Events and News for Human-Animal Bond
One Health is a worldwide initiative focused on increasing interdisciplinary collaboration between the fields of human medicine, veterinary medicine, and environmental health. One Heath supports a holistic approach to research, education, and treatment to improve our understanding of the connections between humans, animals, and the environment. Its primary goal is to promote local, national, and […]
On October 24th the service puppies in training and their foster parents got the chance to experience some Halloween fun all together. The training took place at the Spirit Halloween store in Westover where the puppies were able to become a little familiar with some spooky objects that they may have never seen before. This […]
By: Megan Hudock, WBOY MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – Hearts of Gold provides service dogs for individuals with mobility impairments and PTSD. The program has been making a difference in the lives of many. “I’ve always recognized the positive impact that animals have on people’s lives,” says Jean Meade, founder of the Hearts of Gold program at West […]
Thinking about Fostering a Service Dog? Watch this video [kad_youtube url=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q_yYAa9KaQ0″ ] “She’s definitely not just a dog, she’s family to me.” Her eyes well up with tears as Kristie Korczyk, animal and nutritional sciences major at West Virginia University, reflects on her relationship with Abbey, the service dog she has been fostering for nearly […]
A furry white Australian Labradoodle trots toward a student whose arm is outstretched with an open palm bearing a doggie treat. “C’mon Brando,” a student calls, hoping to entice Marlon Brando, the therapy dog for the West Virginia University’s Benjamin M. Statler College of Engineering, to play. Another student beckons Brando to roll over – […]
BY JIM BISSETT Courtesy of The Dominion Post OK, so Jim Brennan didn’t necessarily look nervous when he positioned himself in front of that classroom in WVU’s Robert C. Byrd Health Sciences Center, on Friday afternoon. But Stryker knows how deep those waters can go. That’s why the 4-year-old golden retriever took up a position […]
Morgantown, WV, (January 8, 2018)—On Friday, January 12 at 5 p.m., Air Force veteran Jim Brennan and his service dog, Stryker, will share their story of success and how Jim overcomes the symptoms he suffers from Grave’s Disease and post-traumatic stress disorder. Stryker, a graduate of the Hearts of Gold service dog training program in […]
In order to provide another level of support to freshman engineering students, West Virginia University’s Statler College of Engineering and Mineral Resources is seeking help from a furry friend. Marlon Brando is a five-year-old Australian Labradoodle. Born in Australia, he moved to North Carolina as a puppy and is now a member of the “staff” […]
Coming into this assignment, I had never actually heard of the Hearts of Gold program. After observing two sessions of the class, I wish I’d taken it. What really stood out was how enthusiastic the students were when class began. No one cut corners, and everyone was very involved with the class. One of the […]
For many people, man’s best friend serves an invaluable role. Service dogs allow many to live their lives to the fullest, but the dogs aren’t born ready to work, many hours are put into preparing dogs for duty. “We start out with our normal, typical routine. We go out side, we eat breakfast we go […]