8
in other words
november8
2011
Creature Comforts ~ Service Dogs
By Victoria K. Guerrero
Isn’t it sweet to remember those
old black and white episodes of Lassie?
Timmy was always down in a well near
death, and Lassie was always at the sav-
ing end of his rescue. I experienced a
similar situation when my now 19 year
old daughter was saved, yes, by a collie.
My daughter who was two at the time,
often traveled across the dusty road to
the open field across from where we
lived. The collie, Orca, spent his days
meandering around with the kids, when
one of the kids tottled away, Orca faith-
fully followed. Before I could make it to
my little girl’s rescue, I watched help-
less as blond curls bounced and her little
feet breezed toward the dirt road, and the
house. Orca was hot on her tail, as he saw
a car speeding down our dirt road. Much
to my daughter’s dismay, Orca knocked
her over and lay on her little squirming
body as the car sped by. Tears ran down
my daughter’s dusty face as she cursed
poor Orca, not realizing he had possibly
just saved her life.
I am sure that wasn’t the only
time Orca saved a child, I know the com-
fort he provided so many of us young
and old. He was a perfect gentleman as
he soaked up tears into his thick black
fur. He listened so well to our troubles,
and took many untold secrets to his un-
known grave. Of course Orca wasn’t the
first dog that I personally found com-
fort in, nor was he the last. I’m amazed
at how resilient dogs are, taking on so
much human emotion, without being
troubled by it. I speak for many who are
grateful for the endurance they show and
ability to intuitively know when they are
needed. Orca would have made the per-
fect Therapy Dog, or Service Dog com-
forting folks far and wide.
At that time, twenty years ago, a
Service Dog was exclusively known as
a Seeing Eye Dog. Often appearing in
business windows, bold ‘GUIDE DOG
ONLY’ signs appeared and were respect-
fully obeyed by the general public. Many
things have changed
in twenty years and
‘SERVICE DOGS
ONLY’ is the sign of
changing times for
the dog.
There are
many forms of ‘Ser-
vice Dogs’, and ser-
vices they provide,
as well as types
of dogs being em-
ployed from the 200
pound Mastiff, to
the 4 pound Chihua-
hua. The Americans
with Disabilities Act (ADA) requires
businesses to allow service animals onto
business premises where customers are
generally allowed. According to the
State of Oregon, a Service Animal is any
Guide Dog, Signal Dog, or other animal
individually trained to provide assis-
tance to an individual with a disability.
However, not just any animal can go to
dinner or shopping with you. The animal
providing the service must be trained not
to bark, bite, defecate, or cause a nui-
sance in the public business, or by law
it can be asked to be removed from the
business. (Source U.S. Department of
Justice)
Raising Urban and Suburban Homestead Poultry
Saturday, November 12th, 2011
10:00 a.m. 2:00 p.m.
St. Helens Library
375 S. 18th Street, St. Helens, OR
Cost: $5.00
This shortcourse will cover:
Starting chickens right (brooding baby chicks and other poultry)
Breeds worth knowing
How feeding layers and broilers are different and other feeding topics
Cooped in: Coop and yard designs for many situations
Things that make chickens droopy (diseases and parasites)
Predators
Home processing
Final thoughts and more time for questions
For more information, call OSU Extension/Columbia County
503 397-3462 or email chip.bubl@oregonstate.edu.
Old,
worn out
and rusty?
Need body
work?
Call...
Meyer’s Auto Body
•493 Bridge St•
VERNONIA
503-429-0248
It is surprising how many differ-
ent Service Dogs live in our little town of
Vernonia. We see them often, and know
the service some of them provide. In the
news lately have been Autism Service
Dogs, and Psychiatric Service Dogs.
An Autism Service Dog is much
like a Service Dog for the Hearing Im-
paired. Among many other tasks, this
specially trained
Service Dog helps
its handler process
sensory informa-
tion. This dog can
alert the handler
when there are im-
portant noises by
simply placing a
paw on the han-
dler, a cue to get the
handler’s attention.
Although to most
folks, it seems like
a simple thing, but
to a person with
Autism, what a blessing to have a safe
reliable dog on duty.
