Our Dog, Our Best Friend
By Robert Forto, PhD
It's amazing what dogs bring into your life. Today I was looking at my Siberian Husky, Ineka, who is well beyond the decade mark and thought about all the good things that have happened to me since he came into my life. It's funny how a dog can be such a catalyst in one's life. When we are kids they are the constant companions that we tell our deepest secrets to. When we are adults they give us hope and determination. In old age they bring a sparkle to our eyes and a smile to our faces. Their eyes are truly a mirror into our soul.
It is also hard when dogs get old and begin the daily struggles with life that we once took for granted. Days when they ran around the house with such vigor and joy. If you haven’t gotten the chance I highly recommend that you read a novel by Garth Stein called The Art of Racing in the Rain. It is a book that is told from a dog’s eye view of the world. Enzo, a senior-citizen Labrador Retriever/Terrier tells the story of his owner’s life and how the dog teaches his owner many life lessons.
I will admit, the book was a tear-jerker for me and while it was difficult to put down, I was leery with every turn of the page because I could see my old dog, Ineka, telling the story about my life and how he perceives it. You see, Ineka and I have been pals for a long time, the better part of 10 years now. He has been my source of inspiration and passion. He has led me through life’s struggles and my sled dog teams on the path home. I will be sad when his time comes and that brings me to my interview with Sid Korpi on The Dog Doctor Radio Show.
Sid Korpi is the author of a new book: Good Grief: Finding Peace after Pet Loss. In her book she melds personal perspectives and astonishing stories with those of professionals, such as veterinarians, animal communicators and religious leaders and other animal lovers the world over to help you make your pet-grieving process as positive as possible.
In our interview on The Dog Doctor Radio Show we will talk in-depth on how to emotionally prepare for a pet’s euthanasia and understanding when it is the right time. I struggle with this as every pet owner does. If you saw the movie Marley and Me you can understand a person’s emotional turmoil as this day approaches. It is something that no pet owner wants to go through but we all know that day will come. How do you (or did you) prepare for that day?
We will also talk about how to view the death of your pet not as ending but (as animals see it) a natural transformation. It is called crossing the Rainbow Bridge and as Enzo said it in the book, The Art of Racing in the Rain, he will come back in his next life as a human.
Mrs. Korpi and I will speak about how to memorialize and celebrate your pet’s life; and how to move on after your loss and love a pet again. You see readers, I am a fortunate man. I have only had one person pass away in my lifetime in which I attended the funeral. It was my grandfather. He was my mentor and the strongest influence in my life and when he passed away I was awe-struck at the amount of pain that I went through after his passing. I had no idea that death could come so sudden and without warning. While I am not equating a pet’s death with the same regard as to a human’s what I am saying is grief is just the same. People love their pets as if they are family. Of course I do, I have literally lived with a pack of dogs for the better part of my life.
I have not prepared, I will admit that, for the passing of Ineka. It is going to be unbearably hard on me and my family. I recall one day last summer when Ineka was having a particularly hard time and my wife, Michele and I were texting back-and-forth about coming to grips with his health problems and the prospect of Ineka not pulling through. I will tell you I have never cried so hard in my life that day, texting back and forth, me sitting in my truck at 24-hour fitness trying to figure out what is next. Of course he pulled through and is still with us. He is as healthy as a 12-year old Siberian can be. He still bounds around the house on his good days and we share pizza and cheese some nights after work. But I also know that a time will come in the future (distant I hope) when he will need to cross the Rainbow Bridge. I just hope I am ready.
Please listen to The Dog Doctor Radio Show this weekend (August 1, 2009 at 9:30 am MDT) or download the show anytime at http://www.blogtalkradio.com/dogdoctor and let us know what you have done to prepare for your pets loss. We are interested to know.
_________________________________
Dr. Robert Forto is the training director of Denver Dog Works and is the host of weekly program, The Dog Doctor Radio Show. Dr. Forto can be reached through his website at http://www.denverdogworks.com
Showing posts with label #dogdoc. Show all posts
Showing posts with label #dogdoc. Show all posts
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Dogs Can Save Lives
Dogs Can Save Lives
By Robert Forto, PhD
We all know that dogs can be trained to do many jobs. They can be police K-9’s, search and rescue dogs, tracking dogs, service dogs, mobility dogs, hearing dogs, sled dogs and of course our favorite companions. But did you know that dogs can also be blood donors to help save lives of their fellow fiends?
There is an organization in Colorado, Rocky Mountain Blood Services (RMBS) that hosts a blood donation program for dogs (and cats).You may ask why in the world would I want my dog to donate blood? Just like in humans there is a shortage of blood and blood components. Animals like humans experience trauma, disease and other life threatening situations that require blood transfusions.
One donation from your dog can save four lives and your dog can donate blood up to six times in a year. The process is simple and of no cost to the owner. You schedule an appointment for either the Parker or Colorado Sprigs, Colorado clinic and they will do a full blood screen on your dog to make sure he is healthy and free of disease and then place an I.V. to draw the blood which takes about thirty minutes. There is little to no pain experienced by our dog, no more than a routine vaccination and the patient is not sedated.
Who Qualifies as a Blood Donor?
1. The pet must be well behaved and friendly,
2. Must be a minimum f 50 pounds,
3. Must be between 1 and 8 years,
4. Must be current on all vaccinations and free from infectious diseases,
5. The donor must take heartworm, flea and tick prevention between the months of April and October,
6. No history of serious illness,
7. Females can never have been pregnant.
As a donor you will asked to commit to six donations over a period of 12 months with donations occurring about every 6 weeks. In rare emergencies you may be called upon to donate before your scheduled appointment and you will be compensated for your donations after the sixth one up to $150.00 dollars depending on the donor.
There are eleven types of blood in dogs and just like humans it is important to know the type of the donor and the type of the recipient before a transfusion is performed. Before a donation can occur the possible donor is initially screened for any metabolic abnormalities. Once the prescreen is reviewed a blood type is determined and the donor is then screen for exposure to blood borne parasites and diseases. Of course all of this is at no cost to the owner.
If you would like to find out more about Rocky Mountain Blood Services please listen to The Dog Doctor Radio Show this Saturday at or download it anytime from iTunes. You can RMBS’s website at http://www.rockymountainbloodservices.com for more information.
