| Anyone who has worked in rescue or volunteered | | | | Gardner and Steve Tomason, who brought the |
| at a shelter has met these dogs...super high | | | | concept of a "Gifted Animals Placement Program" |
| energy, very focused, intelligent and intense | | | | (or GAP) to the North Central Texas Animal |
| animals. They generally present poorly to | | | | Shelter Coalition (a 501c3 non-profit organization). |
| prospective adopters, as they are too | | | | The GAP program provides training to shelter |
| hyperactive to adapt well to the confinement of a | | | | staff that then enables them to assess dogs in |
| shelter environment. Additionally, they don't fit | | | | their facilities that might qualify for service dog |
| most families' needs for a laid-back, | | | | work. |
| good-with-the-kids and well-mannered dog. Sadly, | | | | Typically, shelter staff are trained to assess |
| many of these dogs are deemed unadoptable and | | | | potential service dogs using Canine Evaluation |
| are euthanized. | | | | Response Tools (or CERTS). The initial |
| On the other side of this equation are a number | | | | assessments can involve ball drive (or how |
| of service organizations looking for dogs with | | | | focused the dog is on repeatedly retrieving a ball, |
| these qualities, as they have a variety of needs | | | | even when it is hidden), play drive or even food |
| for super-intense working dogs. They need dogs | | | | motivation depending on the needs of the |
| with very special characteristics to train as bomb | | | | particular service group. Shelter staff is trained to |
| detection dogs, search and rescue dogs, police | | | | do the initial assessments on the dogs, and if they |
| K-9s, drug detection and border patrol assistants. | | | | are deemed to be potential candidates for service |
| There are also a number of medically-based | | | | dog work, they then contact GAP volunteers for |
| organizations in need of dogs for hearing or vision | | | | a more in-depth evaluation. If they pass their GAP |
| assistance, seizure detection, cancer detection and | | | | evaluation, the dogs are matched with the service |
| even vegetable detection (for severe peanut | | | | organization looking for a dog with their special |
| allergies, among other things). Finally, trainers | | | | skills and drive and the real training begins. |
| search for dogs with these traits for competitive | | | | Occasionally, a dog will begin training in a certain |
| sports such as agility and flyball. | | | | area like bomb detection but will wash out of that |
| It has been very difficult to match these dogs | | | | particular program...and find a calling that he really |
| with the appropriate organizations, as staff from | | | | loves, like therapy dog work! But at the end of |
| each agency needs to visit a number of shelters | | | | the day, a life is saved and an organization has |
| on a frequent basis to select candidates for | | | | found the canine help it needs. For more |
| training. Enter two gentlemen named Chick | | | | information, you may visit the GAP website. |