Ask The Vet RadioShow Notes

Show #: 06-110

Show Description: "Working Animals and H.A.B.I.T.”

Audio Files: ATVR-06-110.mp3, ATVR-06-110.wma

This week’s Ask The Vet Radio featured working animals and H.A.B.I.T, “an animal-assisted therapy program” that promotes the Human Animal Bond in Tennessee.  Officer Walter Ricketts from the Knoxville Police Department Canine Unit joined us in studio to talk about police dog training and canine duties.  Dr. John New, professor and head of the Department of Comparative Medicine at the University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine, stopped by to explain more about the H.A.B.I.T program and the amazing effects the volunteers and their pets have on patients in facilities including hospitals and retirement homes.

Show Notes and Resources:

  • Officer Walter Ricketts from the Knoxville Police Department Canine Unit provided listeners with information regarding police dogs.
    • Animals involved with police work are often obtained after they are pre-trained from vendors over sea.  The dogs enter the program usually between 2 and 3 years of age.  The canine unit handlers then work further with the dogs performing specialty training techniques while developing a bond with the animal.  Bonding time between the dogs and their handlers is very important and can take up to a year to maintain a trustworthy relationship.  Most often the canines are housed in a kennel facility, but they can live with a handler.  Guidelines have to be maintained to ensure that the relocation does not affect the dog’s ability in the field.  The canines are most commonly used for narcotic searches, but they also aid in building searches, criminal apprehensions and tracking, handler protection, explosive detection, and arson detection.  Due to their keen sense of smell, dogs can detect drug residue and smell narcotics used weeks before, even after vast criminal efforts to disguise the scent.  Though canine units began in big cities, now most departments regardless of location have at least one police canine on the staff. 
  • University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine Professor and Head of the Department of Comparative Medicine Dr. John New joined us in-studio to fill listeners in on H.A.B.I.T., a nonprofit group of volunteers that has been dedicated for 20 years to promoting the human-animal bond in Tennessee. 
    • H.A.B.I.T sponsors animal-assisted therapy programs for people in nursing and retirement homes, assisted living facilities, hospitals, physical rehabilitation centers, and area schools.  The animals must go through a series of medical and behavioral evaluations before being admitted to the program.  H.A.B.I.T. consists of around 250 volunteers and over 300 approved animals in the program and together totaled 85,000 therapeutic visits last year.  Though dogs are the primary animals involved, cats and even rabbits can get approved to bring joy to the lives of others!  To become involved with the program or learn more about it, please visit the information meeting on September 12, 2006, in the Ellington Auditorium on the Agriculture Campus at the University of Tennessee.  Registration begins at 6 pm, and the meeting will be from 6:30 to 8 pm.  Contact H.A.B.I.T Program Administrator Karen Amsey at kjarmsey@mail.ag.utk.edu if you wish to attend or visit http://www.vet.utk.edu/habit/ for more information on this rewarding program.  You do not have to own a pet to get involved!
  • Dr. Tracy Dewhirst provided listeners with a TOP 10 list of animals in the workforce.
    • Cancer Detection Dogs: A new theory and program working with dogs to detect cancer.  Incidents where dogs have detected breast cancer and melanoma in their owners surfaced in the 1980’s, and researchers are working with animals daily to detect cancer in humans.  Though efforts are not fully realized, results are heading in a positive direction.  For more information on this exciting development within the animal community, go to http://www.psmerg.org/.
    • Guide Dogs/Horses and Hearing Dogs: Dogs and miniature horses can be trained to assist the blind and the visually impaired.  Dogs can also be trained to assist the deaf and hearing impaired by recognizing and alerting their owners to sounds such as doorbells, smoke alarms, traffic, etc.
    • Epilepsy-Assistance Dogs: Dogs are trained to respond and assist seizure victims.  These dogs can be trained to get the telephone, push emergency buttons, and even warn victims of an approaching seizure so they can sit down safely before the attack.
    • Animals in the Media: Animals in the media industry serve as actors, models, and spokes-animals for advertising.  Many animals in media have become iconic to their respective fields such as the Taco Bell Chihuahua and Lassie.
    • Animals in Sports and Shows: Dogs and horses compete in spectator sports such as track racing and competitions.  They can also aid in other sports such as hunting and falconry.  Show animals entertain spectators with their skills and obedience.
    • Herding Dogs and Livestock Guardians: Dogs are used to maintain sheep and cattle within a herd and keep livestock safe from predators.
    • Special Needs-Assistance Dogs: Dogs can be trained to assist disabled persons and stroke victims by performing everyday chores, retrieving items, and even pulling wheelchairs.  These animals can aid in the improvement of speech, coordination, and social skills.
    • Police and Military Dogs: Police dogs assist in assorted detections and criminal apprehensions.  Military dogs are trained for detections at large scale events such as the Olympics and Presidential debates.
    • Therapy Animals:  Animals including dogs, cats, and rabbits that participate in programs such as H.A.B.I.T train to be loving and patient visitors in facilities such as hospitals and nursing homes.
    • Search and Rescue Dogs: These canines are trained to locate lost or missing persons ranging from avalanche victims to plane crash survivors.