As always, if you have a question, comment, concern or a topic for a future show of The Dog Doctor Radio show please send us an email at live@dogdoctorradio.com or give Michele a call at 303-752-2818.
Citation: RMBS website
_________________________
Dr. Robert Forto is the training director of Denver Dog Works and the host of The Dog Doctor Radio Show. Dr. Forto can be reached through his website at http://www.denverdogworks.com
By Robert Forto, PhD
We all know that dogs can be trained to do many jobs. They can be police K-9’s, search and rescue dogs, tracking dogs, service dogs, mobility dogs, hearing dogs, sled dogs and of course our favorite companions. But did you know that dogs can also be blood donors to help save lives of their fellow fiends?
There is an organization in Colorado, Rocky Mountain Blood Services (RMBS) that hosts a blood donation program for dogs (and cats).You may ask why in the world would I want my dog to donate blood? Just like in humans there is a shortage of blood and blood components. Animals like humans experience trauma, disease and other life threatening situations that require blood transfusions.
One donation from your dog can save four lives and your dog can donate blood up to six times in a year. The process is simple and of no cost to the owner. You schedule an appointment for either the Parker or Colorado Sprigs, Colorado clinic and they will do a full blood screen on your dog to make sure he is healthy and free of disease and then place an I.V. to draw the blood which takes about thirty minutes. There is little to no pain experienced by our dog, no more than a routine vaccination and the patient is not sedated.
Who Qualifies as a Blood Donor?
1. The pet must be well behaved and friendly,
2. Must be a minimum f 50 pounds,
3. Must be between 1 and 8 years,
4. Must be current on all vaccinations and free from infectious diseases,
5. The donor must take heartworm, flea and tick prevention between the months of April and October,
6. No history of serious illness,
7. Females can never have been pregnant.
As a donor you will asked to commit to six donations over a period of 12 months with donations occurring about every 6 weeks. In rare emergencies you may be called upon to donate before your scheduled appointment and you will be compensated for your donations after the sixth one up to $150.00 dollars depending on the donor.
There are eleven types of blood in dogs and just like humans it is important to know the type of the donor and the type of the recipient before a transfusion is performed. Before a donation can occur the possible donor is initially screened for any metabolic abnormalities. Once the prescreen is reviewed a blood type is determined and the donor is then screen for exposure to blood borne parasites and diseases. Of course all of this is at no cost to the owner.
If you would like to find out more about Rocky Mountain Blood Services please listen to The Dog Doctor Radio Show this Saturday at or download it anytime from iTunes. You can RMBS’s website at http://www.rockymountainbloodservices.com for more information.
As always, if you have a question, comment, concern or a topic for a future show of The Dog Doctor Radio show please send us an email at live@dogdoctorradio.com or give Michele a call at 303-752-2818.
Citation: RMBS website
_________________________
Dr. Robert Forto is the training director of Denver Dog Works and the host of The Dog Doctor Radio Show. Dr. Forto can be reached through his website at http://www.denverdogworks.com
Friday, May 22, 2009
Redemption...Or Not?
Redemption…Or Not?
By Robert Forto, PhD
On this week’s edition of the Dog Doctor Radio Show we are going to talk about the big news story of the week—Michael Vick released from prison. The Dog Doctor Team weighs in on redemption, punishment and community service. While I am sure that most of you know the Michael Vick story unless you have been under a rock for the past two years, he was released from federal prison on dog fighting charges this past week. What brings this story to our forefront is that he is planning on working with the Humane Society of the United States on a campaign directed at at-risk youth. Our question to you is what does a person have to do to receive redemption?
When the story of Vick being released broke I posted on Facebook and Twitter this question and received a lot of responses. While I am sure you are aware our forum is mostly dog owners you will be surprised at what they all said.
The question I posted was: Vick to work with Humane Society. Your thoughts?
I have included some of the comments and they are listed below in bold. My thoughts are in italics. I encourage all of you to comment as well and let’s keep this story alive.
Comment 1: I think it is great. He served his time in jail, now it’s the reconciliation tour.
I agree with this comment and I also believe that we are using situational ethics in this case. I mean, if a pro-football player got in trouble for beating up his girlfriend he would be on the field the next week, right? What separates Vick from this is that it was the callousness and the atrocity of the act of dog fighting and what was done to those dogs. By no means am I condoning the behavior. I actually abhor this, but don’t we go to NASCAR racing for the wrecks, don’t we go to boxing matches for the knockout? Don’t we go to greyhound racing for the dog to catch the rabbit?
Comment 2: Whatever as long as he is serious...he was one of my favorite players in the NFL...cannot stomach him now.
This is also true and I think the same way of Woody Allen. I used to love to watch Vick play ball. His athleticism was second to none. He was entertaining and he brought a passion to a sport that is otherwise lacking but now it will be tough to watch him play. Just like it is tough to watch Woody Allen movies after he was caught in a child abuse scandal. It just makes him somehow “dirty” now.
Comment 3: It would be nothing more than a PR tactic to better his image. He could care less about the lives of the dogs he owned. I think he'd still be at it if he hadn't been caught. I also believe any NFL team that picks him up is in for a world of bad press and upset fans.
This is where redemption comes in for me. All of us have skeletons in our closets. All of us have ill deeds. This is what makes us uniquely human. What does a person have to pay for redemption? What price do they have to pay after they say I am sorry?
Comment 4: Listen as far as I am concerned the ONLY reason he is going to "work" with the Humane Society is because he got caught, I know people deserve a second chance but did these dogs get a second chance? Some did some have been given a life in a cage...hmmm..MAYBE he should spend life in a cage...I am sorry I will stop, seeing first hand what dog fighting does to the dogs...I just can't be objective about this.
Vick, or his PR people, approached the Humane Society and the director went to visit him in prison before his release. And while an article in USA Today says that the director does not condone Vick’s actions he believes he is sincere in his willingness to work with the Humane Society.
Comment 5: Last night on CNN, they had an individual that had adopted one of the dogs. Through love and patience, she gave "Jhumba?" a new life. They reported none of the surviving animals were in shelters. They had either been adopted or were in sanctuaries. "Redemption" for Vick? While I hate the actions, I can't hate the man. His future actions, while under scrutiny, will determine if he’s legitimate or not. I hope, if anything, his mess has exposed the prevalence of dog fighting and made the public more aware of the signs. Something good came from this.
