CRESTVIEW — Dozer the Therapy Dog's life will be a little less active now.

Oct. 13 marked Dozer's last session as a greeter at the Walgreens in Crestview.

"It started as a one-time event to kick off National Take Your Dog to Work Day," Nousiainen said. "It was such a hit we were invited to make it a monthly event."

Over the past four years, Nousiainen said, "We have greeted customers having an average day and those having one of the worst days of their lives. Some who recently lost a loved one (a spouse, parent or canine family member); some who struggle with depression and stress — just getting out of the house — were all smiles when Dozer greeted them at the door. It was an honor to be there for them."

"We're going to miss him…," Dan Anderson, Walgreens store manager, said. "Customers looked forward to the days he was here. They were excited to have their pictures taken with him."

Anderson said seeing how well Dozer interacts with the public factored into his becoming a greeter at the pharmacy.

"Walgreens has treated us well and always made us feel welcome. Their employees go out of their way to make sure we are comfortable and they come (to) get Dozer snuggles every chance they get," Nousiainen said of the experience.

"I am very grateful Mr. Anderson didn't hesitate to think outside the box and try something nobody else around here had. I think it was a big hit; many happy customers."

Dozer's health

Nouisianen said the 7-year-old Great Dane has been "working" for six years. "I wanted to free up his schedule a little and maybe explore new things or just rest a little.

"Shortly after making that decision Dozer developed an issue with his hips. The vet thinks he pulled a muscle in his neck, causing the problem. We are making improvements on it, though. The vet wanted him to try three weeks of this medication and see how he's doing."

To compensate for the injury, the team still makes visits — but shorter ones.

"As he gets older we may have to retire more visits, (like to) places that require a lot of walking. But there are some visits he'll do until he retires (completely),” Nouisianen said. “He'll always be part of the program at the Crestview Public Library."

Dozer also visits the Ronald McDonald House in Pensacola once a week, the Okaloosa Airport, and area nursing homes, assisted living facilities and local organizations.

Benefits of therapy dogs

Nousiainen said therapy dogs benefit people in physical and emotional ways. They:

•lower blood pressure

•promote calmness

•help with anxiety, depression and stress.

She said, "I think you can actually see stress leave a person's face."

During visits to the Ronald McDonald House in Pensacola, "We greet the parents when they come back from the hospital. It's like taking an emotional break,” Nousiainen. “Talking dogs instead of doctors for 20 minutes gives them a kind of relief … and you can see it in their face."

She has also seen how people react when Dozer comes into the room.

"(People) who may not be very sociable and want to interact — he brings that out in them. They immediately want to go to him and pet him and talk to him.

"Sometimes some of the work we do with adolescent group homes, when Dozer comes up to them and snuggles with them, they can feel the love.”

Keeping in touch

Dozer may not be as famous as the canine star of Disney Channel’s "Dog with a Blog," but he does have his own Facebook page with 10,000 likes.

"I started that just so I could keep track of my own visits, but it's grown into so much more," Nouisiainen said.

"His page has actually encouraged others to join a therapy dog program because they were inspired by Dozer's page,” she said. “One of his friends in Michigan is at the University of Michigan hospital. They've been doing things (like hospital visits) he couldn't accomplish here …”

Those who miss Dozer at Walgreens can always count on his social media presence.

"You can always follow Dozer on Facebook or drop him an email," Nousiainen said. His email address is dozersemails@yahoo.com.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: 'It was an honor to be there for them'

FORT WALTON BEACH — Here are the Florida Department of Health in Okaloosa County’s water quality test results for local parks.

No Okaloosa County parks have potentially hazardous bathing water, the FDOH-Okaloosa stated Oct. 10.

The tests are based on EPA-recommended enterococci standards. Enteric bacteria's presence indicates fecal pollution from stormwater runoff, pets and wildlife or human sewage.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Okaloosa health department releases water quality results

CRESTVIEW — After being forced to suspend operations throughout parts of its service area due to Hurricane Matthew, OneBlood, the local blood center, has resumed operations and urges residents to donate as soon as possible to replenish the blood supply.

There is an urgent need of O Negative blood, platelets and AB plasma.

“The hurricane has greatly reduced our ability to collect blood … and as a result we are now facing the reality of a severe blood shortage,” said Susan Forbes, vice president of Marketing and Communications. “The donations that come in from the areas where we are now operating are helping sustain the blood supply throughout OneBlood’s entire service area.”

Hours are 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Mondays and Thursdays; 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Tuesdays and Fridays; and noon to 5 p.m. Sundays at the Crestview Donor Center, 2400 S. Ferdon Blvd., Suite B. The phone number is 306-2455.

Healthy people age 16 or older who weigh at least 110 pounds can donate blood.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Donations sought during ‘severe’ blood shortage

Screwworms infecting wild deer in the Florida Keys have captured headlines, and experts with the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences and UF's College of Veterinary Medicine say livestock and pet owners in the state should keep a watchful eye for signs of infection in their animals to aid the eradication effort.

Florida residents who own cattle, horses, goats, sheep, dogs, cats, poultry, exotic birds or other warm-blooded animals should know the symptoms animals exhibit when infected by the larvae of the New World screwworm fly, said Dr. Jack Payne, UF senior vice president for agriculture and natural resources.

"We have every reason to believe that the current outbreak will be contained and eradicated," Payne said. "… Having said all that, we need state residents to provide an extra measure of protection, just by observing their animals."

Dr. James Lloyd, dean of the UF veterinary college, explained that screwworm infestations occur when an adult female screwworm lays eggs on an open wound or mucous membranes in a warm-blooded animal. When the eggs hatch, screwworm larvae burrow into the host animal's flesh to feed. Infestations can strike otherwise healthy animals, he noted.

"The symptoms of a screwworm infestation might include a festering wound or sore or an unexplained lump under the skin, particularly if there's a discharge or foul smell associated with it," Lloyd said. "Also, you may observe fly larvae on the animal or in its quarters."

A veterinarian should evaluate any animal with a suspected screwworm infection immediately, said Wendy Mandese, a clinical assistant professor with the UF veterinary college’s Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences.

"Open wounds and unexplained lumps can indicate serious health issues other than screwworm infection, so the key point is to get treatment for the animal as soon as possible," Mandese said.

Time is of the essence because delayed treatment gives screwworm larvae more time to develop and cause damage to the host animals, said veterinary entomologist Phil Kaufman, an associate professor with the UF/IFAS Entomology and Nematology Department.

"The pest we're talking about, the New World screwworm fly, Cochliomiya hominivorax, is not something you can ignore because there’s no such thing as a tolerable infestation," Kaufman said. "The larvae of this species consume healthy tissue — they create wounds. They are also capable of burrowing deep into the host’s body tissues to reach previously uninfected areas. Untreated cases can lead to death within a matter of weeks, maybe less."

Clinical treatment of infected animals typically involves the application of medication to the animal’s wounds to kill the larvae, larvae removal, administration of antibiotics and general supportive care, Mandese said.

“When caught in time, screwworm infections are treatable,” she said. “Even if it turns out your animal has a different health issue, immediate attention is appropriate for any unusual wound, sore or persistent discomfort you notice in a pet or livestock animal.”

Tom Nordlie is a University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences science writer.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Watch for signs of screwworm on livestock, pets