Calendar Stars
The holiday sale of our 2024 calendar has started. We’re filled with joy to showcase the calendar stars who provide vital animal assisted services to people in need in the U.S.A. Please help us honor their daily efforts and dedication to helping others. Order yours today! January Star – Cavilear works in Florida panhandle with […]
Facility Dog Fact Sheet
So, what is a facility dog? Facility dogs are a type of therapy dog. These pups work every day with their handler in a facility as a team, most of the time the handler is an employee of the facility and most of the time the owner of the animal. The dog’s job is to […]
Seeing Eye Dogs Are Amazing
The first seeing eye dog program opened its doors on this day in Texas, nearly 90 years ago. In that time, seeing eye dogs have helped thousands of people. To celebrate this, 1FUR1 wants to take a look at some of the inspiring relationships seeing eye dogs have formed with their masters. Seeing eye dogs, […]
Service Dog Veterinarian Q&A
Most people think of one person when they think of assistance dogs: the person who uses their services. But there is actually a team of people behind each service dog, from breeders to trainers to veterinarians. I spoke with one service dog veterinarian in Chicago, Dr. Tracy Hlede of Oz Animal Hospital, who owns this pet […]
Working Dogs Deserve a Labor Day Too!
Happy Labor Day! This holiday is used to celebrate people throughout the United States who have hardworking jobs, but where is the labor day for working dogs? They work just as hard, for long hours without pay (besides love and treats). Let’s take this opportunity to recognize their amazing work. Military and Police Dogs War […]
Top 3 Working Dogs
When you think of working “like a dog,” you’re probably picturing yourself burning the midnight oil behind a computer, finishing one last project for your boss. But what about working dogs? On National Work Like a Dog Day, we would like to spotlight three of the many ways dogs work to put people at ease. […]
Which Dog is Which?
Many people see the phrases “assistance dogs”, ‘therapy dogs” and “service dogs” as interchangeable. Yes, they are examples of dogs doing amazing things to help humans, but that is where the similarities end. For this week, International Assistance Dog Week, we’re going to talk about the differences between all these categories. Therapy Dogs Therapy dogs […]
The Dogs of War
Memorial Day is celebrated all throughout the United States to pay homage to those who have served in the armed forces. These celebrations honor the men and women who have fallen, but what about the dogs that have served? They seem to have been forgotten. I’d like to take a few minutes to appreciate some […]
Animals Helping Humans, Part 1: Dogs
Dogs are the most popular pets in the U.S. — 36.5% of U.S. households owning at least one dog. When asked why they own a dog, many people answer “for companionship” or “stress release.” Neuroscience studies supports these claims, showing that the presence of a pet correlates with increased release of beta-endorphins and oxytocin (“relaxing” […]
Man’s Best (& Oldest) Friend
Animals and humans have worked together in therapeutic relationships for more than 12,000 years. Scientists proved this when they found a 12,000-year-old human skeleton in Israel, holding close the skeletal remains of a puppy. The history of the human-canine bond starts even earlier than that, however humans and wolves, the ancestor of our domestic dogs, […]