I agree, something good has come from this and with discussions like this will hopefully continue to educate the public about dog fighting and the violence and criminal activities linked to dog fighting. I challenge the Humane Society and all shelters to campaign for more education about animal abuse. We are destined to repeat history unless we are educated about its ramifications.under scrutiny, will determine if he's legitimate or not. I hope. If anything, his mess has exposed the prevalence of dog fighting and made the public more aware of the signs. Something good came from this.
Comment 6: I know that some of these dogs are in "sanctuaries" such as Best Friend’s society. I still DO NOT agree that is a life for a dog, living in an aggressive stance not trusting and still LIVING a life in a "gilded" cage. Sorry I feel and (I know I will be BLASTED for this )but I feel a gentle death is better than living a life in a cage- no matter how "big" it is. I know many will not agree with my feelings on this but oh well!
I disagree with this comment. Many dogs find themselves living in sanctuaries or foster homes for many reasons including as foreclosure victims. I wrote an article about that very subject…… Retired sled dogs, greyhounds, and other working dogs spend their retirement years in some of these same circumstances; it’s still a decent life. Fighting dogs that are confiscated from their “homes” and placed into another sort of kennel environment can still have decent thriving lives. From the research that my wife/co-host Michele has done, all of the dogs have been placed in homes not “gilded” cages. Michele adds, what about all of the other dogs out there being raised to fight? We only know what happened to the dog’s Vick owned, what about the countless others’ that are still living that existence?
Comment 7: Personally I think what he did is unacceptable, but with the way our society works, if you do the time you get a second chance. I hope that he had plenty of time to reconsider what he did, and grew up. This should make him realize that he is not invincible, and he has no choice but to do charity work to reclaim any chance he has of going back to the NFL.
In my opinion what he is did is atrocious! But it is how our society works. My wife/co-host Michele added Martha Stewart received redemption. She is more successful since her release than before. People still tune into her show and buy her merchandise. She went to federal prison for securities fraud. No, she didn’t abuse animals, but her crime received a higher penalty and longer sentence. Not only that, but she didn’t do her time in Leavenworth, noted as one of the toughest federal facilities out there. This is not saying that her time wasn’t tough, I’m just saying that his was done in a harsher environment. Countless other celebrities and politicians have gone to federal prisons and received public redemption for their crimes. Again, I personally do not condone what Mr. Vick was involved in, I’m just asking what’s the price?
Comment 8: Honestly, if he has a change of heart and he finds a dog that he falls in love with...he will find it difficult to forgive himself. No one knows another man's heart...but, I would rather he use his fame and money to help our four-pawed angels than for his selfish endeavors.
I cannot agree more. This is the best comment of all I believe. It sums up all the qualities of forgiveness, human emotion, redemption, restitution and resolution.
Comment 9: Celebrities get the spotlight for whatever they do. Whatever Mr. Vick's intentions are for "volunteering" with the Humane Society, he will undoubtedly benefit from what he will be exposed to and he will learn. And, isn't that the whole point? As pet owners, trainers, and advocates for education, isn't our job to a bad behavior albeit a human bad behavior and teach that individual right from wrong? Rather than punishing them their entire lives for what they were involved in.job to take a bad behavior albeit a human bad behavior and teach that individual right from wrong? Rather than punishing them their entire lives for what they were involved in.job to take a bad behavior albeit a human bad behavior and teach that individual right from wrong? Rather than punishing them their entire lives for what they were involved in.job to take a bad behavior albeit a human bad behavior and teach that individual right from wrong? Rather than punishing them their entire lives for what they were involved in.
This is actually my wife, Michele’s comment to the question. Michele and I co-host the Dog Doctor Radio Show and she and I will speak about this topic in depth on the show.
Comment 10: I believe if he can use what he knows and what he's learned to help eliminate dog fighting than I embrace this idea. I say USE his notoriety to fight the good fight.
Comment 11: I think it all comes down to if you believe people can change, and if there's a point at which they can't or won't. I think that I almost agree with the comment posted earlier that if he finds an animal he cares about, his genuine guilt will punish him a great deal...
So, ladies and gentlemen, sports lovers, and dog enthusiast, what should happen next? Should this person receive redemption or not? Sure, someone has to be an advocate for the dogs. I work tirelessly doing that every day. I have spoken on countless occasions about breed bans, landlord/tenant disputes, canine aggression, bite statistics and much more, but when I do speak I speak the facts of the case and let my peers decide what is right and wrong. I am asking for you to do the same here. What is the price for redemption…in anyone’s case, not just Michael Vick?
____________________________
Dr. Robert Forto is the host of the acclaimed Dog Doctor Radio and the training director of Denver Dog Works and The Ineka Project in Colorado. Dr. Forto can be reached through his website at http://www.denverdogworks.com/
By Robert Forto, PhD
On this week’s edition of the Dog Doctor Radio Show we are going to talk about the big news story of the week—Michael Vick released from prison. The Dog Doctor Team weighs in on redemption, punishment and community service. While I am sure that most of you know the Michael Vick story unless you have been under a rock for the past two years, he was released from federal prison on dog fighting charges this past week. What brings this story to our forefront is that he is planning on working with the Humane Society of the United States on a campaign directed at at-risk youth. Our question to you is what does a person have to do to receive redemption?
When the story of Vick being released broke I posted on Facebook and Twitter this question and received a lot of responses. While I am sure you are aware our forum is mostly dog owners you will be surprised at what they all said.
The question I posted was: Vick to work with Humane Society. Your thoughts?
I have included some of the comments and they are listed below in bold. My thoughts are in italics. I encourage all of you to comment as well and let’s keep this story alive.
Comment 1: I think it is great. He served his time in jail, now it’s the reconciliation tour.
I agree with this comment and I also believe that we are using situational ethics in this case. I mean, if a pro-football player got in trouble for beating up his girlfriend he would be on the field the next week, right? What separates Vick from this is that it was the callousness and the atrocity of the act of dog fighting and what was done to those dogs. By no means am I condoning the behavior. I actually abhor this, but don’t we go to NASCAR racing for the wrecks, don’t we go to boxing matches for the knockout? Don’t we go to greyhound racing for the dog to catch the rabbit?
Comment 2: Whatever as long as he is serious...he was one of my favorite players in the NFL...cannot stomach him now.
