Erika Simono and Buddy, her nine-year-old Golden Retriever, go to UMC Brackenridge every week to visit patients and ICU staff.

For two years now, this dynamic duo have also been visiting The Capitol School of Austin (CSA) for the Austin Dog Alliance Bow Wow Reading Dog program. CSA is a private school for children with speech and language difficulties, and many students are on the autism spectrum.

Erika found Buddy as a stray with heartworms in rural Ft. Worth.  Erika admits the first nine months together was challenging but, with lots of practice and training, Buddy developed into a great therapy dog.  "Over the past two years, I've seen amazing results from pet therapy. Buddy has impressed me with how intuitive and patient he is with anyone he meets. Whether it's a grieving family or five preschoolers climbing all over him!"

A recent experience made an impact on Erika while visiting the CSA school. There was one young student that responded well to Buddy and she noticed that, with time, the little boy started pushing himself to read higher level books than in the past. This was a direct impact from Buddy influencing the child, and confirmed for Erika that what she and Buddy are doing is truly making a difference.

Another instance of Buddy's compassionate behavior is when they visited a gentleman in the ICU, who had just had major surgery and had limited movement. He wanted to pet Buddy, but couldn't reach him. They were discussing how to get Buddy placed so the man could reach him, and while they were trying to figure out how to do this, Buddy just gently placed his two paws up on the edge of the bed and stood on his hind legs so the man could reach him.  It was as if Buddy knew exactly what the man needed, and did it without prompting!  He is an intuitive dog with great compassion and willing to share his love.

Considering all of the places that she could volunteer, Erika chose Austin Dog Alliance.  She says "Without ADA we would have never become a team. ADA is also an amazing organization when it comes to giving back to the community. Training dogs for veterans and hosting a job skills course for special needs students is admirable.  ADA is truly a stand-up nonprofit, and I am honored to be part of it".

When Erika is not volunteering she loves yoga, biking and riding her horse Taser. Her husband David and she have two other dogs, Kona and Moses. (Moses is a rescue from Iraq who was found floating down a river in a laundry basket in Baghdad.) When they aren't at home on Lake LBJ, with "the boys", they enjoy traveling. 

Thank you, Erika and Buddy, for all you do for Austin Dog Alliance and our community!

Some tips to help our canine friends stay safe and healthy during hot days:

• Stay cool with a pool!

  Bring pets inside - avoid prolonged exposure to high heat and humidity
• For pets that must stay outside during the day, ensure they have a shaded, well-ventilated area to stay in as the sun changes position.  (Most dog houses trap heat, and aren't a suitable option for shelter on hot days).
• Ensure your pet has access to fresh water; keep water bowls in a shaded area
• Walk or exercise your dog during cooler times of day, early morning or in the evening
• Pavement and sidewalks can become very hot during the Texas summer, and in extreme cases can burn a dog's paws.  Avoid exposure to hot surfaces.
• Provide a small wading pool, with fresh water, for your dog to cool off.  We've spotted these at Wal-mart, Target, HEB-Plus!, Toys-R-Us, Petsmart, and other stores.
• Never leave a pet in a car or confined in a hot space.  Even with windows cracked open, temperatures inside a car can quickly rise to dangerous levels.
• In summer, fleas, ticks, and mosquitoes are more prevalent.  Talk to your veterinarian about an appropriate preventative to keep your pets parasite free.

In warm weather, be alert for signs of heat stress and/or heat stroke:

• Excessive/hard panting
• Glassy eyes
• Rapid heartbeat
• Unsteadiness, disorientation
• Vomiting
• Collapse

The AVMA recommends that, if you suspect your pet is suffering heat stroke, put a cool, wet towel around the animal's neck, get them into an air-conditioned vehicle, and take them to a veterinarian for immediate evaluation and treatment.