Michael Foster, War Veteran and his service dog Roker.
Roker is the first dog New Horizons Service Dogs has placed as part of a Veterans Administration Research study involving service dogs. This is a multi-year study that will research and evaluate the effects service dogs have on Veterans with PTSD. There are an estimated 300,000 US soldiers returning from active combat with PTSD and 40,000 with other disabling injuries (according to the US Department of Defense).
New Horizons Service Dogs, an ADI (Assistance Dogs International) accredited non- profit, is one of three agencies who has partnered with the VA to help fufill this study. If you are a Veteran currently in treatment for PTSD you may qualify for this study, please contact New Horizons Service Dogs at 386-456-0408 for further details.
I feel compelled to keep working toward the success of this project even though we have not met our funding goal. The deadline is 9/1 and even though there have been many generous pledges, Kickstarter will not fund unless the whole objective is met.
I have launched a new Kickstarter campaign as a second attempt to make this work. If you are still interested in backing my book project, (and I hope you are), you can make your pledge on this new kickstarter project campaign. The pledge you have already made will be cancelled as I cancel this first kickstarter project before it’s deadline of September 1st.
CLICK HERE TO PLEDGE ON THE NEW PROJECT CAMPAIGN
All it takes is one puppy to change someone’s life forever. On Saturday July, 16 New Horizons Service Dogs was proud to welcome one new little boy puppy into the world of future service dogs. As he grows and is nurtured by his mother, Eastbrooke, he will begin to learn the skills necessary to become a superior service dog. This was Brooke’s third and last pregnancy. Her first two pregnancies resulted in litters of twelve and ten puppies.
Kitty Lane, a NHSD volunteer and Eastbrooke's owner gives "Brooke" a pat of reassurance before the surgery begins.
Brooke is prepared for her C-secion surgery.
Dr. Pamela Schrager, D.V.M. begins Brooke's C-section surgery.
A single puppy emerges.
Once removed from the placenta the puppy's umbilical cord is tied off, fluids are suctioned from its mouth, and he is rubbed dry with a towel.
Chase Heatwole, a student at Florida Institute of Animal Arts observes as Dr. Schrager stitches Brooke's incision.
New Horizons Service Dogs has partnered with the Florida Institute of Animal Arts to help with the neonatal care of the puppies. The students from FIAA recieve hands on experience on their path to becoming a veterinary technician. They assist with the care of the newborn puppies for three days following a delivery.
After the surgery, Dr. Pamela Schrager discusses details with FIAA students Chase Heatwole and Chelsea Mumpower.
The publication of this book will depend on support from backers like you. Click here to find out more and pledge your donation.
New Horizons Service Dogs Inc. holds a weekly training session for volunteer puppy raisers. The training sessions are held on the campus of Stetson University. Here are a few photos from this week’s training session.
Most of us would agree that it is a challenge passing up something tasty that we enjoy eating, especially if it is within our reach. If we do manage to resist the temptation, it is through our capacity to reason and our knowledge of health and nutrition. What if no one is looking? Mmmmmm……..maybe just one little taste.
Hard wired by nature to eat everything that smells edible, (and even perhaps afew things that don’t), an untrained dog will most often gobble whatever treat is in front of them. However this is not at all the case with a trained service dog. They face many temptations as they accompany their human partners during a regular days work. Just about any place a service dog goes, there is a good chance that somewhere on the ground ahead is a piece of food, candy, or other morsel appealing to dogs. A well trained service dog will walk right past without even breaking it’s stride. This of course requires much training and reinforcement.
Service dogs receive this training in varying levels from the time they are puppies. At about eighteen months of age, having learned basic obedience skills from their volunteer puppy raisers, the dogs move up to advanced training. It is here that professional trainers teach them the skills they must master before being placed with their human partners. An amazing amount of love, patience, and commitment is brought to bear in shaping them into the calm, dedicated companion worthy of the title of service dog. 
I’ve encountered a few doors in life that were quite a struggle to open. The most difficult ones seemed impossible to get through without a little help. For many of us, this is metaphorical. For some people however, opening a door is a great physical challenge.
Stella Sanders, Trainer
Part of a service dogs training is to open doors for it’s human partner. The obvious benefit is the freedom a person gains from having greater access in life. As I become more familiar with their work, I discover that service dogs provide a much deeper level of freedom than we might see at first glance.
As I continue to develop this book, I intend to learn more about the blessings shared through interdependence between the dogs, their partners, and all the remarkable people involved in the relationship. As I share these discoveries, I hope my photographs will open many doors.
- Sherrie Keshner, Trainer
Stella Sanders, Trainer
Dr. Alicia Emerson D.V.M. Performs a c-section delivery of puppies. © Martin Christopher
I recently had the opportunity to photograph the birth of puppies that have been bred to be service dogs. There is a great deal of planning involved in each litter so measures are taken to insure the the best possible outcome. To increase their chances of survival, all NHSDI puppies are delivered via cesarean section. This eliminates many of the problems that could arise during natural birth.
Megan Cloudman of New Horizons Service Dogs Inc.
The procedure had been scheduled for Wednesday, May 25th, the day before my scheduled travel to Santa Fe. On Tuesday morning I had a strong feeling to check in with Megan Cloudman and was about to call when my cell phone rang. It was Megan calling to let me know that Riesling (the mama dog) was in labor and the delivery had been moved up to 12:00 that day. I grabbed my camera equipment and met her at Ravenwood Veterinary Clinic.
As the staff prepped Riesling for surgery, I readied my cameras and decided on a few angles I thought would be best for capturing good photos. With “Ries” anesthetized and on the table, Dr. Alicia Emerson went to work with amazing skill and precision. Through the camera viewfinder I watched her hands move swiftly as she worked. One by one, she brought forth the little miracles that will grow up to be great service
© Martin Christopher
dogs. For a while I found my attention divided between the puppies who were being marveled over and the impressive work being done by Dr. Emerson as she closed the incision. I managed to capture photos of both.
This was a great experience and I made some photos that I will surely publish the book. We have another delivery scheduled for June 30th. I look forward to making more great photos.
In order to be published, this book will rely on contributions from great people like you. Click here to pledge your support.
Chad Gordon and his mother Joanne get acquainted with Shamus
I began this blog at a point where I had already begun building the body of work from which I will select photos for the book. As I mentioned before, I traveled to Santa Fe the day after launching this blog and I’ve not had much opportunity to post. I am still in Santa Fe but I will begin catching up on posts with a few images from the first photo session for the project . The first round of photos were made on a day when the dogs meet their people for the very first time. There was much excitement, smiles, and tail wagging during this landmark event. I feel blessed to have been there to witness it and capture some of the energy in photos. I hope you enjoy.
Sherrie Keshner introduced Jake Pitts to Maple
Sherrie Keshner introduces Otis to Simone Belamy and her husband Michael Belamy.
Makenzy Earl smiles with joy at her introduction to Melissa.
There were other dog/person teams that begun that day. They will appear later as this blog moves along. Please visit again.
I fully intend to post often to keep everyone up to date on the progress of the book. However, I launched this blog just before leaving for a trip to Santa Fe, my hometown and a great source of creative inspiration. The first few days of a visit to Santa Fe find me fully engaged in visits with good friends, family, and fellow artists. This leaves little time at my computer but, nonetheless, benefits the projects I am working on by helping to recharge my artistic and spiritual energy.
The book is progressing nicely and I have many great photographs so far. I have much to share regarding the making of these photos and my experiences with the amazing people and dogs I have met in the process. I promise to share these experiences and photos soon.
Service Dogs & The Lives They Touch 