This is also true and I think the same way of Woody Allen. I used to love to watch Vick play ball. His athleticism was second to none. He was entertaining and he brought a passion to a sport that is otherwise lacking but now it will be tough to watch him play. Just like it is tough to watch Woody Allen movies after he was caught in a child abuse scandal. It just makes him somehow “dirty” now.
Comment 3: It would be nothing more than a PR tactic to better his image. He could care less about the lives of the dogs he owned. I think he'd still be at it if he hadn't been caught. I also believe any NFL team that picks him up is in for a world of bad press and upset fans.
This is where redemption comes in for me. All of us have skeletons in our closets. All of us have ill deeds. This is what makes us uniquely human. What does a person have to pay for redemption? What price do they have to pay after they say I am sorry?
Comment 4: Listen as far as I am concerned the ONLY reason he is going to "work" with the Humane Society is because he got caught, I know people deserve a second chance but did these dogs get a second chance? Some did some have been given a life in a cage...hmmm..MAYBE he should spend life in a cage...I am sorry I will stop, seeing first hand what dog fighting does to the dogs...I just can't be objective about this.
Vick, or his PR people, approached the Humane Society and the director went to visit him in prison before his release. And while an article in USA Today says that the director does not condone Vick’s actions he believes he is sincere in his willingness to work with the Humane Society.
Comment 5: Last night on CNN, they had an individual that had adopted one of the dogs. Through love and patience, she gave "Jhumba?" a new life. They reported none of the surviving animals were in shelters. They had either been adopted or were in sanctuaries. "Redemption" for Vick? While I hate the actions, I can't hate the man. His future actions, while under scrutiny, will determine if he’s legitimate or not. I hope, if anything, his mess has exposed the prevalence of dog fighting and made the public more aware of the signs. Something good came from this.
I agree, something good has come from this and with discussions like this will hopefully continue to educate the public about dog fighting and the violence and criminal activities linked to dog fighting. I challenge the Humane Society and all shelters to campaign for more education about animal abuse. We are destined to repeat history unless we are educated about its ramifications.under scrutiny, will determine if he's legitimate or not. I hope. If anything, his mess has exposed the prevalence of dog fighting and made the public more aware of the signs. Something good came from this.
Comment 6: I know that some of these dogs are in "sanctuaries" such as Best Friend’s society. I still DO NOT agree that is a life for a dog, living in an aggressive stance not trusting and still LIVING a life in a "gilded" cage. Sorry I feel and (I know I will be BLASTED for this )but I feel a gentle death is better than living a life in a cage- no matter how "big" it is. I know many will not agree with my feelings on this but oh well!
I disagree with this comment. Many dogs find themselves living in sanctuaries or foster homes for many reasons including as foreclosure victims. I wrote an article about that very subject…… Retired sled dogs, greyhounds, and other working dogs spend their retirement years in some of these same circumstances; it’s still a decent life. Fighting dogs that are confiscated from their “homes” and placed into another sort of kennel environment can still have decent thriving lives. From the research that my wife/co-host Michele has done, all of the dogs have been placed in homes not “gilded” cages. Michele adds, what about all of the other dogs out there being raised to fight? We only know what happened to the dog’s Vick owned, what about the countless others’ that are still living that existence?
Comment 7: Personally I think what he did is unacceptable, but with the way our society works, if you do the time you get a second chance. I hope that he had plenty of time to reconsider what he did, and grew up. This should make him realize that he is not invincible, and he has no choice but to do charity work to reclaim any chance he has of going back to the NFL.
In my opinion what he is did is atrocious! But it is how our society works. My wife/co-host Michele added Martha Stewart received redemption. She is more successful since her release than before. People still tune into her show and buy her merchandise. She went to federal prison for securities fraud. No, she didn’t abuse animals, but her crime received a higher penalty and longer sentence. Not only that, but she didn’t do her time in Leavenworth, noted as one of the toughest federal facilities out there. This is not saying that her time wasn’t tough, I’m just saying that his was done in a harsher environment. Countless other celebrities and politicians have gone to federal prisons and received public redemption for their crimes. Again, I personally do not condone what Mr. Vick was involved in, I’m just asking what’s the price?
Comment 8: Honestly, if he has a change of heart and he finds a dog that he falls in love with...he will find it difficult to forgive himself. No one knows another man's heart...but, I would rather he use his fame and money to help our four-pawed angels than for his selfish endeavors.
I cannot agree more. This is the best comment of all I believe. It sums up all the qualities of forgiveness, human emotion, redemption, restitution and resolution.
Comment 9: Celebrities get the spotlight for whatever they do. Whatever Mr. Vick's intentions are for "volunteering" with the Humane Society, he will undoubtedly benefit from what he will be exposed to and he will learn. And, isn't that the whole point? As pet owners, trainers, and advocates for education, isn't our job to a bad behavior albeit a human bad behavior and teach that individual right from wrong? Rather than punishing them their entire lives for what they were involved in.job to take a bad behavior albeit a human bad behavior and teach that individual right from wrong? Rather than punishing them their entire lives for what they were involved in.job to take a bad behavior albeit a human bad behavior and teach that individual right from wrong? Rather than punishing them their entire lives for what they were involved in.job to take a bad behavior albeit a human bad behavior and teach that individual right from wrong? Rather than punishing them their entire lives for what they were involved in.
This is actually my wife, Michele’s comment to the question. Michele and I co-host the Dog Doctor Radio Show and she and I will speak about this topic in depth on the show.
Comment 10: I believe if he can use what he knows and what he's learned to help eliminate dog fighting than I embrace this idea. I say USE his notoriety to fight the good fight.
Comment 11: I think it all comes down to if you believe people can change, and if there's a point at which they can't or won't. I think that I almost agree with the comment posted earlier that if he finds an animal he cares about, his genuine guilt will punish him a great deal...
So, ladies and gentlemen, sports lovers, and dog enthusiast, what should happen next? Should this person receive redemption or not? Sure, someone has to be an advocate for the dogs. I work tirelessly doing that every day. I have spoken on countless occasions about breed bans, landlord/tenant disputes, canine aggression, bite statistics and much more, but when I do speak I speak the facts of the case and let my peers decide what is right and wrong. I am asking for you to do the same here. What is the price for redemption…in anyone’s case, not just Michael Vick?
