Guardian dogs: not just for sheep any more.
Better than an AK-47
“Just get a gun,” he said.
Scared of guns, she refused.
So they’ve chosen a different muzzle. And hope their schools will heel, too.
The idea was off the leash, but school violence shook Kristi Schiller.
Her non-profit, K9s4COPS, already provides canines to law enforcement agencies but she thinks trained, well socialized dogs could be part of a solution for schools, too. K9s4KIDS was created.
Watch the video below and tell me a trained dog in schools wouldn’t help. (Flying dogs! Bitie face! Waggle tails!)
(Oh, click the darn link. The German Shepherd spokesdog, Johnny Cash, is worth it.)
https://uk.news.yahoo.com/video/texas-non-profit-helps-buy-195934711.html
Brad Croft of Universal K9Dogs agrees…using jailed dogs.
While there may be shortage of pedigreed German Shepherd, Malinois, and preferred dogs for security, military, and police, there are plenty of smart, fast learning dogs in shelters and dog pounds looking for work.
Brad Croft found all of them, even the misfits on death row, ready and willing to raise a helping paw.
- Shelter dogs become police K-9s under Texas Trainer. ““We’re saving a dog to help law enforcement to protect our communities and to save taxpayer dollars,” he said. “How can you beat that?” “This is not a breed-specific thing. This is a God-given gift. And all dogs have it.”
- “Shelter dogs from the dog pound to K-9 Duty” (More about Brad Croft and the dogs)
It seems all breeds, even the most unlikely pup, can fill a spot:
- Beagle Brigade: Florida’s pound puppy security force were all shelter dogs, rescues, or donated. Given a second chance at life, they are forever grateful – and work hard.
- “Once a shelter dog, now he’s saving lives.” In Seattle, Boomer has forged a trail for social castaways to become K-9 heroes.”
- Energetic Rocket didn’t do well in the shelter after being picked up. Deemed unadoptable, he was placed on the to-be-euthanized list. But one person couldn’t get him out of her head and saw some potential….and that’s how his story begins…
If they all can be trained for duty, why not draft them for hall duty?
Guardian dogs: not just for sheep any more.
Dogs in schools may not be perfect solution, but at least it’s something productive besides being frozen by shock, throwing up hands, saying nothing can stop the crazies, or yelling back and forth about guns.
Just consider. Again. (I know. An updated post. But it’s important.)
We have to talk. Please.
- To the President, to state and federal legislators, to school districts.
- To those really, really rich people/CEOs/celebrities I hear on TV saying they want to pay more taxes and help the country. Dudes and Dudettes, why wait? Here’s something you can do now to make a big difference. A legacy. More immediate, think of the photo ops! People love dog pictures.
Hands down. Hearts up.
Phil, the Philosopher Mouse of the Hedge.
Defuse anger.
Derail violence before children see it as a solution for life’s problems.
- Animals: Teachers of compassion and tolerance. (Southern Poverty Law Center.)
- Dogs in schools have great potential for more than just security:
- Reading buddies improve academics
- Teaching kindness to help foster anti-bullying
- Creating a calm atmosphere makes kids feel secure so they can learn.
Discover more from Philosopher Mouse of the Hedge
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And it occurs to me that being able to watch the interaction of kids with dogs might be useful in another way. It’s been said that one of the markers for a disturbed child is cruelty toward animals. Teachers would be able to keep an eye on, and counsel with, any child who seemed unable to treat a dog appropriately.
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Acute observation. Another chance to intervene. Kids now certainly need something to lower their anxiety levels. (Maybe the media needs a public service dog with them – to whack with a paw or a firm lean to distract them from continual, over the top, already said, dwelling on misery, I mean, reporting?) Thanks for running along
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Ah, just saw my first robin. Things may be picking up…and flying off 🙂
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I saw my first robin today, too. He was on my deck!
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Ditto what you said. My first thought, too. [Well, maybe my second thought after how cute that little girl in the plaid jumper looks walking down the hall with a dog.]
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That picture is a winner for sure. Hope it catches attention of those who can make things happen.
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Brilliant idea.
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Paws up!
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kids who grow up with dogs become good people (mostly) so every kid should have a guardian dog then maybe the world would be a little bit better…
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Maybe we’ve gotten too far away from dirt and the good earth. Dogs make a difference.
And for the really tough cases, horses.There’s something about getting a large animal that might step on you around…and one that is unconditionally accepting and dependent on you. Lots of research in England and here of effect of caring for horses. The state’s mounted patrol horse “farm” is located by one state prison and inmates try to get into the group that is responsible for care and some training. Hard work, but seems to have rewards. Animals sometimes are the best teachers – with infinite patience and quiet encouragement.
Thanks for hanging out in this dog house
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What a wonderful story about the dog on death row being rescued and becoming a highly prized RAS dog.