A Psychiatric Service Dog
(PSD) is specially trained to assist a han-
dler with disabilities such as Post Trau-
matic Shock Disorder, Schizophrenia,
and Bi Polar Depression to name just
a few. The challenge for handlers own-
ing a PSD is public stigma. While see-
ing eye dogs, hearing impaired dogs,
and assistance dogs used for persons in
wheelchairs are widely accepted in soci-
ety, Psychiatric Service Dogs are yet to
be widely accepted in society as public
stigma against mental illness contin-
ues to be misunderstood. Not having a
physical disability yet using a service
dog in public takes humility, and per-
sonal strength. Unknown to many is the
emotional struggle a PSD handler goes
through to receive the comfort, support,
and stability from their PSD. Often times
these individuals have mental conflicts
that keep them from doing daily tasks in
public, thus the need for a PSD.
Service dogs are wonderful!
There are a wide variety of services
dogs can do, from providing an alert to a
handler with high or low blood sugar, to
warning of an impending seizure.
For more information about
service dogs, check out Service Animal
Registry of America at 206-376-8931.
Or to inquire about your dog’s ability to
become a therapy dog for others, contact
the Oregon Humane Society 503-285-
7722.
As a service to the beloved ser-
vice dogs in our community, Creatures
Pet Store is offering for the entire month
of November free nail trims to our local
service dogs! This is an exclusive “let’s
get acquainted’ offer, as we look forward
to meeting and supporting all our local
service dogs. After the month of Novem-
ber, local service dogs will receive 50%
off of monthly nail trims. Nail trims are
by appointment only, call any time Mon-
day -Friday 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM, and
Saturdays from 10:00 AM -5:00 PM--
503-429-PETS!
Senior Center Activities
5-Area Luncheon: There are no lun-
cheons scheduled for November and
December.
Connie’s Fabulous Breakfasts: Fab-
ulous breakfasts are available to the
public on Fridays for a cost of only
$3.50. The event happens at the Senior
Center (446 Bridge Street) from 7:30
to 9:00 AM each Friday. Meal price in-
cludes a beverage, too. Enter through
the side, parking lot door. What a deal!
Week Day Lunches: The Vernonia
Senior Center offers nutritious and
tasty lunches each weekday for a $4
donation for seniors over 60; cost is $5
for anyone under 60. To-go meals are
available for $5. These are available
to the public, not just Senior Citizens.
(Mealtime is noon; late arrivals may
not be served.) You can reserve your
lunch by calling by 11:15 AM, or fur-
ther in advance if possible, to assist the
cooks as they prepare the day’s meals.
Meals on Wheels are available for a $4
donations for seniors over 60. Please
contact the Senior Center for an appli-
cation.
Maple Bars available locally! Con-
nie King, the cook at the Senior Cen-
ter, is making maple bars each day. The
maple bars are available to the public,
too, and only cost $1 each. Availabil-
ity is subject to quantity on hand. You
can assure yourself of a good supply
by pre-ordering them directly from
Connie by calling the Senior Center
(503-429-3912) any week day, from
7:00 AM-3:00 PM. Please allow one
day lead time for larger orders. The
Center’s front door opens at 9:00, but
the side parking lot door opens at 7:00.
Ah, sweet treats!
Thrift Store: Bargain prices can be
found in Vernonia’s Senior Center in
their Thrift Store. The retail store is
open Monday through Friday, from
9:00 AM until 3:00 PM. The Thrift
Store provides funds for the Senior
Center’s facility and its many activi-
ties. Donations can also be dropped off
during those same hours, and donated
clothes need to be clean and in good
condition so they are “sales ready”.
We are offering half off during the first
week of each month. Buy locally and
support your local Senior Center.
For after hours drop-offs please con-
tact Pauline 503-429-5810.
Special Days: On the last Wednesday
of the month Wauna Credit Union will
be serving ice cream. On the last Fri-
day of the month we will serve birth-
day cake and ice cream to celebrate
that month’s birthdays.
Membership Dues: Another way to
support Vernonia’s Senior Center is to
pay the $15 annual membership dues.
Checks may be mailed or dropped off
at the Senior Center. Anyone 50 and
older may join.
Questions? Call: (503) 429-3912