____________________________
Dr. Robert Forto is the host of the acclaimed Dog Doctor Radio and the training director of Denver Dog Works and The Ineka Project in Colorado. Dr. Forto can be reached through his website at http://www.denverdogworks.com/
Friday, April 24, 2009
The Price of Personal Liberty
The Price of Personal Liberty
By Robert Forto, PhD
I am sure you know me by now and my dog training school, Denver Dog Works. But I bet you don't know that I am a paralegal and a staunch defender of an individual's personal liberties and freedom. I have studied and became quite fluent in constitutional law and procedures over the years and have written several post conviction motions for those that are incarcerated and seeking relief either by a procedural error in the judicial process or other relief based on their position at the time. I have written articles on freedom of speech, protection of religious freedom, and censorship.
I am not an attorney, nor do I claim to be. I am a researcher and I am quite good at it. I have a keen ability to seek out case law and other documentation that will substantiate an argument and I often testify as a qualified expert witness in myriad canine cases from aggression to breed bans to landlord-tenant disputes. So this article is a little bit different from the normal weekly opinion from the "Dog Doctor" and it concerns my views on personal liberties and freedom based on a bill that is currently under review by the Colorado Legislature. In all honesty I love a good debate and this is one that has caught my attention.
This bill is a seat belt law. While you may ask how does that infringe on a person's liberty and freedom? Well, they want to make it a primary offense for the police to pull you over if you are not wearing your seat belt. Right now it is on the books as a secondary offense. This simply means that if a police officer pulls you over for speeding, an illegal left-hand turn on red, no brake light or any number of other offenses, the officer can then cite you for no seat belt if you are not wearing one at the time of the police contact. A primary offense means just that. They can pull you over for you not wearing your seat belt, even if you are driving like a driving instructor and you are obeying all of the rules of the road.
So why am I so up in arms about this? My first question is where does it stop? If they make it a crime not to wear your seat belt will it soon be a crime not to wear a helmet on your bicycle? Will it cause you to receive a citation if you aren't wearing kneepads on roller-blades? Will the doggie police send you to jail if you don't pick up after your dog?
Among the rights that constitute civil liberty and that the constitution guarantees are intended to protect is the right to individual personal liberty. There is not a specific guarantee, however, of individual personal liberty because it is assumed to be a part of any organized government. Individual personal liberty does not imply that each member of society is entitled to do what he or she pleases, free from all restraint, for that measure of liberty is inconsistent with social order and subversive of the very objectives of government. But it implies that each person shall have as much individual freedom from restraint as is consistent with other members of society. This is not what I am asking for. I am asking for a justifiable reason as to why this law should be enacted.
As stated by one constitutional scholar:
"If each cannot have all the rights he might have as a solitary being, he must have all which are consistent with the exercise of the highest practical rights of others. If there be a conflict, it must be reconciled by such compromise as will attain the best development, the highest happiness and well-being of all. Neither party must seek for itself a greater elevation by the deeper depression of the other; but each must so adjust to a social equilibrium, but the maximum elevation of each be avoided." This is what is happening here with this bill up for debate in the Legislature.
In my opinion, where two conflicting interests are combined in a society, civil liberty will be consistent in the preservation of that equilibrium, where the social rights of each so modify those of the other as to preserve to each the greatest amount of right and freedom consisting with their co-existence in social combination. Does a primary seat belt law in Colorado preserve that equilibrium?
In securing the civil rights of everyone, there must, of course, be some restraints made on personal liberty, which are therefore recognized as lawful. For example, a parent may properly exercise some control over the actions and conduct or his her child, a teacher may exercise authority over a student, those who are unable to care for themselves may be cared for by persons authorized for that purpose, and those who have committed a crime may be confined in pursuance of the provisions of criminal law. Personal liberty, like other civil rights, exists within the laws of the land.
But how can the lawmakers of the State of Colorado attempt to exercise this control over its citizens? I will tell you how. The Federal government made a "deal" with Colorado you see. If they pass this law, Colorado will get twenty million from the Feds. That's the true motivation behind this law. It's not to make the roads safer. Yes, seatbelts save lives but not always. When my brother was three years old he was in the backseat of a small car with his grandmother (He is my half-brother), his uncle, aunt, and another adult friend on a country road in Kentucky. A coal truck ran a stop sign and plowed into the car. My brother was ejected through the windshield and thrown down an embankment. Everyone else died at the scene. When the police showed up they didn't know a little boy was in the car until they heard screams from the steep embankment below. He was carried up the hill and only suffered minor injuries but if he was wearing a seatbelt he would have died. He is now 29 years old and in school to become a police officer in North Carolina.
This is not a crusade to dissuade you from buckling up. To the contrary. I wear my seatbelt, every time I drive my Jeep. It's not to conform to the rules of the road. It's so if I roll over I don't have road rash on my face.
I have no problem with seat belts and I have no problem with citations for not wearing one when you receive a ticket after the police contact you on the road for some other traffic offense. But do we truly need the police patrolling the streets pulling people over for not wearing their seat belts and only for that reason? Do we have the police manpower to adjudicate this offense? Shouldn't our men in blue be fighting crime not issuing a citation for a petty traffic infraction? Shouldn't we have the option of wearing our seat belts if we so choose? As you may know part of the lure of motorcycle ridding is the freedom of the road and lack of restraint. That's why people ride. But they are also totally aware of the dangers as soon as they pull out on the road.
So what is your personal freedom worth to you? Is it twenty million as proposed? How about twenty billion? You decide and let me know.
________________________
Dr. Robert Forto holds a doctorate in communication. Dr. Forto hosts a weekly radio show The Dog Doctor and is streamed on the Internet. Http://www.blogtalkradio.com/dogdoctor. Dr. Forto can be reached through his website http://www.denverdogworks.com/
By Robert Forto, PhD
I am sure you know me by now and my dog training school, Denver Dog Works. But I bet you don't know that I am a paralegal and a staunch defender of an individual's personal liberties and freedom. I have studied and became quite fluent in constitutional law and procedures over the years and have written several post conviction motions for those that are incarcerated and seeking relief either by a procedural error in the judicial process or other relief based on their position at the time. I have written articles on freedom of speech, protection of religious freedom, and censorship.
