Sonoma resident, Pets Lifeline alumnus and overall pit bull ambassadog, Jackson Alden, has been awarded the prestigious Delta Therapy Dog certification. After passing a rigorous test, Jackson is now a certified therapy dog in Delta Society’s Pet Partners Program. He will provide affection and comfort to people in hospitals, nursing homes, rehabilitation centers, schools and other facilities. His achievement represents one small step for Jackson and one giant leap for Pit Bulls everywhere.
Therapy dogs come in all sizes and breeds. The most important characteristic of a therapy dog is its temperament. A good therapy dog must be friendly, patient, confident, at ease in all situations and gentle. Therapy dogs must enjoy human contact and be content to be petted and handled, sometimes clumsily.
The Delta Society Pet Partners Program was established in 1990 to ensure that “both ends of the leash,” people as well as animals, were well-prepared to participate in animal-assisted activity and animal-assisted therapy programs. Pet Partners is the only national registry that requires volunteer training and screening of animal/handler teams. Over 10,000 Pet Partners teams now operate in all 50 states and 11 other countries, helping more than 1,000,000 people each year.
From Shelter to Celebrity
Roxanne Alden adopted Jackson from Pets Lifeline in September 2003 after meeting him while picking up a litter of foster kittens. “It was love at first lick,” says Roxanne, “and we’ve been a team ever since.”
Roxanne had always loved dogs. And she had many different breeds and types over the years, but her relationship with Jackson has been special from the beginning. According to Roxanne, Jackson has “the most beautiful disposition of any dog” she has ever had, from poodles to shepherds to labradors. And this very special dog has inspired a passion for the pit bull breed that she never anticipated because, as Roxanne said, “ Jackson is not an exception to his breed, he is an example of it.”
Initially, Roxanne started Jackson in Pets Lifeline dog training classes. Since then she has continued Jackson’s training and works actively as a volunteer with Bay Area Doglovers Responsible About Pitbulls (BADRAP), all with the goal of helping Jackson be the best canine he could be. BADRAP is a nationally recognized organization working to counter the negative image of the American Pit Bull Terrier.
From Proud History to Present Discrimination
In a famous World War One poster a handsome Pit Bull, wearing an American flag, had a bold motto: “I’m neutral — But not afraid of any of them!” Since that time, the national mascot and popular family pet, once known as the “nanny dog” for the breed’s love of children, has had a terrible reversal of fortune. Today, the Pit Bull is the most legislated-against dog in the world – and also the most routinely abused.
Although millions know the Pit Bull as the dependable friend of children — as seen in the classis TV show Our Gang — the “vicious” stereotype stubbornly persists, in large part thanks to media hype. Breed-specific legislation exist in some places, which does nothing more than to villify the entire breed, while in other places animal shelters are overcrowded with gentle, affectionate pits categorically overlooked by potential adopters.
Not Jackson, though. Roxanne Alden saw in him a future that was decidedly different from so many of his breed. And lucky for Jackson, Roxanne was a guardian willing to put in the effort to make that future a reality.
What a Résumé!
Today, Jackson has an impressive set of doggie credentials. He began with basic family dog training classes at Pets Lifeline, which started them off on the right foot with positive reinforcement methods and strengthened their relationship. Roxanne continued his training by preparing him for the Canine Good Citizen test. He became an AKC certified Canine Good Citizen in 2006. Pets Lifeline offers the Canine Good Citizen test regularly. Interested dog and handler teams that would like to take the test can call the Shelter for upcoming dates and times. Proceeds benefit the Shelter. Now, Jackson can add the Delta Therapy Dog certificate to his resume.
“We look forward to visiting patients in hospitals and children in treatment programs and schools,” said Roxanne. “Like most pit bulls, Jackson has a natural affinity for children and loves to interact with them. Providing comfort and happiness to people in a time of need, while at the same time demonstrating to anyone we meet what wonderful dogs shelter-adopted pit bulls are, is a perfect combination.”
Just like Roxanne and Jackson.
