U.S. Army Specialist & His Bomb Sniffing Dog Reunite!

On August 20, 2015, Vance, a U.S. Army Specialist and his bomb sniffing dog, Ikar, reunited after 3 long years! They served together in Afghanistan and Vance missed his army partner very much. 

Vance was not sure he would see his pal again but thankfully the U.S. War Dogs Association and Mission K9 Rescue made it happen!

"The bond and amount of trust we had in each other was stronger than anything I could ever explain to another person," Vance expressed.

Vance and Ikar, a T.E.D.D. (Tactical Explosive Detection Dog), had a mission to save lives, limbs and helping his army buddies walk easier so they could do their jobs.

Vance's own words couldn't say it better about how he feels about Ikar. "I am so thankful he was found and is alive and well. I am even more thankful that I get the opportunity to give Ikar the proper home, love, and attention he deserves from this point on. He will live out the rest of his life being treated like a hero he is and enjoy spoils of retirement. I have missed my friend for over 3 years and knowing that he will be home soon with me is unbelievable. I will forever be in debt to all the people who made this reunion possible. I could not thank you enough times for you all to know how much this means to me. Thank you."

The Morris Animal Inn Operation: War Dogs Campaign has so far raised over $8,000 for the purpose of helping bring U.S. Military War Dogs home. We are happy to say that Vance and Ikar's reunion is the result of your support. The campaign continues until September 7, 2015. For the full article about Vance and Ikar click here.

Owning a Dog is Good for Your Health

As pet owners, we have much to be thankful for from the presence of our pets. They light up our lives in our darkest moments and can turn our frown upside down.

It’s true that our pets are an investment. We spend much of our savings on them from squeaky toys to premium food. In our eyes, they deserve the best of the best and more often than not we are willing to give it to them. With the undivided attention and affection they give us and those eyes that never judge and only love, it is an investment that has always proven to be well worth it. But this is not the only benefit we can reap from our fuzzy companions. Studies have proven time and again the health advantages of owning a pet. Both mentally and physically our health can flourish with the addition of a furry, wet-nosed, whiskered friend in our lives.

Physical Health Benefits
As Dr. Oz has pointed out,“Petting your animal has been clinically proven to reduce blood pressure and increase serotonin, a hormone that helps to elevate your mood.” Research has shown that petting a dog lowers blood pressure and increases serotonin. In the PBS NOVA documentary, Dogs Decoded it was discovered that pet owners that have a heart attack are three times more likely to survive the heart attack if they own a pet. Let’s not forget that dog owners especially exercise more often since they must take their dog on a walk and engage their canine in physical activity at least once a day.

Mental Health Benefits
Having a dog is an easy solution for fighting depression and lifting our mood. It is nearly impossible to stay mad or sad when our dog looks at us with those puppy dog eyes or licks our face with a special blend of tender yet fierce love, not caring how we look or what mistakes we've made that day. Pets' love is constant and unyielding . They will never leave us if we never leave them. We can tell them secrets and unload our problems on their fuzzy shoulders and they will never falter from the pressure. Though they can't offer us advice, they will always lend us an ear to whisper in, a paw to hold and a shoulder to lean on.

Though pets may leave a little dent in our wallets and a few spots on the oriental rug, the happiness, well-being and joy they bring to our lives are simply priceless.

Sources: http://www.doctoroz.com/blog/mehmet-oz-md/benefiting-and-your-pet

ROAD TRIP!

You know the drill. It’s Saturday morning. You are headed to the dog park or a friend's house with your doggie in tow. Since it’s the weekend, you decide to celebrate and treat yourself a little by stopping at your local coffee house for some java and a doughnut. You rush out of the car leaving your dog locked inside. Unfortunately, it turns out everyone within a 100 mile radius had the same Saturday morning idea. What should have been a 10 minute wait, quickly turns into a 30 or 40 minute wait of impatient foot-stamping, caffeine-deprived rage.

While you may be annoyed, your pooch is steaming - temperature wise. Leaving your dog in a parked car in the hot summer months is extremely dangerous. Most dog owners are aware of the cautions of such a habit, but not the extent. The temperature inside your car depends on the outside temperature. According to the Office of Climate, Water, and Weather Services, in a time lapse of 60 minutes, a parked car can reach up to 123 degrees Fahrenheit even if the temperature outside is only as high as 80 degrees Fahrenheit. The sun’s shortwave radiation quickly heats dark objects like seats and the dashboard. These hot objects then warm the car’s internal air, creating a dangerous hotbox.

While it is unhealthy for anyone to be locked in an overheated parked car, dogs and children are most at risk for suffering hyperthermia because they overheat more rapidly than adults. Hyperthermia is, “an acute condition that occurs when the body absorbs more heat than it can dissipate.” Even opening the car windows is not sufficient enough to counter the effects of the heat.

To avoid this unfortunate situation, a good idea is to invest in a Wireless Digital Thermometer that reads the inside temperature of your car. Clean Run has an excellent thermometer for car owners with dogs. The sensor accurately measures the temperature of your car and sends it to the wireless receiver. Temperature readings can be sent wirelessly up to 330 feet away. As long as you religiously monitor the temperature readings and make sure the car temp does not rise to an unhealthy degree, it is possible to stop for that Saturday morning caffeine fix.

However, whenever you are in a bind and don't want to leave your precious pup home alone or stuck suffering in the heat of your car while you run errands during the hot days of the week, bring your precious pooch to Morris Animal Inn for daycare. Your dog will enjoy the cool comfort of our fully air conditioned facility, hydrating water breaks, and best of all, play and attention from our staff !

Sources: National Weather Service Heat Safety