Page 20 November 2016 Eric Petermann, D.C. Dr. Petermann utilizes the Activator Method, a specific, low force technique that realigns the spine to restore proper joint function. Experience gentle and effective relief for: •Headaches •Lower back pain •Neck pain •Automobile injuries •Work-related injuries •Sports injuries 25 years practice experience  Former Activator Method instructor New patients welcome 602- 224-0004 | fuhrchiropracticclinic@gmail.com | fuhrchiropractic.com 3714 E. Indian School Road, Phoenix AZ 85018 Christ Lutheran School Preschool - Grade 8 • www.clsphx.org LC-MS Worship Thanksgiving Eve 11/23 – 7pm – Contemporary Thanksgiving Day 11/24 – 9:30am –Traditional Sunday 8am & 10:45am – Traditional* | Sunday 8:30am & 10:30am & 5 pm – Contemporary* Sunday School/Bible Classes – 9:40am* | Sunday 12:30pm – Spanish Sunday 6pm – Youth Led Worship! Wednesday 7pm – Traditional | Saturday 5pm – Contemporary *Nursery Care is available at all Sunday AM services 3901 E. Indian School Rd., Phoenix | www.cclphoenix.org | (602) 955-4830 LovE GroW SErvE By Nick Smith Nicholas Antrim knew exactly where to turn for help on his report. The ninth-grader was working on a school project that focused on K-9 police units and hoped to speak to real officers for research. Fortunately for Nicholas, he had a connection with the police department: his father, Scottsdale Police Officer Dan Antrim. “I had friends in that unit, so we went to talk to them,” said Officer Antrim. “As we both learned about it, I thought this seemed really cool. So this was all my son’s fault.” A job with the Scottsdale K-9 Unit is a prestigious one, as there are only six dogs in the department. Once Antrim made the unit, he headed down to Tucson for nine weeks of training with his new partner, a Belgian Malinois named Badge. “The funny thing was that during the training, Badge was teaching me more than I was teaching him,” Antrim said, laughing. “He had already been in the unit for around three years, and his old owner had just gone to another job. So Badge had done all this before and I was the new guy.” Although the training was a chance for Antrim to hone the skills he needed in his new position, it also provided him the opportunity to develop his relationship with Badge. K-9 dogs are pack driven and need to quickly understand that the officer is the alpha. The officer and his dog need to have an intimate knowledge of one another, as they will work in life-and-death situations together. They also will spend an intense amount of time with one another, as the dogs not only work with their officers but will usually live with them as well. Antrim soon realized he was dealing with a unique personality in Badge. An intense and focused dog during their training, he became laid back and fun-loving the minute work was over for the day. The first evening at his new home was spent wrestling with Nicholas on the floor. “He was the most relaxed and chill dog ever,” reflected Antrim. “I would take him to elementary schools and he’d let the kids pet him, wagging his tail the whole time. But what was so funny was, as soon as you put his collar and harness on him, his whole demeanor and facial expression would change. It was work time. His attitude shift was really unique.” Badge loved going to work, and leapt around the house in circles when Antrim came out in the morning, dressed in his uniform. Soon the two of them were completely in sync, with Antrim able to tell what Badge thought about a passerby from his body language alone, and Badge responding to Antrim’s mood based on simply his facial expressions. After several years of working together, Antrim moved on to a training position within the Scottsdale Police Department. Badge had turned 9, right around the time when Former local K-9 moves on to serving and protecting veterans K-9 dogs reach the end of their careers. Since Antrim was moving on anyway, the decision was made to retire Badge. Officers are given the first right of refusal when it comes to keeping their retired dog, and Antrim decided to keep Badge. He soon realized though, that sitting around the house all day wasn’t going to work for his old partner. Antrim still came out in the mornings dressed in uniform and Badge leapt up and down, convinced that this was the day he would go back to work, before watching his owner leave him behind. “I just felt guilty,” said Antrim. “My son was going to college, I was still working, and Badge was sitting around the house all day, alone and bored. I just felt like it was a waste of a good dog. He’s so personable and I knew he had service life still in him.” But Antrim was far too protective to give Badge away to anyone. He began to scour the internet, looking for the right fit for his dog. Before becoming a police officer, Antrim had been in the military for nine years, and he liked the idea of Badge helping returning veterans. For weeks, nothing seemed to fit. Then he came upon an organization called K-9 Warriors, and was immediately intrigued by the founder’s story. “He was an Army Ranger and had suffered a traumatic brain injury,” noted Antrim. “Massive migraines, to the point where he blacks out. They trained a service dog to be able to chemically and biologically realize that a migraine is coming. So the dog smells that odor and alerts him, meaning he has 15 to 20 minutes to call a doctor, get to a good place [and] take his medication. He used to not be able to drive his daughter to dance practice or school. Now he can do that and it’s been a huge help to him. I didn’t even know they could do that. I was so impressed.” What truly sold Antrim was the lengths K-9 Warriors went to for both the dog