I am not an attorney, nor do I claim to be. I am a researcher and I am quite good at it. I have a keen ability to seek out case law and other documentation that will substantiate an argument and I often testify as a qualified expert witness in myriad canine cases from aggression to breed bans to landlord-tenant disputes. So this article is a little bit different from the normal weekly opinion from the "Dog Doctor" and it concerns my views on personal liberties and freedom based on a bill that is currently under review by the Colorado Legislature. In all honesty I love a good debate and this is one that has caught my attention.
This bill is a seat belt law. While you may ask how does that infringe on a person's liberty and freedom? Well, they want to make it a primary offense for the police to pull you over if you are not wearing your seat belt. Right now it is on the books as a secondary offense. This simply means that if a police officer pulls you over for speeding, an illegal left-hand turn on red, no brake light or any number of other offenses, the officer can then cite you for no seat belt if you are not wearing one at the time of the police contact. A primary offense means just that. They can pull you over for you not wearing your seat belt, even if you are driving like a driving instructor and you are obeying all of the rules of the road.
So why am I so up in arms about this? My first question is where does it stop? If they make it a crime not to wear your seat belt will it soon be a crime not to wear a helmet on your bicycle? Will it cause you to receive a citation if you aren't wearing kneepads on roller-blades? Will the doggie police send you to jail if you don't pick up after your dog?
Among the rights that constitute civil liberty and that the constitution guarantees are intended to protect is the right to individual personal liberty. There is not a specific guarantee, however, of individual personal liberty because it is assumed to be a part of any organized government. Individual personal liberty does not imply that each member of society is entitled to do what he or she pleases, free from all restraint, for that measure of liberty is inconsistent with social order and subversive of the very objectives of government. But it implies that each person shall have as much individual freedom from restraint as is consistent with other members of society. This is not what I am asking for. I am asking for a justifiable reason as to why this law should be enacted.
As stated by one constitutional scholar:
"If each cannot have all the rights he might have as a solitary being, he must have all which are consistent with the exercise of the highest practical rights of others. If there be a conflict, it must be reconciled by such compromise as will attain the best development, the highest happiness and well-being of all. Neither party must seek for itself a greater elevation by the deeper depression of the other; but each must so adjust to a social equilibrium, but the maximum elevation of each be avoided." This is what is happening here with this bill up for debate in the Legislature.
In my opinion, where two conflicting interests are combined in a society, civil liberty will be consistent in the preservation of that equilibrium, where the social rights of each so modify those of the other as to preserve to each the greatest amount of right and freedom consisting with their co-existence in social combination. Does a primary seat belt law in Colorado preserve that equilibrium?
In securing the civil rights of everyone, there must, of course, be some restraints made on personal liberty, which are therefore recognized as lawful. For example, a parent may properly exercise some control over the actions and conduct or his her child, a teacher may exercise authority over a student, those who are unable to care for themselves may be cared for by persons authorized for that purpose, and those who have committed a crime may be confined in pursuance of the provisions of criminal law. Personal liberty, like other civil rights, exists within the laws of the land.
But how can the lawmakers of the State of Colorado attempt to exercise this control over its citizens? I will tell you how. The Federal government made a "deal" with Colorado you see. If they pass this law, Colorado will get twenty million from the Feds. That's the true motivation behind this law. It's not to make the roads safer. Yes, seatbelts save lives but not always. When my brother was three years old he was in the backseat of a small car with his grandmother (He is my half-brother), his uncle, aunt, and another adult friend on a country road in Kentucky. A coal truck ran a stop sign and plowed into the car. My brother was ejected through the windshield and thrown down an embankment. Everyone else died at the scene. When the police showed up they didn't know a little boy was in the car until they heard screams from the steep embankment below. He was carried up the hill and only suffered minor injuries but if he was wearing a seatbelt he would have died. He is now 29 years old and in school to become a police officer in North Carolina.
This is not a crusade to dissuade you from buckling up. To the contrary. I wear my seatbelt, every time I drive my Jeep. It's not to conform to the rules of the road. It's so if I roll over I don't have road rash on my face.
I have no problem with seat belts and I have no problem with citations for not wearing one when you receive a ticket after the police contact you on the road for some other traffic offense. But do we truly need the police patrolling the streets pulling people over for not wearing their seat belts and only for that reason? Do we have the police manpower to adjudicate this offense? Shouldn't our men in blue be fighting crime not issuing a citation for a petty traffic infraction? Shouldn't we have the option of wearing our seat belts if we so choose? As you may know part of the lure of motorcycle ridding is the freedom of the road and lack of restraint. That's why people ride. But they are also totally aware of the dangers as soon as they pull out on the road.
So what is your personal freedom worth to you? Is it twenty million as proposed? How about twenty billion? You decide and let me know.
________________________
Dr. Robert Forto holds a doctorate in communication. Dr. Forto hosts a weekly radio show The Dog Doctor and is streamed on the Internet. Http://www.blogtalkradio.com/dogdoctor. Dr. Forto can be reached through his website http://www.denverdogworks.com/
Friday, April 10, 2009
A Dog Named DASY
A Dog Named DASY
By Robert Forto, PhD
I am sure you have heard. Maybe you haven’t because the national media has not picked up this story and I don’t know why because it is a national outrage. All it took was a gunshot in the middle of the night for former Navy SEAL Marcus Luttrell to spring to action. You see, he can’t sleep. He is afraid of the dark from the atrocities of what happened to him in the war on terror in Afghanistan. Luttrell was the lone survivor of a dramatic battle in the war torn country in 2005. And when he heard the gunshots outside his house on April, 1, 2009 his training took over and Luttrell began a sweep of the house.
First, Luttrell checked on his mother with his gun drawn and told her to stay put until he came back to get her then he bolted for his front door. He then swept the yard and he found his beloved Labrador Retriever dead in a ditch with a head wound from a .357 magnum. He also saw car lights and heard people laughing--but we will get to that in a minute. You see, the Labrador Retriever was not just a dog, she was a service dog to help Luttrell recover from his own wounds both physically and mentally. Her name was DASY, named after Luttrell’s Navy SEAL team comrades. They all died in the fight one night in Afghanistan where Luttrell was the lone survivor.
“I could tell she tried to get away because there was a blood trail,” Luttrell recalled on a phone interview on Wednesday on The Glenn Beck Show. “When I saw she was dead, the only thing that popped in my head was, I’ve got to take these guys out,” Luttrell said.
