Shelter dog selected into gifted program

[Crossfire Bulldogs]

By Brian Porter - Managing Editor Star Community News

It was the perfect name for the perfect dog.

Karma, a yellow, female Labrador Retriever, recently became the eighth dog selected by the Gifted Animal Placement program (GAP) from the Mesquite Animal Shelter for service.

“The program serves a dual purpose,” said Andy Wise, Mesquite animal control supervisor. “We can help save some animals in shelters and also after 9/11 agencies were looking for gifted animals.”

Karma was placed with Texas Hearing and Service Dogs following an adoption Aug. 28 from the Mesquite Animal Shelter.

The other associations which typically accept GAP-certified animals are Texas Hearing and Service Dogs, Fort Worth police K-9 unit, Handy Hounds, Department of Public Safety drug dogs, U.S. Customs, Detection K-9, Houston Metro K-9, Angel Paws, Paws and Hearing Dogs International, among others.

“You can save one dog’s life,” Wise said, “it could potentially mean 1,000 human lives the dog in turn saves.”

Mesquite has three individuals which have participated in certification to determine the type of dogs to look for in the GAP program.

“Many of the dogs go into programs for blind and hearing impairments,” Wise said.

GAP is part of the North Central Texas Animal Shelter Coalition, a non-profit corporation. Chick Gardner and Steve Thomason brought the concept to the board of directors to help place dogs that most shelters could not place. Gardner and Thomason have been placing these dogs on their own with service organizations for many years.

The GAP Program's first class took place in May of 2003. The GAP program teaches animal shelter personnel, and others who work with dogs, how to identify dogs for special service uses.

Most pet owners do not admire the qualities selected dogs possess. They are often identified as problem animals because they are very energetic and focused. When GAP certified diagnosticians work in a shelter or visit every few days, they can identify many of these special dogs and notify the appropriate trainers.

Many of the dogs will perform specialized duties, like bomb detection, drug detection, search and rescue and handicap assistance. Trainers also seek dogs which will excel at sports like flyball and agility.

For information on the GAP program, visit www.gapdogs.org