Puppy & Dog Classes Huge Success!

All the puppy and dogs in Lisa Freeman’s Dogs that Heel & Heal classes received certificates. The six week classes ran from the first of April through mid-May. Handlers and their dogs learned everything from basic commands such as come and sit to more advanced techniques such as leave it and staying with a safe stranger. On the final night of class there was a test.

“All the pups and dogs in our three classes did very well,” Freeman says. “The owners worked really hard. We had eight puppies in our AKC Star Puppy Class. Six came to the last night of testing. All passed. Two of our puppies and six of our dogs even passed the AKC Canine Good Citizen (CGC) Test. Three are going on to do pet therapy work, and one is being trained as a service dog.”

Sadly, a few of the dogs and handlers missed the last class.

Bill & Kelly Batchelor couldn’t make it due to a family emergency. “I offered to mail their certificate to them,” Freeman said. “But Bill wanted to show me what his Golden, Jagger could do.” Although Jagger should have been in Freeman’s basic obedience class from the get-go, due to Bill’s work schedule, he ended up with the more advanced group. “Jagger would barely sit or obey any commands in the beginning and really pulled on the leash,” Freeman said, “but Bill was very patient and persistent and by the end of class, Jagger was sitting, heeling, staying, and on that last night he was even downing on command!”

Needless to say, Jagger was voted “Most Improved” in Freeman’s Advance Obedience Class, even though he wasn’t quite ready to pass the CGC test.

“They are all such wonderful dogs and people,” Freeman said. “If it was up to me, I’d pass them all. But there are strict guidelines for the AKC CGC that as an evaluator I have to follow.”

Freeman will be offering more group classes in September and hopes to include agility. In the meantime she is working privately with owners on bad behaviors, aggression, bolting, and all levels of obedience, pet therapy, and service dog training. 

She will also be at the Owosso Bark Park one Saturday each month for some free tips and training on how to make your dog safer and free from aggression. For more information, please check out her website @ www.abusebites.com..

Easter Beagle Pays It Forward

The residents at the Shiawassee Medical Care Facility got a surprise visit from two furry friends this Easter morning. As The Easter Bunny, (AKA Melissa Rosenberger) and the Easter Beagle, (AKA Snickers—a rescued, retired, Award Winning Therapy Dog) hopped through the facility, faces lit up, smiles brightened, and laughter erupted throughout each corridor.

A dog with bunny ears is quite a sight. Although waddling like a duck, more than walking like a dog, or hopping like a bunny, Snickers, now 13, is still glad to make the rounds. Covered in painful lumps and a stiff arthritic tailbone, you’d never know he is suffering though. With a wagging tail he approaches each and every person with kisses and affection.

Snickers, in his bunny get up, has been bringing therapy to children and adults for nearly a decade!

“For years we did an Easter fundraiser to raise money for needy and abused families,” Lisa Freeman says, who is also the dog’s owner. “Thanks to everyone’s amazing support, we were able to give hundreds of filled Easter Baskets and gift certificates to hurting families. Even more, we were able to show them that someone loves and cares for them. I had no idea when I rescued Snickers, that he would be rescuing so many others.”

Over the years, Snickers has helped raised over $20,000 for the local community. “A portion of that money, nearly $6,000 was raised for the Shiawassee County Humane Society,” Freeman says. “Snickers was elected Mayor for getting the most votes and raising the most funds.” Freeman and Snickers founded the first 5K9 Walk in 2009 for the Shiawassee Humane Society, as part his Mayoral campaign. The walk, now called the 5K9 Day, is still being held annually.

But this dog’s paws have made tracks to stop bullying too. Snicker’s is the mascot for the Abuse Bites Program that has held fun, educational, interactive anti-bullying workshops all over Michigan. “Snickers always steals the show with his Harley Davidson hat and his Bully Buster Leather Jacket,” Freeman says, “and of course his amazing trick presentation.”