In the middle of the night with his service dog dead and hearing laughter in the distance, Luttrell who had just been released from the hospital after another round of agonizing surgeries to mend a bad back, crawled under a fence and sneaked up on four strangers in a car who apparently killed DASY on a whim, for pure sport, for fun! Luttrell said they were unmindful and oblivious as he raised his 9-mm pistol from about two hundred feet away and he had one of them dead in his sights.
Their car pulled away and Luttrell did not fire. It took all he had not to pull the trigger. He was trained to kill. He was the best of the best that the United States Military has to offer but he held back.
Instead, Luttrell jumped into his truck and sped, sometimes over 100 miles per hour, after them through four counties in rural Texas staying in contact with each county’s dispatcher as he sped through the night intent on catching the thugs that murdered his service dog, DASY. Luttrell recalled telling the 911 operator, “You need to get somebody out here before I catch them, I’m going to kill them.”
The killing of such a special dog for the former SEAL played right into Luttrell’s deep wounds. The four-year old Labrador was given to him upon his return from the war to help him heal and return to somewhat of a normal life. Luttrell named the dog DASY after his fallen comrades. The acronym was for his SEAL team members lost in a bloody fight in which they were far outnumbered by Taliban fighters. Luttrell escaped death that night and was taken hostage by the Taliban fighters and worked over pretty good. The enemy then took him to a cave and he touted them to kill him but they did not. He was ready to die for his country that he was trained to fight for. Luttrell wrote a book about the experience, The Lone Survivor and it is a national best seller.
Back to the Chase
Luttrell finally caught up to the murders of his service dog at a police road block and was stopped by the Onalaska Police Department. He exited his truck and approached the men and asked, “Which one of you guys killed my dog?” and then the assailants started talking smack saying that they would get him when they get out of jail.
So far, two of them have been charged with felonies but there is little doubt they will serve much time as the law looks at a dog as “just a dog” in these kinds of cases. Probably just six months in a county jail is all.
In what turns out to be a related story, at least five other dogs have been killed in recent months in the area and they could be linked to Luttrell’s case as well. It looks like these thugs were just killing dogs for fun.
No matter what you think about the war and the politics that follow, Marcus Luttrell loves his country and his comrades that died fighting for our freedom. Luttrell doesn’t want to be a hero. He wants to just be a man, a man that loves his country, and a man that is just trying to take care of his family.
What these people did to DASY was despicable and makes me sick when I think about it. When I heard Marcus speak on The Glenn Beck Show this past week I sat in my truck crying my eyes out. How could people kill a dog in cold blood like that and then laugh about it? How could they take something so near and dear to someone and murder it in cold blood?
Marcus Luttrell is angry and he has every right to be. “They didn’t just kill a dog, they killed a member of my family, she was like my sister,” Luttrell said on the Glenn Beck interview.
DASY was part of his family, but also she was his service dog, a dog specially trained to help Marcus cope with his experiences and be able to live his life again, as a man, not a SEAL embattled in a war.
Denver Dog Works called the producers of The Glenn Beck Show and offered to donate another service dog to Marcus Luttrell, as did hundreds of others. Denver Dog Works trains service dogs for a multitude of tasks including mobility and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, which I am sure that Marcus suffers from. If you know of anyone that may be in need of a dog like this or would just like to talk to someone that understands, we can help.
God Bless Marcus Luttrell and his family, and God Bless the United States of America because if it wasn’t for people like Marcus Luttrell this world might be a totally different place.
___________________________
Dr. Robert Forto is the training director of Denver Dog Works and The Ineka Project in Colorado and is the host of a weekly radio show, The Dog Doctor Radio Show. Dr. Forto can be reached through his website at http://www.denverdogworks.com
By Robert Forto, PhD
I am sure you have heard. Maybe you haven’t because the national media has not picked up this story and I don’t know why because it is a national outrage. All it took was a gunshot in the middle of the night for former Navy SEAL Marcus Luttrell to spring to action. You see, he can’t sleep. He is afraid of the dark from the atrocities of what happened to him in the war on terror in Afghanistan. Luttrell was the lone survivor of a dramatic battle in the war torn country in 2005. And when he heard the gunshots outside his house on April, 1, 2009 his training took over and Luttrell began a sweep of the house.
First, Luttrell checked on his mother with his gun drawn and told her to stay put until he came back to get her then he bolted for his front door. He then swept the yard and he found his beloved Labrador Retriever dead in a ditch with a head wound from a .357 magnum. He also saw car lights and heard people laughing--but we will get to that in a minute. You see, the Labrador Retriever was not just a dog, she was a service dog to help Luttrell recover from his own wounds both physically and mentally. Her name was DASY, named after Luttrell’s Navy SEAL team comrades. They all died in the fight one night in Afghanistan where Luttrell was the lone survivor.
“I could tell she tried to get away because there was a blood trail,” Luttrell recalled on a phone interview on Wednesday on The Glenn Beck Show. “When I saw she was dead, the only thing that popped in my head was, I’ve got to take these guys out,” Luttrell said.
In the middle of the night with his service dog dead and hearing laughter in the distance, Luttrell who had just been released from the hospital after another round of agonizing surgeries to mend a bad back, crawled under a fence and sneaked up on four strangers in a car who apparently killed DASY on a whim, for pure sport, for fun! Luttrell said they were unmindful and oblivious as he raised his 9-mm pistol from about two hundred feet away and he had one of them dead in his sights.
Their car pulled away and Luttrell did not fire. It took all he had not to pull the trigger. He was trained to kill. He was the best of the best that the United States Military has to offer but he held back.
Instead, Luttrell jumped into his truck and sped, sometimes over 100 miles per hour, after them through four counties in rural Texas staying in contact with each county’s dispatcher as he sped through the night intent on catching the thugs that murdered his service dog, DASY. Luttrell recalled telling the 911 operator, “You need to get somebody out here before I catch them, I’m going to kill them.”
The killing of such a special dog for the former SEAL played right into Luttrell’s deep wounds. The four-year old Labrador was given to him upon his return from the war to help him heal and return to somewhat of a normal life. Luttrell named the dog DASY after his fallen comrades. The acronym was for his SEAL team members lost in a bloody fight in which they were far outnumbered by Taliban fighters. Luttrell escaped death that night and was taken hostage by the Taliban fighters and worked over pretty good. The enemy then took him to a cave and he touted them to kill him but they did not. He was ready to die for his country that he was trained to fight for. Luttrell wrote a book about the experience, The Lone Survivor and it is a national best seller.
