They Train Dogs To Help Farmers With Disabilities
Jackie Allenbrand knew how much time and energy dogs save at her family’s cow/calf farm. So after being inspired by a farmer with a partial leg amputation who continued farming with the help of his dog, the Missouri farmer created a nonprofit to train dogs specifically for farmers with disabilities.
PHARM® Dog USA (Pets Helping Agriculture in Rural Missouri) has paired 13 dogs and farmers since it started in 2009. Two volunteers, Bobby Miller in Missouri, and Don McKay in Iowa, donate and train dogs to herd for the 501C3 organization. Allenbrand follows up with service dog training to meet the specific needs of farmers.
The herding training with Border Collies is all that some farmers need.
“They save the farmer time and energy. He learns to farm differently, but doesn’t have to give it up,” Allenbrand says. One female farmer with lupus had problems with her sheep knocking her down. Now a border collie herds for her.
While the herding training is similar for all dogs, it is adjusted for specific needs. For example, a dog was trained to respond to just voice commands for a farmer paralyzed from the chest down. Another Border Collie responds to whistle commands from a farmer with paralyzed vocal cords.
“On the service side, we use Labs and Lab mixes because of their temperament and barrel chest,” Allenbrand adds. With harnesses, the bigger dogs help people with balance issues, and can open gates and retrieve tools.
Allenbrand and other volunteers are not paid for their work, but there are costs for leashes, collars, wormer, transportation, etc. The biggest expense is travel. PHARM has paired dogs with farmers in Missouri, Iowa, Nebraska and Kansas. Allenbrand spends about a week at the farm to fine-tune training so the farmer and dog work together.
The grassroots organization has been funded through grants and private donations.
A recent media blitz, including a national television news story, has brought attention and interest from around the U.S.
Allenbrand would like to expand PHARM as funding and the number of volunteers grows. There is a waiting list in the Missouri area.
“Our biggest need is funding to help more farmers,” she says.
For more information, check out the PHARM website.
Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, PHARM Dog USA, Jackie Allenbrand, 4914 U.S. Hwy. 136, Stanberry, Mo. 64489 (ph 660 235-0128; www.pharmdog.org; pharmdog03@gmail.com).
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They Train Dogs To Help Farmers With Disabilities LIVESTOCK DOGS Jackie Allenbrand knew how much time and energy dogs save at her family’s cow/calf farm So after being inspired by a farmer with a partial leg amputation who continued farming with the help of his dog the Missouri farmer created a nonprofit to train dogs specifically for farmers with disabilities PHARM® Dog USA Pets Helping Agriculture in Rural Missouri has paired 13 dogs and farmers since it started in 2009 Two volunteers Bobby Miller in Missouri and Don McKay in Iowa donate and train dogs to herd for the 501C3 organization Allenbrand follows up with service dog training to meet the specific needs of farmers The herding training with Border Collies is all that some farmers need “They save the farmer time and energy He learns to farm differently but doesn’t have to give it up ” Allenbrand says One female farmer with lupus had problems with her sheep knocking her down Now a border collie herds for her While the herding training is similar for all dogs it is adjusted for specific needs For example a dog was trained to respond to just voice commands for a farmer paralyzed from the chest down Another Border Collie responds to whistle commands from a farmer with paralyzed vocal cords “On the service side we use Labs and Lab mixes because of their temperament and barrel chest ” Allenbrand adds With harnesses the bigger dogs help people with balance issues and can open gates and retrieve tools Allenbrand and other volunteers are not paid for their work but there are costs for leashes collars wormer transportation etc The biggest expense is travel PHARM has paired dogs with farmers in Missouri Iowa Nebraska and Kansas Allenbrand spends about a week at the farm to fine-tune training so the farmer and dog work together The grassroots organization has been funded through grants and private donations A recent media blitz including a national television news story has brought attention and interest from around the U S Allenbrand would like to expand PHARM as funding and the number of volunteers grows There is a waiting list in the Missouri area “Our biggest need is funding to help more farmers ” she says For more information check out the PHARM website Contact: FARM SHOW Followup PHARM Dog USA Jackie Allenbrand 4914 U S Hwy 136 Stanberry Mo 64489 ph 660 235-0128; www pharmdog org; pharmdog03@gmail com
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