Adam:  Therapy dog owned by Suzanne and Greg Vening, Florence, MS *

How many faithful dogs served their masters well in Mississippi can never be known.   What is known, is that throughout the years many people in Mississippi 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 Mississippi 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 three 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 drastically lowering the number of reported dog-related injuries nationwide.

* Adam, an Australian Shepherd, was a 2006 AKC Awards for Canine Excellence Honorable Mention Therapy dog.

***

Gunther

Sun Herald,  January 24, 2009:      Deaf "pit bull" and Rescuer "meant to be"

Nine months ago Gunther, a local "pit bull", was in ominous circumstances. He was homeless, infested with mange and parasites and had a too-small collar embedded and festering around his neck.

Gunther now has a loving home and has become a contest winner.

Pass Christian Police officer Rebecca Hengen already had several dogs and no intention of adopting another when she got the stray-dog call that led her to Gunther.

Gunther is the most recent winner of ASPCA’s Adopt-A-Bull contest, sponsored by Animal Farm Foundation.

“The man who reported him said that the dog had been hanging around for a few days, and no one knew where he belonged,” said Hengen. “With a little coaxing I was able to put him in the front seat of my patrol car. He very calmly rode to the shelter with his head in my lap.”

Hengen said she was taken by the dog’s trust, but was worried his chances for adoption would be slim. His condition was appalling and she said the vicious stereotype of his breed was against him.

The Human Society of South Mississippi’s staff had nicknamed the white dog Ghost; Hengen checked on him daily. On the third day Hengen said the kennel attendant told her the dog was probably deaf.

“He didn’t wake up or start barking like the other dogs when someone came in,” she said. “He couldn’t hear what was going on.”

Although her heart had gone out to the "pit bull" from the beginning, Hengen didn’t make the decision to adopt him until the following day when she received inspiration — through the comics.

“I read the daily comic strip ‘Mutts,’ by Patrick McDonnell,” she said. “That week Mr. McDonnell was doing a series of shelter stories. On about the fourth day Gunther was at the shelter, a strip ran with a white dog that looked like him. The dog says ‘Sure, I know I’m deaf, but I’d still make a great companion. Just do like I do, listen to your heart.’”

Although Hengen had already given her heart to Gunther, she still wanted to be sure she and the dog were a good fit. Through the ASPCA’s Meet Your Match Program, animals and adopters are assessed for compatibility. Gunther’s assessment showed he is an orange, “goofball” type and Hengen’s adopter survey showed her lifestyle and expectations for a dog would fit best with that type dogs.

“It was meant to be,” said Hengen.

She said Gunther is happy, smiling dog and everyone compliments him on his good behavior. He quickly overcame his hearing difficulty, said Hengen, by bonding with another of her dogs, Maggie May.

“They come inside and outside together,” said Hengen. “If he doesn’t know what to do, he just looks to see what Maggie is doing.”

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 of dogs, 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