays, such as July 4.

This year, residents are allowed to display fireworks from June 29 to July 4 until 11:45 p.m. each day. Because July 5 is on a Sunday, fireworks are not allowed.

If fireworks are being displayed outside of those times, it is recommended that residents contact their local police departments even if they do not know the exact location of where the fireworks are being set off.

“Dispatch will put out a broadcast to all cars of ‘fireworks in the area of …'” said Lt. Eric Wiler, of the Wyoming Department of Public Safety. “As call volume permits, officers will check the area of any violations of the firework ordinance.”

Wiler added that in the according to the state law, fireworks are not permitted on public property such as roads and parks, schools, churches, or the property of another person without their permission.

Helping Our Four-legged Friends

So how do we help our dogs get through all the noise and commotion of fireworks? We checked in with local rescue Mosh Pit Rescue for some tips.

  • Keep your dog INSIDE in a closed secure room with no open windows.
  • Use a TV, a white noise machine, your laundry, your dishwasher, a fan, your bathroom fan EVERYTHING to provide familiar noises.
  • Double check your dog is wearing a collar with tags and your contact information is current on the pet’s microchip.
  • Contact your vet about medications – there are meds that can help ease anxiety.
  • Make sure your pet is exercised during the day and take them out just before dusk again so the dog is tired and ready for a calm nap.
  • Many dogs like a kennel with blankets over the kennel as a secure safe space.
  • Consider a Kong with Frozen Peanut Butter or other feeder puzzle toy or chew toy to keep your dog occupied and distracted.
  • Have current photos of the pet in case they go missing.

Man’s best friend, meet mom’s new baby

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A dog with proper training and a good disposition will react well to the inevitable surprises a baby can bring. (Courtesy Spectrum Health Beat)

By Samantha Kauffman, Spectrum Health Beat

 

In one of our recent childbirth classes, a mom-to-be asked me for some advice on the best ways to bring her new baby into the home, since they have two dogs.

 

Now, my family doesn’t have inside animals at home, so I don’t have any personal experience.

 

But this struck me as a great question, and it led me to ask around and search online for some helpful tips. I found plenty of great information.

 

To start, you should assess your dogs—or even your cat, if that’s the case—to get a handle on their experiences and disposition around small children.

 

Has your pet ever been around small children before? How did the pet do?

 

One site I looked at recommended preparing your dog at least four months in advance for the arrival of the baby. You can do this by showing the pet the baby areas for play and sleep, the baby’s clothes, and so on.

 

When you’re one to two months from the delivery date, adjust the dog’s normal routine. You’ll have to do this anyway if you plan to have the dog sleep somewhere else, or if the dog’s access to certain areas will be limited because there’s a new baby in the house. It’s best to ready the dog in advance.

 

If you have time—and if your dog doesn’t already know these—teach the dog some basic commands like come, go, sit, stay and drop it. (That last one comes in handy with baby items.) It’s very important to teach the dog not to jump.

Prep your pup

One great way to prepare you dog for the arrival of a new baby in the home is to mimic—appropriately and respectfully—the potential behaviors of your baby. This can be done before your baby comes home, but also after.

 

Babies don’t know what they’re doing. If they see a dog, it’s inevitable they will pull its ears, fur, paws and nose.

 

The recommendation is to gently interact in a similar way with your dog—gently pull on the fur, for example—and give the dog a treat for behaving properly. Then, say something to your dog that you would have said if baby had been pulling on the dog’s fur.

 

For example: Give the dog’s paw a gentle tug, and then in a kind voice say, “What was that? Just baby!”

 

Continue this, appropriately, so your dog learns not to react. Your dog can learn how to properly respond to baby’s poking and prodding. Also, remember you’ll be teaching your baby what is OK and not OK with your pet.

 

Also, teach your dog that the nursery is off limits. (Remember, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends your baby sleep in a crib or bassinet in your room for the first year if possible, or the first six months at a minimum.)

 

At the end of the day, your baby’s safety is more important than all else. If you suspect your pet can’t behave or can’t be properly trained to accommodate a new baby, you should find the pet a new great home.

 

Some other tips I found in online research:

  • When you’re still at the hospital with your new baby, give a family member something that has your new baby’s scent on it, such as a burp cloth or a blanket. Have the family member take that item back to the house so that your dog can smell it. This can acclimate the dog to the new baby’s scent.
  • Once you’ve left the hospital and you arrive home with your baby, try to enter the home first. You or a family member can hold the baby at a safe distance, possibly in another room or a quieter part of the house. Let your dog get used to your return and work through its excitement. Just keep your baby a safe distance from the dog until the animal settles down.
  • Have someone distract the dog with treats until everything settles down.
  • When you eventually do allow the dog to come over and see the baby, be relaxed. Allow the dog to smell baby’s feet first. Praise your dog for being gentle and have treats available.
  • Never leave your baby alone on the floor with your dog.
Reprinted with permission from Spectrum Health Beat.

 

 

Paws for peacefulness

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There’s an infinite amount of calm and comfort to be had in the company of dogs, cats and birds. (Courtesy Spectrum Health Beat)

By Robert Preidt, HealthDay

 

Cats, dogs, birds and other pets can help people manage their mental disorders, a study says.

 

Researchers from the United Kingdom asked more than 50 adults with long-term mental conditions about the role pets play in their social networks.

 

Sixty percent placed pets in the central and most important circle—above family, friends and hobbies. Another 20 percent placed pets in the second circle.

 

Many said the constant presence and close proximity of their pets provide an immediate source of calm. For some, a pet helps distract them from symptoms and upsetting experiences such as hearing voices or suicidal thoughts.

 

“You just want to sink into a pit … the cats force me to sort of still be involved with the world,” one patient said.

 

Another patient said: “I’m not thinking of the voices, I’m just thinking of the birds singing.”

 

The findings were published in the journal BMC Psychiatry.

 

“The people we spoke to through the course of this study felt their pet played a range of positive roles, such as helping them to manage stigma associated with their mental health by providing acceptance without judgment,” said study lead author Helen Brooks, from the University of Manchester.

 

“Pets were also considered particularly useful during times of crisis,” Brooks said in a journal news release.

 

“Pets provided a unique form of validation through unconditional support, which [the patients] were often not receiving from other family or social relationships,” she said.

 

Despite this, pets weren’t considered in the individual care plans for any of the people in the study, Brooks said.

 

The results suggest pets should be considered a main source of support in the management of long-term mental health problems, Brooks and her colleagues concluded.

 

Through open discussion of what works best for individual patients, the mental health community might better involve people in their own mental health care, she said.

 

Reprinted with permission from Spectrum Health Beat.