D O G G I E DAY J O B S Meet the Shelter dogs who are giving back to the community that gave them a second chance. Speak with adopter Terry Tischer about Lucky, her adopted ASWRV shelter dog, and you’ll know they have a special connection. Tischer and Lucky met at the Shelter and they fell in love on the spot. “I went to the Shelter and there he was waiting for me,” says Tischer. “He was my gift from the angels.” Tischer and Lucky went through therapy dog training in 2013 and passed with flying colors. Since then Lucky and Tischer have been visiting the Wood River Middle School on a weekly basis. “If (the kids) DOGGIE DAY JOBS 16
were nervous about reading aloud, Lucky loved their voice. If they were sad, Lucky was there to hug. If they were happy, Lucky put his head on their lap and gave them a smile.” Chance, adopted in 2012, is another Shelter alumni who has jumped four feet first into the therapy field. Chance’s adopters, Kay & John Besteman, noticed what a calm and friendly disposition he had and decided to train him for pet therapy. Since he graduated from therapy
training, Chance visits the Southern Utah Veterans home once a week. “He is a huge success at his job” says Kay. “He is thoroughly enjoyed, petted, hugged, and given high-fives - the veterans look forward to their turn for a special treat.” Lucky and Chance aren’t anomalies in the therapy dog field. Many therapy dogs come from a shelter background. There are even organizations such as Freedom Service Dogs and Service Dogs, Inc. that pull dogs from Shelters to train them as therapy dogs.
Opposite Page: Terry & Lucky read to Wood River Middle School students. Top to Bottom: Chance Besteman hard at work, Jimmy and Josie on top of Bald Mountain.
Becoming a therapy dog isn’t the only way that Shelter dogs give back. Ketchum local, Jimmy Terra, and his adopted Shelter dog, Josie, have jumped into the field of search and rescue and are currently part of the Sun Valley Ski Patrol. “I started training her, and noticed how intelligent she is and how quickly she picked up on everything,” says Jimmy. “I talked to my buddy on ski patrol who was involved in the avalanche dog program. He thought Josie would be a great rescue dog with me as her handler and the rest is history.” Together they went through training and became certified for Blaine County Search and Rescue in the 2014/2015 season and are going up for national certification in the 2015/2016 season. On a regular day during the ski season, you might see them at the Patrol Headquarters or practicing live burials and obedience training. “Josie hasn’t had to rescue anyone yet, but she is ready to respond at a moment’s notice.”
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