01/02/19 - Dogs Help Handicapped Farmers

Host and American Family Farmer Doug Stephan www.eastleighfarm.com begins with news about the second round of trade payments, and milk prices are going higher. Next, Doug welcomes Jackie Allenbrand who started P.H.A.R.M. Dog USA, Pets Helping Agriculture in Rural Missouri www.pharmdog.org . They train dogs, primarily labs or lab mixes, to do a variety of helpful tasks such as retrieving or picking up dropped tools, opening a latch gate system, carrying buckets, as well as standing and bracing if a farmer has stability issues, or going for help. Jackie determines the needs of prospective clients, makes farm assessments, and facilitates placement of the dogs. She and another trainer handle the training for the dogs and their new owners. Finally, Doug opines about all the wasted time worrying about Methane Gas and Global Warming.