Patches: a therapy dog
owned by Laura Ibsen of Gilbert, Arizona, was a 2008 AKC Honorable Mention for the AKC's Awards for Canine Excellence (ACE)

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How many faithful dogs served their masters well in Arizona can never be known. What is known, is that throughout the years many people in Arizona have relied on dogs to assist in everyday life and to provide companionship.

Above and beyond their place as family companions and in traditional service occupations, dogs in Arizona serve in an ever-widening spectrum of therapeutic roles. The physical and emotional benefits to humans that come from relationships with dogs are now recognized and utilized by psychiatric facilities, assisted living centers, hospitals, schools and even prisons.

Today, dogs contribute more to the welfare of individuals and society than perhaps any other time in the history of the human-dog bond. Additionally, over the past 3 decades, increased awareness of the importance of humane care and control of dogs, the enactment and enforcement of leash laws, and dog bite prevention education, have all been instrumental in significantly lowering the number of reported dog-related injuries nationwide.

Dogs not only enrich the lives of their owners; they also contribute to the well-being of many non-dog owning residents of Arizona as therapy and service dogs.

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1937: Arizona - Old Man and his dogs
Photo Courtesy: Pomona Public Library

The changing roles of dogs in Arizona: While the residents of Arizona no longer use dogs as beasts of burden, dogs still have great value and are included in many aspects of their lives, including the theater.

2008: "Charley" in a production of Anything Goes, at the Broadway Palm Dinner Theater in Mesa.

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Dog Saves Woman Attacked at River Walk

March 12, 2009: Pima County deputies are searching for a man they say tried to abduct a woman near the Rillito River path. Luckily, the woman's dog was able to fight off the attacker.

Detectives say, the woman was so traumatized it took a week for them to piece together their investigation.

The victim says, she was walking her dog last Thursday near Fairview and the Rillito River, when a man, on a bike, grabbed her arms.

He tried to drag her but then, she says, her dog attacked him.

Pima County Sheriff's Sgt Terry Parish says, "She was able to call her dog, he came she said it was something like you see on TV the dog leaped into the air hit the man in the chest and knocked him down, and she took off running."

Sgt. Parish also says he believes the dog bit the suspect because the dog had blood around his mouth.

Sgt. Parish says the woman did everything right. "She did exactly what I would want a member of my family to do. She made noise, she was resisting and on top of that she had a dog with her."

Sgt. Parish says its critical they find the suspect now because his next victim may not be as lucky.

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Cleo, a therapy dog, spends time with a resident of theYuma Rehabilitation Hospital.

Photo Courtesy: Jared Dort/Yuma Sun

Therapy Dog Lifts Spirits

YUMA, Ariz. - Every other Thursday, Cleo, a two-year-old Irish Wolfhound about the size of a great Dane, walks the halls of Life Care Center and the Yuma Rehabilitation Hospital to visit the patients.

Paula Bensel, Cleo's owner, said she brings her and several of her other dogs because she likes to see the smiles on people's faces.

''Cleo responds to commands in English and in Spanish so everyone can talk to her,'' said Bensel. ''I want to share all of my dogs with everybody. I enjoy them so much, and I would like to share the joy with people who are shut in and need some companionship.

Bensel said that she has been doing this for five years.

''This helps people heal faster because it lifts their hearts. Cleo is the baby and she loves this.''

The large, furry dog is very friendly and seems to have become best of friends with many of the patients.

''I love her, these dogs are very rare and are priceless,'' said Alicia Fenner, a patient at Life Care Center. ''I love my dogs, and I have had dogs all my life. Without dogs I feel lost. Seeing Cleo makes my stay here better, and I always look forward to seeing her.''

Fellow patient Tom Yenter said he also enjoys the visits.

''I've seen her here three or four times,'' said Yenter. ''The dog is big enough to be a tax deduction. I had dogs when I was a kid and throughout my life, and when they bring her here it is a touch of home.''

Life Care patient Bob Stewart said he likes to feed Cleo every chance he gets.

''That's my girl, all 160 pounds of her,'' said Stewart. ''I love to feed her cookies. I like to see her because animals do things for you. They could not care less how sick you are.''

Kristin Parra, chief nursing officer at Yuma Rehabilitation Hospital, said dogs help take away some of the loneliness the patients may be feeling.

''Dogs are therapeutic for the patients and help them improve their physical movement,'' Parra said. ''They also provide a social and emotional outlet that the patients would not otherwise have in a hospital setting. Many patients need companionship because they feel isolated.

''After acute care at the hospital, which can be lengthy depending on the patient, they will stay an average of 14 days here. That is long time to go without their own pets, and hopefully this provides them some motivation for them to get better and go home.''

Jim Fuller, another patient, said seeing Cleo lifts his spirits.

''I love dogs and I think everybody should have an opportunity to pet the dogs when they come in,'' said Fuller. ''People are lonely and don't have anything else, so this brightens their day. It certainly makes me feel better. Cleo is my personal dog treat.''

National Canine Research Council

What is a dog bite?

While the question seems simple enough, the answer is often not what we imagine.

Over the past 3 decades, increased awareness of the importance of humane care and control, the enactment and enforcement of leash laws, and dog bite prevention education, have all been instrumental in lowering the number of reported dog-related injuries nationwide.

National Canine Research Council