reality sound bites. Orlando Strong.
The tragedy this past June at Pulse Nightclub in Orlando shocked the world, and brought a reality check close to home. As we watched the events unfold in the media, many of us won- dered and worried about the pets of those who would not be coming home. Frank Hernandez died in the shootings. His partner, Brett Rigas, was shot in the arm. The two shared a Chihuahua and a Shih Tzu.
Frank Hernandez and his ShihTzu, Drake. Frank’s life was cut trigically short during the Pulse Orlando shooting,
Lost Pets Facebook page that, thankfully, all pets had been accounted for. Frank Hernandez’s ShihTzu, Drake, is now liv- ing with his relatives in the hopes of stay- ing connected to their loved one. Diego, the Chihuahua, remains with Frank’s partner, Brett. While Federal and State funds, set up
Several organizations in the area
immediately offered assistance. Judy Charuhas, executive director of Winter Park Lost Pets, is also an outpatient clin- ical manager at Aspire Health Partners. She immediately began compiling a list of rescue groups, businesses, and individ- uals willing to hold, foster or adopt pets for the victims and survivors of the shooting. Pet Alliance of Greater Orlando offered to provide short-term care for the pets of those hospitalized or to assist fam- ilies with alternative arrangements as needed. East Orlando Animal Hospital set up a donation box in their lobby. Pookie Brothers Pet Sitting offered to provide care for animals whose owners were affected, at no charge. David Fine of New York’s Bark N Bag called our editor, Anna Cooke and offered to ship carriers to help transport pets. Everyone willing to help was in
scramble mode, according to a piece written for the Orlando Sentinel. “The key is finding those pets. Law enforce- ment officers are not allowed to bust through a door to rescue a pet if an owner isn’t present,” wrote reporter George Diaz. The only logical recourse was hoping a friend or relative would come forward with information. Judy reported on the Winter Park
16 THE NEW BARKER
to help the victims, are slow to come by, Winter Park Lost Pets continues to offer assistance. “Even though these people are struggling to pay for things like rent, no one is willing to give up a pet as a result, which speaks volumes to me,” said Judy, who is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor. “The clients I am working with at Aspire Health Partners, their pets are helping them heal,” said Judy, who also offers pet grief and loss workshops at Hip Dog Canine Hydrotherapy at no charge.
Z
WinterParkLostPets.com PetAllianceOrlando.org HipDog.Net
The Healing Power Of A Dog’s Love.
arrived at Orlando Regional Medical Center to comfort staff, families and patients. K-9 Comfort Dogs is a program run by the Lutheran Church Charities, based in Northbrook, Illinois. Founded in 2008, the team has comforted victims of the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing and the 2012 Sandy Hook shooting. Tom Hetzner, president of the charity, said that the dogs in Orlando allowed those in dis- tress to relax their guard and express their vulnerability. “A lot of people that started petting the dog, broke down crying,” Hetzner said.
Therapy Dogs At ORMC: Above: Pedie takes a break.
Below left: Melissa Sota welcomes the comforting touch from Susie.
A few days later, Wendy Kelly, author
of the book, Buji and Me: 7 Lessons From The Dog Who Rescued Me, took a team of Therapy Dogs from Tampa Bay to Orlando Regional Medical Center. The dogs helped provide a temporary calm during what continued to be a traumatic couple of weeks at the hospital. ”I was deeply touched and grateful to be able to witness, firsthand, what animals so natu- rally teach us; that the great spirit that connects us all is stronger than any tragedy we may go through, or any dif- ferences we may have,” said Wendy of The Pawsitive Life Foundation. The Foundation is dedicated to training res- cued dogs to detect cancer in humans.
On the Monday following the shooting, a team of 12 Golden Retrievers
Z
PawsitiveLife.org K9Comfort.org
www.TheNewBarker.com
U
Photograph courtesy of Wendy Kelly
Photograph by John Taggart
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81
