Posted on 03/07/2005 11:53:40 PM PST by ambrose
Rottweiler that mauled Beaverton owner's hand now a therapy dog
March 8, 2005, 12:30 AM
BEAVERTON, Mich. (AP) -- A hundred-pound rottweiler that once ripped tendons and broke several bones in his owner's hand has received certification as a medical therapy dog.
Marietta Sprott, owner of 4-year-old Chopper, says the bite was an accident and plans to take him into nursing homes so patients can pet him and cuddle with him.
The 51-year-old resident of Beaverton, south of Gladwin in the northern Lower Peninsula, said she wanted Chopper to be a therapy dog to show that rottweilers do not deserve their bad reputation and to clear Chopper's name.
"He's been listed as a vicious dog and he's not vicious," she told The Bay City Times for a story Monday.
Chopper has been tested and registered as a therapy dog by Bright and Beautiful Therapy Dogs Inc., a national organization with offices in Taylor.
"I pushed him as far as I knew how to push a dog and could not get a reaction out of him as far as aggression," said Jan Beregszaszy, an evaluator with Bright and Beautiful who tested Chopper.
Therapy dogs are trained to visit people in hospitals, nursing homes and other institutions. Research shows that the visits often improve the quality of life for patients.
To have a dog certified for therapy work, it must undergo tests on skills such obeying commands and being around people who use walkers, crutches and wheelchairs. Hundreds of therapy dog organizations operate around the nation.
Most applications ask if the dog has ever bitten and what the circumstances of the bite were. Most do not automatically exclude biters, said Suzanne LaCroix, who has worked with AnimaLink, an organization that runs therapy dog programs.
LaCroix, zoologist at Michigan State University, has trained volunteer dog handlers and medical staff on how to use visiting therapy dogs.
"This is where it gets difficult, because you have to know dogs," she said. "Everyone's dog is one step away from being a biter. That's just their nature. As a trainer you have to do everything you can to have your dog under control."
Sprott had owned Chopper for two months when he bit her as she rode a horse.
Chopper's bite fractured Sprott's middle finger, fractured her thumb in three places, tore through the skin and damaged tendons. Sprott had surgery for repair of the tendons, had three pins inserted into her thumb and spent time in physical therapy.
Maureen Hawkins, office manager at the Carriage House nursing home in Bay County's Monitor Township, said therapy dogs visit residents about once a month. She said none have ever bitten.
Hawkins said hearing about Chopper makes her want to do a background check on all the dogs.
"Aggression is aggression," Hawkins said. "I don't think he should be a therapy dog, especially because of the breed and the size of the dog. To me, that's really scary."
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ping.
Let me be the first. Chomper is a lawsuit waiting to happen.
A criminal suit too. I can't believe anyone would accept the liability for this dog. Amazing.
Heh big rottweiler trotting into the old folks home to give comfort, that's a recipe for bad news.
Great! To think my husband has been wanting to get a Rottie for our family.
I think this dog should be fine, as long as they don't put Granny on a horse!
I guess if it was a poodle with a bite history, that would be just fine with her!
Don't be silly. The breed and size matters in an aggressive dog because the the amount of damage they can do if they do snap.
She wouldn't want a poodle with a bite history in her facility either, but a poodle wouldn't have been able to do enough damage to have required pins and surgeries and physical therapy to repair.
I think it's great that this woman worked through her problems with this dog. But it is selfish and stupid to use innocent people as guinea pigs to prove something about the dog's rehabilitation.
Why not? Drop-kicking the little @$%^! could be very theraputic.
[It's a JOKE, people.]
You have a point with breeds, if you believe that certain breeds can never be trained to work with people without aggression (which I do not, but YMMV).
But Hair, even you must agree that size should not be an issue with therapy dogs. Collies and Labradors can reach 90 lbs and above and still be wonderful at lifting the spirits of the infirm without posing ANY THREAT!
I've even heard of miniature horses and llamas doing therapy work :)
I was not making a point about whether I think THIS PARTICULAR dog should be a therapy dog. My point was that size and breed should probably not be a concern when a therapy dog has been trained and certified. It is a fairly long and arduous process, and as far as I know, has not failed yet.
Sorry....;~D
She was talking about the particular dog when she said it. You shouldn't parse it. She had allowed therapy dogs in her facility, but upon learning THIS dog's history, she said "Aggression is aggression,"..."I don't think he should be a therapy dog, especially because of the breed and the size of the dog. To me, that's really scary."
It's aggression that is scary, especially considering this dog's breed and size.
If I had a dog, any dog, that tore tendons and broke bones then I would derive great pleasure from putting slugs into its body until it was dead. This dog should have been put down long ago.
I wonder.
I am sure he passed all the tests. But what does that really tell us? The tests are a very controlled environment, I've done it.
..loppedearedbonediggingbuttsniffer
Doogle
Even though my boy is the most gentle dog, (120lbs) I still don't think people would want to have him walking around a hospital, he has a tendency to make people nervous.
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