and the veterans. The organization didn’t want Badge, or any dog, to be dropped off at a house and simply left there. Any vet getting a dog would be background checked to make sure there was no history of abuse. Both the dog and veteran would have to work out together, do community service, have training checkups and document it all. The organization matched Badge with a former Green Beret named J.P., who suffered from PTSD so severe that he wasn’t able to sleep for even an hour a night. K-9 Warriors wanted to fly both Antrim and Badge out to Virginia for a weekend, so everyone could get a chance to know one another. But what sealed the deal was K-9 Warriors giving Antrim a chance to evaluate the situation himself. “They said I would get 50 percent of the yes or no vote, when it came to whether Badge would stay there,” said Antrim. “I was blown away. I can read my dog and they trusted my belief in whether or not something would be a good fit for him.” In August, Badge and Antrim headed out to Virginia. They met J.P., his wife and two young daughters. Antrim, J.P. and members of the K-9 Warriors spent Friday and Saturday training in parks, touring Civil War battlefields, going out to dinner and getting to know one another. They also helped Badge slowly make the transition. “When I first gave J.P. the leash, Badge could tell something wasn’t right,” said Antrim. “He kept looking back at me, like ‘I should be with you.’ But as the weekend went along, everything started to come together. We got to know each other, I got to be part of the family dynamic. It just went really well.” Sunday morning arrived and Antrim packed up in his hotel room, preparing to take Badge to his new home and then catch a flight back to Arizona. As Antrim was sitting on the floor doing some stretches, Badge quietly walked over, laid his head in Antrim’s lap and stayed there. Scottsdale Police Offi cer Dan Antrim and his Belgian Malinois partner, Badge. to college, I was still working, and Badge was sitting around the house all day, alone and bored. I just felt like it was a dinner and getting to know one another. They also helped Badge slowly make the transition. “When I first gave J.P. the leash, Badge could tell something wasn’t right,” said Antrim. “He kept looking

Page 21 November 2016 KACHINA Quality Dry Cleaning 602-955-5540 3926 E. Indian School Road Arcadia Family Owned & Operated Since 1959 Home & Office Pickup & Delivery Available EARTH ART November 5 Ana Mendieta was a Cuban artist who created artwork using her body and the earth. Check out her art in Energy Charge: Connecting to Ana Mendieta and create your own “earth-body” project with the help of local artist M. Jenea Sanchez. Families and children ages 4–12 are invited. No registration is required. ASUArtMuseum.asu.edu/familyfun For more information, please call 480.965.2787 , or visit us at: Support for First Saturdays for Families at the ASU Art Museum has been generously provided by The Steele Foundation. The ASU Art Museum is part of the Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts at Arizona State University. on the first Saturday of every month 11 a.m.–3 p.m. at the ASU Art Museum FREE PROGRAMS FOR FAMILIES Images by Tim Trumble DO YOU HAVE AN INJURY THAT PREVENTS YOU FROM MAINTAINING YOUR REGULAR FITNESS ROUTINE? NOW IS THE TIME! NEVER EVER, EVER GIVE UP! Train with Senior Fitness Certified trainer Les Romfo, and take your training to a comfortable level. Senior DOES NOT mean OLDER, but rather, individuals over 40 often require training which focuses on repetitive motion and/or sports related injuries. Les’s programs are designed specifically for your body...sensitive to that “nagging” injury that is currently holding you back. FAIR PRICES AND 40 YEARS EXPERIENCE from a trainer that understands your pain! IT DOESN’T HAVE TO HURT TO STAY FIT! www.gotbod.com | 602-321-4447 “He had never done that before,” said Antrim. “There was a sadness to him in that moment. He knew. It was almost unbearable to leave but I was also so happy. He was going to be working and living with a family who would treat him well.” Antrim keeps tabs on his old friend through messages that J.P. sends to both him and K-9 Warriors. Badge became a help to the family almost immediately, finding their lost keys one afternoon in a park that they were leaving. He also makes them laugh, like when he ran down an aisle at Lowe’s and stuck his nose into every piece of PVC pipe, like he used to do when hunting for drugs. But the story that touched Antrim the most was one that J.P. sent several weeks after Badge had arrived. “J.P. couldn’t sleep, so he would just get up in the middle of the night and clear his house for danger,” said Antrim. “Then one night he saw Badge sleeping on the staircase and decided he didn’t need to clear the house that night. And he got some sleep for the first time. Then another night he slept one hour. Then two hours. In his words, he knew he had a brother on watch.” Although it was hard for Antrim to say goodbye to his partner, the difference Badge is making today makes the decision to let him go completely worth it. “It’s a phenomenal thing,” said Antrim. “Now that J.P. is able to begin to sleep, it brings his stress and intensity levels down. He’s able to relax. He’s able to focus on his job, his wife and his little girls. It’s truly amazing. Badge gets to be a living tool and make a difference in someone’s life.” Antrim and Badge competing in the Desert Dog Police K-9 Trials. Local Animal Organizations Supporting Military Personnel: Pets for Vets www.petsforvets.com/phoenix-az Soldier’s Best Friend www.soldiersbestfriend.org Arizona Humane Society www.azhumane.org