In developing our senior thesis over the course of the 2018-2019 year, we hope this website brings to light the importance of working dogs within the Northeastern region of the United States. Analyzing all factors from Police Canine Units, TSA, Arson Detection and Border Patrol to Service and Recreational, we strive to enlighten the public view on the ethics and media stereotypes surrounding working dogs and how their jobs make an impact on our lives.
About Us
Shannon Kelley
I am a senior at Saint Michael’s College with the intent to graduate in May of 2019. I am majoring in Media Studies, Journalism, and Digital Arts with a minor in Business Administration. Choosing to do my senior thesis on the benefits of working dogs meant a lot to me in order to distinguish and eliminate the stereotypes involved, as well as, make it clear that there is a huge difference between service dogs, therapy dogs, and emotional support dogs. The media can create an intimidating image of working dogs through many movies, TV shows, and social media but people forget how important they are with making our society stay safe and help individuals live a normal and independent day-to-day life.
Natalie Jackson
I'm a senior at Saint Michael's College with the intent to graduate in May of 2019. I am majoring in Media Studies, Journalism, and Digital Arts with a minor in Business Administration. I love dogs and find their ability to work hard and love unconditionally to be compelling and inspiring. I think the greatest benefit of a working dog is their passion to help individuals live a safer and more independent life. I wanted to deliver our research through a website to help demonstrate dogs' capabilities and the importance that they can bring to someone's everyday life.
Last but not leashed...
here are a few of our key takeaways.
The domestication of dogs has gradually become more prominent in our everyday lives, aging back as far as 40,000 years ago. Today, dogs are used for detection, services, hobbies, and natural companionship.
Police, Border Patrol, TSA, and Arson Detection dogs all play a tremendous role in the safety of our country. In the Northeast region of the United States, these dogs are used to patrol the USA-Canada border, search for missing people, aid in arson cases, and discover illegal substances, such as explosives and narcotics. Each dog is assigned to work hand-in-hand with one handler throughout its working lifespan. Together, the team goes through intensive training put on by the government. Through their time working together, they bond and learn one another’s working styles in order to become the best and most efficient team that they can be.
Service dogs, different from emotional support and therapy dogs, help individuals lead their everyday life as independently as possible. Service dogs can do a variety of tasks for their owner, including barking to get help before a seizure, pulling clothes off to help one undress, opening a fridge and retrieving a beverage, and balancing a person who has trouble walking. Service dogs and their owners create a bond like no other, as they spend 24/7 together and help each other live a better, more independent, life.
Recreational dogs in the Northeast, including hunting, sledding, and maple sugaring dogs allow for individuals to develop a relationship with their pup while partaking in recreational activities that they are passionate about. Hunters train their dogs to be by their side, as well as, find and search for game in the outdoors. Mushers create a relationship with a pack of dogs that allows them to have fun on the job. Maple sugar makers are able to train their pets to help them lead a more efficient work life.
The media depicts working dogs to be heroes like no other. Dogs are able to do tasks that, in some cases, humans cannot complete. Sometimes the media exemplifies an intimidating face on federal and state canines, but this is true as the dogs must protect and work similarly to their handlers. The media also causes our brains to associate particular dog breeds with certain careers, whether that be a German Shepherd working for the police, a Husky pulling a sled, or a Dalmation working with firefighters.