Washington’s pool goes to the dogs

WASHINGTON - Lydia Rotzinger's dog Angel was just one of more than 80 at the PAWS & More annual fundraising dog paddle Sunday afternoon at the Washington Steele AFamily quatic Center in Sunset Park.

'Angel saved my life,” said Rotzinger as she watched her dog splash in the pool and play chase with the other dogs.

'When Angel comes up to people, she smells their breath,” she continued. 'It's not because they have eaten something tasty; she's checking their blood sugar level.”

Rotzinger, who lives in Wayland, adopted Angel from PAWS & More, an animal shelter in Washington, when the dog was 6 months old. Because she has Type 2 diabetes, Rotzinger planned to train Angel to alert her when her blood sugar was too high. As she was watching YouTube videos about how to train a dog to do the task, she discovered that Angel was already doing some of the things a diabetes alert dog should do.

'You can train a dog, but Angel didn't need trained. She was already using her natural instincts,” said Rotzinger. 'She sniffs my breath to see if my blood sugar is too high, and if it is, she will lick my hands, then start pawing at my hands, and then whining and running in circles.”

Once, when Rotzinger's blood sugar soared, she became so disoriented that Angel responded by dragging a bag with insulin to her from another room. Rotzinger's glucose meter registered a 526. She was able to give herself some insulin and contact the hospital emergency room.

'The doctors said if it had been a little higher, I would have been comatose, slipped into a coma and probably lost my life,” said Rotzinger. 'I am so thankful I have Angel or I wouldn't be here.”

Brenda Zaugg and Lindsay Burke had their four dogs at the pool, including the latest addition to their family, a little blind and deaf dog they adopted from PAWS & More in December.

Amber Talbot, director of PAWS & More, said the dog paddle has been held for about 10 years. First, it was a fundraising event for the city's off-leash dog park in Sunset Park, then later it was handed off to PAWS to continue as a fundraiser for the shelter. The event is traditionally held the day after the pool closes to the public, and after the dog paddle, the pool is emptied.

'This is so fun, and it helps homeless animals,” said Talbot. 'We're excited about it. This has been one of our busiest years and the weather is in our favor.”

The $10 fee for each dog - or $15 for two - will help the PAWS & More with its 'More” services. Those services include a spay and neuter program, a youth program and a senior pet therapy program.

The spay and neuter program is offered to pet owners who need assistance in the cost of having their pets altered. 'If you can't afford it, call us for an appointment,” said Talbot.

The youth program promotes volunteerism, dog bite prevention and humane care. The senior pet therapy program provides enrichment for senior citizens through pet visits to care facilities. 'People just light up when they get to spend time with pets,” said Talbot.

The proceeds also will help the animal shelter pay for any medical care an incoming animal might need, like spaying or neutering, X-rays, or blood work.

Anyone who would like to donate to or learn more about PAWS & More can visit its website at pawsandmorewashington.org, call 319-653-6713 or visit the shelter at 1004 ½ W. Madison St., Washington.

'We survive on donations,” said Talbot. 'That is the majority of our budget.”

Allison McNeese, who was volunteering at the dog paddle, was originally 'being groomed” to be a foster home for pets.

'But I'm a foster failure,” she said, explaining that the first dog she fostered, a miniature pincher, ended up becoming her forever pet. 'But I dog sit a lot for friends.”

Some of the dogs McNeese takes care of belong to PAWS board member Kathy Janz.

'Kathy plays it down, but she has done miracles for PAWS,” said McNeese, who added that Janz is responsible for the dog paddle.

'I managed a pool in Colorado, and I can tell you, this is much more fun,” said Janz, with a laugh as she looked out at the pool.

Janz also has fostered more than 100 dogs, training and housebreaking them before they go to their new homes.

'It's not difficult [seeing the dogs go to new homes] because you meet people and you bond over the dogs,” said Janz. 'It reminds you that you are doing something that matters.”