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Like plants and people, a place for everyone and everyone in its’ place…just have to find to right spot to bloom and shine. Thanks for letting a comment out for the dogs
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Love you thought, Phil. It is the kind of creative thinking we need. Ever so much better than requiring teachers to carry guns and teaching them to kill. Really, has our nation come to that? Sic-em! –Curt
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Nothing scares me more than a new gun owner who got a gun out of fear. There are options – dogs are one and another that should be done immediately is pushing the school grounds perimeters back like they used to be. (Here the school grounds were unfenced in the 60’s to allow the neighborhoods to use the school’s baseball fields and playgrounds after school – all in the hopes that people would stop breaking into the schools and stealing/damaging stuff “if they felt the school was more a part of the community and open to all”…didn’t work too well actually. Cameras, one point of entry that is protected during the school day (most of our buildings already have these now…but kids can prop doors open, so alarms and cameras are needed, too) Being able to lock down the school instantly and keep intruders caught between the fence and building would be better.
They fenced schools here after the bomber came on Poe elm school grounds and killed people – 2 of my sister-in-laws were small kids in that school, father in law was first doc on scene as he heard blast as he was driving to his office, and I clearly remember all the chaos and false bomb scares afterwards.(wrote a post about all that years ago) The adults and the media were kind and smart enough to not repeatedly dwell on it and frighten children more. Schools/parents used to hush up attacks on schools – they have happened before this era.
I do worry about schools looking like fortresses. I hate being in windowless buildings where it’s dark when you go in and dark when you come out in winter. That disturbs children, disconnects them from nature/weather and real life, and hinders creativity, too. Research backs that.
Maybe a national contest for architects to design a positive friendly environment for children that will also insure their safety?
We can do better. One size won’t fit all, but dogs. A good start. And we need to move on starts and not just yack yack.
Thanks for checking in.
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Dogs that are trained to sniff out weapons would help as well. Peggy was an elementary school principal and worked on implementing emergency lock down procedures. One of my best friends, now retired, became a leading California expert on emergency procedures for schools and trained schools throughout the state. (His nephews wife was killed in the recent Redding rampage.) Giving teachers guns and training them to kill is the absolute worst idea to come out of the present administration (if you discount nuking North Korea). Thanks for your thoughtful comments, Phil. –Curt
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I think I need a therapy dog these days. The cats are cutting it! You’re right when you say we’ve gotten too far away from the dirt. Many families don’t want dogs — too much work, they’re dirty, no one wants to take care of them. Another case of get off the devices and make connections with living things. You’re right about horses too.
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A little pup therapy would do everyone some good…apparently dogs and cats in the home make kids healthier physically, too. But you’re right – they do require attention and work (and money) but easy care robot dogs just don’t have the same feel.
Even Peanut’s Lucy might say what everyone needs now is a nice warm hug and slobbery dog kiss (and she’d want to be paid for that advice. You gotta love Lucy)
Thanks for leashing a comment here
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Wow! That was most interesting! Maybe the wow should take a bow — bow wow.
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Who’s letting the dogs out? Plenty of pups ready and willing…and what kid doesn’t like a waggle tail? Thanks for helping comment fur fly
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Food for thought.
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All hungry for a solution. Thanks for pondering the problem
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I think it’s a great idea… but I’m sure “they” would find something wrong with dog patrol too.
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Allergies? Fleas? Dogs getting fat from kids offering snacks. Well, we have to start somewhere – plenty of dogs ready to apply for the job.
Thanks for pacing over to chat
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There’s definitely a place for trained canines in schools and public gathering spots, but I’d rather put a human being in harm’s way rather than a pooch.
But the idea is worth exploring further.
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IF they put dogs and handlers at Super Bowls, marathons, air ports, and other big gatherings, aren’t kids important enough to do the same?
Dogs are probably saying “I will if you will” Yep, a dog and a trained armed human…I’d say a horse as those mounted police here have always been so successful defusing situations, but it’s the ceiling height – too many forgetting to duck instances. Thanks for herding a comment this way
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Truly mans best friend/s
I could not get the video to play. All I kept getting was a Yahoo UK page with loads of stuff but no video.
I’d dearly love to watch that video clip
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Hmmm, it was working, but I’ll have to recheck. (Could be an issue of who’s got World Copyrights on it – always a problem) Checking. Thanks for the alerting bark
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It’s playing here, but still…. Hmmmm
Not the same, but the same.
And more to bark about:
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What a great alternative to guns. Dogs have a way of calming everyone down and making life a little more fun.
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Calming is so desperately needed. Nothing is more reassuring than a large dog with those big dedicated eyes. May fun and smiles return to those kids. Thanks for raising a paw.
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That’s a great idea. Almost any dog can be trained (with the exception of a couple of labs I’ve run across who insisted they were lap dogs). And it would be so much less scary for the younger kids.
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