Sasuke is a 5-1/2 year old shepherd mix, who joined our family in 2008 when he was 4 months old. He was not at all the dog we expected. When we picked him out from the lineup on petfinder, he was a she. Also, "she" was described as a shepherd/golden mix, so we assumed that our adult dog would weigh in at 50-70 lbs.

My daughter, Holly, and I met him in an empty parking lot in So. New Hampshire, along with a bunch of other happy new dog owners. Holly wanted to name our puppy Sakura (Japanese for cherry blossom). But when we looked at the paperwork, we saw the words "neutered male" clearly printed. Since cherry blossom wouldn't do for a boy, Holly came up with Sasuke (an anime warrior character) instead.

Our "large" dog topped out at 32 lbs. as an adult. He is playful and friendly, with both dogs and humans. We often walk him around the Arlington rez, where we meet up with other dog pals and their people. In February, we're enrolling him in therapy dog training by Dog B.O.N.E.S. at Pawwtopia. Hopefully by March he'll be certified and spreading joy to more people all around.

(Photo -- left to right: Holly, Bruce, Sue (author), and Sasuke in the middle)

There are many good reasons for us to license our dogs in Arlington, as discussed in a previous Wags and Tags article, written by Arlington's Animal Control Officer, Amanda Kennedy, and reprinted on our website.  

For example, the more ID that he has, the better the chance that a lost dog will be returned quickly to his owner.

A very important reason, also noted in Amanda's article, is that Town resources for programs that benefit dog owners are best justified if the number of dogs living in Arlington can be accurately estimated.  This is impossible if there is not a high level of compliance with the dog licensing requirements.

For reasons such as these, A-DOG encourages its members to license their dogs.  The license is obtained through the Town Clerk's office.  

We will be announcing details of a gift drawing to encourage 2014 dog license registration.  To be eligible for the baseline gift drawing, all you need to do is register your dog anytime by the deadline specified in the announcement.  We will draw a tag number from all the 2014 tags that were registered with the Town by the deadline.  (If you've already licensed your dog for 2014, you're already entered!). You do not need to be an A-DOG member to win, but, if your tag # is drawn, you will get an even more valuable gift if you are also signed up as a current A-DOG full member.  Details of the contest will be described in our February Wags and Tags as well as on our website and Facebook page.

Read more about the importance of dog licensing in Arlington in a recent Arlington Advocate article.  The article includes comments by Amanda Kennedy and A-DOG's President, Sue Doctrow, and Vice President of Development, Susan Ruderman.  Be sure to respond to the Advocate's survey accompanying the article!

The illustration for this article was custom drawn by artist Shunsuke Yamaguchi.  Mr. Yamaguchi's fee was generously donated to A-DOG by Joan Black and her family.  

by Laura and Amelia Gerson

It was a cold and gray November morning when we headed out to Leominster to volunteer at the semi-annual NEADS graduation day.  Here, the latest group of deaf or disabled adults and children, accompanied by their newly acquired assistance dogs, would officially graduate from training together and begin their lives together. Our job was to work at the NEADS "store," where we sold shirts, fleeces, jackets and numerous other items to benefit the non-profit organization.

NEADS, which stands for National Education for Assistance Dog Services, was established in 1976. Its mission is "to provide independence to people who are deaf or who have a disability through the use of canine assistance." (more information here) Sustained entirely through private funding and donations, NEADS provides assistance dogs to a wide variety of disabled adults and children, including those who are hard of hearing or deaf, wheelchair bound, combat vets, children on the autism spectrum or physically disabled, and many others. All assistance dogs receive extensive training through a variety of sources. Nearly all the puppies preparing to become assistance dogs are raised and trained for their first year in an innovative program run in conjunction with area minimum security prisons. Selected Inmates are matched with a puppy who lives with them in their cell while they train them in basic obedience and beginning assistance skills. In response to the Boston Marathon bombing in April 2013, NEADS established the Pawsitively Strong fund, providing free assistance dogs to bombing victims. Their first beneficiary was Jessica Kensky, who along with her husband, each lost a leg in the bombing. She was matched with Rescue earlier in the fall. Their story was featured in the Boston Globe on November 2, 2013.

Inside Montachusett Regional Vocational Technical School (or Monty Tech, as it is affectionately called), the chilly weather did not interfere with the festive atmosphere. The graduates and their dogs, with many family members, friends and supporters in tow, walked or wheeled through the hallways lined with various vendors, food, posters and exhibits before taking their seats on stage in the auditorium. Many dogs greeted each other with curiosity and enthusiasm - for some it was a reunion, having spent some of their training time together. Their handlers also got to see some of their fellow trainees, and the air was full of conversation, both human and canine.

Before each graduate was called up to be introduced to the audience and say a few words about their budding relationship with their dog, we were treated to a few reflections by Sharron Kahn Luttrell, author of the memoir "Weekends With Daisy" and a volunteer with NEADS for many years. In fact, she fostered Rescue on weekends for over a year before he was matched with Jessica Kensky.

It was truly moving to hear from the new graduates as they described their daily challenges, both physical and emotional, and the newfound joy in their canine companions as well as the pleasure in achieving goals they had only imagined before their dogs joined them. We hope to volunteer at many more graduations to come! For more information about NEADS, or to find out how you can volunteer, check the NEADS website.

_______

The authors, Laura and Amelia Gerson, are A-DOG members/volunteers as well as NEADS volunteers.  NEADS is one of the worthy organizations profiled in A-DOG's recent guide for holiday and year-round giving.  A-DOG's screening and panel discussion, several years ago, of film Prison Pups, by Arlington filmmaker Alice Bouvrie, also focused on the work of NEADS.