A 5-year-old Boston terrier who brings smiles and love to hospital and nursing home patients around San Diego, California, may be out of a job because of his biker costumes.
"Chopper the Biker Dog" works as a therapy dog. The black-and-white pooch rides to patients on his owner's motorcycle in a special seat, dressed in a leather vest and protective goggles for canines. According to the Huffington Post, Chopper often rolls into the rooms of sick people on a mini doggie motorcycle. Owner Mark Shaffer says Chopper is in high demand, receiving requests for visits up and down the West Coast.
“At 3 months old, he started riding that little bike. He knows it; he likes it," Shaffer said.
After returning from a tour, Shaffer received some sad news: Chopper would be losing his license as a therapy dog. Pet Partners, a nonprofit group that evaluates and insures therapy animals, emailed Shaffer explaining that their policy prohibits therapy dogs from wearing costumes to ensure the safety of animals and patients.
Pet Partners' Director of Communications Glen Miller said costumes impairs the animals’ ability to see, move and respond.
"A costume is just not appropriate for going to the hospital," he said.
Shaffer begs to differ, explaining that Chopper's biker outfits make patients laugh and that his goggles are always removed when he is interacting with people. Shaffer also said that, technically, since Chopper rides on a motorcycle, he's not wearing a costume and "he’s being himself.”
Miller said many hospitals prefer licensed therapy dogs because hospitals know that they are insured and have been evaluated by a professional. But since Chopper doesn't necessarily need a license to continue his mission as a therapy dog, he'll still visit patients until he can be registered with a different animal organization that is more accepting of his bad-boy style.
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