Back to the Chase
Luttrell finally caught up to the murders of his service dog at a police road block and was stopped by the Onalaska Police Department. He exited his truck and approached the men and asked, “Which one of you guys killed my dog?” and then the assailants started talking smack saying that they would get him when they get out of jail.
So far, two of them have been charged with felonies but there is little doubt they will serve much time as the law looks at a dog as “just a dog” in these kinds of cases. Probably just six months in a county jail is all.
In what turns out to be a related story, at least five other dogs have been killed in recent months in the area and they could be linked to Luttrell’s case as well. It looks like these thugs were just killing dogs for fun.
No matter what you think about the war and the politics that follow, Marcus Luttrell loves his country and his comrades that died fighting for our freedom. Luttrell doesn’t want to be a hero. He wants to just be a man, a man that loves his country, and a man that is just trying to take care of his family.
What these people did to DASY was despicable and makes me sick when I think about it. When I heard Marcus speak on The Glenn Beck Show this past week I sat in my truck crying my eyes out. How could people kill a dog in cold blood like that and then laugh about it? How could they take something so near and dear to someone and murder it in cold blood?
Marcus Luttrell is angry and he has every right to be. “They didn’t just kill a dog, they killed a member of my family, she was like my sister,” Luttrell said on the Glenn Beck interview.
DASY was part of his family, but also she was his service dog, a dog specially trained to help Marcus cope with his experiences and be able to live his life again, as a man, not a SEAL embattled in a war.
Denver Dog Works called the producers of The Glenn Beck Show and offered to donate another service dog to Marcus Luttrell, as did hundreds of others. Denver Dog Works trains service dogs for a multitude of tasks including mobility and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, which I am sure that Marcus suffers from. If you know of anyone that may be in need of a dog like this or would just like to talk to someone that understands, we can help.
God Bless Marcus Luttrell and his family, and God Bless the United States of America because if it wasn’t for people like Marcus Luttrell this world might be a totally different place.
___________________________
Dr. Robert Forto is the training director of Denver Dog Works and The Ineka Project in Colorado and is the host of a weekly radio show, The Dog Doctor Radio Show. Dr. Forto can be reached through his website at http://www.denverdogworks.com
Thursday, April 9, 2009
The President’s New Pooch
By Robert Forto, PhD
Well folks its is official! President Obama has finally chosen a dog for the White House and First Family, a Portuguese Water Dog. After much anticipation and speculation, the President’s choice is a good one in my opinion. The Portuguese Water Dog (commonly referred to as a P.W.D.) is a good family dog that works is suited well for an active family and with children.
By Robert Forto, PhD
Well folks its is official! President Obama has finally chosen a dog for the White House and First Family, a Portuguese Water Dog. After much anticipation and speculation, the President’s choice is a good one in my opinion. The Portuguese Water Dog (commonly referred to as a P.W.D.) is a good family dog that works is suited well for an active family and with children.
The P.W.D. has been in the news recently and one has a local and a Denver Dog Works connection actually. Talk about six degrees of separation! Rock’O is a P.W.D. that is is trained by a local service dog organization to alert a young child to peanut allergies. Dr. Robert Forto acted as a consultant for awhile in 2008 to Angel Service Dogs, the organization that helped place Rock’O. Denver Dog Works also trains service dogs for children with autism and they can be reached through their website at http://www.denverdogworks.com.
The Portuguese Water dog has been known for centuries along Portugal’s coast and prized for its strength, spirit and soundness. The P.W.D. is a loyal worker and companion. This dog is of medium-sized and is robust, the breed possesses a waterproof coat and the ability to swim all day. Its coat can be curly or wavy and is black, white, or brown, or combinations of black or brown with white. The P.W.D. is also hypo-allergenic and this will help because the President’s daughter, Malia (10,) who has allergies. The dog will require a good deal of grooming. Who will brush the dog regularly? Malia or her younger sister, Sasha who is seven, or maybe the President himself?
Referred to as the Cao de Agua (dog of water) in its native Portugal, the Portuguese Water Dog was bred to accompany fisherman on their boats. An exceptional swimmer and diver, the breed retrieved broken nets, dove for fish, carried messages between boats and to shore, and guarded the boat for his master in foreign ports. The breed started disappearing in the early 20th century when technology made his daily job somewhat obsolete, but Dr. Vasco Bensuade, a wealthy Portuguese shipping magnate and dog fancier, saved the breed.
Is This the Right Breed for You (or the First Family)?
The P.W.D. is an athletic, active breed and the requires daily vigorous exercise. He is very intelligent and responds well to obedience training. His profuse coat is hypoallergenic, but requires regular maintenance. It may be kept in the lion clip (the coat on the hindquarters and muzzle are clipped to the skin) or the retriever clip (the entire coat is clipped to one inch in length and follows the outline of the dog). The P.W.D.is of average size: from 35 to 60 pounds and 17 to 23 inches tall at the withers. He is would excel as a fisherman’s working companion or family pet. Do the Obama’s fish?
The Obama’s have narrowed down a few names for their new puppy. They are Buddy, Fala, Laddie Boy, Checkers, Millie and Barney. Evidently the pup is a rescue. Ordinarily this dogs cost around $2,000.
Temperament
In terms of training and temperament, the First Family will have their hands full in my opinion. The Portuguese Water Dog is an animal of spirited disposition, self-willed, brave, and very resistant to fatigue. A dog of exceptional intelligence and a loyal companion, it obeys its master with facility and apparent pleasure. It is obedient with those who look after it or with those for whom it works. This will make training the new pup necessary in order for proper adjustment and socialization.
My only question is will the new pup have a security escort? The secret service dogs are Belgian Malanois, from Holland they can be quite sociable. Will they get to romp and play together on White House lawn or will it be all work and no play for the ever vigilant Secret Service (and their dogs)?
_________________________
Dr. Robert Forto is the training director of Denver Dog Works and The Ineka Project in Colorado. Dr. Forto hosts a weekly radio show The Dog Doctor Radio Show at http://www.dogdoctorradio.com Dr. Forto an be reached through his website at http://www.denverdogworks.com
Citation: Http://www.akc.org, Http://www.chron.com
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
