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Any one looking to buy a new car? A friend of mine has been keeping track of the major Car Manufacturers and what they have contributed to the WTC Relief Effort. Most the the major manufacturers, GM, Ford, Honda, Toyota, BMW, Daimler Chrysler, Hyundai, Volkswagen have contributed money plus many vehicles and replacement vehicles to the NYPD/NYFD. Below is a list of the "non contributers". Isuzu - Nothing Aston Martin - Nothing. Audi - Nothing. Fiat - Nothing. Isuzu - Nothing. Mitsubishi - Nothing. Porsche - Condolences but no contribution. Subaru - Nothing. Suzuki - Condolences but no contribution.

I have 2 degrees from the University of Michigan and then moved to Tampa. Took some classes at USF in the early 80's...don't mean to condemn a school but every instructor I had except for one, Head of Theology Dept, was just terrible....and I mean really bad. I

Ark, I am sorry I offended you. Get off my case now or I will sic my attack kitties on you.>> BTW, one of Margo favorite patients is Father George, former Chaplain for the Milwaukee Fire Department and his Dept. Helmet hangs on the wall in his hospital room. Father broke down in tears when Margo and I visited him last week. Father can barely speak due to a stroke but he repeated over and over "God Bless You", while petting Margo. Nurses said it was the first time Father had spoken since the 11th. I am sure he was not blessing Margo but blessing the many people that lost their lives..Margo was just the catalyst.

Oh Ark, my very own grief doggie is sitting at my feet now, my grief kitties are sitting on the back of my chair, my grief parrots are eating and singing Dixie. Thank you for your kind sentiments. Not to put to fine a point on it, I tried without success to get an onsite cat at a gerophych unit was was director of, the hospital admin refused on "germ grounds". A while ago my giant black poodle acompanied me to my office where he was an expert and knowing who was sad. I absolutely know and agree with what these animals can do. I just think New York is not the place for them now. >> Your animals are NOT certified Therapy Animals....big difference. It should not matter what the venue is, people do what they are trained for to help. Maybe some just give money, maybe some offer their dogs for SAR or Therapy, why condemn something that you know literally nothing about.

Dogs are capable of far more than most people give them credit for. One of the greatest companions for elderly people who are alone is a dog. While it may not be "scientifically proven" it seems that elderly people who have dogs live longer.>> There have been several major studies done on Canine Therapy and many books written on the positive effects of Canine Therapy. You can read a list of published Studies and Books here: http://www.deltasociety.org/dsx100.htm

Oh cripes, I do not mean to insult dogs and I know very well that dogs are curative for people with emotional and physical ills. It is just this. There are 9000000 pounds or is it tons of rubble in new york, the place is in a wreck, there are at least 100k people devastated directly from their connections to the dead people alone, an entire city has ptsd and the country is not far behind. The life here is changed forever and we don't know what comes next. We are embarking on a military adventure that may end up with nukes flying, our pension funds are rapidly disappearing. There is no damn time to mourn to be counseled and to start weeping, there is just time to brace ourselves for what is coming. And some dogs are like pi##ing in the ocean, this problem is huge, huge. And I don't mean to offend you, it is just that the priorities are different for now.>> Sounds to me as if YOU could greatly benefit from a visit with Margo!

I noticed a story the other day that a Canadian firm had donated 600 sets of dog booties (4 booties per dog) for the rescue dogs to wear to protect their paws in the rubble, but none of the news footage has shown the dogs wearing the booties. However, in a story in People Magazine, there's a feature on one of the dogs and he IS wearing the booties. Wonder what's up about that...>> It was Muttluks in Canada that donated the Booties and there were several other US firms that sent booties and additional supplies too. If a dog wears booties it makes the footing slippery and some dogs just will not tolerate booties. And BTW, the SAR dogs that are working at the WTC will be dead within a year. Disaster SAR dogs can not wear any masks to filter our smoke, asbestos and so on. SAR is also totally volunteer and you basically sacrifice your dog. Even with Urban SAR dogs you will take years off your dogs life.

Oh my Lord, what have we come to?? Doggie grief counselors?>> I am a lurker and thoroughly enjoy the posts at this site and I also own a Delta Certified Therapy Dog, 4yo Female Rottweiler named Margo. We volunteer at a local hospital every week and yes Margo has achieved much more then I could ever imagine. I have seen stoke victims that have temporarily lost the ability to speak call out for "Margo". I have seen paralyzed, brain damaged patients, for the first time since the accident, actually move their hand to pet her. Alzheimer patients know what day it is by Margo's visits and they never forget Margo's name. Please do not ever under estimate the abilities of a dog. And this is no "scam" as someone put it and you should be ashamed of yourself for even commenting on something you have absolutely no knowledge of. Canine Therapy is totally volunteer and I am sure these volunteers are paying for all their expenses on their own dime.