In December of 2011, a young pitbull, neglected and no longer wanted, was tied to the front gate of a home in Arenas Valley, NM. Lucky for this dog, the gate he was tied to belonged to Puppy Dog Ranch - Grant County's first and only no-kill, no cage rescue organization. There he was welcomed and named Diesel. The volunteers of Puppy Dog Ranch loved and cared for Diesel for nearly 3 years while searching for a qualified adoptive home.
Front and center is our pride and joy – DIESEL. He is surrounded by Jean Cox, lead volunteer at Puppy Dog Ranch Rescue, Diesel's new 'person', E5 Sergeant Darrell Malone and Jared Latham, Lead Trainer and Facility Manager at American Service Dogs.
Meanwhile over 100 miles away, Sergeant Darrell Malone of the U.S. Army, after several deployments in both Iraq and Afghanistan, was diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. PTSD, as it is known, is a disorder that can result from highly traumatic experiences and is often seen in those that have witnessed the atrocities of war or traumas in their personal lives. In 2014, Sgt. Malone began searching for a therapy dog which led him to an organization called American Service Dogs, located in Las Cruces, New Mexico. The Puppy Dog Ranch had teamed up with ASD to create a perfect partnership by PDR providing socialized, "balanced" dog candidates and ASD provides training that will not only lead to a dogs' forever home but will give the dog a special job and place in the world.
At ASD the dogs are taught basic obedience first and foremost. After that, they begin training for various aspects of therapy help. This special training can take time - service work can take twn to twelve weeks for basic emotional support/PTSD support/Autism support dogs. The more advanced dogs that are trained to assist with brace and balance, mobility assistance, hearing impairment, or allergies can take anywhere from four months to two years. The speed of completion depends on the breed, temperament and age of the dog as well as the client's dedication to both of their training regiments.
Puppy Dog Ranch is proud to report that Diesel last month, Diesel had been chosen to bcome Sergeant Malone's therapy dog! Jared Latham, Lead Trainer and Facility Manager at ASDsays, "Diesel is excelling in his training and is surpassing our expectations with record speed! His training focuses on positive reinforcement and he is extremely sociable and playful with the other dogs in our facility," When Diesel graduates from his training, the third chapter of his life will begin. Nowadays, Diesel and his 'person' are inseparable.
But Diesel isn't the only lucky dog in the Puppy Dog Ranch pack! Presley, a pitbull/lab/heeler mix who lived at Puppy Dog Ranch for over 1 ½ years, has joined the program to become a therapy dog and Asia,a shih tzuh rescued from Bayard Animal Control and taken to Puppy Dog Ranch, is being trained by none other than PDR's lead volunteer, Jean Cox, to become an emotional support dog. Asia accompanies Jean everywhere she goes - restaurants, grocery stores, movie theatres, and road trips, and is a Puppy Dog Ranch Furry Ambassador. You will recognize Asia by her proudly wearing her Service Dog vest! Jean is also in training to become an Obedience Trainer.