Human Animal Bond

05/26/2026

Here are Fern and Blake at the paramedics visit last week.

05/21/2026

Caring for your dog in the summer

With summer approaching, it is a good time to remind everyone about caring for your dog when it’s hot. Dog owners need to think about and plan for the safety of their pets during this hot season. First, please don’t take your dogs in your vehicles if you plan to go in to a place that doesn’t allow dogs. Just leave the dog at home. It is not worth the risk to your dog. We all know how hot our vehicles get in a short amount of time. Imagine the awful death of your beloved dog because you decided to run into a store for a few minutes. Cracking the windows in the humid heat doesn’t help. If you do see a dog in a vehicle, please wait by the vehicle and even call for assistance if the owner doesn’t show up soon. Second, walk your dogs in the early morning or late evening. We cool ourselves through our skin by sweating. Dogs cool themselves by panting and through their paws. They cannot take their fur coats off. Dogs with less hair, like bully breeds and Boxers, have little or no insulation from the heat. Therefore, they are not able to tolerate the heat as well as other dogs. Likewise, dogs who have squished in noses like bulldogs and Shih tzus can’t cool themselves as well either due to their nose design. Also, dogs have more trouble cooling down in humid climates like what we have here. You should also be aware of how hot the sidewalks and streets are for their paws. That heat can burn the pads of their paws. Make sure they have a chance to cool down after a walk by lying on a cool surface, getting water, and having a kiddie pool to put their paws in. Some dogs love lying in those pools! Third, if you have outside dogs, make sure they have a cool place to be and plenty of water. If the heat index gets too high, please consider bringing them inside for the hottest part of the day. Fourth, don’t necessarily get your dog shaved because you think it will make them cooler. Dogs have their coats for a reason and oftentimes it is for protection from the heat as well as the cold, such as double-coated breeds. Keep the coat in good condition and allow it to do its job. Check with your vet or groomer about what is best for your dog. Have fun this summer with your dog and stay safe in the heat.

05/19/2026

05/11/2026

Here are photos from the visit to the nurses at the VA. The horse is not ours! It just happened to be there on the same day and the dogs did okay with it. Willow, the husky and Tyson, the boxer represented us.

05/09/2026

05/09/2026

Congratulations to HAB member SUSAN POLK for receiving the HAB Volunteer of the Year Award. Way to go Susan and Brutis!!!!

04/23/2026

We are sad to share the news that one of our retired HAB dogs passed away last night.

Phyllis Diller was a volunteer with Human Animal Bond, Alliance Therapy Dogs, Inc., Crossroads Hospice, Agave Hospice, schools, libraries, nursing homes, assisted living, memory care, military support, and many other places when we were called upon to go. She has given so much love and joy to so many for 11 of her 12 years.

04/09/2026

Check out Brutis and Mishka at Tonganoxie Elementary.

03/28/2026

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