Snickers learned all the tricks for the program in just ten days. And he also passed the pet therapy test and became certified through Therapy Dogs International with just ten days of training. In a matter of months he began winning awards too, such as TDIA (for 50 therapy visits) and TDIAO (for more than 150 therapy visits). “From there, Snickers started helping me train other dogs and handlers for pet therapy,” Freeman says. “Snickers has definitely been paying it forward his entire life. He’s an example for all of us, at Easter, and all year through.”

*For more information about Dog & Pup Obedience, Canine Good Citizen Testing, and Pet Therapy Classes and Certification, contact Lisa Freeman @ abusebites@gmail.com. 

Healing Hearts

It wasn't the news we'd hoped for. Brian, 15, had already been through so much. In the past two years he'd nearly died over a dozen times. He was in the hospital more than at home. I stared at his lifeless body, hooked up to so many tubes, wires, monitors, and I.V.'s.

Tears streamed down my cheeks.

Here it was a week after his 5^th open-heart surgery and he still couldn't breathe on his own. Normally he'd bounce right back. Not this time. When they tried to take the ventilator out, he flopped like a fish.

I told the nurse right away. "That's not normal. He doesn't usually breathe like that. Something's wrong." But she insisted he'd be fine. Later, they took an x-ray.

"His diaphragm was paralyzed during the surgery and now it's pressing up against the right lung," the heart surgeon said. "Usually the diaphragm will come back and begin working on its own. We'll give it a few days."

But later that day, Brian's heart rate dropped down to 23 and they nearly lost him. Apparently the special mapping they tried to do during the 16 hour surgery hadn't worked and his rhythm problems were even worse.

"We'll need to perform emergency surgery," the surgeon explained. "It's risky, but he needs a pacemaker and he needs it now. Once they get that placed, he'll have the other surgery on the diaphragm."

Three major surgeries in one week. Wow! He was already in such a weak, critical state. All any of us could do was pray. And we prayed hard.

 Brian was born with only two chambers in his heart. At that time doctors had told us he'd only live to be a year old. Although he'd been critically ill for the first two years of life, he had surpassed all the odds. And by the time he turned three, he was raring to go. He rode his bike, rollerbladed, and swam like a fish.

Then, at 13, all of that suddenly changed. He started getting winded just walking up a few stairs, and had to stop frequently while we were out on family bike rides. His heart, we learned, was only functioning at 40%. They claimed he needed another surgery. I figured, he'd have it, get better, go home, and he'd be as good as new again.

Sadly, after that surgery at 13, his condition only grew worse. No one in the family had a clue. No one that is, except for our formerly abused, rescue dog, Snickers. He would not leave Brian's side for a second. He slept in his bed at night, stayed with him during the day on the couch, and even followed him to the kitchen. 

"You know the rules," I scolded. "Now go lay down!" But Snickers was persistent. He hovered right by the doorway to the kitchen on all fours. His eyes fixed on Brian. I was starting to lose my patience with that dog!

Just as Brian tried to eat his macaroni and cheese, his head flopped onto the table. With bright red cheeks, sweat dripping from his forehead, and hardly able to speak he gasped, "I can't breathe!"

While I ran to the phone to call 9-1-1, Snickers ran to his side and stayed there until the paramedics arrived. I was surprised to find the macaroni and cheese still on the plate at the edge of the table when I grabbed my purse to follow them out.

That's when I realized Snickers wasn't interested in the food at all, he was concerned about Brian. He knew long before I did that something was wrong and he was trying to tell me.

Brian continued having close calls and bouts with tachycardia (heart rate above 200) and even bradycardia (heart rate under 50). Again, during that two year time span, Snickers rarely left Brian's side.

Strange, Snickers had ran under my van a few months before Brian got sick. I had said we would only keep him for the night. Back then I tried everything to get rid of that dog. I called the pound, they were full. I tried to lose him on a walk, he found his way back. I placed an ad in the paper, and by the time his real owner called to claim him, I was totally and hopelessly in love with him, as well as my entire family. Thankfully she allowed us to keep him.

