I tell dog stories.
A dog was often the first to find a wounded soldier in World War I. The Red Cross Dogs or so-called Mercy Dogs saved thousands of soldiers’ lives. In Germany, they were known as Sanitäshunde or Sanitary Dogs. The Allies called them by several names: Medical Dogs, Red Cross Dogs, Ambulance Dogs, and Mercy Dogs. Dogs’ canine sense of … Continue reading Mercy Dogs: Remembering Canine Heroes of the Battlefield
I never thought I would have to consider the question: Can I have a dog when I have a chronic disease? I grew up believing that a girl and her dog could change the world. As an adult, I still believed that I was right. Dogs change our lives for the better. But in 2012, … Continue reading Can I Have a Dog When I Have a Chronic Illness?
The dogs parade the halls like rockstars. Walk down the corridors of a modern hospital today, and you might meet charismatic therapy dogs and their human handlers visiting with patients, families, and staff. These canine volunteers, with their human colleagues, are a new generation of therapy dogs bringing animal-assisted interventions (AAI) to health care. They have gained increased acceptance as an integrated part of the … Continue reading Therapy Dogs in Health Care: Paws on the Frontline
It’s been eight weeks now. Following a stroke that left his rear legs paralyzed, my beloved Junior, Golden Retriever, my writing partner, muse, and inspiration, passed away in November. His spirit is embedded in every word of every word I have written here and in my heart forever. The strength of our bond proves to … Continue reading Travel Well Junior Schilp
Do you know trains and dogs share a common history? Read the story of the vagabond canines that hopped on trains, often becoming celebrities and national heroes. My new book introduces canines like Owney, the guardian of the railway mail service; Fala, FDR’s beloved dog and train-companion; Annie, the Colorado railway ambassador; the K9 patrols … Continue reading The Dogs of the Railways: Canine guardians and Mascots since the 19th century
Pioneer : “One who begins or helps develop something new and prepares the way for others to follow” Yes! Dogs were health care pioneers. Over the years, certain dogs have improved and advanced health care in a myriad of ways: The Mercy Dogs of World War1 helped save lives in the trenches of World War. … Continue reading How Can a Dog Be a Pioneer?
I tell dog stories. For as long as I can remember I have been reading and telling dog stories. Now I write stories about dogs , the human-animal connection, and animal assisted therapy at the intersection of animals and human health. As a masters level registered nurse, Certified Professional in Health Care Quality and a … Continue reading Writing Where Dogs and Health Care Meet
Have you ever wondered if your rescue dog might have a calling as a therapy dog? Walk down the halls of a health care facility today and a friendly therapy dog may just trot up to greet you. Therapy dogs and their human partners bring comfort and cheer to those who most need it. For … Continue reading Can My Rescue Dog be a Therapy Dog? The Road From Rescue to Rockstar
When my dog found a retirement job, I did too. My dog Junior and I are part of a growing number of retirees and canine teams transitioning to encore careers. We have a work-love partnership in an active life stage after a full-time career. The human animal bond provides work and love for both of … Continue reading To Love and To Work- Dogs With Jobs
Every rescued dog has stories to tell. This is Junior, my rescued golden retriever's, favorite. Junior, my therapy dog partner, started his golden retriever days alone, locked most of his first year of life in a crate . At eleven months old, he was sent to a shelter. He was rejected for adoption three times … Continue reading Too Many Georges? in which Junior Gets His Name
I spent a day at the Lone Star Ink Writers Conference here in Dallas this weekend. It was a delightful mix of sessions for many genres with all levels of writers gathered to learn craft and develop community. The best treat of all was the venue- it was held in a Public … Continue reading Books, Writers and Stories Oh My!- A Day at The Lone Star Ink Writers Conference
Labels. They bother me. We are so much more than a label. Meet Junior, my partner. Here he is the month we adopted him. When we first met, he was an 11 month old homeless golden retriever in an animal shelter. He came into my home as a foster dog, waiting for his forever home. He … Continue reading I hate labels
(This post was previously posted on thedailyjuniorblog.com) Why is losing a pet so hard? For many of us, pets are family. They love us unconditionally. Grief is a normal response. But sometimes loss of a pet involves disenfranchised grief, a loss that is not acknowledged by society. We must often grieve our pets in secret. … Continue reading Why is Losing a Pet So Hard? Disenfranchised Grief
This is part of an article first published in Fido Friendly Online Magazine: No Dog Left Behind June 2011. It was awarded second place in the national No Dog Left Behind Essay contest. They are the days you never forget. Their images are burned in your heart forever. In September 2008, we were scheduled … Continue reading The Trip Before The Storm: No Dog Left Behind
We know when we see cruelty. We feel it. We cringe. At least most of us do. But can we fully describe kindness? We describe kind acts and compassionate behavior.But the acts that show kindness and compassion for living things are broader than just absence of cruelty. I wonder if we include all acts of … Continue reading Kindness: Can dogs show us the way?