But never in a million years would I have imagined what a huge healing role this new member of our family would play in Brian's healing.

Back in the waiting room at Detroit Children's Hospital, the surgeon finally came out. "Everything went well," he said. "The pacemaker's in, the diaphragm fixed, and Brian's in recovery. You'll be able to see him soon."

I breathed a sigh of relief.

We couldn't have gotten better news. We hadn’t been home in nearly a month, and I knew we needed to pay bills. So, after seeing that Brian was stable, we went home to take care of business. I decided while we were there to make a family video for him. I went all over to see his cousins, grandparents, aunts, uncles and taped everyone I could think of. I even did a small clip with Snickers.

When we returned to the hospital, things didn't look good.

They had weaned Brian from the ventilator, but now he was hacking and coughing uncontrollably, from the fluid on his lungs. He began vomiting too. The doctors ran more tests. With those tests came more bad news.

"I'm sorry," the doctor said, "but your son has Pancreatitis." He explained that it was an inflammation and infection of the pancreas and could be quite serious, especially with Brian's underlying heart condition, and all the surgeries he'd just been through. They went on to say that he might not pull through. Every day was touch and go.

We soon learned the only way to cure pancreatitis is to not eat and wait it out. Brian hadn't eaten for nearly three weeks. When I told him he couldn't eat, he cried and begged me to take him home. "I just want to see Snickers, please," he said in between coughs. "Can't I go home, please?!"

"I know, honey," I said, giving him a huge hug. "I want to take you home to see Snickers too, but you need to get well first."

At that moment I felt totally helpless.

Later that day I remembered the video I'd made. I thought it might cheer him up to see everyone. So I plugged it in and pressed play. He didn't seem too enthused by it at first, until it got to the part about Snickers. When he saw Snickers sitting on his bed, wagging his tail, tears rolled down his cheeks.

Within twenty-four hours of watching that video, Brian's condition greatly improved and he was moved out of ICU. One week later he was even discharged from the hospital. Our three kids threw him a huge homecoming party. All our close relatives were there. When he opened the door they all yelled, "Surprise!"

But the best surprise Brian got was Snickers bolting to the door, so excited to see him, he licked his entire face.

I'm not going to tell you that life has been perfect for Brian or us since then. Actually there have been some really rough times. Brian was on the heart transplant list for five years, but thanks to Snickers, he became fairly healthy and lived at home most of that time. At the age of 22, Brian was healthier than he'd been in years! He was working out at the YMCA a few times a week, walking Snickers around the neighborhood every day, and he'd even lost 42 pounds!

Sadly, Brian suddenly passed away one morning due to a blood clot in his leg. But even then Snickers was right by his side comforting him. He even attended the visitation and funeral, giving love and affection to all who were there.

I know now with all my heart that Snickers was born to bring healing and comfort to others. I'm so glad he chose to run under my van that day!

Snickers has been a Certified Pet Therapy Dog through Therapy Dogs International for seven years now. He's won numerous awards for his therapy visits, raised over $20,000 for needy and abused people and pets, but his greatest gift to others is that fact that he continues to heal hearts everywhere his paws go.

Having Fun While Training Your Dog

Due to cold weather and rain a week ago Thursday I ended up teaching two Pet Therapy classes this week. Thankfully the weather cooperated both Monday and Thursday of this week and although everyone couldn't make it to the first class, they were all here on Thursday.

We had such a great mix of people and dogs, from young to old, teeny, tiny and fearful to Gigantic and fearless! What a variety of pooches: a Golden Doodle, Black Lab/Shepherd, Yellow Lab/Shepherd, Chihuahua, Scottish Terrier, Golden Retriever, and a Haveneze (spelling?)!

Man were the dogs hyper!

With Snickers, Baby, and Jax (our most recently trained Certified Pet Therapy Dog and his owner Stacey Wendling), we had a total of 10 dogs here! Thankfully we had lots of volunteers!

At first I was thinking I should have broken them up into two groups, but they (dogs & handlers) did awesome! The dogs settled down and took their turns for each section of the training--almost like they were at the testing. Wow! I was so pleased with all their progress!

Molly and Marna added a few laughs as usual. When we did the sit, stay, then come when called, Molly always went to someone else or another dog instead of Marna. Gotta love em! That just cracks me up :) But then we realized it's because Molly takes her eyes off Marna and loses focus immediately. I pointed out that one of our other ladies, Samantha was clapping to keep her dog, Dolly's attention. That seemed to work great. So I learn something new from my students too and love it!

Some of the dogs wouldn't sit and stay long or at all. But in our group, that's okay, we don't force. We work at the dog/handlers pace and give them tips and encouragement of how to work on those problem areas.

I believe each dog/handler is special and unique. No two dogs are alike, just the same as no two people are alike. And that's awesome, because some people like big dogs, where others like small dogs. But any dog, when trained properly can be a more obedient dog.

Funny I should say that. A little boy who came to the group was holding Snickers leash a ways away from where I was teaching and he started barking loud and annoying at a kid passing by on a bike. I commanded, "Snickers, No Bark!" Everyone laughed because he hung his head like he'd gotten busted when he thought I was too busy to be paying attention. But he'll even be outside on the chain and bark to come in and I'll command, "NO BARK!" to let him know I hear him and he will stop. Then when he stops barking I say, "Good No Bark," to praise him.

That's the thing with dogs, they are just like kids, so if you really want them to mind, you have to keep right on them, praise them when they are good, but don't give them an inch when they're not!

Our Dogs that Heel & Heal Classes are offered privately as well as in group sessions. Please see our website for more details AbuseBites.com

Happy Training!

 

Don't Buy The Lie

Seems like since I was a little girl, I was being fed one lie after another.

It started with Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny, but then more harmful dangerous lies came into play.

My brothers older friends, neighborhood boys/men, and even some of my friends from school did unspeakable acts I was sworn not to tell. “It will be our little secret,” they’d say. I wanted to tell my mom, but I was too ashamed and I was scared. I thought she’d probably blame me anyway. And many of my abusers had threatened me. What if their threats were true?

So I bought the lie. The lie that I had to stay in abusive relationships. The lie that no one would ever want me. The lie that no one would love me. The lie that I would have to settle for whoever came along.

All my life I bought the lie of abuse. 

My alcoholic husband dropped to his knees and wept over my battered body, “I’m sorry. I promise if you stay I’ll never hurt you again.”

Sadly, I bought the lie again and again until he almost killed me. And even after I left him, I still kept buying the lies of abuse.

My 2^nd husband, who went to church faithfully, swore a million times that he’d never look at pornography or cheat on me on me again. 

I bought the lie time and time again and stayed with him for seven painful years until I learned he sexually abused our three children. That's when I began seeking the truth, and the truth set me free!

Don’t buy the lie! Don’t settle for abuse! 

I know it's hard to break free. I didn’t even start getting my life together until the age of 26. I hadn’t even finished high school, let alone junior high. I had dropped out in the 7th grade. Yet, a single mother of three, I went back to school, got my GED, went onto college, maintained a 4.0, and made the Dean’s List. Later, after battling severe panic attacks and agoraphobia, I graduated from Vision International with a degree in Christian Ministry, became an Award-Winning Christian Author, Certified Pet Therapist/Dog Trainer, and started two non-profit organizations A Time To Heal and Abuse Bites to break the cycle of abuse and help others heal.

Abuse is a choice. You can be a victim or you can be a survivor. I was a victim far too long. Today I’m a survivor, because I stopped buying the lie. I pray that you do too! You deserve better. It's the truth that sets us free!

If you or someone you know is stuck in the cycle of abuse and needs help please call 9-1-1 or the national domestic abuse hotline @ 1-800-799-SAFE. You may also contact me. I’d love to help in any way I can.

We offer workshops to educate, prevent, and bring awareness on all types of abuse and bullying in the school, work place and community. We’d be honored to work with you to bring our program to your area! http://www.abusebites.com.